Race for the No. 1 Pick: Seeding Possibilities Explained

The 2025-26 NBA regular season reaches its conclusion on April 12, 2026, with a 15-game slate that will determine the final seeding for the playoffs and the Play-In Tournament in both the Eastern and Western Conferences.

While several top positions have already been secured, the final day of action remains critical for teams fighting for home-court advantage, those attempting to avoid the Play-In Tournament, and lottery-bound teams seeking to improve their odds for the 2026 NBA Draft.

Western Conference Seeding Battles

In the Western Conference, the primary battle for seeding involves the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets, who are competing for the No. 3 seed.

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According to reporting from ESPN and CBS Sports, the Lakers can clinch the No. 3 spot on April 12, 2026, if they defeat the Utah Jazz and the Denver Nuggets lose their game against the San Antonio Spurs.

The current projected playoff matchups for the West include the Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 1 and the San Antonio Spurs at No. 2. The Denver Nuggets are currently slotted at No. 3 facing the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves, while the Los Angeles Lakers are at No. 4 facing the No. 5 Houston Rockets.

Lower in the standings, the Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Clippers are competing for the No. 8 spot. The Western Conference play-in picture currently features the Phoenix Suns at No. 7 and the Portland Trail Blazers at No. 8, with the LA Clippers at No. 9 and the Golden State Warriors at No. 10.

Eastern Conference Standings and Play-In Picture

The Eastern Conference has seen more stability at the top, with the Boston Celtics securing the No. 2 spot. The New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers have also locked in the No. 3 and No. 4 positions, respectively.

The battle for the No. 6 seed is more contested, involving the Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, and Orlando Magic. The Atlanta Hawks have secured a top-six finish and have the potential to finish as the No. 5 seed.

The Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, and Orlando Magic are all fighting to finish high enough to avoid the Play-In Tournament entirely. The current projected matchups for the East show the Detroit Pistons at No. 1 and the Boston Celtics at No. 2.

The projected Eastern Conference play-in involves the Orlando Magic at No. 7 and the Philadelphia 76ers at No. 8. Meanwhile, the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat are competing to determine who will host the 9-10 play-in game.

Draft Lottery and Future Prospects

Beyond the playoff race, the final day of the regular season carries significant weight for teams out of contention. These teams are fighting to improve their odds in the NBA Draft Lottery for the right to select top prospects in June.

The 2026 draft class features highly touted players including AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer. Teams are eyeing the opportunity to draft Cooper Flagg.

The Utah Jazz are among the teams whose positioning on the final day could impact their lottery odds and their eventual draft pick.

Projected Playoff Matchups

• Eastern Conference:
  • No. 1 Detroit Pistons vs. No. 8 Play-in winner TBD
  • No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Play-in winner TBD
  • No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 6 Toronto Raptors
  • No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Atlanta Hawks
• Western Conference:
  • No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 8 Play-in winner TBD
  • No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 7 Play-in winner TBD
  • No. 3 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves
  • No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 5 Houston Rockets