NBA playoff bracket, schedule: East seeds set as Raptors claim No. 5 seed

All 10 postseason seeds are now set in the East after Sunday's early action

By Brad Botkin

Apr 12, 2026 at 8:45 pm ET • 2 min read

Keytron Jordan, CBS Sports

The 2026 NBA playoff bracket will be finalized on Sunday night. After the night's first batch of games, we know what the Eastern Conference side of the bracket looks like. The Toronto Raptors clinched the final top-six seed and a guaranteed playoff berth on Sunday thanks to their win over the Nets. The Raptors will be the No. 5 seed in the East and face the Cavs in the first round, as the Hawks were bumped down to the No. 6 seed with their loss to the Heat on Sunday. The Hawks will go up against the third-seeded Knicks in the first round.

The No. 1 Pistons and No. 2 Celtics await the Play-In Tournament winners in the East. The 76ers will host the Magic with the No. 7 seed on the line Tuesday, while the Hornets and Heat will play in the 9-10 matchup on Wednesday.

In the West, the biggest question is if the Nuggets can lock up the No. 3 seed and keep the Lakers at No. 4. The West's No. 3 seed would face the Wolves in the first round, while the Rockets await the No. 4 seed.

While we wait and see how the final seeds shake out, here's an up-to-date look at the 2026 NBA playoff bracket, as well as the schedule for the Play-In Tournament and key dates for the next two months.

2026 NBA playoff bracket

2026 NBA Playoff Picture

NBA postseason bracket after Sunday's East games

Play-In Tournament

East: No. 7 76ers vs. No. 8 Magic | No. 9 Hornets vs. No. 10 Heat
West: No. 7 Suns vs. No. 8 Trail Blazers | No. 9 Clippers vs. No. 10 Warriors

East first round
No. 1 Pistons vs. No. 8 TBD
No. 2 Celtics vs. No. 7 TBD
No. 3 Knicks vs. No. 6 Hawks
No. 4 Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Raptors

West first round
No. 1 Thunder vs. No. 8 TBD
No. 2 Spurs vs. No. 7 TBD
No. 3 Nuggets vs. No. 6 Timberwolves
No. 4 Lakers vs. No. 5 Rockets

Play-In Tournament schedule

Tuesday, April 14

76ers vs. Magic, 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime -- Winner gets East No. 7 seed
Suns vs. Trail Blazers/Clippers, 10 p.m. ET, Prime -- Winner gets West No. 7 seed

Wednesday, April 15

Hornets vs. Heat, 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime -- Loser is eliminated from postseason
Trail Blazers/Clippers vs. Warriors, 10 p.m. ET, Prime -- Loser is eliminated from postseason

Friday, April 17

76ers/Magic vs. Hornets/Heat, 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime -- Winner gets East No. 8 seed, loser is eliminated from postseason
TBD vs. TBD, 10 p.m. ET, Prime -- Winner gets West No. 8 seed, loser is eliminated from postseason