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NBA Tournament

Le « NBA Tournament » désigne, dans l’usage courant, différents tournois liés à la National Basketball Association, surtout le **NBA Cup** (tournoi intra-saison) et le **Play-In Tournament** qui précède les playoffs.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The term 'NBA Tournament' commonly refers to various competitions within the National Basketball Association, primarily the NBA Cup (in-season tournament) and the Play-In Tournament that precedes the playoffs. In the NBA schedule, these competitions are part of the regular season and playoff series. In French-speaking Canada, the term 'tournois NBA' is often used to refer to these competitions, particularly as followed by fans of the Toronto Raptors and other NBA teams broadcast in Canada.

NBA Cup

The NBA Cup is an official in-season tournament of the NBA. The tournament results are integrated into the regular schedule, with a group stage followed by a knockout phase.

Play-In Tournament

The Play-In Tournament serves as a qualification round for the playoffs. It pits the teams ranked 7th through 10th in each conference to determine the final playoff spots.

NBA Playoffs

The playoffs begin after the regular season and feature 16 teams. Each series is a best-of-seven format, and the winners of each conference advance to the NBA Finals.

NBA Finals

The NBA Finals conclude the season and pit the Eastern Conference champion against the Western Conference champion. The winner is crowned NBA champion and receives the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

Key facts

  • The NBA Cup is an in-season tournament held during the regular season.
  • The Play-In Tournament takes place after the regular season and determines the final playoff spots.
  • The NBA playoffs consist of 16 teams, eight from each conference.
  • Each playoff series is a best-of-seven format, requiring four wins to advance.
  • The NBA Finals feature the champions of the Eastern and Western Conferences.
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Canadian context

Au Canada francophone, l’expression « tournois NBA » renvoie surtout aux compétitions suivies par les fans des Raptors et des autres équipes NBA diffusées au Canada.

Frequently asked questions

Is the NBA Tournament a single tournament?
No. The term can refer to several NBA competitions, primarily the NBA Cup and the Play-In Tournament.
When does the NBA Cup take place?
It takes place during the NBA regular season, over a dedicated period of the schedule.
What is the purpose of the Play-In Tournament?
It is used to determine the final teams qualified for the playoffs in each conference.
How many teams go to the NBA playoffs?
Sixteen teams total, eight in each conference.
How are playoff series played?
Each series is a best-of-seven; the first team to win four games advances.
Are the NBA Finals part of the tournament?
They are part of the NBA end-of-season system, but distinct from the NBA Cup and the Play-In Tournament.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_Cup
    Supports: La NBA Cup est un tournoi organisé par la NBA pendant la saison régulière.
  2. Wikipedia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Play-In_Tournament_NBA
    Supports: Le Play-In Tournament est un tournoi préliminaire aux playoffs après la saison régulière.
  3. Wikipedia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playoffs_NBA
    Supports: Format des playoffs NBA, nombre d’équipes et séries au meilleur des sept matchs.
  4. Wikipedia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Basketball_Association
    Supports: Les Finales NBA désignent le champion NBA; structure générale de la saison.