The NBA wrapped up its 2025/26 regular season on Sunday, locking in the top six teams in each conference and lining up the teams and seeds for this year’s play-in tournament.
While most of the top seeds had already been secured ahead of Sunday’s regular season finale, there were still some meaningful outcomes in today’s games. Most notably, the Raptors’ win over Brooklyn secured their first playoff berth in four years and moved them up to No. 5 in the Eastern Conference standings while ensuring that the Sixers and Magic will have to book their playoff tickets via the play-in tournament.
Over in the West, the Trail Blazers’ victory over Sacramento locked up the No. 8 seed for Portland. That means the Blazers will get two opportunities to win a play-in game and make the playoffs, while the Clippers, bumped down to No. 9, will have to win a pair of play-in contests to advance to the first round.
Here are the play-in matchups:
Eastern Conference
Tuesday, April 14
- Game 1: Miami Heat (10) at Charlotte Hornets (9), 7:30 pm ET
- Winner plays on Friday; loser is eliminated.
Wednesday, April 15
- Game 2: Orlando Magic (8) at Philadelphia 76ers (7), 7:30 pm ET
- Winner secures No. 7 seed; loser plays on Friday.
Friday, April 17
- Winner of Game 1 at Loser of Game 2, 7:30 pm ET
- Winner secures No. 8 seed; loser is eliminated.
Western Conference
Tuesday, April 14
- Game 1: Portland Trail Blazers (8) at Phoenix Suns (7), 10:00 pm ET
- Winner secures No. 7 seed; loser plays on Friday.
Wednesday, April 15
- Game 2: Golden State Warriors (10) at Los Angeles Clippers (9), 10:00 pm ET
- Winner plays on Friday; loser is eliminated.
Friday, April 17
- Winner of Game 2 at Loser of Game 1, 10:00 pm ET
- Winner secures No. 8 seed; loser is eliminated.
Once the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds in each conference are set later this week, the eight first-round matchups will be finalized. Those first-round series will tip off on April 18 and 19.
Here are the top six seeds in each conference, along with the matchups that are set so far (and Game 1 info, per the NBA):
Eastern Conference
- Detroit Pistons (1) vs. No. 8 seed (play-in) ^
- Boston Celtics (2) vs. No. 7 seed (play-in) ^
- New York Knicks (3) vs. Atlanta Hawks (6) *
- Cleveland Cavaliers (4) vs. Toronto Raptors (5) *
* Series begins on April 18.
^ Series begins on April 19.
Western Conference
- Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. No. 8 seed (play-in) ^
- San Antonio Spurs (2) vs. No. 7 seed (play-in) ^
- Denver Nuggets (3) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (6) *
- Los Angeles Lakers (4) vs. Houston Rockets (5) *
* Series begins on April 18.
^ Series begins on April 19.
sorry for my confusion: Wednesdays Dubs clipper game……..single elimination?
Warriors lose. They go home. Clips play Blazers or Suns.
clips lose….they go home?
I think so. It is 10 vs 9 and 8 vs 7.
Yes, if you’re in the 9 v 10 game and you lose.., you go home.
If you win, you get a chance to win again and remain in the playoffs. But if you lose that 2nd game, you go home.
The 9 and 10 seed has to win twice to make the playoffs.
Came down to last game of season Bulls fans. Can’t get better than that. Clippers beat the Warriors Blazers beat the Kings. That pick is coming LOLS 😱
Final Standings Impact: Following their win over the Sacramento Kings on April 12, 2026, the Blazers clinched the 8th seed, forcing the Clippers into the No. 9 spot.
You got two chances left. Odds are with Chicago. Imo Blazers beating Suns for 7th seed. Life is good.
Sixers healthy would have been a tough out in first rd. Unfortunately you can’t trust the “WalkingInjured”
Hawks are legit so Knicks better be ready. All the HATERS better be watching. Funny how all the trolls are gone now. Second rd in NBA will be Epic this year.
Playoffs are here. Lets Di This ….