NBA playoff watch: Can Spurs stay red hot?ESPN staffApr 4, 2026, 06:45 AM ETMultiple Authors
tamil yogi
There are only three games on the NBA schedule Saturday, but two of them feature a pair of postseason-bound teams, including the best team in the Eastern Conference.
In afternoon action, Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs hit the road to face the Denver Nuggets (3 p.m. ET, Prime). The Spurs have won 11 consecutive games but still trail the Oklahoma City Thunder by two games for the top seed in the Western Conference. The Nuggets have won seven straight to move into fourth, a spot that would give them home-court advantage in the first round of the West playoffs.
In the lone night game, the Detroit Pistons visit the Philadelphia 76ers (7 p.m. ET). Detroit would clinch the top seed in the East with a win.. Philadelphia is tied with the Toronto Raptors for sixth place, which guarantees a playoff spot.
Here’s a look at the current and projected NBA playoff picture, the most important games left in the regular season and how the race for the No. 1 pick in June’s draft is shaping up:
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Current playoff matchups
Today’s schedule | Friday’s scores
<!– Clinching scenarios | –>Critical remaining games
Projected standings | Race for No. 1 pick
Current NBA playoff matchups
Eastern Conference playoffs
1. Detroit Pistons vs. 8. Play-in winner TBD
2. Boston Celtics vs. 7. Play-in winner TBD
3. New York Knicks vs. 6. Philadelphia 76ers
4. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 5. Atlanta Hawks
Eastern Conference play-in
7. Toronto Raptors vs. 8. Charlotte Hornets
9. Orlando Magic vs. 10. Miami Heat
Loser 7/8 vs. Winner 9/10
Western Conference playoffs
1. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 8. Play-in winner TBD
2. San Antonio Spurs vs. 7. Play-in winner TBD
3. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 6. Minnesota Timberwolves
4. Denver Nuggets vs. 5. Houston Rockets
Western Conference play-in
7. Phoenix Suns vs. 8. Portland Trail Blazers
9. LA Clippers vs. 10. Golden State Warriors
Loser 7/8 vs. Winner 9/10
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Full standings and playoff matchups
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Odds to win the NBA Finals
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ESPN BPI’s playoff projections
NBA Playoff Challenge
Pick the winners and crown your NBA champion! Create A Bracket
Saturday’s games
Wizards at Heat, 3 p.m. ET
Spurs at Nuggets, 3 p.m. ET (Prime)
Pistons at 76ers, 7 p.m. ET
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Full upcoming schedule
Friday’s scores
Hornets 129, Pacers 108
76ers 115, Timberwolves 103
Hawks 141, Nets 107
Knicks 136, Bulls 96
Rockets 140, Jazz 106
Raptors 128, Grizzlies 96
Celtics 133, Bucks 101
Magic 138, Mavericks 127
Kings 117, Pelicans 113
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Full NBA scoreboard
Most important games left
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Clinching scenarios
The Detroit Pistons clinch the No. 1 seed in the East with a loss by the Boston Celtics.
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Who has clinched so far?
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Projected end-of-season standings
Projected Eastern Conference StandingsSeedTeamProjected Final Record1Detroit Pistons
Projected Western Conference StandingsSeedTeamProjected Final Record1Oklahoma City Thunder
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Current NBA standings
Race for the No. 1 pick
The NBA uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first four picks. All 14 teams that fail to make the playoffs are eligible to move up to the top four. After the order of the top four picks is set via the draw, the remainder of the first round is set in inverse order of the teams’ regular-season records. The three teams with the worst records each have an equal 14% chance of winning the lottery, with the odds for the non-playoff teams decreasing from there.
Among the projected lottery teams, there are multiple trades that could impact picks. The Atlanta Hawks will get the better of the picks from the New Orleans Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks, with the lesser of the two picks going to Milwaukee. If the Indiana Pacers’ pick falls between five and nine, it will go to the LA Clippers. The Clippers’ own pick will go to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Orlando Magic will send their pick to the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Utah Jazz will send their pick to the Thunder if it falls outside the top eight. The Portland Trail Blazers will send their pick to the Chicago Bulls if it falls outside the lottery (if they make the playoffs through the play-in tournament). The Washington Wizards’ pick is top-eight protected, and the probability of their selection ending up ninth or worse is extremely low.
Projected 2026 Lottery OrderNo.TeamCurrent RecordChance ForNo. 1 Pick1Washington Wizards
The Clippers’ pick would convey to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Magic’s pick would convey to the Grizzlies.
