The 2024 NBA playoffs are set to begin this week as the postseason kicks off with the fifth edition of the NBA play-in tournament.
Below, GOAL brings you everything you need to know to be prepared for this year's play-in tournament.
What is the NBA Play-in tournament?
Getty ImagesSince its inception, the NBA play-in tournament has brought new life to both the end of the regular season and the beginning of the postseason by not only giving teams just outside of the playoff picture the chance to fight for a playoff spot but also forcing teams that barely scraped their way to a playoff position to fight even harder to ensure their postseason position.
The no. 7 through no. 10 seeds will face off in a single-game elimination-style tournament to decide the no. 7 and no. 8 seeds in each side of the playoff bracket.
When is the NBA Play-In tournament?
Getty ImagesThis year, the play-in tournament will kick off in the Western Conference on Tuesday, April 16, with the Los Angeles Lakers vs the New Orleans Pelicans, the no. 7 vs. no. 8 matchup. It will be immediately followed by the no. 9 vs no. 10 game between the Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings.
The Eastern Conference games will take place on Wednesday, April 17.
How does the NBA Play-in tournament work?
Getty ImagesBefore the official start of the NBA playoffs, the no. 7 through no. 10 seeds in each conference will fight for the no. 7 and no. 8 seeds in each side of the playoff bracket.
In the first round of the play-in tournament, the no. 7 and no. 8 seed teams in each conference will play each other to decide who enters the playoffs as the no. 7 seed.
The loser of the no. 7 vs. no. 8 game will still have a chance to qualify for the postseason during the second round of the tournament. They will then play the winner of the no. 9 vs. no. 10 game.
Whoever goes on to win the second-round game of the play-in tournament will enter the playoffs as the no. 8 seed.
What teams are the play-in tournament matchups?
Getty imagesWestern Conference
In the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers vs the New Orleans Pelicans will be the no. 7 vs. no. 8 matchup.
The winner of the Lakers vs Pelicans matchup will be slotted as the no. 7 seed in the playoff bracket and be set for a series with the no. 2 Denver Nuggets.
Meanwhile, the losing team will play against the winner of the no. 9 vs no. 10 game between the Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings for the no. 8 seed and play against the no. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder.
Eastern Conference
In the Eastern Conference, the no. 7 vs no. 8 matchup of the Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat on Wednesday night.
The winner of the Miami vs Philadelphia game will be slotted as the no. 7 seed in the playoff bracket and be set for a matchup against the New York Knicks.
Meanwhile, the losing team will play against the winner of the no. 9 vs. no. 10 game for the no. 8 seed, who will then play the no. 1 Boston Celtics.
This year, the Atlanta Hawks will face the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference's no. 9 vs. no. 10 matchup.
How can I watch the 2024 NBA Play-in tournament?
All of this year's play-in games will be broadcast on TV through ESPN and TNT. Fans without access to those channels will also be able to stream games through Max and FuboTV.
You can watch sports programming from TNT Sports across TNT, TBS, and TruTV, with select coverage also offered through the Max streaming service. Plans for Max start at under $10 a month. Max With Ads is available for $9.99/month($99.99/year), and ad-free plans are priced at $15.99/month ($149.99/year) or $19.99/month ($199.99/year).
FuboTV will give fans access to ESPN-exclusive games and any future NBA playoff games streamed on ABC and ESPN channels. Plans for FuboTV start at $74.99/month and go up to $99.99/month as part of a rolling contract. With over 100 channels, no contract, no hidden fees, and the option to cancel anytime, FuboTV is a no-brainer for NBA and general sports fans.
When are the 2024 NBA Playoffs?
Getty imagesFollowing the completion of the NBA play-in tournament, the NBA playoffs will officially start on Saturday, April 20. Depending on the length of respective playoff matchups in the first round, conference semifinals, and conference finals, they will last until Sunday, June 23, at the latest.
2024 NBA Play-In Schedule
Western Conference
| Date | Game | Time | Location | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 16, 2024 | Los Angeles Lakers vs New Orleans Pelicans | 7:30 pm ET/ 4:30 pm PT | Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana | TNT/ Max |
| April 16, 2024 | Golden State Warriors vs Sacramento Kings | 10:00 pm ET/ 7:00 pm PT | Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, California | TNT/ Max |
| April 19, 2024 | 7/8 loser vs 9/10 winner | TBD | TBD | TNT/ Max |
Eastern Conference
| Date | Game | Time | Location | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 17, 2024 | Miami Heat vs Philadelphia 76ers | 7:00 pm ET / 4:00 pm PT | Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | ESPN/ FuboTV |
| April 17, 2024 | Atlanta Hawks vs Chicago Bulls | 9:00 pm ET/ 7:00 pm PT | United Center, Chicago, Illinois | ESPN/ FuboTV |
| April 19, 2024 | 7/8 loser vs 9/10 winner | TBD | TBD | ESPN/ FuboTV |
Records for teams in the NBA Play-in Tournament
Western Conference
| Team | Regular season record |
|---|---|
| New Orleans Pelicans | 49-33 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 47-35 |
| Sacramento Kings | 46-36 |
| Golden State Warriors | 46-36 |
Eastern Conference
| Team | Regular season record |
|---|---|
| Philadelphia 76ers | 47-35 |
| Miami Heat | 46-46 |
| Chicago Bulls | 39-43 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 36-46 |