The NBA’s stretch run has arrived. Here’s a look at what’s happening

Advertisement

Advertise with us

Finally, a seed has been clinched in the NBA playoffs.

Read this article for free:


or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

Finally, a seed has been clinched in the NBA playoffs.

The road to the Eastern Conference title will run through Detroit, which locked up the No. 1 seed on Saturday with a win over Philadelphia.

The Pistons are 12-3 in their last 15 games, even while Cade Cunningham has been out for much of that stretch while recovering from a collapsed lung. And while the East is locked up, technically there is still something to play for — home-court advantage in the NBA Finals. Detroit will be no worse than the No. 3 overall seed but still has a shot of catching San Antonio for the second-best record.

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, right, drives against Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, March 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, right, drives against Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, March 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Also in play for the Pistons: the third-best record in team history. At 57-21, they could still get to 61 wins. Only the 2005-06 Pistons (64-18) and the 1988-89 Pistons (63-19) won more games than that.

Who’s in and who’s out?

Here’s what we know so far regarding the NBA playoff field for this season.

— Eastern Conference playoff teams: Detroit has locked up the No. 1 seed and will open the postseason on April 19. Boston, New York, Cleveland are in. At this point, Atlanta and Toronto would get the other two guaranteed spots, but those are not clinched.

— East play-in teams: Nobody is locked into the play-in yet, but entering Saturday, the four teams headed there are Philadelphia, Charlotte, Orlando and Miami.

— East eliminated teams: Milwaukee, Chicago, Indiana, Brooklyn and Washington.

— Western Conference playoff teams: Oklahoma City, San Antonio, the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver and Houston are in. Minnesota is likely to grab the sixth and final guaranteed spot.

— West play-in teams: Phoenix is probably going to the play-in tournament. Portland, the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State definitely are.

— West eliminated teams: Memphis, New Orleans, Dallas, Utah and Sacramento.

Saturday recap

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) dunks against the Atlanta Hawks in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 30, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) dunks against the Atlanta Hawks in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 30, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

— Heat 152, Wizards 136: Good news for Wizards, Bam Adebayo didn’t score 83. Bad news for Wizards, everything else.

— Nuggets 136, Spurs 134, OT: Nikola Jokic scores 40, Victor Wembanyama scores 34 in this potential West semifinal matchup.

— Pistons 116, 76ers 93: Detroit clinches No. 1 seed in East, Philadelphia falls back to play-in range for now.

Sunday’s schedule

— Toronto at Boston: Celtics rolling toward No. 2 seed.

— Washington at Brooklyn: Someone will win, possibly to their chagrin.

— Phoenix at Chicago: Suns likely will be No. 7 in West play-in.

— Memphis at Milwaukee: Doc Rivers can be announced as a Hall of Famer for first time.

— Indiana at Cleveland: Cavaliers looking to tune up before playoffs.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) looks for a play against Utah Jazz guard John Konchar (55) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) looks for a play against Utah Jazz guard John Konchar (55) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)

— Charlotte at Minnesota: The Hornets are playing without fear right now.

— Orlando at New Orleans: Magic have to keep building some momentum.

— Utah at Oklahoma City: Thunder just won’t let the Spurs make up too much ground.

— LA Lakers at Dallas: Neither team will have Luka Doncic, who remains beloved by Mavs fans.

— LA Clippers at Sacramento: Clippers looking to get a home play-in game (or two, if needed).

— Houston at Golden State: Warriors have five games to prep for the play-in, and this will be Stephen Curry’s return.

Monday’s schedule

— New York at Atlanta: Hawks are 18-2 in their last 20 games, likely No. 5 seed in East. Knicks could make a statement here.

— Detroit at Orlando: Magic have three players who finished at Michigan, Pistons have two. This during the NCAA title game is just wrong.

— Cleveland at Memphis: Cavs could still catch Knicks, with some help. A slipup here wouldn’t be ideal.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden, right, drives to the basket against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden, right, drives to the basket against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

— Philadelphia at San Antonio: Spurs won’t play another road game until Game 3 of West quarterfinals.

— Portland at Denver: Trail Blazers in extremely close race with Clippers for No. 8 seed in play-in tournament.

National TV schedule

Sunday on NBA TV: Toronto-Boston.

Sunday on NBC and Peacock: LA Lakers-Dallas, Houston-Golden State.

Monday on Peacock and NBCSN: New York-Atlanta.

Betting odds

Oklahoma City (+130) is favored to win the NBA title, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, followed by San Antonio (+450), Boston (+550), Denver (+1200), Cleveland (+1200) and New York (+1900). Detroit, the No. 1 seed in the East, is +2500. And after Luka Doncic’s injury sent the Los Angeles Lakers’ odds soaring, from +2500 beforehand to +12500, Austin Reaves’ injury made them even bigger long shots. They’re at +50000 now.

Key dates

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) works to the basket against Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva, right, in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) works to the basket against Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva, right, in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

— Friday: All 30 teams play their 81st games of the season.

— April 12: All 30 teams play their regular-season finales.

— April 14, 15 and 17: NBA play-in tournament dates.

— April 18 and 19: NBA playoff series openers.

— May 2, 3 or 4: Conference semifinals begin.

— May 10: NBA draft lottery.

— May 10-17: NBA draft combine.

— May 17 or 19: Eastern Conference finals begin on ESPN and ABC.

— May 18 or 20: Western Conference finals begin on NBC and Peacock.

— June 3: Game 1, NBA Finals on ABC. (Other finals dates: June 5, June 8, June 10, June 13, June 16 and June 19).

Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff gestures to an official during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff gestures to an official during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Numbers watch

San Antonio is now 37-2 this season when scoring 121 points or more. Both losses are to Denver — and in each of the first three meetings between those clubs this season, both teams have reached at least 131 points.

Stat of the day

The Heat had zero instances of scoring 150 points in their first 3,264 games. They’ve scored 150 or more three times in their last 86 games.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

Report Error Submit a Tip

Basketball

LOAD BASKETBALL ARTICLES