The 2026 NBA playoffs will begin on April 18. The 2025-26 regular season wraps up on April 12, giving teams a short break before the postseason tips off. The Play-In Tournament, introduced in 2021 to keep more teams competitive and reduce tanking, determines the final two playoff spots in each conference.

The NBA playoffs consist of 16 teams split evenly into two conferences, the Eastern and Western, from around the United States. These teams feature top basketball players from different states as well as international players.

The Portland Trail Blazers stand on uneven ground in the Western Conference playoff picture through their first 26 games in the 2025-26 season. They're ahead of

Decades of pressure, banners and rebuilds have shaped a select group of NBA franchises. Their frequent returns to the postseason reveal patterns of stability, ambition and survival in a league built on constant change.

The Los Angeles Lakers are quietly proving that they are going to be a tough team to defeat in the NBA playoffs. The Los Angeles Lakers escaped by the skin of their teeth against the Phoenix Suns, making clutch free throws to win a game where they blew a 20-point lead.

For Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, simply breaking a six-season playoff drought is no longer considered a lofty enough goal after early success.

Seasons of near misses and brief breakthroughs shape the NBA teams with fewer playoff appearances, franchises whose rare postseason runs leave a mark long after the final buzzer.

No, the NBA Cup is not the same as the playoffs. But it provides the Knicks with an opportunity to gain more experience in playoff-like atmospheres.

Moreover, the cup run highlighted this team's growing ability to stay composed, play collectively and overcome adversity in high-pressure moments. For Hall of Famer, Reggie Miller, this triumph only doubles down on his belief that the Knicks can finally be trusted when the 2026 playoffs arrive and represent the East in the 2026 NBA Finals.