NBA Playoffs: The 12 Teams That Avoided the Play-In Tournament

The NBA regular season concluded on April 12, 2026, setting the stage for the 2025-26 postseason. All 20 teams competing for a championship spot have officially clinched their positions, leaving only final seeding and the determination of the top six spots in each conference to be finalized before the play-in tournament begins.

The postseason sequence commences on April 14, 2026, with the three-day SoFi NBA play-in tournament. This tournament will determine the final playoff participants, while the official NBA playoffs are scheduled to begin on April 18, 2026, and will run through mid-June.

Eastern Conference Standings and Clinching

The Detroit Pistons have emerged as a dominant force in the Eastern Conference, clinching a playoff spot, the Central Division title, and the No. 1 seed. This achievement marks the first time the Pistons have reached the playoffs in consecutive years since a previous eight-year run ended in 2009. Here’s the first time since the 2006-07 season that Detroit has secured the top seed in the East.

The Boston Celtics have secured the No. 2 seed and the Atlantic Division title. This appearance marks the 12th consecutive season the Celtics have reached the postseason, which is currently the longest active streak in the NBA. The franchise is looking to build on its 2024 NBA Finals victory over the Dallas Mavericks, which secured their 18th championship.

The New York Knicks have clinched the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks are seeking their first NBA championship since 1973 and their first Finals appearance since 1999.

Western Conference Race for the Top Seed

In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder were the first team to clinch a postseason spot. On March 1, 2026, the Thunder defeated the Dallas Mavericks to improve their record to 47-15. The Thunder are currently competing for the No. 1 spot; if successful, it would mark their second consecutive season finishing as the top seed in the West.

The San Antonio Spurs were the second team to clinch a postseason berth, doing so in early March 2026. The Spurs are also in contention for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

Final Regular Season Schedule

All 30 NBA teams played their final game of the regular season on April 12, 2026. While most playoff spots were decided prior to the date, these matchups served to finalize seeding and determine which teams would avoid the Play-In Tournament.

• Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics
• Washington Wizards vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
• Detroit Pistons vs. Indiana Pacers
• Atlanta Hawks vs. Miami Heat
• Milwaukee Bucks vs. Philadelphia 76ers
• Brooklyn Nets vs. Toronto Raptors
• Charlotte Hornets vs. New York Knicks
• Chicago Bulls vs. Dallas Mavericks
• Memphis Grizzlies vs. Houston Rockets
• New Orleans Pelicans vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
• Phoenix Suns vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
• Denver Nuggets vs. San Antonio Spurs
• Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Lakers

According to reporting from The Sporting News, several teams in the Eastern Conference had scenarios on April 12 where a win, combined with other results, could allow them to avoid the Play-In Tournament entirely.

Postseason Timeline

The transition from the regular season to the championship race follows a strict timeline over the coming weeks:

• April 14, 2026: The SoFi NBA play-in tournament begins.
• April 18, 2026: The NBA playoffs officially start.
• Mid-June 2026: The postseason concludes with the crowning of the champion.