As the 2025-26 NBA season reaches the halfway point, the race for playoff positioning is heating up. This guide provides early projections for the 2026 NBA playoffs, current leaders from standings as of games completed through January 20, 2026, top contenders, a projected bracket, and a blank printable 2026 NBA Playoff bracket template ideal for fan pools, office brackets, or personal predictions.
How the NBA Play-In Tournament Works
The play-in tournament determines the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds in each conference, adding excitement for teams on the bubble. Teams seeded 7-10 qualify for it and the winners feed into the 2026 NBA Playoff bracket directly into the #7 and 8 seeds for their respective conference.
- No. 7 vs. No. 8: Winner earns the No. 7 playoff seed.
- No. 9 vs. No. 10: Winner advances to play the loser of the 7-8 game.
- The winner of that game claims the No. 8 seed.
All games are single-elimination and hosted by the higher seed. The top six seeds in each conference clinch automatic playoff berths.
Early Season NBA Leaders and Current Standings
Surprises abound midway through the campaign. The Detroit Pistons lead the East with a stellar 31-10 record, showcasing elite defense and balanced scoring. The Boston Celtics hold second but have had ups and downs.
In the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder dominate at 36-8, powered by a dynamic young core. The San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets trail closely, promising a tight race.
The 2026 NBA Standings as of games completed through January 20, 2026:
Eastern Conference Standings
| Rank | Team | W | L | WIN% | GB |
| 1 | Detroit Pistons | 31 | 10 | .756 | — |
| 2 | Boston Celtics | 26 | 16 | .619 | 5.5 |
| 3 | New York Knicks | 25 | 18 | .581 | 7 |
| 4 | Toronto Raptors | 25 | 19 | .568 | 7.5 |
| 5 | Philadelphia 76ers | 23 | 18 | .561 | 8 |
| 6 | Orlando Magic | 23 | 19 | .548 | 8.5 |
| 7 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 24 | 20 | .545 | 8.5 |
| 8 | Miami Heat | 22 | 21 | .512 | 10 |
| 9 | Chicago Bulls | 20 | 22 | .476 | 11.5 |
| 10 | Atlanta Hawks | 20 | 25 | .444 | 13 |
| 11 | Milwaukee Bucks | 18 | 24 | .429 | 13.5 |
| 12 | Charlotte Hornets | 16 | 27 | .372 | 16 |
| 13 | Brooklyn Nets | 12 | 29 | .293 | 19 |
| 14 | Washington Wizards | 10 | 32 | .238 | 21.5 |
| 15 | Indiana Pacers | 10 | 34 | .227 | 22.5 |
Western Conference Standings
| Rank | Team | W | L | WIN% | GB |
| 1 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 36 | 8 | .818 | — |
| 2 | San Antonio Spurs | 30 | 13 | .698 | 5.5 |
| 3 | Denver Nuggets | 29 | 14 | .674 | 6.5 |
| 4 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 27 | 16 | .628 | 8.5 |
| 5 | Houston Rockets | 25 | 15 | .625 | 9 |
| 6 | Los Angeles Lakers | 25 | 16 | .610 | 9.5 |
| 7 | Phoenix Suns | 26 | 17 | .605 | 9.5 |
| 8 | Golden State Warriors | 25 | 19 | .568 | 11 |
| 9 | Portland Trail Blazers | 22 | 22 | .500 | 14 |
| 10 | Los Angeles Clippers | 19 | 23 | .452 | 16 |
| 11 | Memphis Grizzlies | 18 | 23 | .439 | 16.5 |
| 12 | Dallas Mavericks | 18 | 26 | .409 | 18 |
| 13 | Utah Jazz | 14 | 29 | .326 | 21.5 |
| 14 | Sacramento Kings | 12 | 31 | .279 | 23.5 |
| 15 | New Orleans Pelicans | 10 | 35 | .222 | 26.5 |
(Note: Minor adjustments made to align with latest reported records; some sources show slight variations in losses for a few teams, but core leaders remain consistent.)
Favorites for the 2026 NBA Playoffs
Standout teams include:
- Oklahoma City Thunder (West #1) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP-caliber play and team depth make them the early favorite.
- Detroit Pistons (East #1) — Cade Cunningham leads a breakout squad with championship potential.
- Denver Nuggets (West #3) — Nikola Jokić’s dominance keeps them in Finals contention.
- Boston Celtics (East #2) — Experience and talent position them as perennial threats.
- San Antonio Spurs (West #2) — Victor Wembanyama’s emergence has revitalized the franchise.
Teams like the Lakers, Timberwolves, Knicks, and Rockets could surge with strong second halves.
Projected 2026 NBA Playoff Bracket
Here’s our projected 2026 NBA Playoff bracket at the time of this writing. Projections based on current standings holding (subject to change). Top six seeds auto-qualify; 7-10 enter play-in.
Eastern Conference Projected Bracket
- Automatic Qualifiers (Seeds 1-6):
- Detroit Pistons
- Boston Celtics
- New York Knicks
- Toronto Raptors
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Orlando Magic
- Play-In Tournament:
- Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 8. Miami Heat (Winner: #7 seed)
- Chicago Bulls vs. 10. Atlanta Hawks (Winner plays 7-8 loser for #8 seed)
- First-Round Matchups:
(1) Pistons vs. (8) Play-In Winner
(2) Celtics vs. (7) Play-In Winner
(3) Knicks vs. (6) Magic
(4) Raptors vs. (5) 76ers
Western Conference Projected Bracket
- Automatic Qualifiers (Seeds 1-6):
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- San Antonio Spurs
- Denver Nuggets
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Houston Rockets
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Play-In Tournament:
- Phoenix Suns vs. 8. Golden State Warriors (Winner: #7 seed)
- Portland Trail Blazers vs. 10. Los Angeles Clippers (Winner plays 7-8 loser for #8 seed)
- First-Round Matchups:
(1) Thunder vs. (8) Play-In Winner
(2) Spurs vs. (7) Play-In Winner
(3) Nuggets vs. (6) Lakers
(4) Timberwolves vs. (5) Rockets
For the complete 2026 NBA playoff schedule, dates, matchups, and TV info, see our related article: 2026 NBA Playoff Schedule Printable Bracket Matchups and TV Broadcast.
Blank Printable Bracket for Fan Pools
Grab our blank 2026 NBA playoff bracket template, including play-in slots, ready for printing. Fill it in with your predictions for all rounds up to the Finals. It is perfect for pools, brackets with friends, or tracking along. You can save or print it to PDF format too. Enjoy.
