How does NBA Play-In Tournament work? Format and current standings
Here is all the key information about the NBA Play-In Tournament, which starts Tuesday, April 14.
The final week of the 2025-26 NBA regular season is upon us, and the race to solidify playoff seeding is in full swing. Teams across both conferences are battling for position, with first-round matchups and play-in tournament spots still very much up for grabs. In the Western Conference, the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder , sit at the top and could take the No.
1 seed for the third consecutive season, with the San Antonio Spurs close behind at No. 2. With just three games remaining, the play-in picture is far from settled, and every win or loss carries serious weight.
In the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons clinched the No. 1 seed with the Boston Celtics at currently at No. 2.
Remaining game could still shift conference seedings. With the regular season winding down, the playoff picture is still taking shape. Here is how things currently stand and who would be in the play-in tournament if the season ended today.