2 Teams to watch in the NBA Play-In tournament schedule

The 2026 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament is scheduled to take place from April 14 to April 17, 2026. This tournament will determine the final #7 and #8 seeds in each conference, featuring teams ranked from 7th to 10th.

The winner of the 7/8 matchup will secure the 7th seed, while the loser will compete against the winner of the 9/10 matchup for the 8th seed.

As of April 10, the matchups are being finalized, with the Golden State Warriors and the Phoenix Suns confirming their participation. In the Western Conference, the Suns will host either the LA Clippers or the Portland Trail Blazers on April 14.

Meanwhile, in the Eastern Conference, teams such as the Atlanta Hawks(watch this team), Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, and Charlotte Hornets (watch this team)are competing for the remaining playoff spots, with the standings for positions 5 through 10 still subject to change as of April 9.

NBA Play-In Tournament is widely regarded as an exciting addition to the postseason because it turns the end of the regular season into high-stakes, “must-win” drama, transforming what used to be meaningless games into a “playoffs before the playoffs” atmosphere. By extending playoff hope to the 7th–10th seeds, it keeps more fan bases engaged and discourages teams from tanking late in the season.

Look out for teams like the Charlotte Hornets and Atlanta Hawks, both of which have defeated highly ranked teams during the regular season.

Atlanta Hawks is a team to watch

NBA Play-In Tournament should be a lot of fun. Make sure to check your local listing for TV times to see what should be exciting basketball.

LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets https://youtube.com/shorts/NIKl738c4rc?si=Pwvlh_TQDdAHcucb