2026 NBA playoff picture: Who would be in bracket if season ended today?

The NBA’s postseason isn’t far away, and perhaps getting close enough to take attention away from the various league issues that took attention away from the court in the lead-up and throughout All-Star weekend festivities.

Less than two months and 30 regular-season games remain for most NBA teams, and the 2026 playoff picture is clear enough at this point to see it will be defined by a few key races in the Eastern and Western Conference standings.

The Detroit Pistons still have a comfortable lead over a trio of more established contenders for the No. 1 seed in the East, but how the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers shake out among the top six will be a subplot in the weeks ahead. The Oklahoma City Thunder must hold off the San Antonio Spurs for the top seed in the West, while the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves jockey for position beneath them.

There’s also a fascinating chase for the NBA’s play-in tournament, now entering its seventh season as an addition to the league’s postseason schedule and sixth year in this current four-team format. Given how many franchises are in tank mode already this season, there aren’t many teams outside the top 10 at the moment actively trying to make the playoffs.

Here’s a breakdown of the current NBA playoff picture, including what teams would make the postseason if the regular season ended today:

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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents

Oct. 26: The Dallas Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg dunks the ball past the Toronto Raptors’ Sandro Mamukelashvili at the American Airlines Center.

Oct. 26: The Washington Wizards’ Cam Whitmore dunks the ball against the Charlotte Hornets at Capital One Arena.

Oct. 26: The Brooklyn Nets’ Michael Porter Jr. dunks in front of the San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama at Frost Bank Center.

Oct. 25: The Denver Nuggets’ Christian Braun dunks the ball against the Phoenix Suns’ Grayson Allen at Ball Arena.

Oct. 24: The Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. dunks against the Miami Heat at FedExForum.

Oct. 24: The Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo dunks over the Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. at FedExForum.

Oct. 22: The New York Knicks’ OG Anunoby goes up for a reverse dunk against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden.

Oct. 22: The Utah Jazz’s Lauri Markkanen dunks against the Los Angeles Clippers at Delta Center.

OPINION: Cade Cunningham has MVP moment at Madison Square Garden in domination of Knicks

NBA playoff bracket

Records and standings through games played on Sunday, Feb. 22:

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

Golden State Warriors (30-27)

Portland Trail Blazers (28-30)

Los Angeles Clippers (27-30)

When does NBA regular season end?

The final day of the regular season is Sunday, April 12.

When is NBA play-in tournament?

The NBA play-in tournament will begin Tuesday, April 14 and conclude Friday, April 17.

How does NBA play-in tournament work?

The tournament is divided into two rounds for each conference:

Round 1

Game 1: No. 7 seed vs. No. 8 seed

Game 2: No. 9 seed vs. No. 10 seed

The No. 7 and No. 9 seeds play at home in the first round. The winner of Game 1 secures the No. 7 seed in their respective conference playoff bracket. The loser of Game 1 continues to the second round and hosts the winner of Game 2. The loser of Game 2 is eliminated from playoff contention.

Round 2

Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 winner

The winner of this game secures the No. 8 and final seed in the playoffs. The loser is eliminated from playoff contention.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 NBA playoffs bracket if the season ended today

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