NBA playoff watch: Celtics can clinch 2-seedESPN staffApr 9, 2026, 06:35 AM ETMultiple Authors
tamil yogi
There are only six games on the NBA schedule Thursday night, but four of those contests will involve a pair of teams headed to the postseason.
The Boston Celtics visit the New York Knicks (7:30 p.m. ET, Prime) with a chance to clinch the 2-seed in the Eastern Conference. New York is still mathematically alive to finish second but would need to win its last three games and have Boston lose its final three.
A more critical race in the East might be the one for sixth place, as the winner will avoid the play-in tournament. The Toronto Raptors lead the eighth-place Philadelphia 76ers by a game for sixth, with the Raptors hosting the Miami Heat (7 p.m. ET) and the 76ers visiting the Houston Rockets (8 p.m. ET).
Out West, the Rockets are tied with the Lakers for fourth, with JJ Redick’s Los Angeles squad visiting the Golden State Warriors (10 p.m. ET, Prime). ESPN’s Basketball Power Index gives the Lakers, the Rockets and the Denver Nuggets nearly equal odds to end up at No. 4.
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. Toronto Raptors
4. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 5. Atlanta Hawks
Eastern Conference play-in
7. Orlando Magic vs. 8. Philadelphia 76ers
9. Charlotte Hornets 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. Denver Nuggets vs. 6. Minnesota Timberwolves
4. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 5. Houston Rockets
Western Conference play-in
7. Phoenix Suns vs. 8. LA Clippers
9. Portland Trail Blazers 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
Thursday’s games
Heat at Raptors, 7 p.m. ET
Bulls at Wizards, 7 p.m. ET
Pacers at Nets, 7:30 p.m. ET
Celtics at Knicks, 7:30 p.m. ET (Prime)
76ers at Rockets, 8 p.m. ET
Lakers at Warriors, 10 p.m. ET (Prime)
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Full upcoming schedule
Wednesday’s scores
Cavaliers 122, Hawks 116
Magic 132, Timberwolves 120
Pistons 137, Bucks 111
Nuggets 136, Grizzlies 119
Spurs 112, Trail Blazers 101
Thunder 128, Clippers 110
Suns 112, Mavericks 107
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Full NBA scoreboard
Most important games left
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Clinching scenarios
The Oklahoma City Thunder can clinch the No. 1 seed in the West and the best overall record in the NBA with a win or with a San Antonio Spurs loss.
The Atlanta Hawks can clinch a playoff spot and the Southeast Division title with a win.
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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
