The NBA Play-In Tournament tips off on Tuesday, April 14, and runs through Friday, April 17, with the tightest race for postseason berths in a decade. Seeds 7 through 10 in each conference are in play for the final two playoff spots, with the outcome decided by a compressed four-day format that has become the league’s unofficial fifth round.
How the Play-In Works
The No. 7 seed hosts the No. 8 seed, with the winner clinching the seventh playoff spot. The No. 9 seed hosts the No. 10 seed, with the loser eliminated. The loser of the 7-8 game then hosts the winner of the 9-10 game for the final playoff berth. The format, introduced in 2020, has turned what used to be meaningless April basketball into must-watch TV.
The Storylines
Both conferences went down to the final night of the regular season to settle seeding. In the East, four teams were separated by 1.5 games heading into Sunday’s final slate. In the West, the race included a former champion fighting for its playoff life for the first time in over a decade. Television ratings for the final regular-season week were up 14 per cent year-over-year, which the league is crediting to the tightest Play-In race since the tournament was introduced.
Broadcast Details
All four Play-In games will air on TNT and ESPN across four consecutive nights, with tip-offs staggered at 7 and 9:30 p.m. ET. The winners advance to open the first round next weekend against the top seeds in each conference.
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