NBA Playoffs 2026
2027 NBA Playoffs 2026-27 season
The 2027 NBA playoff picture, updated after every game of the 2026-27 season: who would be seeded where if the season ended today, who is in the Play-In, the projected bracket and the confirmed postseason dates. Today the Atlanta Hawks (0-0) lead the East and the Dallas Mavericks (0-0) lead the West.
2Boston Celtics0-0 · Atlantic
7Detroit Pistons0-0 · Central
Atlanta HawksAtlanta HawksBoston CelticsPlayoff Race at a Glance
East
NYK 0-0
ORL 0-0
PHI 0-0
TOR 0-0
WAS 0-0West
PHX 0-0
POR 0-0
SAC 0-0
SAS 0-0
UTA 0-0Road to the NBA Finals
- Regular seasonOct – Apr 11
- First RoundApr 18
- Semis
- Conf. Finals
- FinalsJun 3
2027 NBA Playoff Bracket
INDPacersATLHawks
CHIBulls
CHAHornets
CLECavaliers
BKNNetsDETPistonsBOSCeltics
MINTimberwolves
DALMavericks
LACClippers
HOURockets
LALLakers
GSWWarriors
MEMGrizzlies
DENNuggetsNBA Wild Card Race
Explore the NBA Playoffs
How the 2027 NBA Playoffs Work
Twenty teams reach the postseason. In each conference seeds 1 to 6 qualify directly and seeds 7 to 10 play the Play-In Tournament: 7 v 8 decides the No. 7 seed, 9 v 10 eliminates one team, and the 7/8 loser hosts the 9/10 winner for the No. 8 seed. The 16-team bracket then plays four best-of-seven rounds with no reseeding (1 v 8, 4 v 5, 3 v 6, 2 v 7). The format page has the tiebreakers and home-court rules.
How to Watch the 2027 NBA Playoffs
The Play-In streams exclusively on Prime Video. The First Round and conference semifinals are split between ESPN and ABC, NBC and Peacock, and Prime Video. In 2027 one conference final is on ESPN/ABC and the other on NBC/Peacock, NBC’s first since 2002. The NBA Finals are on ABC, as every year since 2003.
Key Dates
| Event | Dates | TV |
|---|---|---|
| Regular season | Oct 20, 2026 – Apr 11, 2027 | ESPN/ABC, NBC/Peacock, Prime Video |
| Play-In Tournament | Apr 13–16, 2027 | Prime Video |
| First Round | From Apr 18, 2027 (Game 7s, if needed, in early May) | ESPN/ABC, NBC/Peacock and Prime Video |
| Conference Semifinals | May 2027, dates TBA once the First Round ends | ESPN/ABC, NBC/Peacock and Prime Video |
| Conference Finals | Late May 2027, dates TBA | One conference final on ESPN/ABC, the other on NBC/Peacock |
| NBA Finals | June 3, 2027 | ABC |
Recent NBA Finals Results
| Year | Champion | Opponent | Series | Finals MVP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | New York Knicks | San Antonio Spurs | 4-1 | Jalen Brunson |
| 2025 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Indiana Pacers | 4-3 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander |
| 2024 | Boston Celtics | Dallas Mavericks | 4-1 | Jaylen Brown |
| 2023 | Denver Nuggets | Miami Heat | 4-1 | Nikola Jokić |
| 2022 | Golden State Warriors | Boston Celtics | 4-2 | Stephen Curry |
| 2021 | Milwaukee Bucks | Phoenix Suns | 4-2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo |
| 2020 | Los Angeles Lakers | Miami Heat | 4-2 | LeBron James |
| 2019 | Toronto Raptors | Golden State Warriors | 4-2 | Kawhi Leonard |
| 2018 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | 4-0 | Kevin Durant |
| 2017 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | 4-1 | Kevin Durant |
| 2016 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Golden State Warriors | 4-3 | LeBron James |
2027 NBA Playoffs FAQ
Who leads the West?
The Dallas Mavericks at 0-0.
Who leads the East?
The Atlanta Hawks at 0-0.
How many teams make the NBA playoffs?
16 teams play in the playoff bracket, eight per conference, and 20 reach the postseason: seeds 1 to 6 qualify directly and seeds 7 to 10 play the Play-In Tournament for the last two places.
When do the 2027 NBA playoffs start?
The Play-In Tournament runs Apr 13–16, 2027 and the First Round is set to start Apr 18, 2027, after the regular season ends Apr 11, 2027.
How does the NBA Play-In Tournament work?
In each conference No. 7 hosts No. 8 (the winner is the No. 7 seed) and No. 9 hosts No. 10 (the loser is out). The loser of 7 v 8 then hosts the winner of 9 v 10, and that winner is the No. 8 seed. Every Play-In game is a single game.
When are the 2027 NBA Finals?
In June 3, 2027, on ABC. The league confirms the exact dates closer to the playoffs.
What channels show the 2027 NBA playoffs?
The Play-In streams on Prime Video. The first two rounds are split between ESPN/ABC, NBC/Peacock and Prime Video; one conference final is on ESPN/ABC and the other on NBC/Peacock; the NBA Finals are on ABC.
Does the NBA reseed the playoffs?
No. The bracket is fixed: in each conference the 1/8 winner plays the 4/5 winner and the 2/7 winner plays the 3/6 winner, whatever the upsets.