NBA Play-In Tournament Starts April 14, 2026

The NBA Play-In Tournament begins Tuesday, April 14, 2026, setting the stage for the playoffs as 20 teams vie for postseason berths and the Larry O'Brien Trophy. The four-game event, concluding Friday, will determine the final seeds in both conferences, with the top six teams in each already locked into direct playoff spots.

In the Eastern Conference, the Charlotte Hornets host the Miami Heat on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET, battling for a chance to advance. The Orlando Magic travel to face the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET, with the winner securing the No. 7 seed and a first-round matchup against the Detroit Pistons. The loser will play the victor of the Heat-Hornets game Friday for the No. 8 spot. Both the Magic and 76ers enter with injury concerns: Philadelphia's Joel Embiid remains sidelined recovering from appendectomy surgery, while Tyrese Maxey returns from a broken hand, averaging 23.7 points in his six games back. For Orlando, Paolo Banchero has posted 23.6 points, 8.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists since the All-Star break, though turnovers have plagued the team, ranking fourth-worst in the league at 15.7 percent. Franz Wagner, back from an ankle sprain, adds...