2026 NBA Playoffs: Clinching scenarios and standings on April 2
Six games are scheduled for Thursday in the NBA, with several key matchups and a couple of clinching scenarios to monitor throughout the evening.
With less than two weeks left to play in the 2025-26 regular season, teams are in the midst of heated battles in the standings ahead of the start of the NBA playoffs on April 18. The top six teams in each conference will earn an outright playoff berth at the conclusion of the regular season. The next four teams will compete in the play-in tournament on April 14-17 for the last two seeds in each conference, respectively.
After 10 teams were eliminated from contention, the 20 bound for the postseason are locked in, either via a playoff berth or a spot in the play-in tournament. The action is set to heat up as teams battle for positioning in the standings down the stretch. Six games are scheduled for Thursday, with several key matchups and a couple of clinching scenarios to monitor throughout the evening.
What are the matchups on Thursday? Action packed 6-game Thursday slate ๐ฅ ๐ #1 East DET host #6 West MIN ๐ #1 in PPG Luka Donฤiฤ and LAL face #2 SGA and OKC ๐ SAS seek 27th win in 29 games, vs. LAC pic.
twitter. com/yDAFEvGRnx โ NBA (@NBA) April 2, 2026 Playoff Picture NBA STANDINGS UPDATE โผ๏ธ โช๏ธ SAS (#2 in West) wins 10th straight โช๏ธ DEN (#4 in West) wins 7th straight โช๏ธ HOU rises to #5 in West, wins 4th straight โช๏ธ ATL (#5 in East) wins 3rd straight โช๏ธ PHI rises to #6 in East pic. twitter.