The NBA’s 2025-26 regular season is concluding, yet there’s no cause for concern as the postseason is imminent. The competition for playoff berths in both the Eastern and Western conferences is intensifying, and the paths for the play-in tournament and initial playoff series are solidifying daily.
Five Western Conference squads have secured their postseason berths, notably the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have claimed their division title for the third consecutive year and aim to be the first back-to-back champions since 2018. In the Eastern Conference, four teams have locked in playoff spots, while the contenders for the play-in phase are still being determined during the season’s final stretch.
Our basketball experts analyze the key narratives unfolding in the regular season’s closing days, encompassing which playoff seeding contests will be decided at the very end, what late-stage award bids to monitor, and even the performance of teams destined for the draft lottery in their final week of games.
What remains the most crucial unanswered question regarding the Eastern Conference playoff seeding?
The sole certainty at the Eastern Conference’s peak is that the Detroit Pistons will secure the conference’s leading seed, notwithstanding Cade Cunningham’s absence for the season’s concluding weeks due to a collapsed lung. Beyond that, the situation is highly unpredictable. The Boston Celtics are anticipated to clinch the second position, although they still need to finalize that achievement. The New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers are expected to contend until the very last days of the season to determine who claims the third and fourth spots, respectively, with the Atlanta Hawks, currently projected as the fifth seed, influencing this outcome.
Atlanta will welcome New York on Monday, followed by a two-game series against Cleveland, playing at home on Wednesday and away on Friday. The results of these matches will significantly influence which team encounters the Hawks in the initial playoff round. Concurrently, the Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors are level for the sixth and ultimate direct playoff spot in the East standings, with four games remaining – and Toronto’s defeat at home to the Sacramento Kings now appears to be a potentially expensive misstep by the close of next week. — Tim Bontemps
What is the primary concern for the present Eastern Conference play-in contenders?
Is any prospective play-in squad capable of creating a significant impact in the playoffs? Should the Charlotte Hornets secure a play-in berth, they would represent the most formidable contender to advance from it. Following a 16-28 beginning, the Hornets have shown remarkable improvement since January, defeating teams such as the Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, and Boston. LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller are fit and driven. Kon Knueppel has displayed notable confidence and is considered a top candidate for Rookie of the Year.
Do you recall the altercation between the Hornets and Pistons on February 9th? The Hornets undoubtedly haven’t forgotten. If Cade Cunningham, suffering from a collapsed lung, doesn’t return to peak condition, the Hornets could pose a challenge in the first round. Furthermore, if Charlotte encounters the Celtics, coach Charles Lee possesses extensive familiarity with Boston as a former assistant. The Hornets could prove difficult to eliminate, despite their limited playoff exposure, given their unpredictable and dynamic offense and their increased confidence since January. — Ohm Youngmisuk
What is the paramount decision remaining among the leading contenders in the Western Conference playoff picture?
Is it possible for the Spurs to overtake the Thunder for the top seed? Oklahoma City holds a three-game advantage with four contests remaining, yet San Antonio possesses the tiebreaker in their season series, and OKC’s subsequent three games are away. The Spurs have been outstanding, with a 27-3 record since early February, but the current champions have made it exceedingly challenging for any further gains. The Thunder boast a 17-1 record since their reigning (and probable two-time) MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, came back from a prolonged absence due to an abdominal injury.
The Denver Nuggets, currently sharing the third seed in the West with the Los Angeles Lakers, might heavily influence whether the Thunder or Spurs secure the top position. Following their overtime triumph against the Spurs on Saturday, Denver’s remaining schedule features a home game versus the Thunder on Friday and a final regular-season trip to San Antonio on Sunday. — Tim MacMahon
What poses the most significant query for teams occupying the third through sixth seeds?
Given that Luka Doncic (left hamstring strain) is out indefinitely and Austin Reaves (oblique injury) will miss the rest of the regular season, can Los Angeles clinch home-court advantage for the initial playoff series? Even if they return for Game 1 of the first round, will they manage to regain the form and physical readiness they displayed during the latter half of the season? And will the final rankings for the fifth-seeded Houston Rockets and the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves hinge on their April 10th game in Houston? — Dave McMenamin
Regarding the Western Conference play-in situation?
Does Stephen Curry’s unexpected return change the dynamics? It will not affect the league standings. The Golden State Warriors are secured in the tenth position. The Phoenix Suns appear solidified in the seventh spot. The Portland Trail Blazers and LA Clippers, however, are vying for the eighth seed – and they will compete against each other on Friday evening.
However, Curry’s comeback following a two-month hiatus creates a more intimidating iteration of the Warriors emerging from the lower portion of the play-in bracket. If he can perform close to his usual standard in the last week – and Kristaps Porzingis remains healthy and effective – the Warriors transform into a genuine contender to be only the second tenth seed ever to force their way into the playoffs. If Curry is hindered or cannot play due to his knee, the Warriors will likely experience a swift and uneventful departure. — Anthony Slater
Which injured star player is most essential to his team’s return before their postseason campaign begins?
Cade Cunningham participated for merely five minutes on March 17th before exiting prematurely and has been absent since, suffering from a collapsed lung. The Pistons unequivocally require his presence if they intend to achieve their first substantial playoff advancement since 2008.
Nevertheless, an encouraging development is that the Pistons have maintained their performance level during Cunningham’s absence, achieving an 8-2 record with a +11.9 net rating in that period. Both defeats were in overtime. Detroit would be in an excellent position if its complementary players continue their strong play, especially with a fit Cunningham rejoining the lineup. — Zach Kram
What ought supporters of teams headed for the draft lottery focus on this week?
Anticipate numerous losses from the teams whose strategic interest lies in losing. As the week commenced, Washington, Brooklyn, and Indiana established a slight separation for the lowest three positions and the best lottery odds – but further developments are yet to unfold, and several upcoming games carry implications for the lottery.
The Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets will compete on Thursday – a match where one team is guaranteed victory. Furthermore, the Kings and Utah Jazz, the group consisting of the Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta (with a pick from the New Orleans Pelicans), and Memphis Grizzlies, along with the Chicago Bulls-Milwaukee Bucks duo, remain tightly clustered in the standings. Every possible lottery outcome holds significance for these teams, given the high caliber of prospects at the top of the upcoming draft. — Jeremy Woo
Are any individual accolades still contestable, and if so, who has the potential to claim them during the concluding week?
This assertion may contradict common belief, but I personally do not believe so. This season does appear to be one where the MVP and Rookie of the Year honors will be more tightly contested than usual. Nevertheless, Tim Bontemps’ survey data indicates a strong consensus among voters favoring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Kon Knueppel. (The competition for the leading rookie did gain some excitement over the weekend, as Cooper Flagg delivered an impressive 96 points across two memorable games.) Even if the Spurs surpass the Thunder for the premier seed, Bontemps’ trusted forecast suggests the gap is too substantial for Victor Wembanyama to overtake SGA.
Currently, there are no other credible contenders for the MVP title. However, Wembanyama, provided he participates in 64 games (plus an NBA Cup game bonus), could potentially secure the Defensive Player of the Year award unanimously. The Coach of the Year award might see diverse voting, but J.B. Bickerstaff and Joe Mazzulla, the two most prominent candidates, have already established their credentials. Jalen Duren’s outstanding performance since Cade Cunningham’s injury has placed him in a favorable position for the Most Improved Player accolade. Keldon Johnson recently surpassed 1,000 points coming off the bench for the Spurs and is likely to claim the Sixth Man award. — Brian Windhorst
What significance will the 65-game eligibility requirement hold in the final week?
A number of past award recipients, such as Nikola Jokic (62 games), Kawhi Leonard (61), Evan Mobley (62), and Pascal Siakam (62), have not yet met the mandatory 65-game threshold to qualify for end-of-season accolades. Each of these players has four games left to play.
Doncic will be one game shy due to a hamstring injury that concluded his regular season, but he is eligible to request an exemption. He previously missed two games in December for the birth of his daughter.
Spurs standout Victor Wembanyama, the leading contender for Defensive Player of the Year, a strong candidate for All-NBA, and an MVP consideration this year, was ineligible last season but will fulfill the requirements on Monday during a home game against Philadelphia.
Deni Avdija, who received his first All-Star selection and is an All-NBA candidate, must not miss any games in the concluding week to maintain his eligibility.
Anthony Edwards is one notable player absent from this list. He earned a spot on the All-NBA second team in 2024-25 but will fail to satisfy the 65-game rule, even though he ranks third in scoring this season. — Bobby Marks
Key players who have already met the criteria include: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Johnson, Jaylen Brown, James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Jamal Murray, Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson, Kris Dunn, Bam Adebayo, Ryan Rollins, Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jalen Brunson, Chet Holmgren, Cason Wallace, Tyrese Maxey, De’Aaron Fox, Brandon Ingram, and Scottie Barnes.
