The 2025-2026 regular season is down to the final eight games. The Thunder, Spurs, Pistons, and Celtics are the first teams to clinch playoff berths in their respective conferences. The top 10 teams in each conference are known, and the final regular-season games can decide division seeding. Here are the top 15 NBA teams heading into the week of March 30th.
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15. Orlando Magic
The Magic have eight games to move into sixth place in the Eastern Conference. If the team moves into sixth place, they will stay out of the play-in tournament. As of today, the Eastern Conference play-in tournament would feature Orlando, Philadelphia, Miami, and Charlotte.
14. Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia is making a final push to steer clear of the play in games. They trail Atlanta by half a game for sixth in the Eastern Conference. The 76ers have eight games to make the leap into sixth but are at the mercy of their conference foes.
13. Phoenix Suns
The Suns have chased sixth place in the Western Conference throughout the regular season. They haven’t closed the gap and continue sitting in seventh. They are headed to the conference’s play-in tournament and will be one of the favorites to make it through to the playoffs.
12. Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta has been one of the NBA’s hottest teams and has jumped into sixth place in the Eastern Conference. The Hawks are not contenders for the Eastern Conference Finals, but they will give conference rivals a tough playoff series. The team has seven games remaining, and strong play will ensure they stay comfortably seated in sixth place.
11. Toronto Raptors
The Raptors have played consistently throughout the season. They haven’t hit a long-extended struggle and continue to hold fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Toronto will be a handful for the longevity of a playoff series.
10. Houston Rockets
Houston has dropped to sixth place in the Western Conference. However, the teams ranked 6th to 10th do not have the firepower to overtake the team in the conference standings. The Rockets are not getting enough publicity and can be at the winning end of a Western Conference playoff series upset.
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves are playing .500 basketball without superstar Anthony Edwards. Edwards has battled a knee injury since his last game on March 15th. Reports suggest the superstar will return this week, and that is great news for Minnesota.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland has taken a back seat to Detroit, Boston, and New York. The trio is getting all the praise, and that’s fine with the Cavaliers. The Cavaliers continue playing their best basketball of the season and are ready for the playoffs to begin.
7. Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets have rebounded from their struggles and are one game out of third place in the Western Conference. With six regular-season games remaining, Denver’s focus is on entering the playoffs fully healthy. The team’s playoff experience will be crucial for a run to the Western Conference Finals.
6. Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers have been outstanding over their last 10 games. They’ve jumped into third place in the Western Conference. The team does not have the possibility to move into first or second place, but has eight games to hold onto third. If their production carries into the playoffs, they will be a tough series matchup for any Western Conference opponent.
5. New York Knicks
With seven regular-season games remaining, the Knicks are ranked third in the Eastern Conference. New York’s final objective is to enter the playoffs healthy. They are ready to start their hunt for a return to the Eastern Conference Finals
4. Boston Celtics
The Celtics have eight games to overtake Detroit atop the Eastern Conference. Boston has done their best to make a push for the conference lead, but Detroit hasn’t slowed down even without superstar Cade Cunningham. Boston’s head coach, Joe Mazzulla, has the team eyeing a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals.
3. Detroit Pistons
Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has etched his name as the favorite to win NBA Coach of the Year. He’s led the Pistons atop the Eastern Conference throughout the regular season. Cade Cunningham hasn’t played since March 17th, but Bickerstaff hasn’t seen his team stop producing at a high level.
2. San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs are ready for the playoffs to start. They’ve played second fiddle to the Thunder and are eager for a playoff series matchup with them. They will have their work cut out for them, but the Spurs want nothing more than to face the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder entered the season as defending NBA Champions. They haven’t shown signs of a lingering hangover and look every bit as dominant as last season. It would be an absolute failure if Oklahoma City failed to reach the Western Conference Finals.
