NBA Play-In Tournament 2026 schedule, TV channels, times, live streams, scores for games to set playoffs bracket

Q: What is the schedule for the NBA Play-In Tournament 2026?

The NBA Play-In Tournament 2026 begins on Tuesday, with games scheduled over three days to determine the final playoff spots.

Q: Which teams are competing in the NBA Play-In Tournament 2026?

The tournament features the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds from each conference, as well as the No. 9 and No. 10 seeds competing for playoff positions.

Q: How does the NBA Play-In Tournament affect playoff seeding?

The winners of the Play-In Tournament will advance to face the No. 2 seeds in the first round, while the losers will compete for a chance to face the top seeds.

Q: Where can I watch the NBA Play-In Tournament 2026 games?

The games will be broadcast on various TV channels and available for live streaming, with specific details provided by the NBA and its broadcasting partners.

NBA Play-In Tournament 2026 schedule, TV channels, times, live streams, scores for games to set playoffs bracket originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The NBA Playoff field is almost settled, with the top seeds in each conference settled but four spots in the first round still to be filled. That happens this week in the Play-In Tournament, which is now in its sixth season determining the final two seeds in each conference.

The top six seeds in the East and West after the regular season go straight to the first round, with No. 3 facing No. 6 and No. 4 facing No. 5. But the top two seeds have to wait on their preparation until their opponents are determined in a three-day mini-tournament.

It begins Tuesday, with the No. 7 seed hosting the No. 8 seed in each conference. The winners advance to the first round to face the No. 2 seeds, while the losers stay alive to host the winners of Wednesday's games between the No. 9 and No. 10 seed in each conference. Whoever emerges from those games Friday will face the top-seeded Pistons and Thunder in the first round.

Who will make it through the gauntlet in 2026? The Sporting News has everything you need to know for the NBA Play-In Tournament, from start times to streaming.

NBA Play-In Tournament 2026 schedule

Dates: Tuesday, April 14–Friday, April 17

The 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament will begin on Tuesday, April 14, and conclude on Friday, April 17. Once the postseason field has been finalized, the 2026 NBA Playoffs will start on Saturday, April 18.

Date	Game	Time (ET)	Watch
Tue., April 14	East No. 7 vs. East No. 8	7:30 p.m.	Prime Video
	No. 7 Suns vs. No. 8 Blazers/Clippers	10 p.m.	Prime Video
Wed., April 15	East No. 9 vs. East No. 10	7:30 p.m.	Prime Video
	No. 9 Clippers/Blazers vs. No. 10 Warriors	10 p.m.	Prime Video
Fri., April 17	East No. 7/8 loser vs. No. 9/10 winner	7:30 p.m.	Prime Video
	West No. 7/8 loser vs. No. 9/10 winner	10 p.m.	Prime Video

Where to watch NBA Play-In Tournament 2026

**TV channel:**None
Live stream:Prime Video

Under the NBA’s new media rights agreement, all six games of the 2026 Play-In Tournament will be streamed exclusively on Prime Video, marking the first time the entire tournament has shifted to a streaming-only platform.