The 2026 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament has delivered exactly what it promised, last-second drama, overtime heartbreak, and one of the most surprising teams in recent memory announcing themselves on the biggest stage. This scenario is ideal for crypto NBA betting.
The SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament features the Nos. 7-10 teams in each conference battling for the 7th and 8th playoff seeds. The 2026 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament takes place on April 14-17. After four games across Tuesday and Wednesday, two spots remain undecided. The final elimination games, Hornets vs Magic (East) and Warriors vs Suns (West), take place Saturday 18 April, and the stakes couldn't be higher: winners advance to the NBA Playoffs, losers go home.
Bet on both games at Duelbits Sportsbook.
Odds correct at time of writing and subject to change.
The NBA Play-In Tournament is a relatively new wrinkle in the league's playoff format. Instead of the Top 8 teams all being guaranteed playoff spots, the 7-through-10 seeds in each conference are entered into a mini-tournament, taking place shortly after the regular season's conclusion, determining the East and West's final two playoff spots.
For each conference, the 7 and 8 seeds earn double-elimination status and play each other, while the 9 and 10 seeds play in a single-elimination game. The winner of the 7-8 game earns the No. 7 seed, while the loser of the 7-8 game then plays the winner of the 9-10 game for the No. 8 seed.
In short:
Game 1 (7 vs 8): Winner = No. 7 seed. Loser stays alive. Game 2 (9 vs 10): Winner stays alive. Loser = eliminated. Game 3 (Loser G1 vs Winner G2): Winner = No. 8 seed. Loser = eliminated.
Both conferences run this structure simultaneously. Four teams in, two playoff spots available, two teams going home.
East: Charlotte Hornets (9) vs Miami Heat (10) Result: Hornets 127 - Heat 126 (OT)
A classic. LaMelo Ball steps up when needed while Coby White proves to be the perfect pickup in Charlotte's thrilling Play-In win. Ball makes a layup with 4.7 seconds left in OT and Miles Bridges blocks Davion Mitchell at the buzzer to keep Charlotte alive.
The Heat are eliminated. The Hornets survive to face the Magic on Saturday.
West: Phoenix Suns (7) vs Portland Trail Blazers (8) Result: Trail Blazers 114 - Suns 110
Deni Avdija pours in 41 points as Portland claws back from an 11-point deficit in the 4th quarter to fend off Phoenix. The Blazers earn the West No. 7 seed and will face the No. 2 San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. The Suns drop to a winner-takes-all game against the Warriors on Saturday.
East: Philadelphia 76ers (7) vs Orlando Magic (8) Result: 76ers 109 - Magic 97
Philadelphia dominated from the outset. The 76ers earn the East No. 7 seed and advance to the NBA Playoffs. The Magic drop to a survival game, they must beat the Hornets on Saturday or their season is over.
West: Los Angeles Clippers (9) vs Golden State Warriors (10) Result: Warriors 126 - Clippers 121
Steph Curry and the Warriors survive. Golden State Warriors and Steph Curry find themselves as the No. 10 seed in the West, and they used that underdog status to fuel a fighting performance against the Clippers. The Clippers are eliminated. The Warriors advance to face the Suns on Saturday.
Two games, four teams, two playoff spots. Both losers go home.
Saturday 18 April | 01:30 UTC
What's at stake: East No. 8 seed. Winner faces the No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons in the first round.
The Hornets' story: Charlotte started the season 4-14 and has been among the best teams in the NBA ever since. The Hornets have been one of the hotter teams in the league since the All-Star Break, over that period, Charlotte is second in offensive rating and seventh in defensive rating. LaMelo Ball and the surprise Charlotte Hornets have captured everyone's attention in this tournament.
Their overtime win over Miami demonstrated their character. Ball's composure in OT, Coby White's integration into the lineup, and Bridges' clutch defensive play at the buzzer showed a team playing with genuine belief. Against a Magic side that just lost by 12 to the 76ers, momentum strongly favours Charlotte.
The Magic's situation: Orlando were dominated by Philadelphia in the 7-8 game. They now face a Hornets side riding a wave of momentum and playing with house money. The Magic's defence-first identity has been their strength all season, but it wasn't enough against Philly. Whether they can reset mentally and execute at a higher level against LaMelo's attack is the key question.
Pick: Hornets. Their offensive firepower and current form make them the lean in what is effectively a one-game playoff.
Saturday 18 April | 04:00 UTC
What's at stake: West No. 8 seed. Winner faces the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
The Warriors' story: Golden State Warriors and Steph Curry find themselves as the No. 10 seed in the West. Nobody expected this, Curry's Warriors at the bottom of the playoff picture. But they've now beaten the Clippers convincingly and have the momentum and experience of a franchise built for big moments.
Steph Curry in a must-win game at the Suns' arena is a terrifying prospect for Phoenix. The Warriors have the most playoff experience of any team remaining in the Play-In and know exactly how to manage pressure situations.
The Suns' situation: The Suns were 25-16 at home and the Blazers were 18-23 on the road, yet Portland still won in Phoenix. That result shook the Suns' home-court advantage narrative. They now face a Warriors side at full confidence and must deliver at home to avoid one of the most embarrassing eliminations of the Devin Booker era.
Home court is the Suns' best argument here, but experience and form favour Golden State.
Pick: Warriors. Curry's Play-In record and the Warriors' playoff experience narrow the gap significantly. At any price above evens, Golden State is the value play.
| Date | Conference | Matchup | Result/Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue Apr 15 | East | Hornets (9) vs Heat (10) | Hornets 127-126 OT |
| Tue Apr 15 | West | Suns (7) vs Trail Blazers (8) | Blazers 114-110 |
| Wed Apr 16 | East | 76ers (7) vs Magic (8) | 76ers 109-97 |
| Wed Apr 16 | West | Clippers (9) vs Warriors (10) | Warriors 126-121 |
| Sat Apr 18 | East | Hornets vs Magic | 01:30 UTC |
| Sat Apr 18 | West | Warriors vs Suns | 04:00 UTC |
East No. 7 seed: Philadelphia 76ers → First round opponent: No. 2 Boston Celtics
West No. 7 seed: Portland Trail Blazers → First round opponent: No. 2 San Antonio Spurs
The Detroit Pistons closed with the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, while the Boston Celtics had an impressive regular season and finished with the second seed in the East. Oklahoma City Thunder are the top seed in the West for the second straight season, two games ahead of Victor Wembanyama's hard-charging San Antonio Spurs.
The full East bracket: 1. Detroit Pistons vs 8. Play-in winner TBD; 2. Boston Celtics vs 7. Philadelphia 76ers; 3. New York Knicks vs 6. Toronto Raptors; 4. Cleveland Cavaliers vs 5. Atlanta Hawks.
The NBA Finals start on June 3.
| Game | Pick |
|---|---|
| Hornets vs Magic (East No. 8) | Charlotte Hornets |
| Warriors vs Suns (West No. 8) | Golden State Warriors |
Bet on both Saturday Play-In games at Duelbits Sportsbook.
Odds correct at time of writing and subject to change.
What is the NBA Play-In Tournament? The Play-In Tournament determines the No. 7 and No. 8 playoff seeds in each conference. Teams seeded 7th through 10th compete. The 7-8 game winner gets the 7 seed; the loser plays the winner of the 9-10 game for the 8 seed. The final loser is eliminated.
When is the 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament? The 2026 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament runs April 14-17. The final two games, Hornets vs Magic and Warriors vs Suns, take place on Saturday 18 April.
What were the Play-In Tournament results so far? Tuesday: Hornets 127-126 OT (Hornets survive), Trail Blazers 114-110 (Blazers earn West No. 7 seed). Wednesday: 76ers 109-97 (76ers earn East No. 7 seed), Warriors 126-121 (Warriors survive). Miami Heat and LA Clippers are eliminated.
Which teams are still in the Play-In? Charlotte Hornets vs Orlando Magic (East) and Golden State Warriors vs Phoenix Suns (West), both on Saturday 18 April.
Who already qualified for the playoffs from the Play-In? Portland Trail Blazers (West No. 7, face Spurs) and Philadelphia 76ers (East No. 7, face Celtics).
What happens if you lose the final Play-In game? The loser is eliminated from the postseason entirely and enters the NBA Draft Lottery.
When do the NBA Playoffs begin? The first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs begins 18 April. The NBA Finals tip off June 3, 2026.
Where can I bet on the NBA Play-In Tournament? Bet on both Saturday games at Duelbits Sportsbook, markets include moneyline, point spread, total points, and player props.
