NBA Play-In Tournament Odds 2026: March Madness for the Postseason

Jared Hochman - Content Operations Manager at Covers.com
Jared Hochman • Content Manager 16+ years betting experience
Updated: Mar 5, 2026 , 11:44 AM ET • 4 min read

Latest 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament odds, with the Blazers, Clippers, Warriors, Hawks, and Hornets all highly likely to participate.

NBA Play-In Tournament Odds Jonathan Kuminga
Photo By - Reuters Connect. Atlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga (0) dunks during a game.

We're into the final stretch of the NBA season, and while teams are separating themselves in the race for each conference's top spot (and the battle for the basement)... the race for NBA Play-In Tournament odds is reaching a fever pitch.

In both conferences, a single game in the standings separates "safe" playoff locks from the high-stakes pressure of a do-or-die tournament, with the Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets current Eastern teams that look firmly destined for the pre-playoffs playoffs... while the Blazers, Clippers, and Warriors are near-locks to participate in the West's four-team mini tourney.

Current NBA Play-In Tournament odds

Eastern Conference play-in tournament odds

Here are the latest NBA Play-In Tournament odds for the Eastern Conference.

Odds from bet365, one of our best betting apps. Sign up with our bet365 promo code, or get one of our other sportsbook promos.

Game Odds Record Current Seed
Hawks -650 32-31 10
Hornets -360 32-31 9
Magic -225 32-28 7
Heat -220 33-29 8
76ers -165 34-28 6
Raptors +145 35-26 5
Bucks +475 26-35 11
Bulls +6000 25-37 12
Knicks +10000 40-23 3
Cavaliers +15000 39-24 4

Western Conference play-in tournament odds

Here are the most recent Western Conference NBA Play-In Tournament odds:

Game Odds Record Current Seed
Trail Blazers -50000 30-33 10
Warriors -20000 31-30 8
Clippers -10000 30-31 9
Suns -180 35-26 7
Lakers +190 37-24 6
Timberwolves +850 39-23 4
Nuggets +1200 38-24 5
Rockets +4000 38-22 3
Grizzlies +5000 23-38 11
Mavericks +20000 21-40 12

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NBA Play-In Tournament schedule

The schedule for the SoFI NBA Play-In Tournament, which runs from Tuesday, April 14 to Friday, April 17, will be released when the regular season ends.

Current projected NBA Play-In Tournament bracket

Eastern Conference

  • Hawks (10) vs. Hornets (9)
  • Heat (8) vs. Magic (7)

Western Conference

  • Trail Blazers (10) vs. Clippers (9)
  • Warriors (8) vs. Suns (7)

Popular NBA futures odds


What is the NBA Play-In Tournament?

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. 

NBA Play-In Tournament format

Here's how the Play-In Tournament works:

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.

From there, the playoffs begin in earnest, following the traditional bracket format. 


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When was the NBA Play-In Tournament introduced?

The Play-In Tournament was introduced, in a beta concept form, for the 2020 season as part of the league's plans for a bubble re-launch during the heights of the COVID-19 pandemic — originally just with the 8 and 9 seeds playing. 

After positive initial impressions from both fans and media, the Play-In Tournament was expanded to its current format and introduced, however unideal the timing, for a 2020-21 season that was already marred by pandemic absences and injuries.

NBA Play-In Tournament trends

  • 2023 marked the first upsets in the opening round of games, with the lower seed taking three of the four games.

  • 2023 was fruitful for the eventual success of play-in teams, with the 7-seed Los Angeles Lakers going on a run to the Western Conference Finals, and the 8-seed Miami Heat making it all the way to the NBA Finals. 

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NBA Play-In Tournament Odds FAQ

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Jared Hochman Content Operations Manager at Covers.com
Content Manager

Before Jared Hochman joined the Covers team in 2020, he worked for newspaper outlets such as the Chronicle Herald and The Coast, worked in marketing for SkipTheDishes and Vivid Seats, and previously ran a magazine. A journalism graduate from the University of King's College in, Halifax, N.S., "Hoch" brings more than a decade of experience in sports betting, having worked as a freelance handicapper, making appearances on Monumental Sports Network and the Sharp 600 podcast, and now also filling in occasionally as host of Covers' NHL Puck Props. 

Awarded Covers' company MVP for 2023, Jared is an avid bettor of MLB, NFL, NHL, and NBA, while also wagering on some soccer and WNBA. His best advice for sports bettors? Price shop, which is something he does daily across 10 different sportsbook apps.

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