The 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament: Complete Guide
The 2025 NBA season is approaching its climax, with the regular season concluding on April 13. Following this, the play-in tournament will take place from April 15 to April 18, paving the way for the playoffs.
First introduced in the 2020-21 season, the play-in tournament allows for a wider assortment of teams to compete for playoff berths, featuring 20 teams split across the two conferences. The top six teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs automatically, while the teams ranked 7th through 10th engage in the play-in battles.
Upcoming Matchups and Locations
The Eastern and Western Conference races have become notably competitive as the regular season draws to a close. As such, every game carries significant weight.
Eastern Conference Insights
In the East, the race for the No. 7 seed is intense, with the Atlanta Hawks and the Orlando Magic vying for home-court advantage in the play-in games. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat are closely contesting for the 9th and 10th seeds.
Western Conference Dynamics
The Western Conference has proven to be highly competitive. Presently, the Golden State Warriors hold the No. 6 seed but only marginally lead the Minnesota Timberwolves and LA Clippers, who are both pushing for playoff contention.
Current Standings Overview
Eastern Conference Play-In Standings
| Team | Record | Winning Percentage | Games Behind (GB) of 6th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Bucks | 40-34 | .541 | — |
| Atlanta Hawks | 36-38 | .486 | 4.0 |
| Orlando Magic | 36-40 | .474 | 5.0 |
| Miami Heat | 34-41 | .453 | 6.5 |
| Chicago Bulls | 33-42 | .440 | 7.5 |
Western Conference Play-In Standings
| Team | Record | Winning Percentage | Games Behind (GB) of 6th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Lakers | 45-29 | .608 | +3.5 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 44-31 | .587 | +.5 |
| Golden State Warriors | 43-31 | .581 | — |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 43-32 | .573 | 3.5 |
| LA Clippers | 42-32 | .573 | 3.5 |
How the Play-In Tournament Operates
The play-in tournament will involve six games, pitting eight teams from both conferences against each other. Here’s how it works:
- Game 1: The 7th place team plays the 8th place team in each conference with the winner securing the No. 7 seed in the playoffs.
- Game 2: The 9th place team faces the 10th place team, where the winner advances to Game 3, while the loser is eliminated from postseason contention.
- Game 3: The loser of Game 1 plays the winner of Game 2 for the final playoff spot, with the losing team being eliminated from the playoffs.
This format allows teams ranked 7th and 8th to have two opportunities to advance, while teams ranked 9th and 10th must win consecutive games to secure a playoff position.
Key Games to Watch
Several crucial matchups in both conferences are scheduled as the regular season concludes:
Eastern Conference Key Matchups
- April 8: Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks, 7 p.m. ET
- April 9: Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat, 8 p.m. ET
- April 11: Detroit Pistons vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 7 p.m. ET
- April 13: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Detroit Pistons, 1 p.m. ET
- April 13: Atlanta Hawks vs. Orlando Magic, 1 p.m. ET
Western Conference Key Matchups
- April 1: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors, 8 p.m. ET
- April 1: Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, 10 p.m. ET
- April 9: Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 7:30 p.m. ET
- April 13: Houston Rockets vs. Denver Nuggets, 3:30 p.m. ET
- April 13: Sacramento Kings vs. Phoenix Suns, 3:30 p.m. ET