NBA playoff watch: Possible first-round previews in playESPN staffApr 8, 2026, 06:45 AM ETMultiple Authors
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With so little settled in the battle for seeding in the NBA playoff races — plus next week’s play-in tournament set to decide the last four playoff teams — it’s hard to say that any matchup will be a first-round playoff preview, even with only four days of games left in the regular season. But three of the contests on Wednesday’s slate fit the bill.
The action tips off with the Atlanta Hawks playing at the Cleveland Cavaliers (7 p.m. ET, ESPN). Entering Wednesday, Cleveland is fourth in the Eastern Conference, a game back of the New York Knicks for third. Atlanta is fifth in the East one game ahead of the Toronto Raptors for sixth. ESPN’s Basketball Power Index gives Cleveland and Atlanta a 66.1% chance of meeting in the first round, as either the 3-6 or 4-5 series.
Less settled are the possible playoff previews in the West.
The Portland Trail Blazers are play-in bound and currently in ninth place. But if they surpass the LA Clippers in the standings, the Trail Blazers would land in the 7-8 play-in game; and if the Blazers win that, their first round-series would almost certainly be against the Spurs, Portland’s opponent Wednesday night in San Antonio (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). BPI gives those two teams a 12.9% chance of meeting in the first round.
The Clippers will host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET), and BPI gives those teams a 33% chance of meeting in the first round.
In other action, the Minnesota Timberwolves will visit the Orlando Magic (7 p.m. ET), having clinched a playoff spot on Tuesday. And the Denver Nuggets get a chance to put more cushion between themselves and the fourth-place Los Angeles Lakers in hosting the 25-54 Memphis Grizzlies (9 p.m. ET).
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. Philadelphia 76ers vs. 8. Orlando Magic
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
Wednesday’s games
Hawks at Cavaliers, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Timberwolves at Magic, 7 p.m. ET
Bucks at Pistons, 7 p.m. ET
Grizzlies at Nuggets, 9 p.m. ET
Trail Blazers at Spurs, 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Thunder at Clippers, 10 p.m. ET
Mavericks at Suns, 10 p.m. ET
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Full upcoming schedule
Tuesday’s scores
Bulls 129, Wizards 98
Timberwolves 124, Pacers 104
Nets 96, Bucks 90
Raptors 121, Heat 95
Celtics 113, Hornets 102
Pelicans 156, Jazz 137
Warriors 110, Kings 105
Thunder 123, Lakers 87
Clippers 116, Mavericks 103
Rockets 119, Suns 105
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Full NBA scoreboard
Most important games left
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Clinching scenarios
The Minnesota Timberwolves clinch a playoff spot with a win and a loss by the Phoenix Suns.
The Suns are locked into the play-in tournament with a loss and a win by the Timberwolves.
The Miami Heat are locked into the play-in tournament with a loss.
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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
