2026 NBA Playoffs: Clinching scenarios and standings on April 3

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Apr 3, 2026 - 22:00
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2026 NBA Playoffs: Clinching scenarios and standings on April 3

With less than two weeks left to play in the 2025-26 regular season, teams are in the midst of heated battles in the standings ahead of the start of the NBA playoffs on April 18.

The top six teams in each conference will earn an outright playoff berth at the conclusion of the regular season. The next four teams will compete in the play-in tournament on April 14-17 for the last two seeds in each conference, respectively.

After 10 teams were eliminated from contention, the 20 bound for the postseason are locked in, either via a playoff berth or a spot in the play-in tournament. The action is set to heat up as teams battle for positioning in the standings down the stretch.

Nine games are scheduled for Friday, with several key matchups and an Eastern Conference clinching scenario to monitor throughout the evening.

What are the matchups on Friday?

Playoff Picture

Which teams have clinched a playoff berth?

Western Conference:

  1. Oklahoma City Thunder (61-16)
  2. San Antonio Spurs (59-18)
  3. Los Angeles Lakers (50-27)
  4. Denver Nuggets (49-28)
  5. Houston Rockets (47-29)

Eastern Conference:

  1. Detroit Pistons (56-21)
  2. Boston Celtics (51-25)
  3. New York Knicks (49-28)
  4. Cleveland Cavaliers (48-29)

Which teams have been eliminated from postseason contention?

Western Conference:

  • Memphis Grizzlies (25-51)
  • New Orleans Pelicans (25-52)
  • Dallas Mavericks (24-52)
  • Utah Jazz (21-56)
  • Sacramento Kings (20-57)

Eastern Conference:

  • Milwaukee Bucks (30-46)
  • Chicago Bulls (29-47)
  • Indiana Pacers (18-58)
  • Brooklyn Nets (18-58)
  • Washington Wizards (17-59)

Eastern Conference Scenarios

  • The Pistons can clinch the No. 1 seed with a loss by the Celtics

This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: 2026 NBA Playoffs: Clinching scenarios and standings on April 3

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