Durant and James Set to Clash in NBA Playoffs as Seedings Are Finalized

The stage is set for a thrilling NBA playoff series between legends Kevin Durant and LeBron James, marking their first postseason encounter in eight years. The seedings were confirmed on the final night of the regular season, with six teams in each conference securing their playoff spots and four more in each conference heading to the play-in. James' Los Angeles Lakers claimed the fourth seed in the Western Conference, earning home court advantage in their best-of-seven series against Durant's Houston Rockets, who are the fifth seed. In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics defeated the Orlando Magic, relegating Orlando to the eighth spot and the play-in, where they will face the Philadelphia 76ers. The winner will advance to the first round of the playoffs, where the Celtics await. The New York Knicks locked up the No. 3 seed in the east and will meet the Atlanta Hawks in the first round. The Cleveland Cavaliers will face the Toronto Raptors. In the west, the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Sacramento Kings to earn the eighth spot and will have two chances to win one game and clinch a playoff berth. The Trail Blazers will play the Phoenix Suns in the 7/8 play-in match-up, with the winner facing Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs in round one. The Los Angeles Clippers beat the Golden State Warriors and will play again in the 9/10 playoff elimination game. The winner will meet the loser of the Suns vs Trail Blazers for the chance to take on the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Denver Nuggets, who ended the regular season on a 12-game winning streak, beat an under-strength Spurs to lock up the No. 3 seed and set up a first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 2026 NBA playoffs begin on Sky Sports this Sunday, April 19, with four live games on Sky Sports Action from 6pm onwards.