2026 NBA playoff picture: Standings, tiebreakers, projections as Lakers take down Rockets

With less than a month to go before the start of the 2026 NBA playoffs, here's where things stand
The Los Angeles Lakers knocked off the Houston Rockets on Monday, and it was huge for a couple reasons.

First, it gave the Lakers, winners of nine of their last 10, sole possession of the West's No.

3 seed in the loss column.

This is but one of many seeding races across both conferences that look to be headed for a photo finish as we are less than a month out from the close of the 2025-26 NBA regular season.

The final day of games will be on Sunday, April 12.

Between now and then, we will be updating this playoff picture each day to keep you up to date on the standings, important magic numbers, all relevant tiebreakers, and our SportsLine projections.

Here is where we stand entering play on Tuesday, March 17.

* Tiebreaker Note: All tiebreakers are included for teams currently within one game (or one seed) of each other, but will only be listed under the current higher seed's section.

Play-In Tournament East : No.

7 Heat vs.

No.

8 76ers , No.

9 Hawks vs.

No.

10 Hornets West : No.

7 Suns vs.

No.

8 Clippers , No.

9 Warriors vs.

No.

10 Trail Blazers
East first round No.

1 Pistons vs.

No.

8 76ers/Heat/Hawks/Hornets No.

2 Celtics vs.

No.

7 Heat/76ers No.

3 Knicks vs.

No.

6 Raptors No.

4 Cavaliers vs.

No.

5 Magic
West first round No.

1 Thunder vs.

No.

8 Clippers/Suns/Warriors/Blazers No.

2 Spurs vs.

No.

7 Suns/Clippers No.

3 Lakers vs.

No.

6 Timberwolves No.

4 Rockets vs.

No.

5 Nuggets
At the top of the West, No.

2 San Antonio still has an outside shot to catch the No.

1 Thunder, but one way or another those are going to be the top two teams.

After that, just two games separate the 3-6 seeds.

1.

Oklahoma City Thunder (53-15)
6.

Minnesota Timberwolves (41-27)
9.

Golden State Warriors (33-35)
10.

Portland Trail Blazers (33-36)
In the East, Detroit has a firm hold on the top spot over Boston and the tiebreaker already clinched.

The Celtics are focused on holding off the No.

3 Knicks, who are trying to hold off the No.

4 Cavs, who are trying to hold off the No.

5 Magic, who are tied with the Raptors in the loss column.

So yeah, it's tight.