What is the 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament format? How final playoff seeds will be determined
This year will mark the fifth time, under its current structure, that the NBA Play-In Tournament will be played.
The tournament allows for teams in the lower margins of contention to make their way into the playoffs, provided they catch fire and win their games. It also expands the field of teams eligible for the postseason to the top 10 seeds in each conference. Introduced ahead of the 2021 playoffs, any and all statistics recorded in the games do not count toward official records. Yet, the implications for the teams — winners and losers alike — is massive.
What is the NBA Play-In Tournament?
The tournament involves the teams ranked seventh through 10th in each conference to determine the seventh and eighth seeds, the final two playoff teams in each conference bracket.
Any stats recorded during play-in games do not count toward a player or team's regular season or postseason records. In the simplest terms, the Play-In Tournament is considered a separate event in between the regular season and playoffs.
How does the NBA Play-In Tournament format work?
The tournament is divided into two rounds:
Round 1
Game 1: No. 7 seed vs. No. 8 seed
Game 2: No. 9 seed vs. No. 10 seed
The No. 7 and No. 9 seeds play at home in the first round. The winner of Game 1 (No. 7 and 8 seeds in each conference) secures the No. 7 seed in their respective conference playoff bracket, NBA Postseason.
The loser of Game 1 continues to the second round and hosts the winner of Game 2. The loser of Game 2 is eliminated from playoff contention.
Round 2
Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 winner
The winner of this game secures the No. 8 and final seed in the playoffs. The loser is eliminated from playoff contention.
*The win-and-advance format is akin to March Madness in college basketball.
When does the 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament start?
The 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament begins Tuesday, April 14 and runs through Friday, April 17.
This year, the NBA Play-In Tournament Tip-off on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
That day will feature the No. 7 vs. 8 matchup in the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference.
The No. 9 and 10 seeds play against each other the following day, Wednesday, April 16.
The NBA Playoffs start on Saturday, April 18, as 16 teams, eight per conference, compete through a best-of-seven bracket to crown a champion.
Game 1 of the NBA Finals is set for Wednesday, June 3, on ABC.
NBA Play-In Tournament bracket: Current Standings
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
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