2024 NBA play-in tournament, how does it work?

Before, the NBA playoffs, Four teams from each conference will be competing in the NBA Play-In Tournament seed No. 7 through 10. Finally, the overall No. 7 and No. 8 seeds moved to the 2024 NBA playoffs. The 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament will take place from 16-19 April 2024. The NBA Board of Governors has not any changes from last year’s playoffs format for the 2023-24 season.

The 2024 NBA Playoffs first round will start on Saturday, 20th April 2024.

What is the play-in tournament?

The NBA will determine the play-in and playoff standings and which teams have earned the highest winning percentages in each conference. The seventh and eighth seeds in each conference need one game win and the ninth and tenth-seeded teams of both conferences have to win two consecutive games to clinch the playoff birth.

When is the 2024 NBA’s play-in tournament?

The SoFi 2024 NBA play-in tournament is scheduled on Tuesday, April 16, and ends on Friday, April 19, running two days after the regular season ends.

How does the 2024 NBA play-in tournament format work?

The top 1-6 ranked NBA teams in each conference that finish with the highest winning percentages in the regular season games will directly earn the playoff spot. And 7-10th No. teams in each conference need to stay for the play-in to earn the playoff spot.

The 7th spot team by winning percentage in each conference will host the 8th seed and the winner will earn the No. 7 seed in the playoffs and the losing team will have another opportunity again against the winner of the 9th vs 10th seed team.

The 9th spot team by winning percentage in each conference will host the 10th seed. The losing team will be eliminated and the winner has to play game 3 against the loser of the 7th vs 8th spot.

The loser of the 7th spot vs 8th spot will play game 3 against the winner of the 9th spot vs 10th spot team of both conferences and the losing team will be out of the playoffs race and enter the lottery. The 9th/10th spot team needs to win two straight games to earn the postseason.

It means the losing team from the 7th vs 8th matchup of both conferences will not be eliminated directly from the playoffs race. The winner of the 7th vs 8th will clinch the No. 7 seed in the playoffs and the loser of the 7th/8th team vs the winner of the 9th/10th team will earn the No. 8 seed in the playoffs.

How Play-In Actually Does Work in a Short

Eastern Conference

April 17: No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers vs. No. 8 Miami Heat (Winner gets the No. 7 overall seed)
April 17: No. 9 Chicago Bulls vs. No. 10 Atlanta Hawks (Loser is eliminated)
April 19: Miami Heat vs Chicago Bulls (Winner gets No. 8 overall seed)

Western Conference

April 16: No. 7 New Orleans Pelicans vs. No. 8 LA Lakers(Winner gets the No. 7 overall seed)
April 16: No. 9 Sacramento Kings vs. No. 10 Golden State Warriors (Loser is eliminated)
April 19: New Orleans Pelicans vs Sacramento Kings (Winner gets No. 8 overall seed)

2024 NBA play-in tournament latest bracket.

Eastern Conference:

Philadelphia 76ers (47-35)
Miami Heat (46-36)
Chicago Bulls (39-43)
Atlanta Hawks (36-46)

Western Conference:

New Orleans Pelicans (49-33)
Los Angeles Lakers (47-35)
Sacramento Kings (46-36)
Golden State Warriors (46-36)

2024 NBA Play-In Tournament Schedule

Tuesday, April 16

Los Angeles Lakers 110-106 New Orleans Pelicans
Sacramento Kings 118-94 Golden State Warriors

Wednesday, April 17

Miami Heat 104-105 Philadelphia 76ers
Atlanta Hawks 116-131 Chicago Bulls

Friday, April 19

Chicago Bulls 131-116 Miami Heat
Sacramento Kings 98-105 New Orleans Pelicans

When do the Playoffs begin?

The 2024 NBA Playoffs will begin on Saturday, April 20, and end approximately on June 23.