Since its introduction, the NBA Play-In Tournament has become one of the league’s most popular additions under commissioner Adam Silver.
Designed to combat tanking and add excitement to the postseason push, the Play-In format ensures that fans get high-stakes basketball before the traditional playoffs even begin.
With some of the league’s biggest stars and most storied franchises facing win-or-go-home scenarios, the Play-In has brought added intensity to the NBA calendar – and this year’s tournament promises more of the same.
What is the NBA Play-In Tournament?
The Play-In Tournament was created to address a long-standing concern in the NBA: teams at the bottom of the standings tanking games for better lottery odds. Adam Silver’s solution was simple – keep more teams in contention for longer.
Under the Play-In system, teams seeded 7 through 10 in each conference must fight for the final two playoff spots. This keeps the race for playoff positioning fierce all the way to the end of the regular season.
How Does the NBA Play-In Tournament Work?
The Play-In Tournament features four teams per conference competing in a mini-bracket:
- The No. 7 and No. 8 seeds play a single game. The winner secures the No. 7 seed in the playoffs and faces the No. 2 seed in the first round.
- The No. 9 and No. 10 seeds also meet in a single-elimination contest. The loser is eliminated.
- The winner of the 9/10 game faces the loser of the 7/8 game in another elimination matchup. The winner grabs the final playoff spot as the No. 8 seed and takes on the top seed in the conference.
This format not only rewards higher seeds with a safety net but also gives lower seeds a chance to fight their way in. It has added meaningful games to the end of the regular season while increasing the urgency for teams to finish in the top six.
Historic Play-In Success: Miami’s 2023 Run
The Play-In Tournament has already produced unforgettable moments. The most famous example came in 2023 when the Miami Heat, after losing their initial play-in game, rallied to grab the No. 8 seed.
They then upset the Milwaukee Bucks and powered through the Eastern Conference to reach the NBA Finals – a testament to the Play-In’s potential to fuel postseason Cinderella runs.
NBA Play-In Tournament 2025 Schedule and Broadcast Information
Here’s a look at this year’s Play-In matchups, featuring some of the NBA’s most exciting stars and teams.
Eastern Conference Play-In Schedule
- Tuesday, April 15 – 7 vs. 8 Game: Atlanta Hawks at Orlando Magic – 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
- Wednesday, April 16 – 9 vs. 10 Game: Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls – 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
- Friday, April 18 – Final Play-In Game: Winner of 9/10 vs. Loser of 7/8 – Time TBD (TNT)
Western Conference Play-In Schedule
- Tuesday, April 15 – 7 vs. 8 Game: Memphis Grizzlies at Golden State Warriors – 10 p.m. ET (TNT)
- Wednesday, April 16 – 9 vs. 10 Game: Dallas Mavericks at Sacramento Kings – 10 p.m. ET (ESPN)
- Friday, April 18 – Final Play-In Game: Winner of 9/10 vs. Loser of 7/8 – Time TBD (ESPN)
How to Watch the NBA Play-In Tournament
Every game of the NBA Play-In Tournament will air live on TNT or ESPN. Fans can also stream the games via the TNT and ESPN apps or through NBA League Pass in select regions.
