The 2025-26 NBA regular season comes to a close on Sunday, April 12. Before the NBA playoffs officially get underway, the NBA Play-In Tournament will take place to determine which teams get into the playoff field with the final two spots in each conference.
The NBA Play-In Tournament can lead to a flurry of questions, from how does it work to when does it take place? The Playbook has you covered, as we will explain how the NBA Play-In Tournament works, the format, schedule, and more.
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When is the NBA Play-In Tournament?
The 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament begins on Tuesday, April 14, and runs through Friday, April 17. The No. 7 seed vs. No. 8 seed matchups in each conference will begin the action on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET with the Eastern Conference matchups, followed by the battle of the West at 10:00 p.m. ET.
Wednesday, April 15, features the same timeslots with the No. 9 seed vs. the No. 10 seed in each conference. Finally, Friday, April 17, features the two final battles at 7:30 p.m. ET and 10:00 p.m. ET. All games will be televised by Prime Video.
The NBA playoffs will officially get underway on Saturday, April 18, once the Play-In Tournament is completed.
How Does the NBA Play-In Tournament Work?
The top six teams in the Eastern and Western Conferences are guaranteed a playoff spot when the postseason begins. The No. 7-10 teams in each conference will compete in the NBA Play-In Tournament, vying for the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds in their respective conferences.
The No. 7 seed in each conference will host the No. 8 seed in the Play-In Tournament.
- The winners will earn the No. 7 seed in the NBA playoffs.
- The losing teams will still have another shot to clinch a spot in the playoff field with a matchup on Friday, April 17.
The No. 9 seed in each conference will host the No. 10 seed in the Play-In Tournament.
- The winners will advance to the final stage of the Play-In Tournament on Friday, April 17.
- The losing teams will be eliminated from playoff contention.
The losing teams of the No. 7 seed-No. 8 seed matchups will host the winners of the No. 9 seed-No. 10 seed matchups.
- The winning teams will earn the No. 8 seed in the NBA playoffs in their respective conferences.
- The losing teams will be eliminated from playoff contention.
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The NBA Play-In Tournament gets underway on Tuesday, April 14, and runs through Friday, April 17. The No. 7-10 seeds in each conference will battle it out to see which teams will earn the final two spots in each conference for the NBA Playoffs.
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