Starting today, the Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic, Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, and LA Clippers all fight for the final four playoff seeds and for some, their seasons end tonight.
The 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament tips off today, April 14, and if you haven’t been watching the NBA all season you’re going to want to start now. Eight teams across two conferences are competing for four playoff spots, and for half of them, a loss tonight means going home for good.
The format is ruthless in the best possible way. In the Eastern Conference, the No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers (45-37) host the No. 8 Orlando Magic (45-37) tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET. The winner locks in the East’s 7 seed. The loser stays alive barely getting one more shot at the 8 seed. Separately, the No. 9 Charlotte Hornets (44-38) host the No. 10 Miami Heat (43-39). Lose that one? Your season is over. Tonight’s winner advances to Friday’s second-round game against the loser of the Sixers-Magic bout.
Out West, the No. 7 Phoenix Suns (45-37) host the No. 8 Portland Trail Blazers (42-40) at 10 p.m. ET a notable moment: this is the first time in franchise history the Suns have entered a Play-In Tournament. The No. 9 LA Clippers (42-40) host the No. 10 Golden State Warriors (37-45).
“Can the Oklahoma City Thunder, who locked in their third straight 1-seed in the Western Conference, repeat as champions? Which team will emerge from a crowded East field?”— ESPN, setting the stage for the 2026 postseason
The bracket above those eight teams is already set, and it’s stacked. In the West, Oklahoma City Thunder hold the top seed after finishing with the league’s best record their third consecutive No. 1. San Antonio Spurs grabbed the 2 seed, with Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Lakers filling out the top four. The Thunder are the heavy favorites to reach the NBA Finals, though the Spurs have been a legitimately dangerous team all year.
In the East, the Detroit Pistons after years of rebuilding finished with the conference’s best record, earning the 1 seed. The Boston Celtics, back in title contention thanks to a rejuvenated Jaylen Brown, are the 2 seed. The New York Knicks grabbed the 3, and the Cleveland Cavaliers rounded out the top four. These teams have been preparing for weeks; now they wait to see which Play-In survivor comes for them.
The Play-In finales are Friday, April 17. The real playoffs begin Saturday, April 18 first round matchups in a full best-of-seven format. Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals is June 3, on ABC.
For casual fans and bettors alike, the Play-In is appointment television precisely because every possession counts differently when your season ends at the buzzer. The Heat have deep playoff DNA. The Warriors still have Steph Curry, now 37 years old and playing with a specific kind of veteran fury. The Hornets are young and desperate. The Sixers, as always, are somewhere between brilliant and fragile.
NBA Play-In 2026 — Fan Q&A
How exactly does the Play-In Tournament work?
Seeds 7 and 8 play: winner gets the 7 seed in the playoffs. Seeds 9 and 10 play: loser is eliminated from the lottery. Then the 7-8 loser plays the 9-10 winner: that winner becomes the 8 seed. Three games, two spots, two eliminations.
When and where can I watch?
Tonight’s games are on TNT (7:30 p.m. ET East game, 10 p.m. ET West game). Wednesday brings the second round of Play-In games. Full playoff games start Saturday, April 18, with coverage split between ESPN/ABC, NBC/Peacock, and Amazon Prime Video.
Who are the biggest favorites to win the NBA title?
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the odds-on favorites after three straight top-seeded finishes in the West. The Detroit Pistons are the darlings of the East. Boston and San Antonio are legitimate title threats. It’s a wide-open field below those four.
Is this the Golden State Warriors’ last shot with Steph Curry?
It’s a question the league is quietly sitting with. Curry at 37 is still remarkable, but the Warriors’ 37-45 regular-season record suggests the dynasty window has essentially closed. A Play-In run let alone a deep playoff push would be one of basketball’s great late-career stories.
