NBA Playoffs 2027: Bracket, Schedule, Scores & Playoff Picture
The 2027 NBA playoffs start with the Play-In Tournament on April 13 and the First Round on April 18, after the regular season (October 20 to April 11). Twenty teams reach the postseason: seeds 1 to 6 in each conference qualify directly and seeds 7 to 10 play the Play-In for the last two places.
2026-27 NBA Season and Playoff Dates
| When | Stage | What happens | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Oct 20 | Opening Night | 82 games per team | ESPN/ABC, NBC/Peacock, Prime Video |
| Sun, Apr 11 | Regular season ends | Seeds 1-10 set in each conference | – |
| Apr 13-16 | Play-In Tournament | 7 v 8 and 9 v 10, then the decider for No. 8 | Prime Video (exclusive) |
| From Apr 18 | First Round | 1 v 8, 4 v 5, 3 v 6, 2 v 7, best of seven | ESPN/ABC, NBC/Peacock, Prime Video |
| May (TBA) | Conference Semifinals | Winners of each half of the bracket meet | ESPN/ABC, NBC/Peacock, Prime Video |
| Late May (TBA) | Conference Finals | East and West champions decided | One on ESPN/ABC, one on NBC/Peacock |
| June (TBA) | NBA Finals | East champion v West champion | ABC |
Game times and Finals dates are added as soon as the NBA confirms them. Playoff schedule →
How the NBA Playoffs Work
- Seeding: teams are ranked 1 to 15 in each conference by record; a division title guarantees nothing.
- Play-In: No. 7 hosts No. 8 (winner is the No. 7 seed), No. 9 hosts No. 10 (loser is out), then the 7/8 loser hosts the 9/10 winner for the No. 8 seed.
- Bracket: fixed, no reseeding: the 1/8 winner meets the 4/5 winner and the 2/7 winner meets the 3/6 winner.
- Series: every round is best of seven (2-2-1-1-1); the higher seed has home court, and in the NBA Finals the better record does.
NBA Champions
| 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 |
Frequently asked questions
When does the 2026-27 NBA season start?
Tuesday, October 20, 2026; the regular season ends on Sunday, April 11, 2027.
Can the No. 10 seed win the NBA title?
Yes, but it must win two road games in the Play-In (at No. 9, then at the loser of 7 v 8) just to become the No. 8 seed and face the No. 1 seed.
Do division winners get a top seed?
No. Since 2015-16 seeds go purely by record within the conference; winning the division only matters as a tiebreaker.
How many games is each playoff round?
Every round, including the NBA Finals, is best of seven: first to four wins, with the higher seed at home in Games 1, 2, 5 and 7.
What channel is the Play-In Tournament on?
Every Play-In game streams exclusively on Prime Video.
When are the 2027 NBA Finals?
In June 2027 (dates TBA), on ABC. The league confirms the exact dates closer to the playoffs.
Who won the last NBA championship?
The New York Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the 2026 NBA Finals; Jalen Brunson was Finals MVP. It was their first title since 1973.