The 2025–26 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament wraps up on Friday, April 17, 2026. The Orlando Magic face the Charlotte Hornets at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by the Phoenix Suns vs. Golden State Warriors at 10 p.m. ET. Both games are win-or-go-home, with the winners securing the No. 8 seeds and playoff spots.
In the United States, Amazon Prime Video has exclusive rights to stream the entire 2026 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament. All six games are available at no extra cost for Prime members, though access may be limited for viewers outside the U.S. due to regional restrictions.
If you’re abroad, PureVPN can help you watch without interruptions. It lets you bypass the content restrictions and watch NBA playoffs 2026 live on Prime Video from anywhere.
Why You Need VPN to Watch NBA playoffs 2026
You need a VPN to watch the 2026 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament live if you are accessing it from outside a supported region. Amazon Prime Video holds the exclusive broadcasting rights to all six Play-In Tournament games, including tonight’s deciding matchups Magic vs. Hornets at 7:30 p.m. ET and Warriors vs. Suns at 10 p.m. ET.
However, Prime Video’s NBA coverage is subject to regional restrictions, which means international viewers or travelers may encounter access issues depending on their location.
PureVPN enhances your Prime Video streaming experience by providing a fresh, exclusive IP address tied only to your account, helping you securely bypass content restrictions and watch NBA playoffs 2026 from anywhere.
How to Watch the NBA Play-In 2026 on Prime Video Across All Your Devices
Amazon Prime Video is available across a wide range of devices, including smart TVs, streaming devices (Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast), gaming consoles, mobile phones, tablets, and web browsers on desktops. It streams NBA Play-In Tournament games in HD with smooth performance on most modern devices, and Prime members can access all six games at no additional cost beyond their existing subscription.
With PureVPN, users can connect to a US server on any supported device to access Prime Video globally and watch the NBA Play-In Tournament 2026 live.
NBA Play-In Tournament 2026: Schedule and Preview
The 2025–26 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament is now in its sixth season as the league’s chosen method for determining the final two playoff seeds in each conference. It features the teams ranked 7th through 10th in the Eastern and Western Conferences battling across three days of high-stakes basketball, with the winners advancing to face the top seeds in the first round of the NBA Playoffs beginning April 18.
This year marks a historic shift in how fans watch the Play-In Tournament. Under the NBA’s landmark 11-year media rights deal, Amazon Prime Video is the exclusive home for all six Play-In games for the first time ever meaning the action is not available on traditional cable or broadcast networks, even in local markets. All games stream only on Prime Video, making it the single destination for every deciding play-in contest.
The Eastern Conference play-in field featured the Philadelphia 76ers (7th), Orlando Magic (8th), Charlotte Hornets (9th), and Miami Heat (10th). In the West, the Phoenix Suns (7th), Portland Trail Blazers (8th), Los Angeles Clippers (9th), and Golden State Warriors (10th) competed for the final two spots. After the first two rounds of the tournament, the 76ers and Trail Blazers secured the No. 7 seeds in their respective conferences, while the Hornets and Warriors survived elimination to advance to tonight’s final round.
Tonight’s NBA Play-In Tournament — Friday, April 17
Tonight’s doubleheader on Prime Video features two winner-take-all elimination games. In the East, the Charlotte Hornets host the Orlando Magic at 7:30 p.m. ET — the winner earns the No. 8 seed to face the Detroit Pistons in the first round, while the loser’s season is over.
In the West, the Phoenix Suns host the Golden State Warriors at 10 p.m. ET, with the No. 8 seed and a first-round clash with the Oklahoma City Thunder on the line. Both games are preceded by NBA on Prime Pregame coverage starting at 7 p.m. ET, followed by NBA Nightcap after the final buzzer.
When and Where is the NBA Play-In Tournament 2026
The final night of the 2026 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament takes place on Friday, April 17, with games tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET and 10 p.m. ET respectively. The Magic vs. Hornets game is played at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida, while the Warriors vs. Suns contest tips off at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Both games stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, with the NBA Playoffs first round kicking off the following day, Saturday, April 18.
Time zones for tonight’s Play-In games:
- US Eastern Time (EDT): 7:30 PM (Magic vs. Hornets) / 10:00 PM (Warriors vs. Suns)
- US Central Time (CDT): 6:30 PM / 9:00 PM
- US Pacific Time (PDT): 4:30 PM / 7:00 PM
- UK (BST): 12:30 AM (April 18) / 3:00 AM (April 18)
- Pakistan (PKT): 4:30 AM (April 18) / 7:00 AM (April 18)
- India (IST): 5:00 AM (April 18) / 7:30 AM (April 18)
🏆 PLAYOFF PICTURE 🏆
— NBA (@NBA) April 16, 2026
▪️ PHI wins, secures East 7-seed
▪️ GSW wins, will play PHX for West 8-seed
▪️ ORL loses, will play CHA for East 8-seed
The NBA Playoffs presented by @Google begin April 18th! pic.twitter.com/tXNecSGB6N
NBA Play-In 2026 Broadcasting Platforms by Country
| Location | Broadcasters | Streaming Options |
|---|---|---|
| USA | Amazon Prime Video | Prime Video (included with Prime membership) |
| UK & Ireland | Amazon Prime Video | Prime Video (subscription) |
| Germany | Amazon Prime Video | Prime Video (subscription) |
| France | Amazon Prime Video | Prime Video (subscription) |
| Spain | Amazon Prime Video | Prime Video (subscription) |
| Brazil | Amazon Prime Video | Prime Video (subscription) |
| Mexico | Amazon Prime Video | Prime Video (subscription) |
| Other regions | NBA League Pass | NBA League Pass (subscription) |
East Play-In Final: Charlotte Hornets vs. Orlando Magic
The Charlotte Hornets enter tonight’s game riding significant momentum. After a rocky start to the season, Charlotte turned things around dramatically after the new year and have been one of the league’s hottest teams since January.
Their Play-In run has only added to the confidence — LaMelo Ball’s layup with 4.7 seconds remaining in overtime, followed by Miles Bridges’ block at the buzzer, gave the Hornets a dramatic 127-126 overtime win over the Miami Heat in Round 1 to keep their season alive.
🚨
— NBA Poland (@NBAPolska23) April 16, 2026
Charlotte Hornets zmierzą się z Orlando Magic o 8 miejsce w konferencji i o to kto zagra z Detroit Pistons w pierwszej rundzie play-offs. pic.twitter.com/oSXfVSuE7l
The Orlando Magic, meanwhile, are fighting to recover after a disappointing 109-97 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers in Wednesday’s 7-8 game a result that exposed some vulnerabilities in Paolo Banchero’s game, as the Magic’s star forward struggled with six turnovers.
Charlotte held the head-to-head edge over Orlando during the regular season, winning three of their four matchups by a combined 61 points, making the Hornets the slight favourite heading into tonight’s contest.
West Play-In Final: Golden State Warriors vs. Phoenix Suns
The Western Conference Play-In final pits two storied franchises against each other for a spot in the first round against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors advanced to this point with a spectacular 126-121 win over the Los Angeles Clippers, with Curry pouring in 27 second-half points to carry his team through. The 37-year-old has battled injury throughout the season but appears close to full strength heading into tonight’s must-win game.
A stirring comeback authored by Golden State's postseason-tested vets.@MontePooleNBCS delivers the takeaways from the Warriors' incredible play-in win over the Clippers ⬇️https://t.co/LlVnpilNCS
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 16, 2026
The Phoenix Suns come in having suffered a 114-110 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers in Tuesday’s first round, a defeat that ended their chance at the No. 7 seed and now puts their entire postseason on the line.
Phoenix made a bold rebuild last summer, moving on from Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal while committing long-term to Devin Booker. The Suns have surprised many this season, but facing a Curry-led Warriors squad with everything on the line will be their ultimate test yet.
What’s at Stake for Tonight’s Play-In Teams
For the Charlotte Hornets, a victory tonight would represent the payoff for one of the most remarkable second-half turnarounds of the 2025-26 season. A first-round matchup with the Detroit Pistons awaits the winner a series that, on paper, gives Charlotte a real chance of pulling off a postseason upset and extending what has been an unexpected and thrilling campaign.
For the Phoenix Suns, advancing tonight would validate their bold roster rebuild and give Devin Booker a chance to prove his worth at the highest stage, though a first-round date with the Oklahoma City Thunder the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed would be an immense challenge.
For the Golden State Warriors, it may represent one of Stephen Curry’s final chances to compete deep into an NBA postseason, adding one more layer of storyline to an already compelling final night of Play-In basketball.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can watch all six NBA Play-In Tournament games exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. The games are available to all Prime members at no additional cost. In select international markets including the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, and Ireland, Prime Video also carries the games. For regions without coverage, NBA League Pass is the recommended alternative.
You can stream the NBA Play-In Tournament on smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, laptops, desktops, gaming consoles (PS4/PS5, Xbox), Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast, and all devices that support the Amazon Prime Video app.
Yes, Amazon Prime Video offers replays, highlights, and on-demand access to NBA Play-In games after the live broadcast concludes, allowing you to catch up on any action you may have missed.
Amazon Prime Video is included with an Amazon Prime membership, which costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year. New subscribers can access a 30-day free trial of Prime, which includes full access to the NBA Play-In Tournament at no additional charge.
