NBA play-in tournament
Updated: 12/11/2025, 1:06:45 PM Wikipedia source
The NBA play-in tournament is the preliminary National Basketball Association (NBA) postseason tournament. It determines the final two playoff seeds in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference and is played immediately prior to the NBA playoffs, which is the main tournament of the postseason and regarded by the league as separate from the play-in tournament. Teams finishing the regular season in positions 7 through 10 in the standings for each conference compete to determine the number 7 and 8 seeds in each conference's bracket tournament.
Infobox
Sport
Basketball
Established
2020
Format
Page playoff system
Teams
8 total; 4 per conference
Broadcast
mw- United States:Amazon Prime VideoCanada:TSNSportsnet
Tables
· Statistics › Results by position
Play-in game
Play-in game
Regular season position
Play-in game
Record by game
No. 8 seed game
Record by game
7th seed
Resulting playoff seed
8th seed
Resulting playoff seed
Did not advance
7
7
Regular season position
7
Record by game
8–2
Record by game
2–0
Resulting playoff seed
8
Resulting playoff seed
2
Resulting playoff seed
0
8
8
Regular season position
8
Record by game
2–8
Record by game
4–4
Resulting playoff seed
2
Resulting playoff seed
4
Resulting playoff seed
4
9
9
Regular season position
9
Record by game
6–4
Record by game
3–3
Resulting playoff seed
3
Resulting playoff seed
7
10
10
Regular season position
10
Record by game
4–6
Record by game
1–3
Resulting playoff seed
1
Resulting playoff seed
9
| Regular season position | Record by game | Resulting playoff seed | |||
| Play-in game | No. 8 seed game | 7th seed | 8th seed | Did not advance | |
| 7 | 8–2 | 2–0 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| 8 | 2–8 | 4–4 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| 9 | 6–4 | 3–3 | 3 | 7 | |
| 10 | 4–6 | 1–3 | 1 | 9 | |
· Summary › Results
Dallas
Dallas
WEST
Dallas
2025
10th ▲ Sacramento
Golden State
Golden State
WEST
Golden State
2021
8th ▼ LA Lakers
2024
10th ▼ Sacramento
2025
7th ▲ Memphis
LA Clippers
LA Clippers
WEST
LA Clippers
2022
8th ▼ Minnesota
LA Lakers
LA Lakers
WEST
LA Lakers
2021
7th ▲ Golden State
2023
7th ▲ Minnesota
2024
8th ▲ New Orleans
Memphis
Memphis
WEST
Memphis
2020
9th ▼ Portland
2021
9th ▲ San Antonio
2025
8th ▼ Golden State
9th ▲ Golden State
9th ▲ Golden State
WEST
9th ▲ Golden State
2023
8th ▲ Dallas
Minnesota
Minnesota
WEST
Minnesota
2022
7th ▲ LA Clippers
2023
8th ▼ LA Lakers
New Orleans
New Orleans
WEST
New Orleans
2022
9th ▲ San Antonio
2023
9th ▼ Oklahoma City
2024
7th ▼ LA Lakers
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
WEST
Oklahoma City
2023
10th ▲ New Orleans
Portland
Portland
WEST
Portland
2020
8th ▲ Memphis
Sacramento
Sacramento
WEST
Sacramento
2024
9th ▲ Golden State
2025
9th ▼ Dallas
San Antonio
San Antonio
WEST
San Antonio
2021
10th ▼ Memphis
2022
10th ▼ New Orleans
EAST
EAST
WEST
EAST
2020
2020
2021
2021
2022
2022
2023
2023
2024
2024
2025
2025
Atlanta
Atlanta
WEST
Atlanta
2022
9th ▲ Charlotte
2023
8th ▲ Miami
2024
10th ▼ Chicago
2025
8th ▼ Orlando
Boston
Boston
WEST
Boston
2021
7th ▲ Washington
Brooklyn
Brooklyn
WEST
Brooklyn
2022
7th ▲ Cleveland
Charlotte
Charlotte
WEST
Charlotte
2021
10th ▼ Indiana
2022
10th ▼ Atlanta
Chicago
Chicago
WEST
Chicago
2023
10th ▲ Toronto
2024
9th ▲ Atlanta
2025
9th ▼ Miami
Cleveland
Cleveland
WEST
Cleveland
2022
8th ▼ Brooklyn
Indiana
Indiana
WEST
Indiana
2021
9th ▲ Charlotte
Miami
Miami
WEST
Miami
2023
7th ▼ Atlanta
2024
8th ▼ Philadelphia
2025
10th ▲ Chicago
Orlando
Orlando
WEST
Orlando
2025
7th ▲ Atlanta
Philadelphia
Philadelphia
WEST
Philadelphia
2024
7th ▲ Miami
Toronto
Toronto
WEST
Toronto
2023
9th ▼ Chicago
Washington
Washington
WEST
Washington
2021
8th ▼ Boston
| WEST | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Dallas | 10th ▲ Sacramento | |||||
| 10th ▼ Memphis | ||||||
| Golden State | 8th ▼ LA Lakers | 10th ▼ Sacramento | 7th ▲ Memphis | |||
| 8th ▼ Memphis | ||||||
| LA Clippers | 8th ▼ Minnesota | |||||
| 8th ▼ New Orleans | ||||||
| LA Lakers | 7th ▲ Golden State | 7th ▲ Minnesota | 8th ▲ New Orleans | |||
| Memphis | 9th ▼ Portland | 9th ▲ San Antonio | 8th ▼ Golden State | |||
| 9th ▲ Golden State | 8th ▲ Dallas | |||||
| Minnesota | 7th ▲ LA Clippers | 8th ▼ LA Lakers | ||||
| 8th ▲ Oklahoma City | ||||||
| New Orleans | 9th ▲ San Antonio | 9th ▼ Oklahoma City | 7th ▼ LA Lakers | |||
| 9th ▲ LA Clippers | 7th ▲ Sacramento | |||||
| Oklahoma City | 10th ▲ New Orleans | |||||
| 10th ▼ Minnesota | ||||||
| Portland | 8th ▲ Memphis | |||||
| Sacramento | 9th ▲ Golden State | 9th ▼ Dallas | ||||
| 9th ▼ New Orleans | ||||||
| San Antonio | 10th ▼ Memphis | 10th ▼ New Orleans | ||||
| EAST | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Atlanta | 9th ▲ Charlotte | 8th ▲ Miami | 10th ▼ Chicago | 8th ▼ Orlando | ||
| 9th ▲ Cleveland | 8th ▼ Miami | |||||
| Boston | 7th ▲ Washington | |||||
| Brooklyn | 7th ▲ Cleveland | |||||
| Charlotte | 10th ▼ Indiana | 10th ▼ Atlanta | ||||
| Chicago | 10th ▲ Toronto | 9th ▲ Atlanta | 9th ▼ Miami | |||
| 10th ▼ Miami | 9th ▼ Miami | |||||
| Cleveland | 8th ▼ Brooklyn | |||||
| 8th ▼ Atlanta | ||||||
| Indiana | 9th ▲ Charlotte | |||||
| 9th ▼ Washington | ||||||
| Miami | 7th ▼ Atlanta | 8th ▼ Philadelphia | 10th ▲ Chicago | |||
| 7th ▲ Chicago | 8th ▲ Chicago | 10th ▲ Atlanta | ||||
| Orlando | 7th ▲ Atlanta | |||||
| Philadelphia | 7th ▲ Miami | |||||
| Toronto | 9th ▼ Chicago | |||||
| Washington | 8th ▼ Boston | |||||
| 8th ▲ Indiana |
· Summary › Results
qualified
qualified
WEST
qualified
Participations
eliminated
Games
qualified
Record
eliminated
with
with
WEST
with
1
1
WEST
1
Participations
2
Games
2
Record
2
Qualified
2
Eliminated
1
game(s)
game(s)
WEST
game(s)
▲
▲
WEST
▲
Participations
▼▲
Games
▼▼
Record
▲▲
Qualified
▲▼
Eliminated
▼
Dallas
Dallas
WEST
Dallas
Participations
1
Games
2
Record
1–1
Eliminated
1
9th or 10th
1
Golden State
Golden State
WEST
Golden State
Participations
3
Games
4
Record
1–3
Qualified
1
Eliminated
2
7th or 8th
1
7th or 8th
1
9th or 10th
1
LA Clippers
LA Clippers
WEST
LA Clippers
Participations
1
Games
2
Record
0–2
Eliminated
1
7th or 8th
1
LA Lakers
LA Lakers
WEST
LA Lakers
Participations
3
Games
3
Record
3–0
Qualified
3
7th or 8th
3
Memphis
Memphis
WEST
Memphis
Participations
3
Games
5
Record
3–2
Qualified
2
Eliminated
1
7th or 8th
1
9th or 10th
1
9th or 10th
1
Minnesota
Minnesota
WEST
Minnesota
Participations
2
Games
3
Record
2–1
Qualified
2
7th or 8th
1
7th or 8th
1
New Orleans
New Orleans
WEST
New Orleans
Participations
3
Games
5
Record
3–2
Qualified
2
Eliminated
1
7th or 8th
1
9th or 10th
1
9th or 10th
1
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
WEST
Oklahoma City
Participations
1
Games
2
Record
1–1
Eliminated
1
9th or 10th
1
Portland
Portland
WEST
Portland
Participations
1
Games
1
Record
1–0
Qualified
1
7th or 8th
1
Sacramento
Sacramento
WEST
Sacramento
Participations
2
Games
3
Record
1–2
Eliminated
2
9th or 10th
1
9th or 10th
1
San Antonio
San Antonio
WEST
San Antonio
Participations
2
Games
2
Record
0–2
Eliminated
2
9th or 10th
2
EAST
EAST
WEST
EAST
7th or 8th
▲
7th or 8th
▼▲
7th or 8th
▼▼
9th or 10th
▲▲
9th or 10th
▲▼
9th or 10th
▼
Atlanta
Atlanta
WEST
Atlanta
Participations
4
Games
6
Record
3–3
Qualified
2
Eliminated
2
7th or 8th
1
7th or 8th
1
9th or 10th
1
9th or 10th
1
Boston
Boston
WEST
Boston
Participations
1
Games
1
Record
1–0
Qualified
1
7th or 8th
1
Brooklyn
Brooklyn
WEST
Brooklyn
Participations
1
Games
1
Record
1–0
Qualified
1
7th or 8th
1
Charlotte
Charlotte
WEST
Charlotte
Participations
2
Games
2
Record
0–2
Eliminated
2
9th or 10th
2
Chicago
Chicago
WEST
Chicago
Participations
3
Games
5
Record
2–3
Eliminated
3
9th or 10th
2
9th or 10th
1
Cleveland
Cleveland
WEST
Cleveland
Participations
1
Games
2
Record
0–2
Eliminated
1
7th or 8th
1
Indiana
Indiana
WEST
Indiana
Participations
1
Games
2
Record
1–1
Eliminated
1
9th or 10th
1
Miami
Miami
WEST
Miami
Participations
3
Games
6
Record
4–2
Qualified
3
7th or 8th
2
9th or 10th
1
Orlando
Orlando
WEST
Orlando
Participations
1
Games
1
Record
1–0
Qualified
1
7th or 8th
1
Philadelphia
Philadelphia
WEST
Philadelphia
Participations
1
Games
1
Record
1–0
Qualified
1
7th or 8th
1
Toronto
Toronto
WEST
Toronto
Participations
1
Games
1
Record
0–1
Eliminated
1
9th or 10th
1
Washington
Washington
WEST
Washington
Participations
1
Games
2
Record
1–1
Qualified
1
7th or 8th
1
WEST
WEST
WEST
WEST
Participations
18
Games
13
Record
13–13
Qualified
9
Eliminated
9
7th or 8th
5
7th or 8th
2
7th or 8th
2
9th or 10th
2
9th or 10th
2
9th or 10th
5
EAST
EAST
WEST
EAST
Participations
16
Games
12
Record
12–12
Qualified
8
Eliminated
8
7th or 8th
4
7th or 8th
3
7th or 8th
1
9th or 10th
1
9th or 10th
3
9th or 10th
4
TOTAL
TOTAL
WEST
TOTAL
Participations
34
Games
25
Record
25–25
Qualified
17
Eliminated
17
7th or 8th
9
7th or 8th
5
7th or 8th
3
9th or 10th
3
9th or 10th
5
9th or 10th
9
| WEST | Participations | Games | Record | Qualified | Eliminated | 7th or 8th | 9th or 10th | ||||
| qualified | eliminated | qualified | eliminated | ||||||||
| with | |||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | ||||||
| game(s) | |||||||||||
| ▲ | ▼▲ | ▼▼ | ▲▲ | ▲▼ | ▼ | ||||||
| Dallas | 1 | 2 | 1–1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Golden State | 3 | 4 | 1–3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| LA Clippers | 1 | 2 | 0–2 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| LA Lakers | 3 | 3 | 3–0 | 3 | 3 | ||||||
| Memphis | 3 | 5 | 3–2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| Minnesota | 2 | 3 | 2–1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |||||
| New Orleans | 3 | 5 | 3–2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| Oklahoma City | 1 | 2 | 1–1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Portland | 1 | 1 | 1–0 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Sacramento | 2 | 3 | 1–2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |||||
| San Antonio | 2 | 2 | 0–2 | 2 | 2 | ||||||
| EAST | ▲ | ▼▲ | ▼▼ | ▲▲ | ▲▼ | ▼ | |||||
| Atlanta | 4 | 6 | 3–3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Boston | 1 | 1 | 1–0 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Brooklyn | 1 | 1 | 1–0 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Charlotte | 2 | 2 | 0–2 | 2 | 2 | ||||||
| Chicago | 3 | 5 | 2–3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |||||
| Cleveland | 1 | 2 | 0–2 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Indiana | 1 | 2 | 1–1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Miami | 3 | 6 | 4–2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |||||
| Orlando | 1 | 1 | 1–0 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Philadelphia | 1 | 1 | 1–0 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Toronto | 1 | 1 | 0–1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Washington | 1 | 2 | 1–1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| WEST | 18 | 13 | 13–13 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| EAST | 16 | 12 | 12–12 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| TOTAL | 34 | 25 | 25–25 | 17 | 17 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 9 |
References
- Sports Illustratedhttps://www.si.com/nba/2020/06/05/nba-season-return-eighth-seed-tournament
- Twitterhttps://twitter.com/nbapr/status/1547020937857564673
- NBA.comhttps://www.nba.com/news/nba-announces-structure-and-format-for-2020-21-season
- ESPN.comhttps://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/31469676/jayson-tatum-explodes-50-boston-celtics-claim-7th-seed-nba-playoffs
- sfchronicle.comhttps://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/2024/warriors-playin-tournament/
- ESPN Press Room U.Shttps://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2020/08/nba-western-conference-play-in-game-to-air-on-abc-saturday-aug-15/
- NBC Sportshttps://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/nba-play-tournament-2021-rules-dates-and-tv-schedule
- NBC Sports Bostonhttps://www.nbcsportsboston.com/nba/boston-celtics/nba-play-in-tournament-how-to-watch-matchups-schedule/207399/
- NBA.comhttps://www.nba.com/news/2024-nba-playoffs-schedule
- NBA.comhttps://www.nba.com/news/nba-media-agreements-2024