Four years ago, the NBA introduced the Play-In Tournament as a way to bring additional excitement to the playoffs. While the tournament has gotten mixed reviews over the last few years, it's clearly here to stay — and on Tuesday and Wednesday, it will kick off the NBA's postseason.
This year's tournament includes storied franchises like the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, and Philadelphia 76ers. Here's everything you need to know about the 2024 Play-In Tournament, including the schedule, scenarios, predictions and more.
NBA Play-In Tournament Schedule 2024
Tuesday, April 16:
#8 Los Angeles Lakers at #7 New Orleans Pelicans: 4:30 p.m. PT/7:30 p.m. ET
#10 Golden State Warriors at #9 Sacramento Kings: 7:00 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET
Wednesday, April 17
#8 Miami Heat at #7 Philadelphia 76ers: 4:00 p.m. PT/7:00 p.m. ET
#10 Atlanta Hawks at #9 Chicago Bulls: 6:30 p.m. PT/9:30 p.m. ET
Friday, April 19
Loser of #8/#7 vs. Winner of #10/#9 in West: TBD
Loser of #8/#7 vs. Winner of #10/#9 in East: TBD
How to Watch NBA Play-In Tournament
Tuesday's Western Conference games featuring the Lakers, Pelicans, Warriors, and Kings will be broadcast on TNT and truTV.
Wednesday's Eastern Conference games featuring the Heat, 76ers, Hawks, and Bulls will be broadcast on ESPN, with the Heat and 76ers games also being broadcast on ESPN2.
On Friday, one game will be on TNT and one will be on ESPN. The times are yet to be determined.
NBA Play-In Tournament Scenarios for 2024
The winner of both #8 vs. #7 matchups will face the #2 seed in their respective conferences.
In the Western Conference, the winner of the Lakers vs. Pelicans will face the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs. In the Eastern Conference, the winner of the Heat vs. 76ers will face the New York Knicks.
The loser of each #8 vs. #7 matchup will face the winner of the #10 vs. #9 game. Then, the winner of that game on Friday will face the #1 seed in their respective conferences.
In the Western Conference, the #1 seed is the Oklahoma City Thunder. In the Eastern Conference, the #1 seed is the Boston Celtics.
NBA Play-In Tournament Predictions
Lakers vs. Pelicans
The Lakers are coming off a dominant 124-108 win over the Pelicans in New Orleans that clinched them the #8 seed and a spot in this first Play-In Game.
Expect the Lakers to come out hot again, and clinch the #7 seed for a second consecutive season.
Lakers: 109, Pelicans: 100
Warriors vs. Kings
This will likely be the most exciting game of the tournament, with two high-scoring Northern California teams squaring off.
The Warriors have the more experienced postseason players with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, but after losing in the second round of the playoffs last year, their dynasty will officially come to an end on Tuesday night to De'Aaron Fox and the Kings.
Kings: 115, Warriors: 111
Kings vs. Pelicans (expected matchup)
This will be another fun game of two up-and-coming Western Conference teams. The Pelicans swept the season series 4-0, and they'll continue to dominate this matchup to clinch the final postseason spot in the West.
Pelicans: 112, Kings: 110
Heat vs. 76ers
The Heat and Sixers split the season series this year, 2-2. With Joel Embiid back, expect the Sixers to take care of business and put the Heat in a win-or-go-home game one year after making the NBA Finals.
76ers: 105, Heat: 99
Hawks vs. Bulls
In a battle of underperforming teams, expect the addition of a healthy Trae Young to push the Hawks over the top, despite DeMar DeRozan's clutch efforts.
Hawks: 112, Bulls 108
Hawks vs. Heat (expected matchup)
No matter what the Heat do in the regular season, they always find a way to turn it on come the postseason.
They'll do it again this year, setting up an Eastern Conference Finals rematch against the Celtics in the first round.
Heat: 108, Hawks: 102
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Noah Camras graduated from USC in 2022 with a B.A. in Journalism and minor in Sports Media Studies. He's worked ... Read more
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