NBA Playoffs: 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament Schedule, dates, times, rules, scores, current standings,.
The 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament is set, and eight teams will be competing to earn the final two spots in each conference's playoff bracket.
The NBA Play-In Tournament will include teams with the 7th through 10th-highest winning percentages in each conference.
What is the NBA Play-In Tournament?
The NBA Board of Governors approved the adoption of the NBA Play-In Tournament on a full-time basis back in July 2022.
The SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament is contested between the teams that finish Nos. 7-10 in each conference and determines the teams that fill the seventh and eighth playoff seeds in each conference for the 2026 NBA playoffs.
When is the Play-In Tournament 2026, Dates?
The 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament will take place Tuesday, April 14 – Friday, April 17, with the games played after the regular season concludes and before the first round of the NBA Playoffs begins.
Which teams will be in the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament?
Check the NBA Standings page for the latest conference seeding.
Western Conference
(7) Phoenix vs. (8) LAC
(9) POR vs. (10) Golden State
Eastern Conference
(8) 76ers vs. (7) Magic
(9) Hornets vs. (10) Heat
How can I watch the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament on tv?
Prime Video will be the exclusive home for all six games of the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament. The game and broadcast schedule will be announced when finalized
NBA Playoff Picture 2026: Play-In tournament Bracket, Standings, postseason seeded teams.
The 2026 NBA Playoffs Schedule will start on Saturday, April 18 and conclude no later than June 6.
The NBA play-in tournament standings after games played on, April 9:
Western Conference
(7) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) LA Clippers
(9) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (10) Golden State Warriors
Eastern Conference
(8) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (7) Orlando Magic
(9) Charlotte Hornets vs. (10) Miami Heat
2026 NBA Playoff matchups Schedule, games dates, teams, start times, how to watch online Live Stream.
2026 NBA Play-In Tournament Schedule, Scores, dates, Times, channel, results.
Tuesday, April 14
Hornets vs. Heat, 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime -- Loser is eliminated from postseason
Suns vs. Trail Blazers/Clippers, 10 p.m. ET, Prime -- Winner gets West No. 7 seed
Wednesday, April 15
76ers vs. Magic, 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime -- Winner gets East No. 7 seed
Trail Blazers/Clippers vs. Warriors, 10 p.m. ET, Prime -- Loser is eliminated from postseason
Friday, April 17
76ers/Magic vs. Hornets/Heat, 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime -- Winner gets East No. 8 seed, loser is eliminated from postseason
TBD vs. TBD, 10 p.m. ET, Prime -- Winner gets West No. 8 seed, loser is eliminated from postseason
How does the NBA Play-In Tournament work? Format.?
The seventh and eighth seeds in each conference will play in the first play-in games on April 14, and the ninth and tenth seeds in each conference will play on April 15.
The winners of the 7-8 games will advance to the playoffs as the No. 7 seed. The losers of the 7-8 games will face the winners of the 9-10 games on April 16, with the No. 8 seed on the line.
The team that loses will be disqualified from playoff contention.
The losers of the 9-10 games are disqualified from playoff contention.
Essentially, the teams that finish seventh and eighth in their conference after the NBA season get two chances to earn a spot in the NBA playoffs.
When are the 2025 NBA Playoffs? Key dates to remember
The NBA Playoffs will begin on Saturday, April 19 and conclude no later than Sunday, June 18.
April 12: Regular season ends (All 30 teams play)
April 13: Rosters set for NBA Playoffs 2026 (3 p.m. ET)
April 14-17: SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament
April 18-19: NBA Playoffs First-round series begin
May 2-4: Second round begins
May 10: 2026 NBA Draft Lottery
May 19: Eastern Conference Finals begin
May 20: Western Conference Finals begin
June 3: NBA Finals 2026 – Game 1 on ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET
June 19: NBA Finals 2026 – Game 7 on ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET (if necessary)
_____
0 Comments