Wed Apr 02 02:50:00 UTC 2025: ## NBA Play-In Tournament Set for April 15-18, Tight Races Define Final Week

**NEW YORK, NY** – With the 2024-25 NBA regular season concluding on April 13th, the annual drama of the play-in tournament is set to begin just two days later, running from April 15th to 18th. This year’s competition promises intense battles as several teams fight for the final playoff spots.

The play-in tournament, introduced in 2020-21, features the seventh through tenth seeds from each conference vying for two coveted playoff berths. The top six teams in each conference automatically advance.

This season, the Eastern Conference sees a fierce battle for the seventh and eighth seeds, with the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic closely contesting the higher position, while the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat are locked in a fight for the ninth and tenth spots.

The Western Conference is no less competitive. The Golden State Warriors, currently holding the sixth seed, are only a half-game ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves, who in turn narrowly lead the LA Clippers for eighth place. The final two weeks of the regular season will be crucial in determining the final seeding.

The play-in tournament will follow this format:

* **Game 1:** #7 seed hosts #8 seed. Winner earns the #7 playoff seed.
* **Game 2:** #9 seed hosts #10 seed. Winner advances to Game 3.
* **Game 3:** Losers of Game 1 host winners of Game 2. Winner earns the #8 playoff seed.

Teams finishing outside the top ten will enter the NBA draft lottery. Fans can stay updated on the latest developments via the ESPN app and Shams Charania’s news alerts. The final week’s games will determine the exact matchups for what promises to be an exciting and unpredictable play-in tournament.

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