The 2025-26 NBA postseason bracket is set following an epic regular-season finale. The postseason field and SoFi Play-In matchups are now locked.
West and East Play-In Matchups
The SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament tips off this week. The East’s No. 9 Hornets host the No. 10 Heat. In the West, the No. 8 Blazers visit the No. 7 Suns.
- No. 10 Heat at No. 9 Hornets (Play-In): Charlotte ranks 1st in OffRtg since Jan. 1, while only Denver scored more points than Miami this season.
- No. 8 Magic at No. 7 Sixers (Play-In): Orlando and Philly each finished 45-37, with Philly earning the tiebreaker with a 2-1 head-to-head record.
How the West Was Won
The Nuggets secured the No. 3 seed in the West, led by Nikola Jokić. The Lakers locked in No. 4. The Blazers and Clippers raced for No. 8.
Eastern Conference Playoff Picture
The East race closed with six squads separated by just three games. The Knicks will face the Hawks. Led by Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta finished the season on a 19-5 run for their first top-6 Playoff berth in five years.
The Cavaliers will face the Raptors. The Cavs are 16-6 with both Donovan Mitchell and James Harden in the lineup. They’ll face Scottie Barnes and Toronto’s top-5 rated defense in the First Round of the Playoffs.
Looking Ahead
The SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament continues this week, before the NBA Playoffs start this weekend. It took a season’s worth of movement to get here, but now the 2025-26 NBA postseason is set and ready to begin.