NBA Playoffs 2026
Play-In: April 14–17 · First Round: April 18 · NBA Finals: June 4
The 2026 NBA Playoffs feature 16 teams across two conferences in best-of-7 series. Seeds 7–10 per conference compete in the Play-In Tournament (April 14–17) for the final two postseason spots. The main bracket First Round starts April 18. The NBA Finals begin June 4, 2026, pitting the Eastern Conference champion against the Western Conference champion.
Live NBA Resources
2026 NBA Playoffs Schedule & Dates
2026 NBA Play-In Tournament Schedule
The 2026 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament runs April 14–18. Seeds 7–10 in each conference compete in three rounds for the final two postseason spots.
| Date | Conf | Matchup | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue Apr 14 | East | (10) Miami Heat at (9) Charlotte Hornets | 7:30 PM ET |
| Tue Apr 14 | West | (8) Portland Trail Blazers at (7) Phoenix Suns | 10:00 PM ET |
| Wed Apr 15 | East | (8) Orlando Magic at (7) Philadelphia 76ers | 7:30 PM ET |
| Wed Apr 15 | West | (10) Golden State Warriors at (9) LA Clippers | 10:00 PM ET |
| Fri Apr 18 | East | Miami Heat vs. Atlanta Hawks (loser-bracket)Winner = #8 East seed | TBD |
| Fri Apr 18 | West | Dallas Mavericks vs. Memphis Grizzlies (loser-bracket)Winner = #8 West seed | TBD |
Play-In Tournament Format Rules
Both conferences run their own three-game Play-In bracket simultaneously.
| Game | Matchup | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Game 1 (East & West) | 7 seed vs. 8 seed | Winner = #7 playoff seed |
| Game 2 (East & West) | 9 seed vs. 10 seed | Loser eliminated |
| Game 3 (East & West) | Loser of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 | Winner = #8 playoff seed · Loser eliminated |
2026 NBA Playoffs First Round Bracket
First Round begins April 18, 2026. All series are best-of-7. Seeds 7 and 8 in each conference are determined by the Play-In Tournament (April 14–18).
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
First Round Opening Weekend Schedule
Eight first-round games spread across Saturday April 18 and Sunday April 19.
Saturday, April 18
Sunday, April 19
Recent NBA Champions
NBA Finals results from the past seven seasons.
NBA Playoffs FAQ
When do the NBA playoffs start in 2026?
The 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament is expected April 14–17, 2026. The first round of the main NBA Playoffs begins around April 18, 2026. The NBA Finals are expected to start in early June 2026 and run through late June.
How do the NBA playoffs work?
16 teams qualify — 8 per conference. The top 6 teams per conference earn automatic berths. Seeds 7–10 play in the Play-In Tournament for the final two spots. The main bracket is single-elimination best-of-7 series through four rounds: First Round, Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals, and NBA Finals.
What is the NBA Play-In Tournament?
The Play-In Tournament is a mini-tournament held after the regular season for seeds 7–10 in each conference. The 7 vs. 8 winner earns the 7 seed. The 9 vs. 10 winner faces the 7/8 loser; that winner earns the 8 seed. The other teams are eliminated.
How many teams make the NBA playoffs?
16 teams total — 8 per conference. The top 6 teams per conference qualify automatically. Seeds 7 and 8 come from the Play-In Tournament (which includes seeds 7–10 from each conference).
How is home court advantage determined in the NBA playoffs?
Home court advantage in the NBA playoffs goes to the team with the better regular-season record. That team hosts Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 in a best-of-7 series. The road team hosts Games 3, 4, and 6.
How long are NBA playoff series?
Every round of the NBA playoffs is a best-of-7 series — the first team to win 4 games advances. Series can end in 4 games (sweep), 5, 6, or 7 games. The full postseason runs approximately 2 months from mid-April to mid-June.
Who won the 2025 NBA Championship?
The Oklahoma City Thunder won the 2025 NBA Championship, defeating the Indiana Pacers 4–1 in the NBA Finals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named Finals MVP.
Where can I watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs?
NBA Playoffs games air on ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV in the United States. Starting with the 2025-26 season, games also air on NBC, Amazon Prime Video, and Peacock as part of the NBA's new 11-year broadcast deal. The NBA Finals airs primarily on ABC.
How many games are in the NBA playoffs?
The NBA playoffs include up to 105 games across the Play-In Tournament (up to 6 games) and 4 rounds of best-of-7 series (up to 28 games per conference). In practice, the total typically ranges from 80–90 games depending on sweeps.
What does 'seeding' mean in the NBA playoffs?
Seeds 1–8 in each conference represent a team's playoff ranking by regular-season record. The 1 seed (best record) plays the 8 seed (worst qualifier); the 2 seed plays the 7 seed, and so on. Higher seeds earn home court advantage in each series.
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