How the NBA Playoffs and Play-In Tournament Work in 2026

The NBA season is entering its final push as 30 teams will be narrowed to 20 and then to 16, each with a chance at the 2026 NBA Championship. Playoff qualification is based on regular season records. The top six teams in each conference earn automatic berths to the First Round, while the seventh through tenth place teams in each conference enter the Play-In Tournament.

Eight teams total — four from the East and four from the West — compete in two single-game rounds to determine the final two playoff spots per conference. In the Play-In's first round, the seventh- and eighth-place teams play each other and the ninth- and tenth-place teams play each other.

The winner of Seven vs. Eight advances as the 7th seed, the loser of Nine vs. Ten is eliminated, and the Nine vs. Ten winner then faces the Seven vs. Eight loser for the 8th seed, completing each conference's eight-team bracket. Once the Play-In finishes, each conference has eight teams seeded 1 through 8, with the top four teams holding home-court advantage.

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