NBA Playoff Picture 2026-27
The 2026-27 NBA playoff picture if the season ended today: seeds 1 to 6 in each conference go straight to the playoffs, seeds 7 to 10 play the Play-In Tournament for the last two places, and everyone else is chasing 10th. East: Boston Celtics (10-2) lead; Play-In: Raptors, Heat, Hornets, Magic. West: Los Angeles Lakers (11-2) lead; Play-In: Thunder, Grizzlies, Mavericks, Nuggets.
East Playoff Picture
If the season ended today · last spot: Miami Heat (5-6)
Boston CelticsAtlantic · Conf 10-1 · W5No. 1 seed10-2+1342
Philadelphia 76ersAtlantic · Conf 9-3 · L1Top six9-3+123
Detroit PistonsCentral · Conf 7-2 · W1Top six7-3+814
Atlanta HawksSoutheast · Conf 7-1 · L1Top six7-5+255
New York KnicksAtlantic · Conf 6-5 · L1Top six6-5+756
Cleveland CavaliersCentral · Conf 5-4 · W1Top six6-6+257
Toronto RaptorsAtlantic · Conf 4-2 · L2Play-In5-6+288
Miami HeatSoutheast · Conf 2-2 · W2Play-In5-6-479
Charlotte HornetsSoutheast · Conf 4-7 · W1Play-In4-7-12710
Orlando MagicSoutheast · Conf 2-4 · W2Play-In4-7-61–
Indiana PacersCentral · Conf 2-5 · W10.5 games back4-8-29–
Washington WizardsSoutheast · Conf 4-7 · L50.5 games back4-8-71–
Brooklyn NetsAtlantic · Conf 2-7 · W11 game back3-8-56–
Chicago BullsCentral · Conf 1-8 · L82.5 games back1-9-155–
Milwaukee BucksCentral · Conf 1-8 · L83.5 games back1-11-175| Seed | Team | W-L | Div | Conf | Diff | Strk | Left | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston CelticsAtlantic | 10-2 | 4-0 | 10-1 | +134 | W5 | 70 | No. 1 seed |
| 2 | Philadelphia 76ersAtlantic | 9-3 | 2-1 | 9-3 | +12 | L1 | 70 | Top six |
| 3 | Detroit PistonsCentral | 7-3 | 0-0 | 7-2 | +81 | W1 | 72 | Top six |
| 4 | Atlanta HawksSoutheast | 7-5 | 4-1 | 7-1 | +25 | L1 | 70 | Top six |
| 5 | New York KnicksAtlantic | 6-5 | 1-3 | 6-5 | +75 | L1 | 71 | Top six |
| 6 | Cleveland CavaliersCentral | 6-6 | 1-0 | 5-4 | +25 | W1 | 70 | Top six |
| 7 | Toronto RaptorsAtlantic | 5-6 | 0-1 | 4-2 | +28 | L2 | 71 | Play-In |
| 8 | Miami HeatSoutheast | 5-6 | 1-1 | 2-2 | -47 | W2 | 71 | Play-In |
| 9 | Charlotte HornetsSoutheast | 4-7 | 2-2 | 4-7 | -127 | W1 | 71 | Play-In |
| 10 | Orlando MagicSoutheast | 4-7 | 0-2 | 2-4 | -61 | W2 | 71 | Play-In |
| Indiana PacersCentral | 4-8 | 0-1 | 2-5 | -29 | W1 | 70 | In the hunt · 0.5 games back | |
| Washington WizardsSoutheast | 4-8 | 2-3 | 4-7 | -71 | L5 | 70 | In the hunt · 0.5 games back | |
| Brooklyn NetsAtlantic | 3-8 | 0-2 | 2-7 | -56 | W1 | 71 | In the hunt · 1 game back | |
| Chicago BullsCentral | 1-9 | 1-0 | 1-8 | -155 | L8 | 72 | In the hunt · 2.5 games back | |
| Milwaukee BucksCentral | 1-11 | 1-2 | 1-8 | -175 | L8 | 70 | In the hunt · 3.5 games back |
East clinch watch
Any combination of that many wins and losses by the 11th-place team (Indiana Pacers) clinches at least a Play-In spot.
Celtics 10-276ers 9-3Pistons 7-3Hawks 7-5Knicks 6-5Cavaliers 6-6East bubble
Pacers4-8 · 0.5 games back · 70 leftWizards4-8 · 0.5 games back · 70 leftNets3-8 · 1 game back · 71 leftBulls1-9 · 2.5 games back · 72 leftBucks1-11 · 3.5 games back · 70 leftWest Playoff Picture
If the season ended today · last spot: Memphis Grizzlies (7-4)
Los Angeles LakersPacific · Conf 6-2 · W7No. 1 seed11-2+1032
San Antonio SpursSouthwest · Conf 9-2 · W10Top six10-2+1343
Houston RocketsSouthwest · Conf 5-3 · W2Top six9-3+1074
Portland Trail BlazersNorthwest · Conf 8-3 · W2Top six8-3+805
Minnesota TimberwolvesNorthwest · Conf 4-2 · W4Top six8-3+1226
Golden State WarriorsPacific · Conf 6-4 · L1Top six8-4+947
Oklahoma City ThunderNorthwest · Conf 5-4 · L2Play-In8-4+508
Memphis GrizzliesSouthwest · Conf 6-3 · L1Play-In7-4+669
Dallas MavericksSouthwest · Conf 3-4 · W3Play-In7-4+5110
Denver NuggetsNorthwest · Conf 4-4 · W1Play-In6-4+12–
Phoenix SunsPacific · Conf 3-6 · W12 games back4-6-53–
New Orleans PelicansSouthwest · Conf 3-6 · L43 games back4-8-88–
Los Angeles ClippersPacific · Conf 2-6 · L14 games back2-8-59–
Sacramento KingsPacific · Conf 1-8 · L45.5 games back1-10-140–
Utah JazzNorthwest · Conf 1-9 · L106 games back1-11-138| Seed | Team | W-L | Div | Conf | Diff | Strk | Left | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles LakersPacific | 11-2 | 4-1 | 6-2 | +103 | W7 | 69 | No. 1 seed |
| 2 | San Antonio SpursSouthwest | 10-2 | 2-1 | 9-2 | +134 | W10 | 70 | Top six |
| 3 | Houston RocketsSouthwest | 9-3 | 2-1 | 5-3 | +107 | W2 | 70 | Top six |
| 4 | Portland Trail BlazersNorthwest | 8-3 | 4-0 | 8-3 | +80 | W2 | 71 | Top six |
| 5 | Minnesota TimberwolvesNorthwest | 8-3 | 1-0 | 4-2 | +122 | W4 | 71 | Top six |
| 6 | Golden State WarriorsPacific | 8-4 | 3-2 | 6-4 | +94 | L1 | 70 | Top six |
| 7 | Oklahoma City ThunderNorthwest | 8-4 | 1-2 | 5-4 | +50 | L2 | 70 | Play-In |
| 8 | Memphis GrizzliesSouthwest | 7-4 | 0-1 | 6-3 | +66 | L1 | 71 | Play-In |
| 9 | Dallas MavericksSouthwest | 7-4 | 1-3 | 3-4 | +51 | W3 | 71 | Play-In |
| 10 | Denver NuggetsNorthwest | 6-4 | 0-2 | 4-4 | +12 | W1 | 72 | Play-In |
| Phoenix SunsPacific | 4-6 | 2-1 | 3-6 | -53 | W1 | 72 | In the hunt · 2 games back | |
| New Orleans PelicansSouthwest | 4-8 | 1-0 | 3-6 | -88 | L4 | 70 | In the hunt · 3 games back | |
| Los Angeles ClippersPacific | 2-8 | 1-4 | 2-6 | -59 | L1 | 72 | In the hunt · 4 games back | |
| Sacramento KingsPacific | 1-10 | 0-2 | 1-8 | -140 | L4 | 71 | In the hunt · 5.5 games back | |
| Utah JazzNorthwest | 1-11 | 0-2 | 1-9 | -138 | L10 | 70 | In the hunt · 6 games back |
West clinch watch
Any combination of that many wins and losses by the 11th-place team (Phoenix Suns) clinches at least a Play-In spot.
Lakers 11-2Spurs 10-2Rockets 9-3Trail Blazers 8-3Timberwolves 8-3Warriors 8-4West bubble
Suns4-6 · 2 games back · 72 leftPelicans4-8 · 3 games back · 70 leftClippers2-8 · 4 games back · 72 leftKings1-10 · 5.5 games back · 71 leftJazz1-11 · 6 games back · 70 leftDivision Races
Seeds 1-6 qualify directly · 7-10 Play-In Tournament · 11-15 out · Seeded by record; division titles do not guarantee a seed · Clinch/eliminated flags use games remaining, not the full tiebreaker list.
How the NBA Playoff Picture Is Calculated
Teams are ranked 1 to 15 in each conference by record; division titles do not guarantee a seed. Seeds 1 to 6 go straight to the playoffs and seeds 7 to 10 play the Play-In Tournament for the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds. A team is marked clinched when no result can drop it out of the top six, and eliminated when it can no longer catch the last spot. Magic numbers count the wins and rival losses still needed. Tiebreakers follow the league order.
The NBA playoff picture is recalculated after every game from the full standings, so seeds, magic numbers and games back are always current. Check the tiebreaker rules for how close races are settled, and the projected bracket to see what today’s seeds would produce.
NBA playoff picture FAQ
Which East teams are in the Play-In?
No. 7 Toronto Raptors (5-6), No. 8 Miami Heat (5-6), No. 9 Charlotte Hornets (4-7), No. 10 Orlando Magic (4-7).
How close is the East race for sixth?
The Cleveland Cavaliers hold sixth at 6-6, 0.5 games ahead of the Toronto Raptors, the first Play-In team.
Which West teams are in the Play-In?
No. 7 Oklahoma City Thunder (8-4), No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies (7-4), No. 9 Dallas Mavericks (7-4), No. 10 Denver Nuggets (6-4).
How close is the West race for sixth?
The Golden State Warriors hold sixth at 8-4, 0 games ahead of the Oklahoma City Thunder, the first Play-In team.
How does the NBA Play-In Tournament work?
In each conference No. 7 hosts No. 8 (the winner is the No. 7 seed) and No. 9 hosts No. 10 (the loser is out). The loser of 7 v 8 then hosts the winner of 9 v 10, and that winner is the No. 8 seed. Every Play-In game is a single game.
Do division winners get a top seed?
No. Since 2015-16 seeds go purely by record within the conference; winning the division only matters as a tiebreaker.
How are ties in the NBA standings broken?
Head-to-head record first, then division winner over non-winner, division record (same division only), conference record, record against playoff teams in the own conference, then the other conference, then point differential.
How many teams make the NBA playoffs?
16 teams play in the playoff bracket, eight per conference, and 20 reach the postseason: seeds 1 to 6 qualify directly and seeds 7 to 10 play the Play-In Tournament for the last two places.