You’d think the NBA season would slow down a bit after 82 games. Maybe a little rest, a little planning, or maybe even some gentle playoff anticipation. But nope. Not in Adam Silver’s NBA. Instead, we get the Play-In Tournament—a chaotic, high-stakes mini soap opera jammed in between the regular season and the playoffs. It’s like the NBA took a look at the March Madness of the regular season and said, “What if we made everyone even more anxious?”
Officially branded the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament (because, of course, there’s a sponsor), this little panic attack starts from April 15 to April 18, and includes the teams that finished 7th through 10th in each conference. Popcorn if your team is in the top 6, Coke if your team is beyond 10. But if you are someone who roots for Curry, Jimmy, or Magic, Kings, Bulls, Hawks, Grizzlies, or Heat? Oh, even this year’s heated topic, the Dallas Mavericks. Welcome to basketball purgatory. You’re not quite in the playoffs, but you’re not out either. You’re just…hanging there. Sweating.
How does the NBA play-in tournament work?
Alright, grab a seat and get comfy because this format isn’t exactly a walk in the park—unless, of course, you’re the type of person who spends their weekends watching reality shows. And if that’s you, then congratulations, this is practically the same thing. But if you’ve never seen someone dramatically get voted off an island, don’t worry, we’ll break it down.
Here’s the setup. Teams that finish 7th through 10th in each conference are invited to the NBA’s unofficial Hunger Games. But instead of fighting with swords, they play basketball (though emotionally, it’s not that different).
First up: 7 vs. 8. The 7th seed hosts the 8th seed, and the winner gets the 7th playoff spot. They’re safe. No more drama. They move on, get a couple of days off, maybe take a deep breath and prep for the real postseason. The loser? Well, not the time to give up. They don’t go home… yet. They get one more chance to claw their way in.
In the West, that means the Golden State Warriors—yes, still fighting for their life in mid-April—host the Memphis Grizzlies in what feels like a reputation-on-the-line showdown. In the East, it’s the Orlando Magic taking on the Atlanta Hawks. One team full of energetic youth, the other still figuring out what version of themselves will show up. Both matchups? Stressful for fans, spicy for neutrals.
The SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament schedule
Dates: April 15-18
At stake: Seventh and eighth playoff seeds in each conference
Participants: Teams that finished seventh through 10th in each conference pic.twitter.com/gJFBF8V0cY
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 13, 2025
Next: 9 vs. 10. This one’s simple—and brutal. Lose this game, and you’re done. Season over. No hugs, no highlights, no postgame “we’ll learn from this” interviews. Just golf courses and exit interviews. The winner moves on for one more shot. In the East, it’s the Miami Heat versus the Chicago Bulls—two teams that have spent the whole season teetering between “we might be a threat” and “we’re totally mid.” Meanwhile, the West gives us the Dallas Mavericks versus the Sacramento Kings, a game that feels less like a reward and more like a test to see which team is less likely to self-destruct under pressure.
And now for the main event: the final Play-In game. This pits the loser of the 7/8 matchup against the winner of the 9/10 game. That’s where it gets wild. One team is trying to redeem themselves, the other is running on pure adrenaline—and maybe desperation. The winner of this game takes the 8th and final playoff seed. The loser? Well… they get to join the 9/10 losers in Cancun.
Apr 13, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after a foul by LA Clippers guard Kris Dunn (8) during the first quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images
Now here’s the big question everyone’s typing into Google: Is the Play-In Tournament best of one? And the answer is a yes. As in: one game. Uno. That’s all you get. So if you’re the 9th or 10th seed, it’s straight-up sudden death. One off night, one bad shooting quarter, one rogue technical foul—and that’s your season, gone. No series, no safety net, just a long, quiet flight home. The 7th and 8th seeds get a little cushion. Not a mattress—more like a yoga mat. If they lose their first game, they get a second shot against the 9/10 winner. But guess what? That’s also a one-game do-or-die.
It’s going to be intense as one minute you’re dreaming of upsetting a 2-seed, and the next, you’re on a podcast trying to explain what went wrong. The Play-In isn’t about who’s better over time—it’s about who’s better tonight. And if your star player has the flu or decides to go 2-for-17 from the field? Well… better luck next season.
In the end, the NBA Play-In Tournament is part drama, part chaos, and all tension. It’s not about fairness—it’s about excitement. And if your team’s not in it? Sit back and enjoy the show. If they are? Maybe don’t make any plans that week. Or at least have tissues nearby.
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