Play‑In Tournament begins
The NBA Play‑In Tournament kicks off tonight with seeds 7–10 in each conference battling for the final four playoff spots. (cbssports.com) The format stays the same: 7‑vs‑8 decides the 7 seed, 9‑vs‑10 loser is eliminated, and the 7/8 loser plays the 9/10 winner for the 8 seed. (sports.yahoo.com)
The National Basketball Association play-in tournament opens Tuesday, April 14, with eight teams chasing the last four spots in the 2026 playoff bracket. (nba.com) The games run from April 14 through April 17, and the first round of the playoffs starts April 18. The league’s official bracket lists Phoenix and Portland in the Western Conference 7-versus-8 game, Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State in the 9-versus-10 game, Orlando and Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference 7-versus-8 game, and Charlotte and Miami in the 9-versus-10 game. (nba.com) Tuesday’s schedule starts with Miami at Charlotte at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time in an elimination game, then shifts to Portland at Phoenix at 10 p.m. Eastern time with the No. 7 seed at stake. Wednesday brings Orlando at Philadelphia at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time and Golden State at the Clippers at 10 p.m. Eastern time. (nba.com) The format gives the seventh- and eighth-place teams two chances to win one game and reach the playoffs. The ninth- and 10th-place teams have to survive an elimination game first, then win again on Friday to claim the No. 8 seed. (nba.com) That structure has changed the end of the regular season calendar. Instead of six guaranteed playoff spots per conference ending the race, 20 teams now reach either the playoffs or the play-in, and Sunday’s final 15-game slate settled the last postseason positions. (nba.com) The standings show how tight the margins were. In the East, Philadelphia and Orlando both finished 45-37, while Charlotte went 44-38 and Miami 43-39; in the West, Phoenix finished 45-37, Portland and the Clippers both finished 42-40, and Golden State took the last spot at 37-45. (espn.com) The winners slot directly into first-round series that are already waiting. Detroit will face the East’s No. 8 seed, Boston will face the East’s No. 7 seed, Oklahoma City will face the West’s No. 8 seed, and San Antonio will face the West’s No. 7 seed. (nba.com) All play-in games this year are scheduled for Prime Video, according to the league’s postseason schedule page. By Friday night, the bracket will be complete and all 16 playoff teams will be set. (nba.com)
