As the 2026 NBA playoffs first round looms on April 18, eight teams enter the Play-In Tournament Tuesday for the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds in each conference. Winners of 7-vs-8 matchups claim direct playoff spots; 9-vs-10 winners advance to face those losers for the final berths.
Eastern Conference contenders: Philadelphia 76ers (10th), Orlando Magic (9th), Charlotte Hornets (8th), Miami Heat (7th). Western: Phoenix Suns (7th), Portland Trail Blazers (8th), Los Angeles Clippers (9th), Golden State Warriors (10th). Higher seeds host all games. The format, in its sixth year since 2020, reduces late-season tanking—exemplified by the Heat's bubble run to the Finals as a Play-In team. Tuesday (April 14): Hornets-Heat at 7:30 p.m. ET (Prime Video; loser out), Suns-Trail Blazers at 10 p.m. ET (winner gets West 7th seed). Wednesday: 76ers-Magic at 7:30 p.m. ET (East 9-vs-10), Clippers-Warriors at 10 p.m. ET (West 9-vs-10; loser out). Friday: Loser of East 7-vs-8 vs. winner of 9-vs-10; same for West—to decide No. 8 seeds. These outcomes complete the first-round bracket alongside already-set series like Cavaliers-Raptors and Lakers-Rockets.
