NBA Playoff Standings and Predictions Update
As the NBA regular season resumes on Thursday, February 19, 2026, following a one-week hiatus for the All-Star Game, the focus intensifies on the race for a spot in the postseason. With less than two months left before the end of the regular season, the competition is heating up, especially for teams aiming to secure their positions in the playoffs.
Current Playoff Landscape
The Oklahoma City Thunder, reigning champions, are well positioned at the summit of the Western Conference standings, aiming to defend their title. However, it's the Detroit Pistons from the Eastern Conference who have captured the spotlight with the NBA's best record as the second half of the season gets underway.
As of Tuesday, February 17, here's a snapshot of the teams that would make the playoffs if the season concluded today:
Eastern Conference Standings
- Detroit Pistons (40-13)
- Boston Celtics (35-19)
- New York Knicks (35-20)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (34-21)
- Toronto Raptors (32-23)
- Philadelphia 76ers (30-24)
- Orlando Magic (28-25)
- Miami Heat (29-27)
- Charlotte Hornets (26-29)
- Atlanta Hawks (26-30)
Western Conference Standings
- Oklahoma City Thunder (42-14)
- San Antonio Spurs (38-16)
- Denver Nuggets (35-20)
- Houston Rockets (33-20)
- Los Angeles Lakers (33-21)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (34-22)
- Phoenix Suns (32-23)
- Golden State Warriors (29-26)
- Portland Trail Blazers (27-29)
- Los Angeles Clippers (26-28)
Playoff Schedule Highlights
The curtain falls on the regular season on Sunday, April 12, making way for the highly anticipated NBA play-in tournament. This prelude to the playoffs begins on Tuesday, April 14, and concludes on Friday, April 17. The play-in tournament, a relatively recent addition to the NBA playoff format, introduces an exciting twist to the postseason race.
In the first round of the play-in tournament, the No. 7 seed faces off against the No. 8 seed, while the No. 9 seed battles the No. 10 seed. The winners and losers of these matchups then navigate through a second round to determine the final seeding for the playoffs. This format adds an extra layer of strategy and competition, heightening the stakes for teams on the playoff bubble.
As the NBA gears up for the final stretch of the regular season, fans and analysts alike are closely monitoring the playoff race. With several teams vying for positioning and a few surprises at the top of the standings, the road to the NBA Finals promises to be as unpredictable as it is thrilling.
