After the regular season of the NBA 2024-25 13. April 13 will begin for playing, starting on April 15 and end on April 18, one day before the first round of the playoffs.
The play-in tournament, originally implemented during the NBA 2020-21 season, has expanded the NBA Postseason field to 20 teams (10 of each conference). The six best teams from each conference automatically qualify for the playoffs, while 7 seeds through 10 seeds competitions at the play-in tournament with a chance to extend their seasons.
Every season since playing was first implemented, the Postseason race has been shortened.
East Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic to jostling for seed no. 7 and chance to host the first play to play while Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat They are neck and neck for seeds no. 9 and 10.
The West was very competitive throughout the season, so every remaining game regular season is important. Seed No. 6 Golden State Warriors are just half a game in front of a steep stripe Minnesota Timberwolveswho just sits half a game before No. 8 deployed Clippers. And with a lot of conference games remaining in the range of two weeks, the position of Postseason seems to be someone to take.
Here is everything you need to know about the play-in tournament 2025, including how it works, current position and potential matches.
MORE: Which teams are in play -off 2025?
Current rankings
Through games from 31 March.
Games in a regular season
Eastern Conference
April 8: Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks, 19:00 et
April 9: Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat, 20:00 et
April 11: Detroit Pistons vs. Milwaukee Bucks19:00 and
April 13: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Detroit Pistons, 13:00
April 13: Atlanta Hawks vs. Orlando Magic, 13:00 et
Western conference
April 1: Memphis grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors, 20:00 et
April 1: Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, 22:00 et
April 3: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors, 22:00. Et
April 4: Golden State Warriors vs. Denver Nuggets, 22:00 et
April 4: La Clippers vs. Dallas Mavericks22:30 and
April 5: La Clippers vs. Dallas Mavericks, 22:30 et
April 6: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder15:30 and
April 6: Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets20:30 and
April 8: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 20:00 Et
April 9: Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 19:30 et
April 9: Sacramento Kings vs. Denver Nuggets, 10:00 et
April 10: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, 21:30 et
April 11: Denver Nuggets vs. Memphis Grizzlies, 21:00 et
April 11: Sacramento Kings vs. La Clippers, 22:00 et
April 11: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets, 22:30 et
April 13: Houston Rockets vs. Denver Nuggets, 15:30 et
April 13: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Dallas Mavericks, 15:30
April 13: Warriors Golden States vs. La Clippers, 15:30 et
April 13: Sacramento Kings vs. Phoenix Suns15:30 and
Screened matches
Here’s a look at what the 2025 play-in tournament would look like if the season ended today.
Eastern Conference
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8 Orlando Magic on No. 7 Atlanta Hawks
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10 Chicago Bulls on No. 9 Miami Heat
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Winner 9/10 vs. Loser 7/8
Western conference
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8 La Clippers on No. 7 Minnesota Timberwolves
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10 Sacramento Kings on No. 9 Dallas Mavericks
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Winner 9/10 vs. Loser 7/8
How does the NBA play-in tournament work?
As part of the play-in tournament, there will be six games between the two conferences including eight teams.
The six best teams at each conference will be guaranteed by playoffs, while teams no. 7 to 10 in the ranking will enter playback. Any team that ends worse than No. 10 will be a draft in the NBA lottery.
The regular NBA season 2024-25 closes 13 April and plays all 30 teams. The play-in tournament will then take place on April 15 to 18, before the first round of the playoffs.
Here is how games will work:
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Game 1s: The team of each conference no. Team loss has another chance in the game 3.
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Game 2s: The team of each conference no.
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Game 3s: Loads of matches No. 7 vs. No. 8 will host the winner of matches No. 9 vs. 10, while the winners grabbed the seed of each conference No. 8 in Postseason. Losers of Game 3 enters the NBA draft lottery.
As part of the format, teams with the seventh and eighth highest winning percentage will have two opportunities to win one game to get a playoff place, while teams with ninth and 10 are the highest winning percentage to win two direct games to advance.
