Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the OKC Thunder have secured a third consecutive No. 1 seed in the Western Conference for the NBA Playoffs. Now, OKC just awaits its opponents.
Entering the final day of the regular season on April 12, here’s how the NBA playoff picture looks for the Thunder:
Order new book on Thunder’s run to NBA title
All Eastern Conference home games are set for 5 p.m. CT, while the Western Conference home games are set for 7:30 p.m. CT:
- Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics, 5 p.m., ESPN
- Brooklyn Nets at Toronto Raptors, 5 p.m.
- Washington Wizards at Cleveland Cavaliers, 5 p.m.
- Detroit Pistons at Indiana Pacers, 5 p.m.
- Milwaukee Bucks at Philadelphia 76ers, 5 p.m.
- Atlanta Hawks at Miami Heat, 5 p.m.
- Charlotte Hornets at New York Knicks, 5 p.m.
- Chicago Bulls at Dallas Mavericks, 7:30 p.m.
- Denver Nuggets at San Antonio Spurs, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
- Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers, 7:30 p.m.
- Sacramento Kings at Portland Trail Blazers, 7:30 p.m.
- Memphis Grizzlies at Houston Rockets, 7:30 p.m.
- Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Lakers, 7:30 p.m.
- New Orleans Pelicans at Minnesota Timberwolves, 7:30 p.m.
- Phoenix Suns at Oklahoma City Thunder, 7:30 p.m., FDOK
NBA standings for Western Conference playoff race
Here’s how the Western Conference playoff standings entering play on the final day of the regular season Sunday, April 12:
- Oklahoma City Thunder: 64-17, —
- San Antonio Spurs: 62-19, 2 GB
- Denver Nuggets: 53-28, 11 GB
- Los Angeles Lakers: 52-29, 12 GB
- Houston Rockets: 51-30, 13 GB
- Minnesota Timberwolves: 48-33, 16 GB
- Phoenix Suns: 44-37, 20 GB
- Portland Trail Blazers: 41-40, 23 GB
- Los Angeles Clippers: 41-40, 23 GB
- Golden State Warriors: 37-44, 27 GB
Teams 7-10 will be in the play-in tournament to determine the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds.
The New Orleans Pelicans, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings have been eliminated from playoff contention.
NBA standings for Eastern Conference playoff race
Here’s how the Eastern Conference playoff standings entering play on the final day of the regular season Sunday, April 12:
- Detroit Pistons: 59-22, —
- Boston Celtics: 55-26, 4 GB
- New York Knicks: 53-28, 6 GB
- Cleveland Cavaliers: 51-30, 8 GB
- Atlanta Hawks: 46-35, 13 GB
- Toronto Raptors: 45-36, 14 GB
- Orlando Magic: 45-36, 14 GB
- Philadelphia 76ers: 44-37, 14 GB
- Charlotte Hornets: 43-38, 16 GB
- Miami Heat: 42-39, 17 GB
Teams 7-10 will be in the play-in tournament to determine the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds.
The Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards have been eliminated from playoff contention.
When do the 2026 NBA Playoffs begin?
The 2026 NBA Playoffs will tip off on Saturday, April 18, after the the play-in tournament runs from April 14-17 to determine the Nos. 7-8 seeds.
How does the NBA Play-in Tournament work?
The seventh-place team will host the eighth-place team for the No. 7 seed, while the ninth-place team hosts the 10th-place team in an elimination game. The loser of the 7-8 game will host the winner of the 9-10 game for the No. 8 seed.
Here’s how the bracket would look entering play Sunday, April 12:
Eastern Conference
- (7) Orlando Magic vs. (8) Philadelphia 76ers
- (9) Charlotte Hornets vs. (10) Miami Heat
Western Conference
- (7) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) Portland Trail Blazers
- (9) Los Angeles Clippers vs. (10) Golden State Warriors
What is the NBA playoff bracket if the season ended today?
Here’s how the first round of the NBA Playoffs would look if the season ended today (as of April 12):
Eastern Conference
- (1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Play-In Winner
- (4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks
- (3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Toronto Raptors
- (2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Play-In Winner
Western Conference
- (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Play-In Winner
- (4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Houston Rockets
- (3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
- (2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Play-In Winner
All play-in games are on Amazon Prime
Tuesday, April 14
- GAME 1: Eastern Conference No. 8 seed at Eastern Conference No. 7 seed, 6:30 p.m. (Winner clinches No. 7 seed)
- GAME 2: Western Conference No. 8 seed at No. 7 Phoenix Suns, 9 p.m. (Winner clinches No. 7 seed)
Wednesday, April 15
- GAME 3: Eastern Conference No. 10 seed at Eastern Conference No. 9 seed, 6:30 p.m.
- GAME 4: Golden State Warriors at Western Conference No. 9 seed, 9 p.m.
Friday, April 17
- GAME 5: Game 1 loser vs. Game 3 winner, 6:30 p.m. (Winner clinches No. 8 seed)
- GAME 6: Game 2 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 9 p.m. (Winner clinches No. 8 seed)
Jeff Patterson is the sports editor for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Jeff? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @jeffpattOKC. Support Jeff’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
