• 2024 Play-In Tournament: April 16-19
• 2024 Playoffs Start: April 20
What is the Play-In Tournament?
The SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament will determine the teams that fill the seventh and eighth playoff seeds in each conference for the 2024 NBA playoffs.
When is the Play-In Tournament?
The Play-In Tournament will take place Tuesday, April 16 – Friday, April 19, with the games played after the regular season concludes and before the first round of the NBA playoffs begins.
How does the Play-In Tournament work?
While the teams that finish Nos. 1-6 in the standings of each conference are guaranteed a playoff spot, the teams that finish Nos. 7-10 in the standings will enter the Play-In Tournament. These teams will battle for the seventh and eighth playoff seeds.
Here is an overview of how it works:
On Tuesday, April 16, each conference’s No. 7 team in the standings will host the No. 8 team. The winners secure the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. The losers will get another chance to earn a playoff spot on April 19.
On Wednesday, April 17, each conference’s No. 9 team in the standings will host the No. 10 team. The winners will advance to the final stage of the Play-In Tournament on April 19. The losers are eliminated.
On Friday, April 19, the losers of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 matchups will host the winners of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 matchups. The winners secure the No. 8 seed in the NBA playoffs for its conference. The losing teams are eliminated.
Which teams will be in the Play-In Tournament?
If the regular season ended after games played on March 18:
Western Conference
(7) Mavericks vs. (8) Suns
(9) Lakers vs. (10) Warriors
Eastern Conference
(7) Pacers vs. (8) Heat
(9) Bulls vs. (10) Hawks
How can I watch the Play-In Tournament on television?
TNT and ESPN will combine to televise all six games of the Play-In Tournament. The game and broadcast schedule will be announced when finalized.
When are the NBA playoffs?
Below are the dates for the 2024 playoffs:
- April 16-19: SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament
- April 20: NBA playoffs begin
- May 6-7: Conference semifinals begin (possible move up to May 4-5)
- May 21-22: Conference finals begin (possible move up to May 19-20)
- 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)