At long last, the 2025-26 NBA regular season is finally in the books. Before the bulk of the NBA Playoffs can officially begin, though, the NBA Play-In Tournament will weed out which clubs advance to face the top seeds in each conference.
Back for its sixth year, the Play-In Tournament extends the pool of potential playoff participants, thus giving teams extra chances to make the big dance. Although it contains a defined structure, fitting the puzzle pieces together is much easier said than done.
Below, we'll break down the full 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament bracket, format, and schedule. We’ll also weave in spreads, over/unders, and playoff qualifier payouts from PrizePicks Team Picks.
Make your picks for the NBA Play-In Tournament on PrizePicks now.
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When and What is the 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament?
The SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament runs from Tuesday, April 14 until Friday, April 17.
With the schedule and its teams all set, there will be two games each on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday night to determine who advances to the NBA Playoffs. Every contest is broadcast on Prime Video this spring.
Designed to add intrigue to end-of-season playoff races and provide bubble teams with another avenue to make the playoffs, the Play-In Tournament pits lower-seeded franchises against each other.
With seed Nos. 1-6 in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference already locked in, the No. 7 and No. 8 spots are still up for grabs. Dating back to 2021, when the current format was finalized, 7-seeds lead the way with an 8-2 record, followed by 9-seeds (6-4), 10-seeds (4-6), and 8-seeds (2-8).
While unlikely on the surface, it is possible for Play-In Tournament entrees to make deep runs in the NBA Playoffs. The Miami Heat, for example, went all the way to the NBA Finals back in 2023.
NBA Play-In Tournament Format: How Does it Work?
The NBA Play-In Tournament format is the same for both conferences. Here’s the breakdown.
Kicking things off on each of the first two nights is the No. 7 seed hosting the No. 8 seed. Whichever team emerges with a win will automatically clinch the seventh spot, going on to face the No. 2 seed in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
Here’s where things get interesting. The loser of the 7-8 clash still gets a chance to sneak into the NBA Playoffs, as that team faces the winner of the 9-10 game. Regardless of who loses the latter contest, that team is eliminated altogether.
Finally, the 7-8 game’s loser hosts the 9-10 game’s winner. The victor clinches the No. 8 seed in the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
This year, the East sees the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics occupy the top two seeds in the playoffs. Out West, it’s the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs, respectively, also awaiting the results of the Play-In Tournament.
Play NBA Play-In Tournament spreads or over/unders on PrizePicks Team Picks to earn real money — available in 35 states!
Team Picks data is live at the time of writing and is subject to change.
2026 NBA Play-In Tournament Schedule, Bracket
Let’s dive into the full 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament schedule, kicking off with Heat vs. Hornets on Tuesday and ending with a winner-takes-all bout on Friday night.
Tuesday, April 14
No. 10 Miami Heat vs. No. 9 Charlotte Hornets: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Spread: Charlotte Hornets -6.5 (1.92x payout)
- Over/Under: 227.5 (1.78x payout on Over)
- Game Winner Payout: Heat 2.7x | Hornets 1.42x
No. 8 Portland Trail Blazers vs. No. 7 Phoenix Suns: 10:00 p.m. ET
- Spread: Phoenix Suns -2.5 (1.66x payout)
- Over/Under: 216.5 (1.75x payout on Over)
- Game Winner Payout: Trail Blazers 2.32x | Suns 1.53x
Wednesday, April 15
No. 8 Orlando Magic vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Magic Playoff Qualifier Payouts: 3.57x No | 1.26x Yes
- 76ers Playoff Qualifier Payouts: 3.12x No | 1.33x Yes
No. 10 Golden State Warriors vs. No. 9 Los Angeles Clippers: 10:00 p.m. ET
- Warriors Playoff Qualifier Payouts: 1.17x No | 4.34x Yes
- Clippers Playoff Qualifier Payouts: 1.38x No | 2.77x Yes
Friday, April 17
- No. 7/8 loser vs. No. 9/10 winner: 7:30 p.m. ET
- No. 7/8 loser vs. No. 9/10 winner: 10:00 p.m. ET
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Make NBA Play-In Tournament Picks on PrizePicks
Out of the eight NBA Play-In Tournament teams, only half of them will earn the opportunity to join the NBA Playoffs. It’s a loaded field this year, which leaves fans with plenty of chances to get in on the action.
Don’t wait until the tourney starts — make your NBA Play-In Tournament picks on PrizePicks now and earn real money if you’re right.
Pick players, predict More or Less on their stats, and cash in if you’re right. With Team Picks, you can make predictions on game winners, spreads, and over/unders, now available in 35 states.
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