The 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament will take place from April 15 to April 18, right after the regular season ends and just before the NBA playoffs begin on April 19.

The tournament is designed to determine the final two playoff spots in both the Eastern and Western Conferences. Teams that finish 7th through 10th in the standings will compete for the 7th and 8th seeds in the playoffs.

How the Play-In Tournament Works?

The format of the Play-In Tournament involves four teams from each conference – the 7th to 10th seeded teams. Here is the structure:

• Game 1: The 7th and 8th seeds go head-to-head, with the winner securing the No. 7 playoff spot. The losing team gets one more opportunity to qualify.
• Game 2: The 9th and 10th seeds battle it out, but there’s no safety net here—the winner advances, and the loser is eliminated.
• Game 3: The loser of Game 1 faces the winner of Game 2 in a final showdown. The winner claims the No. 8 seed, while the loser’s playoff hopes come to an end.

This format gives teams that finish 7th or 8th two opportunities to secure a playoff spot, providing an additional chance for teams with strong regular seasons but facing tough competition.

2025 NBA Play-In Tournament Matchups

As of March 2025, the matchups for the Play-In Tournament are as follows:

Eastern Conference:

(7) Orlando Magic vs. (8) Atlanta Hawks
(9) Miami Heat vs. (10) Chicago Bulls

Western Conference:

(7) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (8) Dallas Mavericks
(9) Sacramento Kings vs. (10) Golden State Warriors

How to Watch the NBA Play-In Tournament?

The 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament will be broadcast on TNT and ESPN. Fans can also stream the games through the ESPN app, TNT app, or NBA League Pass (for international viewers).

The NBA Play-In Tournament adds extra excitement to the postseason, offering teams on the playoff bubble a final opportunity to secure their spot in the playoffs.