2024 NBA Play-In Tournament Explained: Teams, schedule, how it works
The fight for a spot in the 2024 NBA playoffs will take place from 16-19 April. Find out all the details including how the play-in tournament works, the schedule and where you can follow the action live.
Basketball
The NBA regular season is heading towards a dramatic crescendo meaning basketball's fans attention is starting to turn towards the next twist in the tale: the 2024 NBA play-in tournament.
With teams that have finished number 1-6 in the standings guaranteed safe passage through to the playoffs, the battle will be on for the seventh and eighth seeds.
From Tuesday 16 April to Friday 19 April, the teams that finish number 7-10 in the standings will compete to try and secure a spot in playoffs.
In the East, Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks are confirmed to duel, while Philadelphia 76ers will take on Miami Heat. The winner of the 76ers and Heat can look forward to an encounter with New York Knicks in the playoffs. The losing team in that mathcup will face Bulls or Hawks for a playoff spot.
In the West, LeBron James' Los Angeles Lakers will face New Orleans Pelicans, where the winner is set to meet Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs.
Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings are squaring off in a game to face the loser of Lakers and Pelicans. The winner will advance to the playoffs.
With it all still to play for, here's what you need to know about the play-in tournament.
2024 NBA Play-In Tournament: Format explained
Introduced in the 2020-21 season the play-in tournament offers lower-seeded teams one more shot at partaking in the NBA postseason.
The tournament begins with the seventh-placed team in each conference playing the eighth-placed team while the ninth-placed team plays the 10th-placed team.
The winner of the 7-8 game will secure the seventh seed in the playoffs, while the loser will meet the winner of the 9-10 game for the eighth seed.
2024 NBA Play-In Tournament: When will it start?
The play-in games begin on Tuesday 16 April and conclude on Friday 19 April and will unfold as follows:
Tuesday 16 April
- Play-In Game 1: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Miami Heat
- Play-In Game 2: New Orleans Pelicans vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Wednesday 17th April
- Play-in Game 3: Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks
- Play-in Game 4: Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors
Friday 19th April
- Play-in Game 5: Loser of Game 1 v Winner of Game 3
- Play in Game 6: Loser of Game 2 v Winner of Game 4
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 12: Ayo Dosunmu #12 of the Chicago Bulls drives against Jalen Johnson #1 of the Atlanta Hawks during the first quarter at State Farm Arena on February 12, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Who is in the 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament?
From the East conference standings, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks will be involved in the play-in tournament.
New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors will be battling from the West conference standings.
When do the 2024 NBA Playoffs start?
Here is the complete schedule for the 2024 NBA playoffs.
Some dates are subject to change.
2024 NBA playoffs - Schedule in full
- April 16-19: NBA Play-In Tournament
- April 20: NBA Playoffs
- May 6-7: Conference semifinals begin
- May 21-22: NBA Conference Finals
- June 6: NBA Finals 2024 Game 1
- June 9: NBA Finals 2024 Game 2
- June 12: NBA Finals 2024 Game 3
- June 14: NBA Finals 2024 Game 4
- June 17: NBA Finals 2024 Game 5 (if necessary)
- June 20: NBA Finals 2024 Game 6 (if necessary)
- June 23: NBA Finals 2024 Game 7 (if necessary)
How to watch 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament live?
TNT and ESPN are set to televise all six games of the NBA Play-In Tournament.
Live-streaming will be available on NBA League Pass.