The NBA Playoffs are finally here, and with them come one of the most exciting times of year within the sport. But before the actual playoff games get underway, the NBA's Play-In Tournament will determine the final teams to fill out the full field eight in the Eastern and Western Conferences.
The Play-In Tournament has been around since 2021, so it's still a relatively new process. The idea is to give teams on the outside of playoff seeding at the end of the regular season a chance to play-in for a playoff seed.
This year's teams include the Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls in the East. In the West, the four teams are the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings.
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Let's take a look at the format for the NBA's Play-In Tournament, which will feature six games over the next few days.
Is the NBA Play-In Tournament single elimination?
The NBA Play-In Tournament features a total of four teams, which are given the No. 7, 8, 9 and 10 seeds.
The play-in tournament is technically single elimination for one game, the No. 9 vs. No. 10 matchup. The loser of that game is eliminated.
MORE: Stream NBA Play-In Tournament games
However, the loser of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 matchup will move on to face the winner of the No. 9/10 matchup.
According to ESPN, teams with the seventh- and eighth-highest winning percentages have two chances to win one game to earn a playoff spot. The teams with the ninth- and 10th-highest winning percentages need to win two straight games to advance.
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NBA Play-In Tournament format
Eastern Conference
- Tuesday, April 15: No. 8 Atlanta Hawks at No. 7 Orlando Magic
- Wednesday, April 16: No. 10 Miami Heat at No. 9 Chicago Bulls
- Friday, April 18: Winner 9/10 vs. loser 7/8
Western Conference
- Tuesday, April 10: No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies at No. 7 Golden State Warriors
- Wednesday, April 11: No. 10 Dallas Mavericks at No. 9 Sacramento Kings
- Friday, April 18: Winner 9/10 vs. loser 7/8
MORE: Revisiting the Warriors' past struggles in the NBA Play-In Tournament
NBA Play-In Tournament schedule
Eastern Conference
- No. 8 Atlanta Hawks at No. 7 Orlando Magic
- When: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., live on TNT
- No. 10 Miami Heat at No. 9 Chicago Bulls
- When: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., live on ESPN
- Winner 9/10 vs. loser 7/8
- When: Friday, Time TBD, live on TNT
Western Conference
- No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies at No. 7 Golden State Warriors
- When: Tuesday, 10 p.m., live on TNT
- No. 10 Dallas Mavericks at No. 9 Sacramento Kings
- When: Wednesday, 10 p.m., live on ESPN
- Winner 9/10 vs. loser 7/8
- When: Friday, Time TBD, live on ESPN
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