The NBA playoffs will begin on Saturday, April 18, following the Play-In Tournament that runs from Tuesday to Friday. The league will soon crown its 2025-26 champion.
TheĀ NBA regular seasonĀ is over, which means in a couple short months, the league will crown its 2025-26 champion.
TheĀ NBAĀ Play-In Tournament begins this week, but when do the playoffs actually begin?
Here's everything to know.
After the Play-In Tournament, which runs Tuesday through Friday, the NBA playoffs tip off Saturday, April 18.
Game 1 of the NBA Finals is set for Wednesday, June 3.
(All times Eastern)
The Cavaliers, the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference, start their first round seriesĀ at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 18.
The Cavaliers will take on the No. 5 seed Toronto RaptorsĀ in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
The annual Play-In Tournament begins on Tuesday, April 14. The tournament will run through Friday, April 17.
The tournament is divided into two rounds:
Round 1
The No. 7 and No. 9 seeds play at home in the first round. The winner of Game 1 secures the No. 7 seed in its respective conference playoff bracket. The loser of Game 1 continues to the second round and hosts the winner of Game 2. The loser of Game 2 is eliminated from playoff contention.
Round 2
The winner of this game secures the No. 8 and final seed in the playoffs. The loser is eliminated from playoff contention.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) reaches for the ball against the Toronto Raptors on Nov. 24, 2025, in Toronto, Ontario.
With all regular season games completed, the NBA standings are final, meaning the bracket of the 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament is officially set:
(All times are Eastern)
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
All games will be broadcast exclusively onĀ Amazon Prime Video.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: When do the NBA playoffs start? How to watch postseason games
The NBA Play-In Tournament is scheduled to run from Tuesday to Friday of the week before the playoffs start.
The first game of the NBA playoffs in 2026 is set to take place on Saturday, April 18.
Details on how to watch the NBA playoffs in 2026 will be available closer to the start date, typically through major sports networks and streaming services.
The teams competing in the 2026 NBA playoffs will be determined after the conclusion of the regular season and the Play-In Tournament.
LIV Golf's future appears uncertain as reports suggest Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund may withdraw funding after investing $5 billion. Despite assurances for the 2026 season, the tour faces challenges from low ratings and strong competition from the PGA Tour.
Wings shut down questions about Fudd and Bueckers' relationship
Damon Jones, former NBA player, to change plea to guilty in conspiracy case involving Terry Rozier.
Indiana Fever bolster roster by signing veteran guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough
Joe Cole advises Arsenal to adjust their attack for the Man City match.
Former Indiana basketball players appeal dismissal of their lawsuit against the school.
See every story in Sports ā including breaking news and analysis.