NBA play-in tournament 2025: Schedule, standings, format

The 2024-25 NBA play-in tournament continues through Friday as the last set of teams aim to clinch spots for 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 qualified for the playoffs, while the 7-seeds through 10-seeds compete in the play-in tournament for a chance to extend their seasons./p>

/p>

In the East, the No. 7 seed Orlando Magic defeated the No. 8 seedAtlanta Hawksto clinch a first-round series clash with theNo. 2 seed Boston Celtics. The Hawks now await the winner of Wednesday's game between the 9-seed Chicago Bulls and the 10-seed Miami Heat. That matchup will be played Friday in Atlanta for a chance to face the No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round.

In the West, the No. 7 seed Golden State Warriorsdefeated the No. 8 seed Memphis Grizzlies to clinch a first-round series clash with the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets. The Grizzlies now await the winner of Wednesday's game between the 9-seed Sacramento Kings and the 10-seed Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday. That matchup will be played Friday for a chance to face the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.

Here's everything you need to know about the 2025 play-in tournament, including how it works, current standings and matchups.

MORE: Which teams are in the 2025 playoffs?

Play-in matchups

*all times Eastern

Eastern Conference

• No. 7 Magic 120, No. 8 Hawks 95(Magic into playoffs to face No. 2 Boston)


• No. 10 Miami Heat at No. 9 Chicago Bulls (Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., ESPN)


• Winner 9/10 vs. No. 8 Atlanta Hawks (Friday, 7 p.m., TNT)

Western Conference

• No. 7 Warriors 121, No. 8 Grizzlies 116 (Warriors into playoffs to face No. 2 Houston)


• No. 10 Dallas Mavericks at No. 9 Sacramento Kings(Wednesday, 10 p.m., ESPN)


• Winner 9/10 vs. Memphis Grizzlies (Friday, 9:30 p.m., ESPN)

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./p>

/p>

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 concluded on April 13, with all 30 teams playing. The play-in tournament will then take place April 15-18, 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.br/]