The NBA season is a long, grueling marathon. 82 games of high-flying dunks and questionable officiating. But eventually, the regular season grind fades away, and the real season begins. If you're wondering what day does nba playoffs start, you aren't alone. Fans are already circling dates on their calendars and clearing their schedules.
For the 2025-26 season, the high-stakes action officially kicks off with the first round on April 18, 2026.
That’s the big day. But honestly, it’s not quite that simple. The league has added some layers to the postseason cake over the last few years. Before the "official" bracket starts, we have to deal with the chaos of the Play-In Tournament. It’s basically a high-speed car crash for the final seeds, and it starts even earlier.
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The Full Postseason Timeline
If you’re planning a watch party or just trying to figure out when your team might be eliminated, you need the full roadmap. The NBA doesn't just jump into the deep end. They ease in with the Play-In, then hit the gas.
- April 12, 2026: This is the final day of the regular season. Every single team plays. It’s usually a day of pure madness where seeding changes by the hour.
- April 14–17, 2026: The SoFi Play-In Tournament happens here. It's a four-day sprint to see who gets the #7 and #8 seeds.
- April 18, 2026: The NBA playoffs finally start. Game 1s across the league.
- May 4–5, 2026: Likely start date for the Conference Semifinals.
- May 19–20, 2026: The Conference Finals should tip off around this window.
- June 4, 2026: Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Basically, the middle of April is when your social life goes to die.
Why the Play-In Matters
Some purists still hate the Play-In. I get it. You play 82 games, and then a bad shooting night in April can end your season? It feels harsh. But from a "is this entertaining?" perspective, it's gold.
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The teams ranked 7th through 10th in each conference have to fight for those last two spots. The 7th and 8th place teams play a single game; the winner gets the 7th seed. The loser gets a second chance against the winner of the 9th vs. 10th game. It’s confusing, sure, but it means more teams are "in it" later in the year, which stops some of the blatant tanking we used to see.
What to Watch For This April
The landscape of the league is shifting. Last year, the Oklahoma City Thunder proved that the "young team" narrative is mostly dead if you have enough talent. They're back as favorites. Meanwhile, the New York Knicks—fresh off an NBA Cup win in December—are looking like a legitimate powerhouse in the East.
Keep an eye on the injury reports as we get closer to April. We see it every year. A star player rolls an ankle in a meaningless Game 81, and suddenly a title favorite is a first-round exit. That’s the beauty and the tragedy of the playoffs.
Understanding the Bracket Format
Once we hit that April 18 start date, the format is fixed. No reseeding. If a #8 seed upsets a #1 seed (looking at you, 2023 Heat), they just take that spot in the bracket. Every round is a best-of-seven.
The schedule follows a 2-2-1-1-1 pattern. The team with the better record gets Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 at home. It sounds minor, but playing a Game 7 in your own arena is the biggest advantage in sports. Just ask anyone who's had to play a deciding game in Boston or Denver. It's loud. It's intimidating. It's why teams kill themselves in February just to get a slightly better seed.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
- Sync Your Calendar: Most major sports apps allow you to "follow" the NBA schedule directly into your phone’s calendar. Do this now so you don't accidentally book a dentist appointment during Game 1.
- Verify Your Subscription: With games split between ABC/ESPN, TNT, and potentially new streaming partners like Amazon Prime Video or Peacock, make sure your logins actually work before tip-off.
- Watch the Standings: The gap between the #6 seed (safe) and the #7 seed (Play-In) is usually razor-thin. Check the "Games Behind" column daily starting in March.
- Check Local Tip-Offs: Remember that the "start day" of April 18 will have games staggered from early afternoon to late night. Eastern Conference teams usually take the early slots.
The road to the Larry O'Brien Trophy is long. It starts with a single whistle on April 18. Whether you're a die-hard or a casual viewer who only shows up for the Fourth Quarter, that’s the date that matters most.