The NBA regular season is coming to an end and the last two games of the calendar will be decisive in determining who will advance directly to the playoffs and who will have to play in the 2026 playoffs. This closing game generates great expectation, especially among the Hispanic community in the United States, where the following of basketball has grown steadily.
On the penultimate day, all 30 teams see action, with several direct confrontations between franchises that have already secured their place in the postseason and others that are still looking to improve their position in the standings.
How does the NBA play-in work?
The current format establishes that the top six teams in each conference qualify directly for the playoffs.
Meanwhile, the teams ranked between seventh and tenth place play in the 2026 NBA play-in, a playoff that awards the last two tickets.
The system works as follows:
Team 7 plays against team 8: the winner qualifies
The loser plays against the winner of 9 vs 10
The eighth qualifier is selected from this last game.
This means that finishing in seventh or eighth place offers an important advantage, as it provides two opportunities for advancement.
Clippers, Blazers and other key duels
One of the games that generates the most attention is the Los Angeles Clippers vs. Portland Trail Blazers.
This is due to its direct impact on the table and the possibility of securing a better position in the NBA 2026 play-in.
In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder remain the leaders with one of the best records of the season.
While teams like the Denver Nuggets are also looking to consolidate their position for the playoffs.
In the East, the fight is also intense.
Teams like the Toronto Raptors and Atlanta Hawks are looking for key wins against already qualified opponents like the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers in order to avoid the playoffs.
For its part, Orlando Magic is keeping an eye on these results, as it still has a chance to get into the top six if it manages to win and other scores combine.
This finish generates great anticipation
QuéOnnda.com
Key dates for the playoffs
The NBA play-in will begin on April 14, 2026.
While the playoffs will start a few days later, marking the beginning of the fight for the championship.
For fans in the United States, especially within the Latino community, this is one of the most exciting times on the sports calendar.
Each match can change the fate of the teams.
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com.
