The NBA’s marathon season is about to become a sprint finish.
With approximately 20 games remaining on each team’s schedule, playoff hopes are struggling to seed. The rankings are extremely tight in every conference, so a few wins or a losing streak could change the post-season odds dramatically.
Here’s a breakdown of the NBA Play-In Tournament race, including expected fixtures in each conference and an explanation of the tournament format.
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When does the NBA Play-In tournament start in 2023?
- Play-In Tournament: 11-14 April
- NBA Playoffs: April 15th
The 2022-23 NBA regular season ends Sunday, April 9th. The 2023 NBA Play-In Tournament begins on Tuesday, April 11th.
The first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs begins four days later on Saturday, April 15.
NBA Play-In Tournament Schedule 2023
The NBA has not yet announced the full televised schedule for the play-in tournament. Last year, ESPN and TNT each covered three play-in tournament games.
11 April
| Game | time (ET) | National TV |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | open | ESPN or TNT |
| TBD vs. TBD | open | ESPN or TNT |
12. April
| Game | time (ET) | National TV |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | open | ESPN or TNT |
| TBD vs. TBD | open | ESPN or TNT |
April 14th
| Game | time (ET) | National TV |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | open | ESPN or TNT |
| TBD vs. TBD | open | ESPN or TNT |
How does the NBA Play-In tournament work?
- The NBA Play-In tournament will be played after the conclusion of the 2022-23 regular season and before the start of the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs. Playoff spots are guaranteed for teams ranked 1-6 overall in each conference. Teams #7-10 compete in the Play-In tournament.
- The No. 7 and 8 teams of each conference compete, with the winner seeded as the No. 7 in the playoffs. The loser still has one more chance to reach the playoffs.
- Teams #9 and #10 of each conference compete against each other, with the winner versus the loser of game #7 vs. #7. 8 game. The loser of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 game eliminated from playoff contention.
- The loser of the #7 vs. 8 game and the winner of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 games are then played against each other. The winner of this game will be number 8 in the playoffs. The loser is eliminated from the playoff competition.
- Beyond the play-in tournament, the 2023 NBA Playoffs will follow the typical format, with full best-of-seven series all the way through to the NBA Finals.
NBA Play-In Tournament Bracket 2023
NBA Play-In Tournament Matchups 2023
(as of February 24)
east conference
(7) Heat vs. (8) Hawks
(9) Raptors vs (10) Sorcerers
Western Conference
(7) Timberwolves vs. (8) Pelicans
(9) Jazz vs. (10) Warrior
NBA Ranking 2023
(as of February 24)
east conference
| seed | team | Record | games back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Celts | 43-17 | — |
| 2. | dollar | 41-17 | 1 |
| 3. | 76er | 39-19 | 3 |
| 4. | Cavaliers | 38-24 | 6 |
| 5. | nets | 34-24 | 8th |
| 6. | curtsy | 33-27 | 10 |
| 7. | heat | 32-27 | 10.5 |
| 8th. | hawks | 29-30 | 13.5 |
| 9. | birds of prey | 29-31 | 14 |
| 10 | wizard | 28-30 | 14 |
| — | cops | 26-33 | 16.5 |
| — | pacemaker | 26-35 | 17.5 |
| — | magic | 25-35 | 18 |
| — | hornets | 17-43 | 26 |
| — | Pistons | 15-45 | 28 |
Western Conference
| seed | team | Record | games back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | nuggets | 42-18 | — |
| 2. | grizzlies | 35-23 | 6 |
| 3. | kings | 33-25 | 8th |
| 4. | clippers | 33-28 | 9.5 |
| 5. | to sunbathe | 32-28 | 10 |
| 6. | outsider | 32-29 | 10.5 |
| 7. | wood wolves | 31-30 | 11.5 |
| 8th. | pelicans | 30-30 | 12 |
| 9. | jazz | 30-31 | 12.5 |
| 10 | warrior | 29-30 | 12.5 |
| — | thunder | 28-30 | 13 |
| — | Trailblazer | 28-31 | 13.5 |
| — | lakers | 28-32 | 14 |
| — | spores | 14-46 | 28 |
| — | rockets | 13-45 | 28 |