The NBA season includes a play-in tournament to decide the 7th and 8th seeds. Here’s how it works.
It's time for playoff basketball.
But before the best 16 teams in the NBA started battling for the Larry O'Brien Trophy, the final participants needed to be determined.
Watch NBC6 free wherever you are
WATCH HEREThat brought us to the Play-In Tournament, which has been used to spice up the chase for the last four postseason spots.
Here's all the info about this year's Play-In Tournament:
Get local news you need to know to start your day with NBC 6's News Headlines newsletter.
SIGN UP
What is the NBA Play-In Tournament?
It's exactly what it sounds like -- a tournament to determine who fills out the playoff field.
The Play-In Tournament was established in 2020 to set the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds for both the Eastern and Western Conference postseason brackets.
The first Play-In Tournament was held in the NBA Bubble in 2020 before the current format was adopted for 2021 and beyond.
How does the NBA Play-In Tournament work?
The Play-In Tournament involves eight teams -- four from each conference. Teams that finish seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th in the East and West participate, with six games being played in total (maximum two per team).
The No. 7 seeds in each conference host the No. 8 seeds. The No. 9 seeds host the No. 10 seeds.
The winners of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 games advance to the postseason as the No. 7 seed. The losers of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 games are eliminated.
The final two games will pit the losers of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 games against the winners of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 games. The winners of those games make the playoffs as the No. 8 seed; the losers are eliminated.
When does the NBA Play-In Tournament start in 2025?
The 2025 Play-In Tournament began on Tuesday, April 15.
NBA Play-In Tournament dates 2025
The dates and matchups for all Play-In Tournament games have been set. Here's the schedule:
Tuesday, April 15
- Game 1: Orlando Magic 120, Atlanta Hawks 95
- Game 2: Golden State Warriors 121, Memphis Grizzlies 116
Wednesday, April 16
- Game 3: Miami Heat 109, Chicago Bulls 90
- Game 4: Dallas Mavericks 120, Sacramento Kings 106
Friday, April 18
- Game 5: Miami Heat 123, Atlanta Hawks 114
- Game 6: Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks 106
How to watch the NBA Play-In Tournament
All six games of the NBA Play-In Tournament will air on ESPN and TNT.
On Friday, the East game will air on TNT and the West game will air on ESPN.
What teams will be in the NBA Play-In Tournament for 2025?
The Play-In Tournament seeds were set in the East and West after a hectic final day of the regular season.
EAST
7. Orlando Magic, 41-41
8. Atlanta Hawks, 40-42
9. Chicago Bulls, 39-43
10. Miami Heat, 37-45
WEST
7. Golden State Warriors, 48-33
8. Memphis Grizzlies, 48-34
9. Sacramento Kings, 39-42
10. Dallas Mavericks, 39-43
