NBA play-in tournament 2025: Schedule, standings, format
Following the conclusion of the 2024-25 NBA regular season on April 13, the play-in tournament will commence, starting on April 15 and ending on April 18, one day before the first round of the playoffs.
Initially implemented during the 2020-21 NBA season, the play-in tournament expanded the NBA's postseason field to 20 teams (10 from each conference). The top six teams from each conference automatically qualify for the playoffs, while the 7-seeds through 10-seeds compete in the play-in tournament for a chance to extend their seasons.
Every season since the play-in was first implemented, the race to the postseason has become even tighter.
In the East, the four play-in teams are set. TheAtlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic are jostling for the No. 7 seed and the chance to host the first play-in game, while the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat are neck and neck for the Nos. 9 and 10 seeds.
The West has been extremely competitive all season long, making every remaining regular-season game important. TheGolden State Warriors, LA Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies battling to stay out of the play-in spots. And with plenty of conference play remaining in the final week, postseason positioning seems to be anyone's to take.
Here's everything you need to know about the 2025 play-in tournament, including how it works, current standings and potential matchups.
MORE: Which teams are in the 2025 playoffs?
Current standings
Through games of April 10.
Regular-season games to watch
Eastern Conference
April 11: Detroit Pistons vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 7 p.m. ETbr/>April 13: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Detroit Pistons, 1 p.m. ETbr/>April 13: Atlanta Hawks vs. Orlando Magic, 1 p.m. ET
Western Conference
br/>April 11: Denver Nuggets vs. Memphis Grizzlies, 9 p.m. ETbr/>April 11: Sacramento Kings vs. LA Clippers, 10 p.m. ETbr/>April 11: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets, 10:30 p.m. ETbr/>April 13: Houston Rockets vs. Denver Nuggets, 3:30 p.m. ETbr/>April 13: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Dallas Mavericks, 3:30 p.m. ETbr/>April 13: Golden States Warriors vs. LA Clippers, 3:30 p.m. ETbr/>April 13: Sacramento Kings vs. Phoenix Suns, 3:30 p.m. ET
Projected matchups
Here's a glance at how the 2025 play-in tournament would look if the season ended today.
Eastern Conference
- No. 8 Atlanta Hawks at No. 7 Orlando Magic
- No. 10 Miami Heat at No. 9 Chicago Bulls
- Winner 9/10 vs. loser 7/8
Western Conference
- No. 8 Minnesota Timberwolves at No. 7 Memphis Grizzlies
- No. 10 Dallas Mavericks at No. 9 Sacramento Kings
- Winner 9/10 vs. loser 7/8
How does the NBA play-in tournament work?
There will be six total games involving eight teams as part of the play-in tournament, split up between the two conferences.
The top six teams in each conference will be guaranteed playoff spots, while teams Nos. 7 through 10 in the standings will enter the play-in. Any team that finishes worse than No. 10 will be in the NBA draft lottery.
The 2024-25 NBA regular season concludes on April 13, with all 30 teams playing. The play-in tournament will then take place April 15 through 18, before the first round of the playoffs.
Here's how the games will work:
- Game 1s: Each conference's No. 7 team in the standings will host the No. 8 team, with the winner earning the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. The losing teams get another chance in their respective conference's Game 3.
- Game 2s: Each conference's No. 9 team will host the No. 10 team, with the winner moving on to Game 3. The losers are eliminated and enter the NBA draft lottery.
- Game 3s: The losers of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 matchups will host the winners of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 matchups, with the victors grabbing each conference's No. 8 seed in the postseason. The losers of Game 3 enter the NBA draft lottery.
Under the format, teams with the seventh- and eighth-highest winning percentages will have two opportunities to win one game to earn a playoff spot, while the teams with the ninth- and 10th-highest winning percentages need to win two straight games to advance.
