NBA Play-In Bracket 2026: Results, Matchups and Scores
The 2026 NBA play-in bracket is set with eight teams competing April 14-17 on Amazon Prime Video for the final four NBA Playoffs spots. The bracket decides the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds in both the East and West before the first round begins Saturday, April 18.
This page has the full NBA play-in tournament bracket with live scores and updated results after each game.
2026 NBA Play-In Tournament Bracket
Last Updated: April 13, 2026 – Bracket and scores update after each game.
Eastern Conference Bracket
- (7) Philadelphia 76ers vs (8) Orlando Magic – Winner earns the No. 7 seed and faces the Boston Celtics on Sunday, April 19 in Round 1.
- (9) Charlotte Hornets vs (10) Miami Heat – Winner advances to Friday’s final game.
- 7/8 Loser vs 9/10 Winner – Winner earns the No. 8 seed and faces the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, April 19 in Round 1.
Western Conference Bracket
- (7) Phoenix Suns vs (8) Portland Trail Blazers – Winner earns the No. 7 seed and faces the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday, April 19 in Round 1.
- (9) LA Clippers vs (10) Golden State Warriors – Winner advances to Friday’s final game.
- 7/8 Loser vs 9/10 Winner – Winner earns the No. 8 seed and faces the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, April 19 in Round 1.
What Happens after the Play-In?
The NBA Playoffs first round starts Saturday, April 18, with the No. 7 and No. 8 seed matchups for both conferences tipping off Sunday, April 19. The No. 7 seed from each conference faces the No. 2 seed and the No. 8 seed faces the No. 1 seed.
Check our 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament Schedule for full standings and schedule.
2026 NBA Play-In Bracket FAQs
What does the No. 8 seed play-in path look like in 2026?
The No. 8 seed path is the hardest in the bracket. The No. 8 seed plays the No. 7 seed first on the road. A loss does not end their season but they must then win Friday’s final game at the No. 7 seed’s arena again. A team that wins through as the No. 8 seed will have played two road games before even reaching Round 1 where they face the No. 1 seed.
Which No. 7 seed has the toughest path through the bracket?
The Philadelphia 76ers face the toughest situation in the East. They finished 45-37 tied with the Orlando Magic and only hold home court through a tiebreaker. Joel Embiid underwent emergency appendix surgery on April 9 and has no timetable for return, leaving Tyrese Maxey and Paul George to carry the load. In the West the Phoenix Suns host Portland in the first play-in appearance in franchise history carrying the pressure of a team in this format for the very first time.
Who are the No. 1 seeds in the 2026 NBA Playoffs?
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the No. 1 seed in the West with a 64-18 record. The Detroit Pistons are the No. 1 seed in the East with a 60-22 record. Both teams wait for their first-round opponent to be decided by the Play-In bracket on Friday, April 17. The Pistons host their Game 1 on Sunday, April 19 at 6:30 PM ET on NBC. The Thunder host theirs the same day at 3:30 PM ET on ABC.
Which Play-In teams have the best shot at winning the bracket?
The No. 7 seeds hold the clearest path. The Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns each need just one win to reach the playoffs and both host their opening game. Since the format started in 2021 every No. 7 seed has made the playoffs. The No. 10 seeds have the hardest path needing two straight road wins with no margin for error.
Does the Play-In bracket get reseeded after each round?
No. The NBA does not reseed teams after the Play-In Tournament or between playoff rounds. The bracket is fixed from the start. The No. 8 seed always faces the No. 1 seed in Round 1 regardless of which team comes through the play-in.
Who has home-court advantage in the Play-In bracket?
The higher seed hosts every game in the Play-In bracket. The No. 7 hosts the No. 8 in the opening game. The No. 9 hosts the No. 10. In the Friday final game the loser of the 7/8 game always hosts the winner of the 9/10 game. The No. 7 or No. 8 seed keeps home court even after losing their first game.
Both the Detroit Pistons and Oklahoma City Thunder hold the top seeds in their conferences and now wait to see who survives the bracket. All six Play-In games are live on Amazon Prime Video starting Tuesday, April 14.
