Image Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

When does the 2025 NBA Play-in Tournament start?

All six games will be played before the first round of the NBA playoffs begins.

Image Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

The 2024-25 NBA regular season is in its final stage and the race to NBA playoffs heats up. The top six teams will automatically qualify for the NBA playoffs, but two teams will be decided through the Play-In tournament. The NBA already confirmed the dates for the 2025 Play-In competition.

Let’s get to know everything about the play-in tournament, kick-off time, streaming and all.

Also Read:

What is the format of NBA play-in tournament?

Four teams from each conference will appear in the NBA Play-In tournament and only two teams qualify for the main playoff round. The top six teams from each conference will make direct entry to the NBA playoffs. The teams that finish No. 7-10 in the conference standings will enter Play-In Tournament. These teams will fight out for the 7th and 9th playoff seeds.

Here’s the complete format of play-in tournament:

Each conference’s No. 7-seeded team will host the No. 8 team. The winners of this game will join as the No. 7 seed in the playoffs.
The loser of the opening game will get one more chance to claim the remaining spot. Before this, each conference’s No. 9-seeded team will host the No. 10 team. The winners will advance to the final stage of the Play-In Tournament.
To secure the No. 8 seed in the playoffs, the loser of the opening game (No. 7 vs No. 8) and the winner of the second game (No. 9 vs No. 10) will battle out.

This is how two teams will be added to the main round of the playoffs.

When does the 2025 NBA Play-in Tournament start?

The 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament will be played over four days from Apr. 15 to Apr. 18. Before the final stage, there will be an off-day for teams. All six games will be played before the first round of the NBA playoffs begins. Each conference will have three games and two teams will be qualified.

The schedule for the 2025 @SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament ⬇️

More information will be provided as it is finalized. pic.twitter.com/AzHg5r9eeE
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 2, 2025

Here’s the schedule for the 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament:

East No. 8 vs. East No. 7 – Apr. 15
West No. 8 vs. West No. 7 – Apr. 15
East No. 10 vs. East No. 9 – Apr. 16
West No. 10 vs. West No. 9 – Apr. 16
Winner of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 1 – Apr. 18
Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 2 – Apr. 18

How to watch the 2025 NBA Play-in Tournament

The 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament will air on TNT and ESPN. Both broadcasters will combine to televise all six games.

TNT – Game 1, Game 2, Game 5
ESPN – Game 3, Game 4, Game 6

Image Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

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Gulshan Sharma

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A native of Jaipur, Rajasthan, journalist, and a complete soccer and basketball fan, he found the huge interest with basketball by watching videos of Allen Iverson and Tony Parker, but fell head over heels in love with the sport during the Warriors’ championship era (2015-2018). A sports game addict since his late PS1, he’s also passionate about the Eagles, Inter Miami and the Fever. He’s fortunate to have seen all his favorite teams win championships. He also has a special love for cricket and football (soccer), where he is a fan of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Barcelona.