NBA Play-In Tournament

The NBA Play-In Tournament determines the final playoff spots in each conference before the NBA Playoffs begin. Teams that finish the regular season in 7th through 10th place in the Eastern and Western Conferences compete in this mini-tournament.
The Play-In format gives teams a chance to earn the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds in the playoff bracket. The tournament includes several single-game matchups that decide which teams advance to the postseason.
This format was introduced during the 2020 season restart and became a permanent part of the NBA postseason structure starting in 2022.
The tables below explain how the NBA Play-In Tournament works and how teams qualify for the final playoff spots.

Contents
How the NBA Play-In Tournament Works
Teams That Qualify for the Play-In Tournament
NBA Play-In Tournament Timeline
NBA Game Guide
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How the NBA Play-In Tournament Works

Matchup Outcome
7th Seed vs 8th Seed Winner becomes the No. 7 playoff seed
9th Seed vs 10th Seed Loser is eliminated
Final Play-In Game Loser of 7–8 plays winner of 9–10
Final Winner Earns the No. 8 playoff seed

Teams That Qualify for the Play-In Tournament

Conference Position Playoff Status
Seeds 1–6 Automatically qualify for the playoffs
Seeds 7–8 Enter Play-In with two chances to qualify
Seeds 9–10 Must win two games to reach playoffs
Below 10th Eliminated from postseason contention

NBA Play-In Tournament Timeline

Event Timing
Regular Season Ends Mid-April
Play-In Tournament 3–4 days
NBA Playoffs Begin Immediately after Play-In
NBA Finals June

NBA Game Guide

NBA Topic Key Question What You’ll Learn Guide
NBA Game Length How long is an NBA game? Breakdown of total game time including quarters, halftime, timeouts, and overtime. View Guide
NBA Season Format How many games are in an NBA season? Explanation of the regular season structure and the total number of games played. View Guide
NBA Quarters Explained How long are NBA quarters? Details on quarter length, game clock rules, and how the four-quarter format works. View Guide
NBA Halftime Length How long is halftime in the NBA? Overview of halftime duration and what happens during the break in NBA games. View Guide
NBA Overtime Rules How long is NBA overtime? Explanation of overtime periods and what happens when NBA games are tied. View Guide
NBA Playoff Format How do NBA playoffs work? Structure of playoff rounds, best-of-seven series, and how teams advance. View Guide
NBA Teams and Conferences How many teams are in the NBA? Overview of NBA teams, conferences, divisions, and league organization. View Guide
NBA Season Timeline When does the NBA season start and end? Timeline of preseason, regular season, play-in tournament, playoffs, and Finals. View Guide
NBA Standings Explained How do NBA standings work? How teams are ranked during the season and how playoff positions are determined. View Guide
NBA Play-In Tournament What is the NBA Play-In Tournament? Explanation of the play-in format and how teams qualify for the postseason. View Guide

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