OKC Thunder Secure Top Western Seed As 2026 NBA Playoffs Begin With Play-In Tournament

The 2026 NBA playoffs begin with the play-in tournament starting Tuesday.

“2026 NBA playoff bracket: Matchups, schedule with postseason field finalized All 20 postseason seeds are now set as the NBA's 2025-26 regular season wrapped up on Sunday night The 2026 NBA playoff bracket is set”

CBS Sports

The Nos. 7 through 10 seeds compete to determine who faces the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds.

CBS Sports

The Thunder secured the Western Conference's top seed.

The play-in matchups include Suns vs. Trail Blazers and Clippers vs. Warriors in the West.

In the East, it's 76ers vs. Magic and Hornets vs. Heat.

The Thunder will begin the playoffs as the Western Conference's top seed.

Their opponent will be determined by the play-in tournament.

ESPN

Possible matchups include the Trail Blazers, Suns, Warriors or Clippers.

Tickets went on sale Monday at 10 a.m. Central.

Oklahoma City is guaranteed to host Games 1, 2, 5 and 7 if necessary.

Four of the eight first-round matchups are already known.

“ALERT TRAFFIC AND HOW IT IMPACTS YOUR MORNING COMMUTE”

KOCO

In the East, the No. 3 Knicks will face the No. 6 Hawks.

In the West, the No. 3 Nuggets will face the No. 6 Timberwolves.

The Pistons, Celtics, Thunder and Spurs await the winners of the Play-In Tournament.

All series are best-of-seven and played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format.

The Oklahoman ranked the Thunder's four possible first-round opponents.

Golden State was considered the easiest matchup.

News 9

Portland presented a slightly bigger challenge.

The Clippers were ranked third.

Phoenix was considered the toughest opponent.