The Toronto Raptors clinched the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs with a win over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday. This outcome bumped the Atlanta Hawks to the No. 6 seed after their loss to the Miami Heat. All 10 Eastern Conference postseason seeds are now finalized ahead of the Play-In Tournament.
The Eastern Conference side of the 2026 NBA playoff bracket solidified after Sunday's early games. The Detroit Pistons hold the No. 1 seed and will face the No. 8 Play-In winner, while the Boston Celtics sit at No. 2 against the No. 7 Play-In victor. The New York Knicks earned the No. 3 spot and will meet the Hawks, with the Cleveland Cavaliers taking No. 4 to host the Raptors in the first round beginning April 18 or 19. Play-In matchups include the Philadelphia 76ers hosting the Orlando Magic on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET for the No. 7 seed, and the Charlotte Hornets facing the Heat on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET for the 9-10 game. The East No. 8 seed game follows on Friday. In the Western Conference, seeds remain partially unsettled, with the Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 1, San Antonio Spurs at No. 2, Denver Nuggets at No. 3 facing the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Los Angeles Lakers at No. 4 against the Houston Rockets. West Play-In games pit the Phoenix Suns against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET, and the Los Angeles Clippers versus Golden State Warriors on Wednesday. The full playoffs schedule key dates: first round April 18-19, second round May 2-4, conference finals May 19-20, and NBA Finals starting June 3.
