Don’t let the calendar fool you. As we hit the mid-December mark in the NBA, the sample size is getting too big to ignore. The pretenders are fading, the contenders are separating, and the anomalies are starting to look real.
On the eve of the NBA Cup Finals, it seems like just the right time to take stock of how the league is fairing. Keep reading to see what the NBA playoff picture would look like if the season ended today:
2026 NBA Playoff Picture
Eastern Conference Bracket
- (1) Pistons vs. (8) Cavaliers
- (2) Knicks vs. (7) 76ers
- (3) Celtics vs. (6) Heat
- (4) Magic vs. (5) Raptors
Western Convention Bracket
Jap Convention Standings
- Detroit Pistons (20-5)
- New York Knicks (18-7)
- Boston Celtics (15-10)
- Orlando Magic (15-11)
- Toronto Raptors (15-11)
- Miami Heat (14-11)
- Philadelphia 76ers (14-11)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (15-12)
- Atlanta Hawks (15-12)
- Milwaukee Bucks (11-16)
- Chicago Bulls (10-15)
- Charlotte Hornets (8-18)
- Brooklyn Nets (7-18)
- Indiana Pacers (6-20)
- Washington Wizards (4-20)
Western Convention Standings
- Oklahoma City Thunder (24-2)
- Denver Nuggets (18-6)
- Houston Rockets (16-6)
- Los Angeles Lakers (18-7)
- San Antonio Spurs (18-7)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (17-9)
- Phoenix Suns (14-12)
- Golden State Warriors (13-14)
- Memphis Grizzlies (11-14)
- Dallas Mavericks (10-16)
- Portland Trail Blazers (10-16)
- Utah Jazz (9-15)
- LA Clippers (6-19)
- Sacramento Kings (6-20)
- New Orleans Pelicans (5-22)
NBA Play-In Match Bracket
Jap Convention
- (7) 76ers vs. (8) Cavs
- (9) Hawks vs. (10) Bucks
Western Convention
- (7) Suns vs. (8) Warriors
- (9) Grizzlies vs. (10) Mavs
Different Key Dates
- April 14-17: NBA Play-In Tournament
- April 18: NBA playoffs begin
- May 5-6: NBA conference semifinals begin
- May 20: NBA conference finals begin
- June 5: NBA Finals begin (projected)
What number of groups make the NBA playoffs?
Sixteen groups in whole make the NBA playoffs, eight groups from each the Jap and Western Convention. The highest six seeds in every convention advance primarily based on the common season report. The ultimate two seeds in every convention are decided by the NBA Play-In Match.
When do the NBA Playoffs start?
The 2026 NBA playoffs will start on April 18. The 2025-26 common season wraps up on April 12, giving groups a brief break earlier than the postseason ideas off.
How does the Play-In Match work?
The Play-In Match, launched in 2021 to maintain extra groups aggressive and scale back tanking, determines the ultimate two playoff spots in every convention.
The No. 7 seed hosts the No. 8 seed, and the winner secures the No. 7 spot and a first-round matchup with the No. 2 seed. The loser will get yet another likelihood to make the postseason.
The loser of the 7 vs. 8 recreation will host the winner of the 9 vs. 10 matchup. The winner of that closing Play-In recreation claims the No. 8 seed and earns a first-round assembly with the convention’s high seed.
What number of rounds are there within the NBA Playoffs?
The NBA postseason options 4 rounds: the primary spherical, the convention semifinals, the convention finals and the NBA Finals. Every spherical is set by a best-of-seven sequence.
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