Patryk Stachowiak
NBA Play-In Tournament 2026 Schedule and Format
The NBA Playoff field reaches completion this week through the Play-In Tournament, now in its sixth season of determining the final two seeds in each conference. The top six seeds in both the East and West advance directly to the first round, where the No. 3 seed faces No. 6 and No. 4 faces No. 5. The top two seeds await their opponents, which emerge from a three-day mini-tournament involving seeds seven through ten.
The tournament begins Tuesday, April 14, and concludes Friday, April 17, with the 2026 NBA Playoffs starting Saturday, April 18. The structure ensures that the Pistons and Thunder, as top seeds, face the winners emerging from the play-in gauntlet.
Tournament Format Breakdown
Tuesday’s matchups pit the No. 7 seed against No. 8 in each conference. Winners advance to face the No. 2 seeds in the first round. Losers remain in contention, hosting Wednesday’s winners between the No. 9 and No. 10 seeds. Friday’s elimination games determine which teams complete the first-round matchups.
2026 NBA Play-In Tournament Schedule
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Platform |
| Tuesday, April 14 | East No. 7 vs. East No. 8 | 7:30 p.m. | Prime Video |
| Tuesday, April 14 | West No. 7 vs. West No. 8 | 10 p.m. | Prime Video |
| Wednesday, April 15 | East No. 9 vs. East No. 10 | 7:30 p.m. | Prime Video |
| Wednesday, April 15 | West No. 9 vs. West No. 10 | 10 p.m. | Prime Video |
| Friday, April 17 | East No. 7/8 loser vs. No. 9/10 winner | 7:30 p.m. | Prime Video |
| Friday, April 17 | West No. 7/8 loser vs. No. 9/10 winner | 10 p.m. | Prime Video |
Where to Watch the 2026 Play-In Tournament
All six games will stream exclusively on Prime Video. Under the NBA’s new media rights agreement, the entire 2026 Play-In Tournament marks the first time the competition shifts to a streaming-only platform with no traditional television broadcast.
Western Conference Matchups
The West features compelling seeding battles. The Suns enter as the No. 7 seed, likely facing either the Blazers or Clippers at No. 8. The No. 10 seed could be the Warriors, setting up dramatic potential rematches in the play-in rounds.
Eastern Conference Matchups
The East presents its own competitive landscape. The Celtics and Knicks secure top-six positioning, while lower seeds from the Raptors, Hawks, and Cavaliers battle for playoff spots.
2026 NBA Playoffs Bracket
Eastern Conference First Round
- (1) Pistons vs. (8) TBD
- (2) Celtics vs. (7) TBD
- (3) Knicks vs. (6) Raptors/Hawks
- (4) Cavaliers vs. (5) Hawks/Raptors
Western Conference First Round
- (1) Thunder vs. (8) TBD
- (2) Spurs vs. (7) TBD
- (3) Nuggets/Lakers vs. (6) Timberwolves
- (4) Lakers/Nuggets vs. (5) Rockets
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