The 2026 NBA postseason officially tips off with 20 teams vying for the Larry O'Brien Trophy after an 82-game regular season. The Detroit Pistons enter as the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a 60-22 record, while the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks round out the top three. The play-in tournament begins Tuesday, determining the final playoff spots against the No. 1 and 2 seeds.

Cade Cunningham leads Detroit's championship charge after a dominant regular season, though questions linger about his health following a collapsed lung. The Pistons' defense-first identity powered their historic run, but their offensive depth remains unproven. Meanwhile, the Celtics face uncertainty with Jayson Tatum's return from an Achilles injury, while the Knicks look to Karl-Anthony Towns to step up as a true second option alongside Jalen Brunson.

With DraftKings odds favoring the Pistons at +2200 to win the title, the Eastern Conference appears wide open. The play-in tournament adds intrigue as teams fight for seeding, setting up potential first-round matchups that could shake up the bracket. As the postseason begins, all eyes turn to whether Detroit can sustain their regular-season dominance, if Boston can overcome their health concerns, or if New York's retooled roster can finally break through in the playoffs.