The NBA regular season has come to a close. However, before the playoffs begin, there’s still the matter of the Play-In Tournament to determine the final two seeds in each conference.
There have been three previous iterations of the NBA Play-In Tournament as it currently exists today. Last year, the Heat showed what can come of the format. Miami not only became the first play-in team to win a playoff series, but it also went all the way to the NBA Finals before falling to the Nuggets.
This year’s Play-In games will have no shortage of star talents and teams. The 76ers and reigning MVP Joel Embiid will face Jimmy Butler and the Heat as the top Eastern Conference matchup. The top clash of Western Conference teams will be Zion Williams and the Pelicans squaring off with LeBron James and the Lakers.
The Play-In games figure to deliver plenty of excitement, and as last season showed, there is plenty of upside for whichever teams wind up emerging from the mini-series.
Here’s what you need to know about this year’s Play-In Tournament.
The NBA Play-In Tournament will begin on Tuesday, April 16, and run through Friday, April 19. The games will be carried by ESPN and TNT. The playoffs will begin on April 20, with games airing on ABC, ESPN, NBA TV, and TNT.
Here’s the full Play-In Tournament schedule:
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| April 16 | Lakers at Pelicans | 7:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Warriors at Kings | 10 p.m. | TNT | |
| April 17 | Heat at 76ers | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| Hawks at Bulls | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN | |
| April 19 | TBD | TBD | ESPN |
| TBD | TBD | TNT |
The 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament will feature games carried by ESPN and TNT. The Eastern Conference games will all be carried by ESPN, while the Western Conference matchups will all be on TNT.
Those hoping to live stream the Play-In games can also find the contests on Sling.
(1) Celtics vs. (8) TBD
(4) Cavaliers vs. (5) Magic
(3) Bucks vs. (6) Pacers
(2) Knicks vs. (7) TBD
(7) 76ers vs. (8) Heat
(9) Bulls vs. (10) Hawks
The winner of the matchup between the 76ers and Heat will face the Knicks in the first round. The loser will face the winner of Bulls vs. Hawks in the second game of the Play-In Tournament. The winner of that matchup will face the Celtics in the first round.
The loser of Bulls vs. Hawks and the loser of the second play-in game between 76ers-Heat loser and Bulls-Hawks winner will be eliminated.
(1) Thunder vs. (8) TBD
(4) Clippers vs. (5) Mavericks
(3) Timberwolves vs. (6) Suns
(2) Nuggets vs. (7) TBD
(7) Pelicans vs. (8) Lakers
(9) Kings vs. (10) Warriors
The winner of the matchup between the Pelicans and Lakers will face the Nuggets in the first round. The loser will face the winner of Kings vs. Warriors for the second game of the Play-In Tournament. The winner of that matchup will face the Thunder in the first round.
The loser of Kings vs. Warriors and the loser of the second play-in game between Pelicans-Lakers loser and Kings-Warriors winner will be eliminated.
