The 2024/2025 NBA regular season concluded on Sunday, April 13, and the race for the final playoff spots is now underway. The play-in tournament, which determines the last four playoff qualifiers—two from each conference—began on Tuesday, April 15, with games that promise to captivate basketball fans worldwide. Teams like the Golden State Warriors, led by Stephen Curry, and the Orlando Magic, powered by rising star Paolo Banchero, hit the court to secure their postseason berths. Running through Friday, April 18, the play-in will be broadcast live on platforms such as Prime Video, ESPN, Disney+, and NBA League Pass, ensuring fans in Brazil and beyond can tune in.
Introduced in 2020, the play-in has reshaped the NBA’s season finale by giving teams ranked seventh to tenth in each conference a shot at the playoffs. This year’s matchups feature compelling storylines: from veterans like Curry, chasing another championship with the Warriors, to young stars like Ja Morant, aiming to guide the Memphis Grizzlies back to the postseason. The tournament’s format is straightforward yet unforgiving, with single-elimination games deciding fates, though the loser of the seventh-versus-eighth matchup gets a second chance in a repescage game.
Beyond the on-court action, the play-in carries strategic weight. Teams are not only fighting for a playoff spot but also aiming to avoid formidable first-round opponents like the Oklahoma City Thunder, the West’s top seed, or the Cleveland Cavaliers, who dominated the East. The blend of individual brilliance, historic rivalries, and do-or-die pressure makes the play-in one of the NBA’s most electrifying moments.
Play-in game schedule
The play-in games are scheduled from April 15 to 18, with times adjusted to Brasília’s time zone. Below are the confirmed matchups:
- Eastern Conference:
- Orlando Magic (7th) vs. Atlanta Hawks (8th) – April 15, 8:30 PM – Prime Video, NBA League Pass
- Chicago Bulls (9th) vs. Miami Heat (10th) – April 16, 8:30 PM – ESPN, Disney+, NBA League Pass
- Loser of Magic vs. Hawks vs. Winner of Bulls vs. Heat – April 18, time TBD
- Western Conference:
- Golden State Warriors (7th) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (8th) – April 15, 11:00 PM – Prime Video, NBA League Pass
- Sacramento Kings (9th) vs. Dallas Mavericks (10th) – April 16, 11:00 PM – ESPN, Disney+, NBA League Pass
- Loser of Warriors vs. Grizzlies vs. Winner of Kings vs. Mavs – April 18, time TBD
How the NBA play-in works
Designed to heighten competition, the play-in involves teams finishing seventh to tenth in each conference. The format is clear but demanding: the seventh seed faces the eighth, with the winner advancing to the playoffs as the seventh seed. The loser gets a second chance, taking on the winner of the ninth-versus-tenth matchup. The victor of this repescage game earns the eighth playoff seed.
This structure ensures only the most resilient teams advance, while also allowing for potential upsets. Since its debut, the play-in has produced surprises, with underdog teams occasionally outshining favorites. In 2025, the stakes are high, particularly in the West, where the Warriors and Grizzlies bring recent rivalries and contrasting playing styles to the table.
THE BRACKET IS SET ???? pic.twitter.com/xZBRkF7LT7
— NBA (@NBA) April 13, 2025
In the East, the Orlando Magic versus Atlanta Hawks matchup stands out for its balance. The Magic, with a stout defense and young talent, face a Hawks team driven by Trae Young’s playmaking. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls versus Miami Heat game pits two contrasting approaches, with the Heat’s experience potentially clashing against the Bulls’ inconsistency.
Eastern Conference play-in highlights
The Eastern Conference play-in tips off with Orlando Magic versus Atlanta Hawks, a matchup expected to be tightly contested. The Magic, seventh seed, rely on their cohesive unit and Paolo Banchero’s emergence as a star. The Hawks, led by Trae Young’s flair for clutch moments, aim to capitalize on their offensive firepower. The winner will face the Boston Celtics, the conference’s second seed, in the playoffs, adding urgency to the clash.
The second Eastern game features the Chicago Bulls against the Miami Heat, a battle of contrasting strengths. The ninth-seeded Bulls, leaning on DeMar DeRozan’s veteran presence, seek to overcome a rollercoaster season. The Heat, despite concerns about motivation, have Jimmy Butler’s postseason pedigree as a trump card. The winner advances to the repescage against the Magic-Hawks loser, with a playoff matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers at stake.
Western Conference showdowns
In the Western Conference, the play-in opens with a marquee matchup: Golden State Warriors versus Memphis Grizzlies. Stephen Curry, who guided the Warriors to a strong campaign, faces Ja Morant, whose athleticism and leadership define the Grizzlies. The winner earns a playoff date with the Houston Rockets, while the loser gets a second shot in the repescage.
The second Western game pits the Sacramento Kings against the Dallas Mavericks, promising an offensive spectacle. The Kings, led by De’Aaron Fox, aim to pull off an upset, while the tenth-seeded Mavericks rely on Luka Dončić’s brilliance. The victor will face the Warriors-Grizzlies loser, with a chance to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder, the West’s top seed, in the playoffs.
Key factors in the play-in
Several elements could sway the play-in outcomes, from individual performances to team strategies. Here are some critical aspects:
- Physical condition: Teams like the Heat and Warriors have battled injuries, which may affect their output.
- Playoff experience: Stars like Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry thrive in high-pressure games.
- Defensive prowess: The Magic and Grizzlies lean on strong defenses to stifle opponents.
- Three-point shooting: The Hawks and Warriors rely heavily on long-range accuracy.
The play-in’s history and influence
Since its inception in 2020, the play-in has transformed the NBA landscape. Previously, the top eight teams in each conference automatically qualified for the playoffs. The play-in added a layer of intensity, compelling teams to fight until the regular season’s final buzzer. In 2021, the Los Angeles Lakers, led by LeBron James, navigated the play-in en route to the playoffs, proving its potential as a springboard for deep postseason runs.
The format also delights fans, offering extra high-stakes games before the playoffs begin. In 2025, the play-in is poised to deliver more surprises, with teams like the Kings and Hawks ready to challenge the odds. Its global reach, amplified by widespread broadcasts, underscores its growing popularity, including in markets like Brazil, where NBA fandom is surging.
Players to watch
The 2025 play-in showcases some of the NBA’s brightest stars, each capable of swinging a game’s outcome. Here are five players to keep an eye on:
- Stephen Curry (Warriors): The greatest shooter in NBA history remains the Warriors’ cornerstone.
- Ja Morant (Grizzlies): After a challenging season, Morant aims to shine in the spotlight.
- Trae Young (Hawks): Known for clutch plays, Young could be the Hawks’ X-factor.
- Luka Dončić (Mavericks): Despite their tenth seed, Dončić’s genius makes the Mavericks dangerous.
- Paolo Banchero (Magic): The Magic’s young star has a chance to make a statement in his play-in debut.
Road to the playoffs
With the play-in wrapping up on April 18, the NBA playoffs tip off on April 21, setting the stage for thrilling series. In the East, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics await their opponents, while in the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets stand ready. The shift from play-in to playoffs marks a surge in intensity, where every possession can decide a series.
For play-in teams, advancing is more than a ticket to the postseason—it’s a chance to etch their names in history. The Warriors, with their championship pedigree, and the Magic, seeking to establish themselves, have distinct motivations but share the same goal: surviving the gauntlet. The added pressure of dodging juggernauts like the Thunder shapes strategic decisions in every game.
What to expect from the matchups
Each play-in game carries unique narratives. In the East, the Magic-Hawks clash promises a close contest, while Bulls-Heat could hinge on physicality and tactics. In the West, Warriors-Grizzlies rekindles a recent rivalry, with Curry and Morant poised for a generational duel. Meanwhile, Kings-Mavericks should deliver a high-scoring affair, driven by Fox and Dončić.
The play-in’s unpredictability is its greatest asset. A single buzzer-beater or lockdown defensive stand can alter a team’s fate. For fans, it’s a chance to witness elite basketball in a compact, high-octane format, with accessible broadcasts ensuring real-time engagement.
