11 Milestones to Watch for in the 2026 NBA Playoffs

The 2026 NBA Playoffs are set to begin on April 18, featuring 16 teams competing for the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. With several storylines developing throughout the 2025-26 season, here are 11 key milestones to monitor as the postseason unfolds.

Historic Playoff Streaks on the Line

Several teams are aiming to extend or achieve significant postseason appearance streaks:

• The Boston Celtics will make the playoffs for the twelfth consecutive season, marking the longest active streak in the NBA.
• The Oklahoma City Thunder secured their third straight playoff appearance as the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed, also winning the Maurice Podoloff Trophy for the league’s best record for the second consecutive year.
• The Denver Nuggets will extend their playoff streak to eight consecutive seasons.
• The Minnesota Timberwolves are set to make the playoffs for the fifth straight year.
• The New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, and Cleveland Cavaliers will each reach the postseason for the fourth consecutive season.
• The Detroit Pistons and Houston Rockets will make the playoffs for the second straight season.

Teams Returning After Absences

Multiple franchises are ending playoff droughts this year:

• The Philadelphia 76ers return to the playoffs after missing the 2025 postseason.
• The Atlanta Hawks will make the playoffs for the first time since 2023.
• The Toronto Raptors are back in the postseason for the first time since 2022.
• The Portland Trail Blazers will make their first playoff appearance since 2021.
• The San Antonio Spurs return to the playoffs for the first time since 2019.

Notable Absence

One team that made the playoffs last year will not be participating in 2026:

• The Memphis Grizzlies will miss the playoffs after appearing in the postseason during the 2024-25 season.

Play-In Tournament Sets the Field

The 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament, held from April 14-18, determined the final four playoff spots:

• The Philadelphia 76ers secured the Eastern Conference’s No. 7 seed with a victory over the Orlando Magic.
• The Golden State Warriors clinched the Western Conference’s No. 8 seed by defeating the Los Angeles Clippers, fueled by a 35-point performance from Stephen Curry.

The playoffs will officially tip off on April 18 with four Game 1 matchups, followed by four more on April 19, leading to a best-of-seven format through each round until the NBA Finals conclude in June.