The 2026 NBA playoffs start with the Play-In Tournament on Tuesday, featuring eight teams competing for the final playoff spots. A total of 20 teams are still in contention for the championship.
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The 2026 NBA playoffs are upon us.
As of this moment, 20 teams are still alive for a shot at the Larry O’Brien trophy. However, eight of those teams still have some work to do before their playoff journeys can begin in earnest. Things kick off on Tuesday with the Play-In Tournament, as four teams in the Eastern Conference, and four teams in the Western Conference, vie for the final two spots in each conference.
Here is the schedule for the Play-In Tournament as well as the First Round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. And be warned, if you want to watch all the games, you better have Prime Video.
Here’s the final bracket for the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Remember, the NBA does not reseed.
The Eastern Conference Play-In tournament gets things going on Tuesday, April 15. The Miami Heat and the Charlotte Hornets square off in the first game, with the loser eliminated from postseason contention. The winner will take on the loser of Wednesday’s game between No. 8 Orlando and No. 7 Philadelphia, with the winner of that game securing the No. 7 seed in the East.
The loser of that second game will drop to the No. 8 spot.
All times Eastern.
No. 10 Miami Heat at No. 9 Charlotte Hornets: Tuesday, April 14 (7:30 p.m., Prime Video)
Loser eliminated
No. 8 Orlando Magic at No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers: Wednesday, April 15 (7:30 p.m., Prime Video)
Winner secures No. 7 seed in East
No. 7/No. 8 loser vs. No. 9/No. 10 winner: Friday, April 17 (7:30 p.m., Prime Video)
Winner secures No. 8 seed in East, loser eliminated
Over in the Western Conference, the Play-In Tournament begins with the Phoenix Suns hosting the Portland Trail Blazers, with the winner of that game on Tuesday securing the No. 7 seed. The loser will take on the winner of Wednesday’s game between No. 10 Golden State and No. 9 Los Angeles.
All times Eastern.
No. 8 Portland Trail Blazers at No. 7 Phoenix Suns, Tuesday, April 14 ( 10:00 p.m., Prime Video)
Winner secures No. 7 seed in West
No. 10 Golden State Warriors at No. 9 Los Angeles Clippers: Wednesday, April 15 ( 10:00 p.m., Prime Video)
Loser eliminated
No. 7/No. 8 loser vs. No. 9/No. 10 winner: Friday, April 17 ( 10:00 p.m., Prime Video)
Winner secures No. 8 seed in West, loser eliminated
Six teams are waiting in the Eastern Conference, led by the top-seeded Detroit Pistons. They’ll take on the No. 8 seed in the first round, while the Boston Celtics — who check in as the No. 2 seed in the East — will take on the No. 7 seed.
The other two first-round matchups are set: No. 3 New York vs. No. 6 Atlanta, and No. 4 Cleveland vs. No. 5 Toronto.
Game 1: TBD at Detroit: Sunday, April 19 (6:30 p.m., NBC)
Game 2: TBD at Detroit: TBD
Game 3: Detroit at TBD: TBD
Game 4: Detroit at TBD: TBD
Game 5: TBD at Detroit: TBD***
Game 6: Detroit at TBD: TBD*
Game 7: TBD at Detroit: TBD*
Game 1: TBD at Boston: Sunday, April 19 (1:00 p.m., ABC)
Game 2: TBD at Boston: TBD
Game 3: Boston at TBD: TBD
Game 4: Boston at TBD: TBD
Game 5: TBD at Boston: TBD*
Game 6: Boston at TBD: TBD*
Game 7: TBD at Boston: TBD*
Game 1: Atlanta at New York: Saturday, April 18 (6:00 p.m., Prime Video)
Game 2: Atlanta at New York: TBD
Game 3: New York at Atlanta: TBD
Game 4: New York at Atlanta: TBD
Game 5: Atlanta at New York: TBD*
Game 6: New York at Atlanta: TBD*
Game 7: Atlanta at New York: TBD*
Game 1: Toronto at Cleveland: Saturday, April 18 (1:00 p.m., Prime Video)
Game 2: Toronto at Cleveland: TBD
Game 3: Cleveland at Toronto: TBD
Game 4: Cleveland at Toronto: TBD
Game 5: Toronto at Cleveland: TBD*
Game 6: Cleveland at Toronto: TBD*
Game 7: Toronto at Cleveland: TBD*
*If necessary
Over in the Western Conference, the defending champions are waiting on the results of the Play-In Tournament, as the Thunder will have home-court in the First Round against the No. 8 seed. Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs secured the No. 2 seed, and will take on the No. 7 seed.
The other two matchups in the Western Conference are set. In the first, No. 3 Denver will take on No. 6 Minnesota, while in the second, No. 4 Los Angeles matches up against No. 5 Houston.
Game 1: TBD at Oklahoma City: Sunday, April 19 (3:30 p.m., ABC)
Game 2: TBD at Oklahoma City: TBD
Game 3: Oklahoma City at TBD: TBD
Game 4: Oklahoma City at TBD: TBD
Game 5: TBD at Oklahoma City: TBD*
Game 6: Oklahoma City at TBD: TBD*
Game 7: TBD at Oklahoma City: TBD*
Game 1: TBD at San Antonio: Sunday, April 19 (9:00 p.m., NBC)
Game 2: TBD at San Antonio: TBD
Game 3: San Antonio at TBD: TBD
Game 4: San Antonio at TBD: TBD
Game 5: TBD at San Antonio: TBD*
Game 6: San Antonio at TBD: TBD*
Game 7: TBD at San Antonio: TBD*
Game 1: Minnesota at Denver: Saturday, April 18 (3:30 p.m., Prime Video)
Game 2: Minnesota at Denver: TBD
Game 3: Denver at Minnesota: TBD
Game 4: Denver at Minnesota: TBD
Game 5: Minnesota at Denver: TBD*
Game 6: Denver at Minnesota: TBD*
Game 7: Minnesota at Denver: TBD*
Game 1: Houston at Los Angeles: Saturday, April 18 (8:30 p.m., ABC)
Game 2: Houston at Los Angeles: TBD
Game 3: Los Angeles at Houston: TBD
Game 4: Los Angeles at Houston: TBD
Game 5: Houston at Los Angeles: TBD*
Game 6: Los Angeles at Houston: TBD*
Game 7: Houston at Los Angeles: TBD*
*If necessary
The Play-In Tournament includes four teams from the Eastern Conference and four teams from the Western Conference competing for the final playoff spots.
The 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament kicks off on Tuesday.
A total of 20 teams are still alive for a shot at the Larry O’Brien trophy in the 2026 NBA playoffs.
To watch all the games of the 2026 NBA playoffs, you will need a subscription to Prime Video.
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