2025 NBA Play-In Tournament Set for April 15-18 Amid Tight Standings

New York, NY – The 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament is scheduled to take place from April 15 to April 18, following the conclusion of the regular season on April 13. This tournament provides the teams ranked seventh to tenth in each conference a chance to compete for the final two playoff spots.

The play-in format was initially introduced during the 2020-21 season, expanding the postseason to 20 teams, with the top six from each conference automatically entering the playoffs. Currently, the teams finishing seventh through tenth will face off in a series of games to determine the last two playoff participants.

As of April 4, the Eastern Conference has a competitive race for the playoff spots, where the Chicago Bulls are currently in the 10th position with a record of 34-42, while the Orlando Magic hold the seventh position at 37-40. “The playoffs are in sight for us; we have to keep winning to stay in the hunt,” said Bulls head coach Billy Donovan while reflecting on his team’s recent success, which includes a 10-4 record over their last 14 games.

In the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder have secured the top seed, but positioning for the rest of the playoff spots remains fluid. The Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers, and Dallas Mavericks are all in contention, with only 2.5 games separating the fourth and seventh seeds. The Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors currently hold fifth and sixth place, but the Timberwolves and Clippers are closely trailing, making for an intensely competitive finish before the playoffs begin.

The structure of the play-in games is crucial for understanding how teams will fight for postseason opportunities. In the first round of the play-in, the seventh seeds will host the eighth seeds in their respective conferences, with the winners advancing directly to the playoffs. The losers of these games will get another chance to compete against the winners of the ninth versus tenth seed matchups held the following day, with elimination at stake for the losing teams, who will miss the playoffs entirely.

The NBA has confirmed the television schedule as well, with games airing on TNT and ESPN. “The play-in format adds a new element of excitement to the postseason fight, and we’re looking forward to seeing how it unfolds,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.

As the regular season winds down, fans and teams alike are eagerly awaiting the outcomes of the remaining games that will dictate the final playoff brackets. The first round of the NBA playoffs will commence on April 19, setting the stage for a thrilling postseason ahead.