2024 NBA Play-In Tournament: Bracket, schedule, scores, standings, rules
Before the 2024 NBA playoffs officially started on April 20, four teams from each conference participated in a play-in tournament for the seventh and eighth seeds in their respective conferences.
Here's everything you need to know about the 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament:
2024 NBA Play-In Tournament Schedule and Scores
Tuesday, April 16
- Play-In Game 1: (8) Lakers 110, (7) Pelicans 106
- Play-In Game 2: (9) Kings 118, (10) Warriors 94
Wednesday, April 17
- Play-In Game 3: (7) 76ers 105, (8) Heat 104
- Play-In Game 4: (9) Bulls 131, (10) Hawks 116
Friday, April 19
- Play-In Game 5: (8) Heat 112, (9) Bulls 91
- Play-In Game 6: (7) Pelicans 105, (9) Kings 98
2024 NBA Play-In Tournament Standings
Here's how the NBA Play-In Tournament race shook out:
Eastern Conference
- (7) Philadelphia 76ers
- (8) Miami Heat (1 GB)
- (9) Chicago Bulls (8 GB) - eliminated in play-in
- (10) Atlanta Hawks (11 GB) - eliminated in play-in
Eastern Conference Bracket
- (7) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (8) Miami Heat
- (9) Chicago Bulls vs. (10) Atlanta Hawks
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Western Conference
- (7) New Orleans Pelicans
- (8) Los Angeles Lakers (2 GB)
- (9) Sacramento Kings (3 GB) - eliminated in play-in
- (10) Golden State Warriors (3 GB) - eliminated in play-in
Western Conference Bracket
- (7) New Orleans Pelicans vs. (8) Los Angeles Lakers
- (9) Sacramento Kings vs. (10) Golden State Warriors
What is the NBA Play-In Tournament?
The NBA Board of Governors approved the adoption of the NBA Play-In Tournament on a full-time basis back in July 2022. In the 2023-24 NBA season, the Play-In Tournament took April 16-19, 2024, between the last day of the regular season on April 14 and the start of the playoffs on April 20.
The tournament included the four teams with the seventh to tenth best winning percentages in the Eastern and Western Conferences. After six games, the seventh and eighth seeds in each conference were determined for the NBA Playoffs.
When is the 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament?
The 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament took from Tuesday, April 16 to Friday, April 19.
How does the NBA Play-In Tournament work?
The seventh and eighth seeds in each conference will play in the first play-in games on April 16, and the ninth and tenth seeds in each conference will play on April 17. The winners of the 7-8 games will advance to the playoffs as the No. 7 seed. The losers of the 7-8 games will face the winners of the 9-10 games on April 19, with the No. 8 seed on the line. The team that loses will be disqualified from playoff contention.
The losers of the 9-10 games are disqualified from playoff contention.
Essentially, the teams that finish seventh and eighth in their conference after the NBA season get two chances to earn a spot in the NBA playoffs.
How can I watch the NBA Play-In Tournament?
All six games of the 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament will be broadcast on ESPN and TNT.
When are the 2024 NBA Playoffs?
- April 16-19: NBA play-in tournament (ESPN, TNT)
- April 20: NBA playoffs 2023 first round begin (ABC, ESPN, TNT, NBA TV)
- May 6-7: NBA conference semifinals begin (ABC, ESPN, TNT)
- May 21-22: NBA conference finals begin (ABC, ESPN, TNT)
- June 6: NBA Finals begin (ABC)