When is the 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament, schedule, standings, Updated bracket, dates, matchups, times
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.
What is the NBA Play-In Tournament?
The tournament involves the teams ranked seventh through 10th in each conference. The games will 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 simplest terms, the Play-In Tournament is considered a separate event in between the regular season and playoffs.
Projected 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament bracket, matchups
The final standings are still in flux with teams having between two and three games remaining on their schedule, but here's how the play-in field projects to be, based on results through Wednesday night's games:
NBA Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament matchup
No. 7 Orlando Magic (40-40) vs. No. 8 Atlanta Hawks (37-42)
Winner faces No. 2 seed Boston Celtics
Loser will play in second round of Play-In Tournament
No. 9 Chicago Bulls (37-43) vs. No. 10 Miami Heat (36-44)
Winner plays in second round of Play-In Tournament
Loser eliminated
NBA Western Conference Play-In Tournament matchup
No. 7 Golden State Warriors (47-33) vs. No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies (46-33)
Winner faces No. 2 seed Houston Rockets
Loser will play in second round of Play-In Tournament
No. 9 Sacramento Kings (39-41) vs. No. 10 Dallas Mavericks (38-42)
Winner plays in second round of Play-In Tournament
Loser eliminated
What is the 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament Schedule?
Tuesday, April 15
Atlanta Hawks (East 8) vs. Orlando Magic (East 7) | 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT
Winner advances to playoffs as No. 7 seed
Memphis Grizzlies (West 8) vs. Golden State Warriors (West 7) | 10 p.m. ET on TNT
Winner advances to playoffs as No. 7 seed
Wednesday, April 16
Miami Heat (East 10) vs. Chicago Bulls (East 9) | 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Loser is eliminated
Dallas Mavericks (West 10) vs. Sacramento Kings (West 9) | 10 p.m. ET on ESPN
Loser is eliminated
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
How can I watch the 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament games?
Tuesday's games will be televised on TNT and can likewise be streamed on Max (previously HBO).
Wednesday’s games will be televised on ESPN and can be streamed via ESPN+ with a valid subscription login.
Friday’s Eastern Conference game will be hosted by TNT, while the Western Conference showdown will be aired on TNT.
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