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 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.

For the past two years, the dominant starting five of the Knicks has been held back by a lack of reliable depth in big moments. That's no longer the case.

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.

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.

As the Spurs and Knicks prepare to play in the NBA Cup championship game, it's also time to reflect on three years of the in-season tournament.

Luke Kornet has established himself as a veteran mentor on the Spurs, helping them conquer the challenges presented during the NBA Cup.

Timothée Chalamet has already had a full career in acting that has led to Oscar nominations and countless other awards, but some of the best memories of his life have nothing to do with the big screen.

The Knicks can now hang a banner next to the 1973 NBA championship banner in Madison Square Garden, the last title they won.