What is the Play-In Tournament?
The SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament will determine the teams that fill the seventh and eighth playoff seeds in each conference for the 2025 NBA playoffs.
When is the Play-In Tournament?
The Play-In Tournament will take place Tuesday, April 15 – Friday, April 18, with the games played after the regular season concludes and before the first round of the NBA playoffs begins.
How does the Play-In Tournament work?
While the teams that finish Nos. 1-6 in the standings of each conference are guaranteed a playoff spot, the teams that finish Nos. 7-10 in the standings will enter the Play-In Tournament. These teams will battle for the seventh and eighth playoff seeds.
Here is an overview of how it works:
- Each conference’s No. 7 team in the standings will host the No. 8 team. The winners secure the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. The losers will get another chance to earn a playoff spot.
- Each conference’s No. 9 team in the standings will host the No. 10 team. The winners will advance to the final stage of the Play-In Tournament. The losers are eliminated.
- The losers of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 matchups will host the winners of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 matchups. The winners secure the No. 8 seed in the NBA playoffs for its conference. The losing teams are eliminated.
Which teams will be in the Play-In Tournament?
This section will be updated with potential match-ups as the regular season nears its completion in April. Check the NBA Standings page for the latest conference seeding.
Western Conference
(7) TBD vs. (8) TBD
(9) TBD vs. (10) TBD
Eastern Conference
(7) TBD vs. (8) TBD
(9) TBD vs. (10) TBD
How can I watch the SoFi Play-In Tournament on television?
TNT and ESPN will combine to televise all six games of the Play-In Tournament. The game and broadcast schedule will be announced when finalized.
When are the NBA playoffs?
Below are the dates for the 2025 playoffs:
- April 15-18: SoFi Play-In Tournament
- April 19: NBA Playoffs 2025 begin
- May 5-6: Conference Semifinals begin (possible move up to May 3-4)
- May TBD: Western Conference Finals games will air on ESPN and/or ABC. Eastern Conference Finals games will air on TNT.
- June 5: NBA Finals 2025 presented by YouTube TV begin. All games will be televised on ABC.
