The 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament is set to occur prior to the playoffs, scheduled from April 15-18, 2025. Four teams from both the Eastern and Western Conferences will compete for a chance to secure the final playoff spots, injecting excitement into the postseason.

What is the NBA Play-In Tournament?

The format was adopted permanently by the NBA Board of Governors in July 2022. The tournament will occur between the end of the regular season on April 13 and the playoffs starting on April 19.

When is the NBA Play-In Tournament?

• April 15: Play-In Game 1: East 7 vs. East 8, West 7 vs. West 8
• April 16: Play-In Game 3: East 9 vs. East 10, West 9 vs. West 10
• April 18: Play-In Game 5: Loser of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 3, Loser of Game 2 vs. Winner of Game 4

How does the NBA Play-In Tournament work?

The top four teams with the seventh to tenth best winning records will face off, with the seventh and eighth seeds fighting for their postseason spots. Each team finishing in these spots will have two chances to reach the playoffs.

How can I watch the NBA Play-In Tournament?

Fans can catch all six games live on ESPN and TNT.

Future Dates:

• April 19: NBA playoffs begin
• May 5-6: NBA conference semifinals commence
• June 5: NBA Finals start