With less than two weeks left to play in the 2025-26 regular season, teams are in the midst of heated battles in the standings ahead of the start of the NBA playoffs on April 18.
The top six teams in each conference will earn an outright playoff berth at the conclusion of the regular season. The next four teams will compete in the play-in tournament on April 14-17 for the last two seeds in each conference, respectively.
After 10 teams were eliminated from postseason contention, 20 remain alive for either a playoff berth or a spot in the play-in tournament. The action is set to heat up as teams battle for positioning in the standings down the stretch.
Eight games are scheduled for Monday, with several key matchups and some clinching scenarios to monitor throughout the evening around the league.
What are the matchups on Monday?
Three FLAMING hot teams, plus a 1 VS. 1 matchup!
🔥 Spurs seek 26 wins in 28 games
🔥 Hawks seek 16 wins in 18 games
🔥 Lakers seek 15 wins in 17 games
🔥 1st in East DET vs. 1st in West OKC pic.twitter.com/PpXbcqctnF— NBA (@NBA) March 30, 2026
Playoff Picture
NBA STANDINGS UPDATE ‼️
▪️ BOS (#2 in East) wins 3rd straight, clinches an Eastern Conference top 6 seed in the NBA Playoffs presented by @Google
▪️ DEN (#4 in West) wins 6th straight
▪️ LAC (#8 in West) wins 5th straight pic.twitter.com/YE8XNgu7zE— NBA (@NBA) March 30, 2026
Which teams have clinched a playoff berth?
Western Conference:
- Oklahoma City Thunder (59-16)
- San Antonio Spurs (56-18)
Eastern Conference:
- Detroit Pistons (54-20)
- Boston Celtics (50-24)
Which teams have been eliminated from postseason contention?
Western Conference:
- Memphis Grizzlies (25-49)
- New Orleans Pelicans (25-51)
- Dallas Mavericks (24-50)
- Utah Jazz (21-54)
- Sacramento Kings (19-57)
Eastern Conference:
- Milwaukee Bucks (29-45)
- Chicago Bulls (29-45)
- Brooklyn Nets (18-57)
- Washington Wizards (17-57)
- Indiana Pacers (17-58)
Western Conference Scenarios
- The Nuggets can clinch a playoff berth with a loss by the Suns and a win by the Lakers
- The Lakers can clinch a playoff berth and the Pacific Division title with a win and a loss by the Suns
Eastern Conference Scenarios
- The Pistons can clinch the Central Division title with a win or a loss by the Cavaliers
- The Knicks can clinch a playoff berth with a loss by the Sixers
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: 2026 NBA Playoffs: Clinching scenarios and standings on March 30
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