NBA Resumes Play Post-All-Star Break
Following the conclusion of the All-Star weekend, the NBA has resumed its regular season schedule. Teams are now entering the final stretch of the season, competing for playoff positioning and seeding as the postseason approaches.
- The regular season is scheduled to conclude on April 12, 2026, with all 30 teams playing. Following the regular season, the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament will take place from April 14-17, with the official NBA Playoffs beginning on April 18. - In the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons hold a significant lead, 5.5 games ahead of the second-place Boston Celtics. The Celtics have maintained a strong record even without Jayson Tatum, who has been recovering from an Achilles tear. - The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder lead the Western Conference. They had a dominant 24-1 start to the season. The San Antonio Spurs, led by Victor Wembanyama, are currently in second place in the West. - A significant trade deadline move saw James Harden dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers from the Los Angeles Clippers, a move aimed at pairing the former MVP with Donovan Mitchell for a championship push. - Key injuries are expected to shape the playoff race, with the Denver Nuggets missing Peyton Watson and Aaron Gordon until at least March, and the Oklahoma City Thunder awaiting the return of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ajay Mitchell. - A number of teams at the bottom of the standings, including the Wizards, Jazz, Kings, Mavericks, Grizzlies, Nets, and Pacers, are reportedly "aggressively tanking" for better lottery odds in what is projected to be a very strong 2026 draft class. - The New York Knicks won the third in-season NBA Cup tournament, which was held from October 31 to December 16, 2025, defeating the San Antonio Spurs. - Veteran point guard Chris Paul announced on February 13, 2026, that he would be retiring at the end of the current season, his 21st in the league.
