The 2024-25 NBA regular season wraps up on April 13, setting the stage for the play-in tournament. Starting April 15 and concluding on April 18, this tournament determines the final playoff seeds just before the first round begins on April 19.
Introduced in the 2020-21 season, the play-in tournament expanded the postseason to include 20 teams, 10 from each conference. While the top six teams in each conference secure automatic playoff berths, teams seeded 7th through 10th enter the play-in for a chance to continue their season.
Since its inception, the play-in has intensified the competition for postseason contention each year.
In the Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic are battling for the crucial 7th seed, which guarantees hosting the first play-in game. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat are closely matched for the 9th and 10th seeds.
The Western Conference has been fiercely competitive throughout the season, making every remaining game critical. The Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, and LA Clippers are all vying for playoff spots. With several conference games left in the next two weeks, playoff positioning remains highly contested.
Here’s a comprehensive guide to the 2025 play-in tournament, covering its format, current standings, and potential matchups.
Current Conference Standings
Eastern Conference Play-In Standings
| Team | W-L | Win Pct. | GB of 6th |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. Milwaukee Bucks | 41-34 | .547 | — |
| 7. Orlando Magic | 37-40 | .481 | 5 |
| 8. Atlanta Hawks | 36-39 | .480 | 5 |
| 9. Miami Heat | 34-41 | .453 | 7 |
| x – 10. Chicago Bulls | 34-42 | .447 | 7.5 |
| x – locked into play-in |
Western Conference Play-In Standings
| Team | W-L | Win Pct. | GB of 6th |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4. Los Angeles Lakers | 46-29 | .613 | +2.5 |
| 5. Golden State Warriors | 44-31 | .587 | +.5 |
| 6. Memphis Grizzlies | 44-32 | .579 | — |
| 7. Minnesota Timberwolves | 43-32 | .573 | .5 |
| 8. LA Clippers | 42-32 | .573 | .5 |
| 9. Dallas Mavericks | 37-39 | .487 | 7 |
| 10. Sacramento Kings | 36-39 | .480 | 7.5 |
| 11. Phoenix Suns | 35-41 | .461 | 8.5 |
Standings as of April 1st.
Key Regular Season Games
Eastern Conference
- 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
- April 3: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors, 10 pm. ET
- April 4: Golden State Warriors vs. Denver Nuggets, 10 p.m. ET
- April 4: LA Clippers vs. Dallas Mavericks, 10:30 p.m. ET
- April 5: LA Clippers vs. Dallas Mavericks, 10:30 p.m. ET
- April 6: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 3:30 p.m. ET
- April 6: Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets, 8:30 p.m. ET
- April 8: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 8 p.m. ET
- April 9: Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 7:30 p.m. ET
- April 9: Sacramento Kings vs. Denver Nuggets, 10 p.m. ET
- April 10: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, 9:30 p.m. ET
- April 11: Denver Nuggets vs. Memphis Grizzlies, 9 p.m. ET
- April 11: Sacramento Kings vs. LA Clippers, 10 p.m. ET
- April 11: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets, 10:30 p.m. ET
- April 13: Houston Rockets vs. Denver Nuggets, 3:30 p.m. ET
- April 13: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Dallas Mavericks, 3:30 p.m. ET
- April 13: Golden States Warriors vs. LA Clippers, 3:30 p.m. ET
- April 13: Sacramento Kings vs. Phoenix Suns, 3:30 p.m. ET
Projected Matchups
Here’s a preview of the potential 2025 play-in tournament matchups based on current standings:
Eastern Conference
- No. 8 Orlando Magic at No. 7 Atlanta Hawks
- No. 10 Chicago Bulls at No. 9 Miami Heat
- Winner 9/10 vs. loser 7/8
Western Conference
- No. 8 LA Clippers at No. 7 Minnesota Timberwolves
- No. 10 Sacramento Kings at No. 9 Dallas Mavericks
- Winner 9/10 vs. loser 7/8
How the Play-In Tournament Works
The play-in tournament involves eight teams across six games, divided between the two conferences.
The top six teams in each conference are guaranteed playoff spots. Teams ranked 7th to 10th participate in the play-in. Teams below 10th enter the NBA draft lottery.
The 2024-25 NBA regular season ends on April 13, with all teams playing. The play-in occurs from April 15 to 18, before the playoffs begin.
Here’s the game breakdown:
- Game 1s: The 7th seed hosts the 8th seed. Winner gets the 7th playoff seed. Loser plays in Game 3.
- Game 2s: The 9th seed hosts the 10th seed. Winner advances to Game 3. Loser is eliminated.
- Game 3s: The loser of the 7/8 game hosts the winner of the 9/10 game. Winner gets the 8th playoff seed. Loser is eliminated.
This format gives the 7th and 8th seeds two chances to win one game for a playoff spot, while the 9th and 10th seeds must win two consecutive games to advance.
