We’re starting to see the top teams in the NBA standings, like the Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers, locking in their spots in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. But what about those more toward the middle of the pack, the prospective 7- and 8-seeds? That’s what the NBA Play-In Tournament is for.
Here’s your guide to the NBA’s new pre-playoffs format, the Sofi NBA Play-In Tournament. Get the information you need right here so you can watch the odds play out live on the court.
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What is the Sofi NBA Play-In Tournament?
The NBA Play-In Tournament is a preliminary tournament between the middle-ranked teams in the standings that happens at the beginning of the NBA post-season to determine which teams will lay claim to the final two playoff seeds in the Eastern and Western Conferences. You might consider the NBA Play-In Tournament to be the playoffs before the playoffs.
How Does the NBA Play-In Tournament Work?
Source: nba.com
Teams that ended the NBA regular season in positions 7-10 in the standings square off to determine who will become the 7- and 8-seeds in their conference’s respective playoff bracket.
The first NBA Play-In game was played during the 2019-2020 season in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the NBA’s playoff “bubble” format. The tournament format was introduced in the 2020-2021 season, and in July 2022, the format was made a permanent feature of the postseason.
The bracket for each conference is as follows:
- The 7th and 8th place teams play each other, and the winner becomes the 7-seed
- The 9th and 10th place teams play each other
- The winner of 9/10 game plays the loser of the 7/8 game to determine the 8-seed
When is the NBA Play-In Tournament?
The NBA Play-In Tournament will be held from April 15 to April 18, 2025, just after the regular season ends but before the first round of the playoffs begins.
How to Watch the NBA Play-In Tournament
All of the games in the NBA Play-In Tournament will be broadcast on TNT (DIRECTV Channel 245) and ESPN (DIRECTV Channel 206).
Which Teams Will Be in the 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament?
As the standings sit right now (March 24, 2025), the following teams would be in the Play-In Tournament if the season ended today:
Eastern Conference:
- 7/8 Game: Atlanta Hawks vs. Orlando Magic
- 9/10 Game: Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat
The Milwaukee Bucks and the Detroit Pistons are in fifth and sixth place and could still fall into play-in contention. The Toronto Raptors are in 11th place in the east and still theoretically in contention for an NBA Play-In tournament spot.
Western Conference:
- 7/8 Game: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. LA Clippers
- 9/10 Game: Sacramento Kings vs. Phoenix Suns
The Memphis Grizzlies and the Golden State Warriors are in fifth and sixth place and could find themselves in the play-in tournament. The Dallas Mavericks are in 11th place in the west and still theoretically in contention for an NBA Play-In tournament spot.
NBA Playoffs Schedule
Here’s the full schedule for the NBA playoffs, including the NBA Play-In Tournament.
- April 15 – 18: SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament
- April 19: First Round Begins
- May 5 – 6: Conference Semi-Finals
- May TBD: Conference Finals
- June 5: NBA Finals begin.
The playoffs will be broadcast on ABC (Check local listings for channel number), ESPN, TNT and NBA TV.
Watch the NBA Playoffs and Play-In Tournament on DIRECTV
Don’t miss a single slam dunk, lay-up or heartbreaking elimination. Get DIRECTV today to catch every single game of the 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament and the NBA Playoffs, plus more live sports.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NBA Play-In Tournament
The NBA Play-In Tournament is the preliminary tournament before the playoffs start to determine the 7- and 8-seeds for each conference.
When is the NBA Play-In Tournament in 2025?
The NBA Play-In Tournament starts April 15 and ends April 18, 2025.
How new is the NBA Play-In Tournament?
It was first held in 2020 and made permanent in 2022.
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