Following the realization of the 2024-25 NBA steady season on April 13, the play-in match will start, beginning on April 15 and finishing on April 18, at some point sooner than the primary spherical of the playoffs.
First of all carried out throughout the 2020-21 NBA season, the play-in match expanded the NBA’s postseason box to twenty groups (10 from each and every convention). The highest six groups from each and every convention routinely qualify for the playoffs, whilst the 7-seeds via 10-seeds compete within the play-in match for a possibility to increase their seasons.
Each season for the reason that play-in was once first carried out, the race to the postseason has transform even tighter.
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Within the East, the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic are jostling for the No. 7 seed and the risk to host the primary play-in recreation, whilst the Chicago Bulls and Miami Warmth are neck and neck for the Nos. 9 and 10 seeds.
The West has been extraordinarily aggressive all season lengthy, making each ultimate regular-season recreation necessary. The Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, and LA Clippers are locked in a race for 2 playoff spots. And with a lot of convention play ultimate within the span of 2 weeks, postseason positioning appears to be any individual’s to take.
This is the whole lot you want to grasp in regards to the 2025 play-in match, together with the way it works, present standings and possible matchups.
MORE: Which groups are within the 2025 playoffs?
Present standings
Japanese Convention Play-In Standings
| Staff | W-L | Win Pct. | GB of sixth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. Milwaukee Dollars | 41-34 | .547 | — |
| 7. Orlando Magic | 37-40 | .481 | 5 |
| 8. Atlanta Hawks | 36-39 | .480 | 5 |
| 9. Miami Warmth | 34-41 | .453 | 7 |
| x – 10. Chicago Bulls | 34-42 | .447 | 7.5 |
| x – locked into play-in |
Western Convention Play-In Standings
| Staff | W-L | Win Pct. | GB of sixth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4. Los Angeles Lakers | 46-29 | .613 | +2.5 |
| 5. Golden State Warriors | 44-31 | .587 | +.5 |
| 6. Memphis Grizzlies | 44-32 | .579 | — |
| 7. Minnesota Timberwolves | 44-32 | .579 | .5 |
| 8. LA Clippers | 42-32 | .573 | .5 |
| 9. Dallas Mavericks | 37-39 | .487 | 7 |
| 10. Sacramento Kings | 36-39 | .480 | 7.5 |
| 11. Phoenix Suns | 35-41 | .461 | 8.5 |
Thru video games of April 1.
Common-season video games to observe
Japanese Convention
April 8: Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks, 7 p.m. ET
April 9: Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Warmth, 8 p.m. ET
April 11: Detroit Pistons vs. Milwaukee Dollars, 7 p.m. ET
April 13: Milwaukee Dollars vs. Detroit Pistons, 1 p.m. ET
April 13: Atlanta Hawks vs. Orlando Magic, 1 p.m. ET
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Western Convention
April 3: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors, 10 pm. ET
April 4: Golden State Warriors vs. Denver Nuggets, 10 p.m. ET
April 4: LA Clippers vs. Dallas Mavericks, 10:30 p.m. ET
April 5: LA Clippers vs. Dallas Mavericks, 10:30 p.m. ET
April 6: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma Town Thunder, 3:30 p.m. ET
April 6: Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets, 8:30 p.m. ET
April 8: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma Town Thunder, 8 p.m. ET
April 9: Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 7:30 p.m. ET
April 9: Sacramento Kings vs. Denver Nuggets, 10 p.m. ET
April 10: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, 9:30 p.m. ET
April 11: Denver Nuggets vs. Memphis Grizzlies, 9 p.m. ET
April 11: Sacramento Kings vs. LA Clippers, 10 p.m. ET
April 11: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets, 10:30 p.m. ET
April 13: Houston Rockets vs. Denver Nuggets, 3:30 p.m. ET
April 13: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Dallas Mavericks, 3:30 p.m. ET
April 13: Golden States Warriors vs. LA Clippers, 3:30 p.m. ET
April 13: Sacramento Kings vs. Phoenix Suns, 3:30 p.m. ET
Projected matchups
Here is a look at how the 2025 play-in match would glance if the season ended lately.
Japanese Convention
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No. 8 Atlanta Hawks at No. 7 Orlando Magic
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No. 10 Chicago Bulls at No. 9 Miami Warmth
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Winner 9/10 vs. loser 7/8
Western Convention
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No. 8 LA Clippers at No. 7 Minnesota Timberwolves
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No. 10 Sacramento Kings at No. 9 Dallas Mavericks
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Winner 9/10 vs. loser 7/8
How does the NBA play-in match paintings?
There might be six general video games involving 8 groups as a part of the play-in match, cut up up between the 2 meetings.
The highest six groups in each and every convention might be assured playoff spots, whilst groups Nos. 7 via 10 within the standings will input the play-in. Any crew that finishes worse than No. 10 might be within the NBA draft lottery.
The 2024-25 NBA steady season concludes on April 13, with all 30 groups taking part in. The play-in match will then happen April 15 via 18, sooner than the primary spherical of the playoffs.
This is how the video games will paintings:
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Recreation 1s: Each and every convention’s No. 7 crew within the standings will host the No. 8 crew, with the winner incomes the No. 7 seed within the playoffs. The dropping groups get some other probability of their respective convention’s Recreation 3.
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Recreation 2s: Each and every convention’s No. 9 crew will host the No. 10 crew, with the winner transferring directly to Recreation 3. The losers are eradicated and input the NBA draft lottery.
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Recreation 3s: The losers of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 matchups will host the winners of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 matchups, with the victors grabbing each and every convention’s No. 8 seed within the postseason. The losers of Recreation 3 input the NBA draft lottery.
Underneath the layout, groups with the seventh- and eighth-highest successful percentages can have two alternatives to win one recreation to earn a playoff spot, whilst the groups with the ninth- and Tenth-highest successful percentages wish to win two instantly video games to advance.
