Who's Playing Who in the 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament Bracket, Matchups?

NBA Play-In Tournament 2026 Teams: Has a team ever advanced to the Finals? Bracket, Matchups, Schedule.

Although the NBA Play-In Tournament has been part of the postseason format for several seasons, the rules and structure can still be confusing for some fans.The Play-In is essentially the “playoffs before the playoffs” — the NBA’s version of the First Four in the NCAA Tournament.

It was introduced before the 2021 postseason to expand the field of teams eligible for the playoffs and has added extra drama and excitement for teams in the lower part of both conference standings.

What is the NBA Play-In Tournament?

The tournament features the teams seeded 7th through 10th in each conference. It determines the final two playoff spots (No. 7 and No. 8 seeds) in both the Eastern and Western Conferences.

Important note: Any statistics recorded during Play-In games do not count toward a player’s or team’s official regular season or playoff records. The Play-In is treated as a separate event between the regular season and the actual playoffs.

2026 NBA Play-In Tournament bracket, matchups

Eastern Conference

No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers (45-37) vs. No. 8 Orlando Magic (45-37)

No. 9 Charlotte Hornets (44-38) vs. No. 10 Miami Heat (43-39)

Western Conference

No. 7 Phoenix Suns (45-37) vs. No. 8 Portland Trail Blazers (42-40)

No. 9 Los Angeles Clippers (42-40) vs. No. 10 Golden State Warriors (37-45)

When does the 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament start & Matchups?

The 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament begins on Tuesday, April 14 and runs through Friday, April 17.

Full Schedule (All Times ET):

Tuesday, April 14 

7:30 p.m. — Miami Heat at Charlotte Hornets (Prime Video)  

10:00 p.m. — Portland Trail Blazers at Phoenix Suns (Prime Video)

Wednesday, April 15 

7:30 p.m. — Orlando Magic at Philadelphia 76ers (Prime Video)  

10:00 p.m. — Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers (Prime Video)

Friday, April 17 

7:30 p.m. — East: Winner of 9/10 vs. Loser of 7/8 (Prime Video)  

10:00 p.m. — West: Winner of 9/10 vs. Loser of 7/8 (Prime Video)

EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS

1. Detroit Pistons

Record: 60-22 | Net rating: 8.4 (3rd)

First-round opponent: The No. 8 seed (76ers, Magic, Hornets or Heat) after play-in tournament. Game 1 is on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET (NBC).

2. Boston Celtics

Record: 55-26 | Net rating: 8.3 (4th)

First-round opponent: The No. 7 seed (76ers or Magic) after play-in tournament. Game 1 is on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET (ABC).

3. New York Knicks

Record: 53-29 | Net rating: 6.6 (5th)

First-round opponent: No. 6-seed Hawks. Game 1 is on Saturday at 6 p.m. ET (Prime).

4. Cleveland Cavaliers

Record: 52-30 | Net rating: 4.0 (9th)

First-round opponent: No. 5-seed Raptors. Game 1 is on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET (Prime).

5. Toronto Raptors

Record: 46-36 | Net rating: 2.5 (12th)

First-round opponent: No. 4-seed Cavaliers. Game 1 is on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET (Prime).

6. Atlanta Hawks

Record: 46-36 | Net rating: 2.5 (11th)

First-round opponent: No. 3-seed Knicks. Game 1 is on Saturday at 6 p.m. ET (Prime).

EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAY-IN

How the play-in tournament works

7. Philadelphia 76ers

Record: 45-37 | Net rating: -0.1 (18th)

Play-in opponent: Will host the No. 8-seed Magic in the 7-8 game on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET (Prime).

8. Orlando Magic

Record: 45-37 | Net rating: 0.7 (17th)

Play-in opponent: Will play the No. 7-seed 76ers on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET (Prime).

9. Charlotte Hornets

Record: 44-38 | Net rating: 4.8 (8th)

Play-in opponent: Will host the No. 10-seed Heat in the 9-10 game on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET (Prime).

10. Miami Heat

Record: 43-39 | Net rating: 1.8 (13th)

Play-in opponent: Will play the No. 9-seed Hornets on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET (Prime).

WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

Record: 64-18 | Net rating: 11.6 (1st)

First-round opponent: The No. 8 seed (Suns, Trail Blazers, Clippers or Warriors) after play-in tournament. Game 1 is on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC).

2. San Antonio Spurs

Record: 62-20 | Net rating: 8.6 (2nd)

First-round opponent: The No. 7 seed (Suns or Trail Blazers) after play-in tournament. Game 1 is on Sunday at 9 p.m. ET (NBC).

3. Denver Nuggets

Record: 54-28 | Net rating: 5.1 (6th)

First-round opponent: The No. 6-seed Timberwolves. Game 1 is on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET (Prime).

4. Los Angeles Lakers

Record: 53-29 | Net rating: 1.2 (14th)

First-round opponent: The No. 5-seed Rockets. Game 1 is on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC).

5. Houston Rockets

Record: 52-30 | Net rating: 5.0 (7th)

First-round opponent: The No. 4-seed Lakers. Game 1 is on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC).

6. Minnesota Timberwolves

Record: 49-33 | Net rating: 3.1 (10th)

First-round opponent: The No. 3-seed Nuggets. Game 1 is on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET (Prime).

WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAY-IN

7. Phoenix Suns

Record: 45-37 | Net rating: 1.0 (16th)

Play-in opponent: Will host the No. 8-seed Trail Blazers in the 7-8 game on Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET (Prime).

8. Portland Trail Blazers

Record: 42-40 | Net rating: -0.5 (20th)

Play-in opponent: Will play the No. 7-seed Suns on Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET (Prime).

9. Los Angeles Clippers

Record: 42-40 | Net rating: 1.1 (15th)

Play-in opponent: Will host the No. 10-seed Warriors in the 9-10 game on Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET (Prime).

10. Golden State Warriors

Record: 37-45 | Net rating: -0.4 (19th)

Play-in opponent: Will play the No. 9-seed Clippers on Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET (Prime).

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