The NBA Play-In Tournament Will Not DISAPPOINT! | Kawhi Leonard vs Kevin Durant LEGENDARY Matchup!
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The same is true with the NBA Play-In Tournament, which began during the 2020 pandemic bubble and has continued every year since. If you'll recall, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James said in 2021 that whoever came up with the play-in tournament "needs to be fired." Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic echoed James' sentiment, saying "I don't see the point of that."
Ironically enough, James now finds himself fighting for the Lakers' playoff lives in the play-in, while Doncic's Mavericks decided to give up on the season rather than try for the No. 10 spot.
It appears the play-in is here to stay, so it's worth a refresher on how the whole thing works. Below you will find the format, schedule, matchups and viewing information, with the regular season in the rearview mirror.
How does the NBA Play-In Tournament work?
There are eight total teams involved in the play-in tournament -- seeds Nos. 7-10 from each conference. The No. 7 team will host No. 8 on April 11, with the winner earning the No. 7 seed. No. 9 will play No. 10 on April 12, with the loser eliminated from the postseason. Next, the loser of the 7-8 game will play the winner of the 9-10 game on April 14, with the victor earning the No. 8 seed in the playoffs. In every matchup, the higher seed is the home team. A little confusing, but it makes sense when you look at it:
Game 1: No. 8 at No. 7 (winner earns No. 7 seed)
Game 2: No. 10 at No. 9 (loser eliminated, winner advances to play loser of Game 1)
Game 3: Winner of Game 2 at Loser of Game 1 (loser eliminated, winner earns No. 8 seed)
What is the NBA Play-In Tournament schedule?
The play-in tournament takes place after the conclusion of the regular season and before the beginning of the playoffs. Here is the schedule for this postseason:
April 11 (Winners earn No. 7 seeds)
Game 1: East 8 at East 7
Game 2: West 8 at West 7
April 12 (Winners advance, losers eliminated)
Game 3: East 10 at East 9
Game 4: West 10 at West 9
April 14 (Winners earn No. 8 seeds)
Game 5: Game 3 winner at Game 1 loser (East)
Game 6: Game 4 winner at Game 2 loser (West)
Which teams are in the NBA Play-In Tournament?
The standings are finalized after a wild end to the regular season. Here are the play-in matchups:
Eastern Conference
April 11: No. 8 Atlanta Hawks at No. 7 Miami Heat
April 12: No. 10 Chicago Bulls at No. 9 Toronto Raptors
Western Conference
April 11: No. 8 Minnesota Timberwolves at No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers
April 12: No. 10 Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 9 New Orleans Pelicans
How do I watch the NBA Play-In Tournament?
All six games of the play-in tournament will be televised on TNT and ESPN. Here is the broadcast schedule with viewing information:
Tuesday, April 11
Game 1: Atlanta Hawks at Miami Heat, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 2: Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m. ET (TNT)
Wednesday, April 12
Game 3: Chicago Bulls at Toronto Raptors, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 4: Oklahoma City Thunder at New Orleans Pelicans, 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Friday, April 14
Game 5: Game 3 winner at Game 1 loser, 7/7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 6: Game 4 winner at Game 2 loser, 9:30/10 p.m. ET (ESPN)
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