NBA playoffs: How does the Play-In Tournament work?

[ASFN Admin]

This year will mark the fifth time, under its current structure, that the NBA Play-In Tournament will be played.

The tournament allows for teams in the lower margins of contention to make their way into the playoffs, provided they catch fire and win their games. It also expands the field of teams eligible for the postseason to the top 10 seeds in each conference. Introduced ahead of the 2021 playoffs, any and all statistics recorded in the games do not count toward official records. Yet, the implications for the teams — winners and losers alike — is massive.

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Here's a look at the 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament and how it would shape up if the regular season ended Thursday:

NBA Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament matchup​

If the season ended Thursday, here's the projected structure of the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament:

• Seventh-place Orlando Magic vs. eighth-place Atlanta Hawks
  • Winner faces No. 2 seed Boston Celtics
  • Loser will play in second round of Play-In Tournament
• Ninth-place Chicago Bulls vs. 10th-place Miami Heat
  • Winner plays in second round of Play-In Tournament
  • Loser eliminated

NBA Western Conference Play-In Tournament matchup​

If the season ended Thursday, here's the projected structure of the Western Conference Play-In Tournament:

• Seventh-place Golden State Warriors vs. eighth-place Minnesota Timberwolves
  • Winner faces No. 2 seed Houston Rockets
  • Loser will play in second round of Play-In Tournament
• Ninth-place Sacramento Kings vs. 10th-place Dallas Mavericks
  • Winner plays in second round of Play-In Tournament
  • Loser eliminated

What is the NBA Play-In Tournament?​

The tournament involves the teams ranked seventh through 10th in each conference to determine the seventh and eighth seeds, the final two playoff teams in each conference bracket.

Any stats recorded during play-in games do not count toward a player or team's regular season or postseason records. In the simplest terms, the Play-In Tournament is considered a separate event in between the regular season and playoffs.

When does the 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament start?​

The 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament begins Tuesday, April 15 and runs through Friday, April 18.

What is the schedule for the 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament?​

Tuesday, April 15

• East No. 7 seed vs. East No. 8 seed (winner advances to playoffs as No. 7 seed); TNT
• West No. 7 seed vs. West No. 8 seed (winner advances to playoffs as No. 7 seed); TNT

Wednesday, April 16

• East No. 9 seed vs. East No. 10 seed (winner advances to final round of tournament; loser is eliminated); ESPN
• West No. 9 seed vs. West No. 10 seed (winner advances to final round of tournament; loser is eliminated); ESPN

Friday, April 18

• Loser of East 7/8 game vs. winner of East 9/10 game (winner advances to playoffs as No. 8 seed; loser is eliminated); TNT
• Loser of West 7/8 game vs. winner of West 9/10 game (winner advances to playoffs as No. 8 seed; loser is eliminated); ESPN

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA Play-In Tournament: When does it start? Which teams will compete?

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