The 2024-25 NBA regular season wraps up on April 13, setting the stage for the play-in tournament. Action begins on April 15 and concludes on April 18, just before the first round of the playoffs tip-off.
Introduced in the 2020-21 season, the play-in tournament expanded the postseason to include 20 teams, ten from each conference. The top six teams in each conference secure automatic playoff berths, while teams seeded 7th through 10th battle in the play-in for a chance to continue their season.
Since its inception, the play-in has intensified the competition for postseason contention every year.
In the Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic are vying for the No. 7 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 regular-season game crucial. The Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, and LA Clippers are all in contention for the final playoff spots. With several conference matchups still to play in the coming weeks, playoff positioning remains highly fluid.
Here’s a comprehensive overview of the 2025 play-in tournament, including its mechanics, current standings, and potential matchups.
Current 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 | 44-32 | .579 | .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.
Regular-Season Games to Watch
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 if the season were to conclude today.
Eastern Conference
- No. 8 Atlanta Hawks at No. 7 Orlando Magic
- 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 NBA Play-in Tournament Works
The play-in tournament consists of six games in total, involving eight teams from both conferences.
The top six teams in each conference are guaranteed playoff spots. Teams ranked 7th through 10th participate in the play-in. Teams finishing below 10th enter the NBA draft lottery.
The 2024-25 NBA regular season ends on April 13, with all 30 teams playing. The play-in tournament will be held from April 15 to 18, preceding the first round of the playoffs.
Here’s the game format:
- Game 1s: The No. 7 seed in each conference hosts the No. 8 seed. The winner secures the No. 7 playoff seed. The loser gets another chance in Game 3.
- Game 2s: The No. 9 seed in each conference hosts the No. 10 seed. The winner advances to Game 3. The losers are eliminated and enter the NBA draft lottery.
- Game 3s: The loser of the 7/8 matchup hosts the winner of the 9/10 matchup. The winner earns the No. 8 playoff seed. The loser enters the NBA draft lottery.
This format gives teams with the 7th and 8th best records two opportunities to win one game for a playoff spot. Teams with the 9th and 10th best records must win two consecutive games to advance.
