Play-In Tournament schedule

The winners advance to the playoffs as the No. 7 seeds; the losers will play again on Friday.

The winners will play again Friday for a shot at the No. 8 seeds; the losers will be eliminated.

The winners advance to the playoffs as the No. 8 seeds; the losers will be eliminated.

How the play-in tournament works

The current format of the play-in tournament was introduced during the 2020-21 season. Teams that finish 7 through 10 in the standings will participate in a two-round tournament for a shot at the playoffs as the seventh and eighth seeds.

Each conference’s No. 7 team in the standings will host the No. 8 team. The winners secure the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. The losers will get another chance to earn a playoff spot.

Each conference’s No. 9 team in the standings will host the No. 10 team. The winners will advance to the final stage of the Play-In Tournament. The losers are eliminated.

The losers of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 matchups will host the winners of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 matchups. The winners secure the No. 8 seed in the NBA playoffs for its conference. The losing teams are eliminated.

The 2025 NBA Playoffs begin April 19.