The 2026/27 NBA season brings together 30 basketball teams for an 82-game regular-season campaign running from 20 October 2026 to 11 April 2027. Fans can follow the NBA schedule, completed games and conference rankings as the race for the 2027 NBA Finals unfolds.
For changing basketball fixtures, NBA live scores and results, check SportPesa Score. The guide below explains the season calendar, participating clubs, tournament format and how the standings determine postseason qualification.
2026/27 NBA season overview
| Season detail | Information |
| Competition | National Basketball Association (NBA) |
| Regular season | 20 October 2026 – 11 April 2027 |
| Teams | 30 (15 in each conference) |
| Games | 82 per team; 1,230 scheduled regular-season games |
| In-season tournament | Emirates NBA Cup 2026 |
| NBA Cup final | 11 December 2026 — Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis |
| All-Star Weekend | 19–21 February 2027 |
| Postseason | NBA Play-In Tournament, NBA playoffs and 2027 NBA Finals |
NBA teams in the Eastern and Western Conferences
The 30 NBA teams are split evenly between the Eastern Conference and Western Conference. Each conference has three divisions of five teams. The conference standings, rather than division titles alone, determine direct playoff places and Play-In Tournament qualification.
| Conference | Division | Teams |
| East | Atlantic | Boston Celtics; Brooklyn Nets; New York Knicks; Philadelphia 76ers; Toronto Raptors |
| East | Central | Chicago Bulls; Cleveland Cavaliers; Detroit Pistons; Indiana Pacers; Milwaukee Bucks |
| East | Southeast | Atlanta Hawks; Charlotte Hornets; Miami Heat; Orlando Magic; Washington Wizards |
| West | Northwest | Denver Nuggets; Minnesota Timberwolves; Oklahoma City Thunder; Portland Trail Blazers; Utah Jazz |
| West | Pacific | Golden State Warriors; Los Angeles Clippers; Los Angeles Lakers; Phoenix Suns; Sacramento Kings |
| West | Southwest | Dallas Mavericks; Houston Rockets; Memphis Grizzlies; New Orleans Pelicans; San Antonio Spurs |
NBA schedule 2026/27: key dates and competitions
The NBA schedule 2026/27 includes regular-season matchups, the Emirates NBA Cup, All-Star Weekend and the postseason. The league announced opponents and dates for 80 of each club’s 82 regular-season games; two games per team are determined by NBA Cup group-stage outcomes.
| Event | Date |
| Regular season begins | 20 October 2026 |
| NBA Cup group play | 30 October – 27 November 2026 |
| NBA Cup quarterfinals | 4–5 December 2026 |
| NBA Cup semifinals | 8 and/or 9 December 2026 |
| NBA Cup championship | 11 December 2026 |
| NBA All-Star Weekend | 19–21 February 2027 |
| Regular season ends | 11 April 2027 |
| NBA Play-In Tournament | April 2027 |
| NBA playoffs | Begin after Play-In Tournament |
| 2027 NBA Finals | After the conference playoff rounds |
For readers in Lesotho, United States tip-off times may fall on the following calendar day. Check the local date and time for each game rather than assuming that a United States schedule date is the same in SAST (UTC+2).
How the NBA regular season and NBA Cup work
During the NBA regular season, every franchise plays 82 games, split between home and away fixtures. Teams are ranked within their conferences by win-loss record and applicable NBA tiebreakers.
The Emirates NBA Cup is played alongside the regular-season calendar. All 30 clubs enter the NBA Cup group stage, but only eight teams progress to the single-elimination NBA Cup knockout rounds. The 2026 championship game takes place at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Most Cup games also count towards the NBA regular-season record; the Cup final does not.
NBA results and live scores
NBA results record each completed game’s final score. Fans following NBA fixtures can also compare home and away performance, track team winning streaks and review how results affect conference standings. Because scores change every game day, this evergreen guide does not present an undated “latest results” table.
Find available live basketball coverage, completed scores and game statistics on SportPesa Score. For related match reporting, browse SportPesa Global basketball coverage.
NBA standings 2026/27 and playoff qualification
NBA standings 2026/27 are divided into Eastern and Western Conference tables. The principal figures are wins, losses, winning percentage and games behind the conference leader; NBA tiebreaking rules apply when clubs have matching records.
The top six teams in each conference qualify directly for the NBA playoffs. Teams placed seventh through tenth enter the NBA Play-In Tournament to compete for the remaining seventh and eighth playoff seeds. The playoffs then proceed through best-of-seven series to decide the conference champions and the NBA championship.
Who won the previous NBA championship?
The New York Knicks enter 2026/27 as defending NBA champions after defeating the San Antonio Spurs 4–1 in the 2026 NBA Finals. That result provides context for the new campaign without implying that early-season standings predict the next champion.
Frequently asked questions about the 2026/27 NBA season
When does the 2026/27 NBA regular season end?
The regular season is scheduled to conclude on Sunday, 11 April 2027.
How many teams and games are in the NBA season?
The league has 30 teams, each scheduled to play 82 regular-season games, for a total of 1,230 games.
How many NBA teams reach the playoffs?
Six teams from each conference qualify directly. Four more per conference enter the Play-In Tournament, which fills the remaining two playoff places in each conference, producing a 16-team playoff field.
Where can I check NBA fixtures, scores and standings?
Use SportPesa Score for available basketball schedules, scores and standings, and the NBA’s official schedule for the league’s published dates.
Follow the 2026/27 NBA season
The 2026/27 NBA season runs from October to April before the Play-In Tournament, playoffs and Finals. With 30 participating teams, the Emirates NBA Cup and a full regular-season schedule, the competition offers several ways to follow clubs across both conferences.
Check available NBA scores, fixtures and standings on SportPesa Score and read more basketball coverage from SportPesa Global.
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