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abr 13 2026NEW YORK — The NBA has confirmed the complete Play-In schedule and the start of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, which will begin on April 18 following a decisive Play-In from April 14-17, with the Finals set to start on June 3.
The 2025-26 NBA regular season gives way to its most decisive phase with an already-established format in which the NBA Play-In returns as the first filter before the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Between April 14 and 17, the final two playoff spots in each conference will be decided in a series of head-to-head matchups that will determine access to the postseason.
April 14 will open the curtain with two crucial games: in the East, the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat will battle to stay alive, while in the West the Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers will compete for one of the spots that grants direct access as the seventh seed. A day later, on April 15, two more high-pressure games will arrive: the Philadelphia 76ers facing the Orlando Magic in the East and the Los Angeles Clippers against the Golden State Warriors in the West, with elimination for the losers.
The conclusion of the NBA Play-In will take place on April 17, when the remaining teams face off for the final available spot as the eighth seed in each conference. From there, the 2026 NBA Playoffs bracket will be completely set.
With the start of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 18, several first-round matchups are already confirmed. In the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons await an opponent as the top seed, while the Boston Celtics also wait for the Play-In winner. More defined are the pairings between the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks, as well as the matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors.
In the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder lead the way and also await an opponent, as do the San Antonio Spurs. Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets will face the Minnesota Timberwolves in one of the most attractive first-round series, while the Los Angeles Lakers will take on the Houston Rockets with home-court advantage.
The structure of the NBA Playoffs maintains the traditional best-of-seven format, advancing toward conference semifinals and finals whose dates will be determined once each round concludes.
The journey will culminate in the 2026 NBA Finals, which will begin on June 3 and could extend, if necessary, through June 19. That is when the NBA champion will be decided in a series that, as is tradition, will be played in a best-of-seven format.
The NBA thus enters its definitive phase with several solid title contenders and a Play-In that promises maximum competition, serving as the prelude to the 2026 NBA Playoffs that will once again capture the attention of the basketball world.
