yahoo - 4/4/2026 1:13:42 PM - GMT (+2 )
The NBA playoff picture continues to take shape entering the weekend.
All of the postseason berths have been clinched, but teams continue to battle for position in the final days of the regular season. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Houston Rockets became the latest teams to clinch full playoff spots on Thursday.
The Rockets were dominant with a 140-106 victory over the Utah Jazz on Friday.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are not only the defending champions but also made another statement to the rest of the league with a convincing 139-96 win against the Lakers on Thursday. The Thunder remain the No. 1 seed in the West, followed by the San Antonio Spurs and the Lakers — suddenly without Luka Doncic — rounding out the top three.
The Eastern Conference standings remain tight, with 4.5 games deciding the seedings between teams No. 5 through No. 10. The Detroit Pistons have held their ground as the top team in the East, with the Boston Celtics trailing by 4 games. The Celtics outscored the Milwaukee Bucks 43-26 in the first quarter before winning 133-101 on Friday.
Here are the current brackets for the playoffs and the Play-In Tournament, the NBA standings and the schedule for Saturday, April 4:
NBA schedule for Saturday, April 4- Washington Wizards at Miami Heat, 3 p.m. ET
- San Antonio Spurs at Denver Nuggets, 3 p.m. ET
- Detroit Pistons at Philadelphia 76ers, 7 p.m. ET
All 20 teams – 10 in each conference – that will participate in the postseason have been determined. Here are their records and what each of those teams has clinched so far (x-clinched playoff berth; d-clinched division):
Eastern Conference- (1) d-Detroit Pistons: 56-21
- (2) x-Boston Celtics: 52-25 (4 GB)
- (3) x-New York Knicks: 50-28 (6.5 GB)
- (4) x-Cleveland Cavaliers: 48-29 (8 GB)
- (5) Atlanta Hawks: 45-33 (11.5 GB)
- (6) Philadelphia 76ers: 43-34 (13 GB)
- (7) Toronto Raptors: 43-34 (13 GB)
- (8) Charlotte Hornets: 42-36 (14.5 GB)
- (9) Orlando Magic: 41-36 (15 GB)
- (10) Miami Heat: 40-37 (16 GB)
- (1) d-Oklahoma City Thunder: 61-16
- (2) d-San Antonio Spurs: 59-18 (2 GB)
- (3) d-Los Angeles Lakers: 50-27 (11 GB)
- (4) x-Denver Nuggets: 49-28 (12 GB)
- (5) x-Houston Rockets: 48-29 (13 GB)
- (6) Minnesota Timberwolves: 46-31 (15 GB)
- (7) Phoenix Suns: 42-35 (19 GB)
- (8) Portland Trail Blazers: 40-38 (21.5 GB)
- (9) Los Angeles Clippers: 39-38 (22)
- (10) Golden State Warriors: 36-41 (25 GB)
(As of Friday, April 3)
Eastern Conference- (1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Play-In Winner
- (4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks
- (3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Philadelphia 76ers
- (2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Play-In Winner
- (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Play-In Winner
- (4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) Houston Rockets
- (3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
- (2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Play-In Winner
(As of Friday, April 3)
Eastern Conference- (7) Toronto Raptors vs. (8) Charlotte Hornets
- (9) Orlando Magic vs. (10) Miami Heat
- (7) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) Portland Trail Blazers
- (9) LA Clippers vs. (10) Golden State Warriors
- The NBA Play-In Tournament begins on Tuesday, April 14 and runs through Friday, April 17.
- The NBA playoffs start Saturday, April 18 and feature eight teams in each conference after teams are eliminated in the Play-In Tournament.
- Game 1 of the NBA Finals is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3.
- Brooklyn Nets
- Chicago Bulls
- Indiana Pacers
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Washington Wizards
- Dallas Mavericks
- Memphis Grizzlies
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Sacramento Kings
- Utah Jazz
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA playoffs bracket, standings, schedule if postseason started today
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