The NBA Playoffs Are Set — Well, Technically

Eastern Conference: Seeds 1–6 (Locked Playoff Teams)

The top six in the East have secured a direct path into the playoffs, avoiding the chaos of the play-in entirely.

• 1. Detroit Pistons
• 2. Boston Celtics
• 3. New York Knicks
• 4. Cleveland Cavaliers
• 5. Toronto Raptors
• 6. Atlanta Hawks

These six teams are already guaranteed first-round series positions, with Detroit and Boston holding top-tier home court advantages and the Knicks, Cavaliers, Raptors, and Hawks rounding out a deep and competitive East.

The biggest storyline at the top remains Detroit’s rise to the No. 1 seed, marking a return to elite status, while Boston continues to loom as the most consistent contender in the conference.

Western Conference: Seeds 1–6 (Locked Playoff Teams)

Out West, the hierarchy is equally defined — and arguably more explosive at the top.

• 1. Oklahoma City Thunder
• 2. San Antonio Spurs
• 3. Denver Nuggets
• 4. Los Angeles Lakers
• 5. Houston Rockets
• 6. Minnesota Timberwolves

The Thunder enter as the top seed and defending championship-caliber standard, while the Spurs’ emergence into the No. 2 spot marks one of the most significant rises in recent league memory.

Behind them, Denver and L.A. remain battle-tested postseason threats, while Houston and Minnesota round out a deep middle tier that could easily produce first-round upsets.

Play-In Tournament (Seeds 7–10)

This is where things get messy — and where the postseason actually begins, even if the league still technically separates it from the playoffs.

Eastern Conference Play-In Teams

• 7. Philadelphia 76ers
• 8. Orlando Magic
• 9. Charlotte Hornets
• 10. Miami Heat

Western Conference Play-In Teams

• 7. Phoenix Suns
• 8. Portland Trail Blazers
• 9. Los Angeles Clippers
• 10. Golden State Warriors

These teams will battle for the final two playoff spots in each conference, with everything on the line — win and advance, lose and go home (or into a second chance game).

And in a unique scheduling wrinkle this year, Charlotte will play its play-in matchup ahead of Philadelphia due to arena availability conflicts, shifting the usual cadence of the Eastern bracket and creating a rare uneven start to the postseason slate.

Play-In Schedule (April 14–17)

The NBA’s SoFi Play-In Tournament runs across four days:

• April 14: 9 vs. 10 elimination games begin (East & West)
• April 15: 7 vs. 8 matchups determine early playoff seeds
• April 16: Final elimination games (loser of 7/8 vs winner of 9/10)
• April 17: Final playoff field is locked in

The league still classifies the play-in as separate from the official playoffs, but in practice, it is undeniably part of the postseason — win-or-go-home basketball that determines half the bracket.

When the real playoffs begin

Once the play-in chaos settles, the NBA turns immediately to the main event.

• Round 1 begins Saturday, April 18

That means teams like Detroit, Boston, Oklahoma City, and San Antonio are already preparing for opponents who don’t even exist yet — awaiting the outcome of elimination games to complete their first-round matchups.