Heat, Hornets, Magic, and 76ers to battle in NBA play-in tournament

Crucial Eastern Conference matchups will determine final playoff spots.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 2:52am

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting an NBA basketball game broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in a palette of deep blue, fiery orange, and metallic silver, conceptually representing the competitive tension and strategic complexity of the play-in tournament.The high-stakes NBA play-in tournament will feature a cubist, geometric clash of Eastern Conference rivals fighting for the final playoff spots.Miami Today

The Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets, Orlando Magic, and Philadelphia 76ers will face off in the NBA's play-in tournament to determine the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. The teams were watching the end of the Orlando-Boston game on Sunday night, as the results had major implications for the playoff picture.

Why it matters

The play-in tournament has become an exciting addition to the NBA playoffs, creating high-stakes matchups between teams fighting for the final postseason berths. These Eastern Conference battles will have major implications for which squads make the playoffs and which ones go home.

The details

The Heat, Hornets, Magic, and 76ers will compete in a series of play-in games to determine the 7th and 8th seeds in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The specific matchups and schedule have not yet been announced, but the teams will battle it out over the next few days to secure their spot in the main postseason bracket.

  • The play-in tournament games will take place in the days leading up to the start of the NBA playoffs.
  • The Orlando-Boston game on Sunday night was a key result that impacted the Eastern Conference standings.

The players

Miami Heat

An NBA franchise based in Miami, Florida that competes in the Eastern Conference.

Charlotte Hornets

An NBA team located in Charlotte, North Carolina that plays in the Eastern Conference.

Orlando Magic

An NBA organization based in Orlando, Florida and a member of the Eastern Conference.

Philadelphia 76ers

An NBA team headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that is part of the Eastern Conference.

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What’s next

The specific matchups and schedule for the play-in tournament games have not yet been announced by the NBA. Fans will have to wait for the league to reveal the full details in the coming days.

The takeaway

The NBA's play-in tournament has created high-stakes, win-or-go-home matchups at the end of the regular season. These Eastern Conference battles between the Heat, Hornets, Magic, and 76ers will determine which teams secure the final playoff spots and continue their quest for an NBA championship.