Now that the NBA betting All-Star break is ending, the playoff bubble becomes increasingly important. The Bubble refers to the teams ranked 5th through 10th in each conference. These squads qualify for the play-in tournament (which determines the final two playoff spots per conference). Additionally, they’re typically within striking distance of the top 6 (direct playoff qualifiers) or in close pursuit of one another.
At the onset of the week, here are the current standings and bubble/play-in picture:
Eastern Conference Standings
1. Detroit Pistons – 40-13
2. Boston Celtics – 35-19
3 .New York Knicks – 35-20
4 . Cleveland Cavaliers – 34-21
5. Toronto Raptors – 32-23
6.Philadelphia 76ers – 30-24
Bubble / Play-In Contenders (7-10): 7. Orlando Magic – 28-25 8. Miami Heat – 29-27 9. Charlotte Hornets – 26-29 10. Atlanta Hawks – 26-30
Bubble / Play-In Contenders (7-10): 7. Orlando Magic – 28-25 8. Miami Heat – 29-27 9. Charlotte Hornets – 26-29 10. Atlanta Hawks – 26-30
Although the Heat have more wins than the Magic, they rank 8th based on win percentage. Charlotte and Atlanta are inconsistent but within reach with strong finishes. Teams like the Bulls and Bucks are falling out of contention.
Western Conference Standings
1. Oklahoma City Thunder – 42-14
2. San Antonio Spurs – 38-16
3. Denver Nuggets – 35-20
4. Houston Rockets – 33-20
5. Los Angeles Lakers – 33-21
6. Minnesota Timberwolves – 34-22
Bubble / Play-In Contenders (7-10): 7. Phoenix Suns – 32-23 8. Golden State Warriors – 29-26 9. Portland Trail Blazers – 27-29 10. LA Clippers – 26-28
The West bubble is tighter below the Suns. To illustrate, Golden State, Portland, and the Clippers are all within a few games of each other and could shift with streaks or injuries. Teams like Memphis are effectively out.
Raptors And Magic Battle the Eastern Bubble
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors have significantly improved from the previous season, where they missed the playoffs. Concurrently, they lead the Atlantic Division, rival the 76ers, and trail only the Pistons, Celtics, Knicks, and Cavaliers in the conference. The roster is led by a core featuring Scottie Barnes and mid-season acquisition Brandon Ingram, both of whom were selected as 2026 All-Stars.
The pairing of Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram provides versatile scoring and online wagering playmaking. Namely, Barnes is the defensive anchor (1.6 BPG, 1.3 SPG). At the same time, Ingram leads the team in scoring at 21.8 PPG.
Toronto has transformed into a top-tier defensive unit, currently ranking 6th in the NBA in Defensive Rating (113.2). Correlate that their identity has shifted from an offense-first team to a defensive juggernaut that excels in high-pressure situations.
However, outside of Immanuel Quickley (38.0% 3PT), the team lacks elite perimeter spacing. Scottie Barnes (30.1%) and RJ Barrett (34.2%) struggle to be consistent from deep, contributing to the team’s 23rd-ranked scoring. Without a traditional center for long stretches, the Raptors are often undersized. This leads to struggles in defensive rebounding (ranking 19th in opponent offensive rebound %) and giving up easy points in the paint.
Orlando Magic
As of February 15, 2026, the Orlando Magic are currently the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference with a 28–25 record. Positioned at the top of the NBA Play-In Tournament bracket, they are fighting to move into the top six to secure a guaranteed playoff spot. Orlando relies on an identity of elite perimeter defense and physical transition play. At the same time, they are a powerhouse when healthy, but offensive inconsistency and ball security remain significant hurdles. To summarize, the roster is anchored by a young core, bolstered by the high-profile offseason acquisition of Desmond Bane.
The trio of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Desmond Bane provides a unique blend of size and skill. In sum, Banchero leads the team in points (21.3 PPG) and rebounds (8.4 RPG), while Bane adds elite spacing (19.6 PPG). Orlando ranks 1st in the NBA in limiting opponent 3-point attempts (31.6 per game) and 4th in contesting 3-pointers. They effectively force teams off the line and into their physical half-court defense.
On the whole, the team’s biggest offensive flaw is its pull-up jump shooting, which ranks last in the NBA at 30% field goal percentage. Their overall 3-point percentage of 34.4% ranks 24th, which often stalls their half-court offense.