By Brad Botkin
11 hrs ago•2 min read
The 2026 NBA playoff bracket is set. All 20 seeds are locked in, and the postseason gets started on Tuesday with the Play-In Tournament. In the East, the Raptorsclinched the final top-six seed and a guaranteed playoff berth on Sunday, and the Nuggets closed out the regular season by clinching the No. 3 seed in the West over the Lakers.
The Play-In Tournament will run through Friday, and the first round of the playoffs will tip off on Saturday (April 18). The play-in will decide the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds in both conferences, but we already know four of the eight first-round matchups. In the East, the No. 3 Knicks will face the No. 6 Hawks, and the No. 4 Cavaliers will go up against the No. 5 Raptors. In the West, it’s the Nuggets against the Timberwolves in the conference’s 3-6 matchup, and the Lakers facing the Rockets in the 4-5.
The Pistons, Celtics, Thunder and Spursawait the winners of the Play-In Tournament. The Celtics, as the East’s No. 2 seed, will face either the 76ers or the Magic in the first round; the Spurs will battle either the Sunsor Trail Blazers in Victor Wembanyama’splayoff debut.
Here’s a look at the now official 2026 NBA playoff bracket.
2026 NBA playoff bracket
2026 NBA Playoff Picture
NBA postseason bracket
Play-In Tournament
- East: No. 7 76ers vs. No. 8 Magic | No. 9 Hornets vs. No. 10 Heat
- West: No. 7 Suns vs. No. 8 Trail Blazers | No. 9 Clippers vs. No. 10 Warriors
East first round
No. 1 Pistons vs. No. 8 TBD
No. 2 Celtics vs. No. 7 TBD
No. 3 Knicks vs. No. 6 Hawks
No. 4 Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Raptors
West first round
No. 1 Thunder vs. No. 8 TBD
No. 2 Spurs vs. No. 7 TBD
No. 3 Nuggets vs. No. 6 Timberwolves
No. 4 Lakers vs. No. 5 Rockets
Play-In Tournament schedule
Tuesday, April 14
- Hornets vs. Heat, 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime — Loser is eliminated from postseason
- Suns vs. Trail Blazers, 10 p.m. ET, Prime — Winner gets West No. 7 seed
Wednesday, April 15
- 76ers vs. Magic, 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime — Winner gets East No. 7 seed
- Clippers vs. Warriors, 10 p.m. ET, Prime — Loser is eliminated from postseason
Friday, April 17
- 76ers/Magic vs. Hornets/Heat, 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime — Winner gets East No. 8 seed, loser is eliminated from postseason
- Suns/Trail Blazers vs. Clippers/Warriors, 10 p.m. ET, Prime — Winner gets West No. 8 seed, loser is eliminated from postseason
