2024 NBA Play-In Tournament: Playoff bracket scenarios ahead of regular season finale
Ayrton OstlyThe 2023-24 NBA regular season is down to its final week. Ten teams in each conference have secured a spot in the playoffs or the NBA Play-In Tournament. Now, it's all down to positioning over these last few games before the season ends April 14.
Here's how the format works as well as the latest scenarios for each conference:
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2024 NBA Play-In Tournament format
The tournament features three games in each conference over two rounds involving four teams, structured like this:
Round 1:
- Game 1: No. 7 seed vs. No. 8 seed
- Game 2: No. 9 seed vs. No. 10 seed
Game 1 winner secures the No. 7 seed in their respective conference bracket.
Round 2
- Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 winner
Game 3 winner secures the No. 8 and final seed in their conference.
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2024 NBA Play-In Tournament: Eastern Conference current picture and scenarios
In the Eastern Conference, Game 2 of the tournament is set. The Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks have clinched the No. 9 and No. 10 seed, respectively, and will face off to determine who plays the loser of Game 1. At time of publishing, the Philadelphia 76ers (No. 7) and Miami Heat (No. 8) will play in Game 1.
The No. 1 seed Boston Celtics are the only team in the league to secure their playoff spot. Here are the highest or lowest seeds the remaining Eastern Conference teams could secure ahead of the final day of the regular season:
- Highest possible: No. 2
- Lowest possible: No. 4
- Highest possible: No. 2
- Lowest possible: No. 4
- Highest possible: No. 2
- Lowest possible: No. 4
- Highest possible: No. 5
- Lowest possible: No. 8
- Highest possible: No. 5
- Lowest possible: No. 8
Philadelphia 76ers
- Highest possible: No. 5
- Lowest possible: No. 8
Miami Heat
- Highest possible: No. 5
- Lowest possible: No. 8
Chicago Bulls
- Highest possible: No. 9
- Lowest possible: No. 9
Atlanta Hawks
- Highest possible: No. 10
- Lowest possible: No. 10
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2024 NBA Play-In Tournament: Western Conference scenarios
The Western Conference is far more open than the East. Ten teams have secured a playoff spot but none have clinched a specific seed. At time of publishing, the Phoenix Suns (No. 7) would host the Los Angeles Lakers (No. 8) in Game 1 and the Sacramento Kings (No. 9) would host the Golden State Warriors (No. 10) in Game 2.
Three teams are locked into Play-In Tournament: the Kings, Warriors, and Lakers. Two teams have clinched their playoff spot: the Los Angeles Clippers (No. 4) and Dallas Mavericks (No. 5). Here are the highest or lowest seeds the 10 playoff teams could secure ahead of the regular season finale:
- Highest possible: No. 1
- Lowest possible: No. 3
- Highest possible: No. 1
- Lowest possible: No. 3
- Highest possible: No. 1
- Lowest possible: No. 3
Los Angeles Clippers
- Highest possible: No. 4
- Lowest possible: No. 4
Dallas Mavericks
- Highest possible: No. 5
- Lowest possible: No. 5
- Highest possible: No. 6
- Lowest possible: No. 7
Phoenix Suns
- Highest possible: No. 6
- Lowest possible: No. 7
Sacramento Kings
- Highest possible: No. 8
- Lowest possible: No. 10
Los Angeles Lakers
- Highest possible: No. 8
- Lowest possible: No. 10
Golden State Warriors
- Highest possible: No. 8
- Lowest possible: No. 10
2024 NBA Play-In Tournament schedule
The tournament runs from April 16-19. Round 1 games will likely take place on April 16-17 with the Round 2 game in each conference set for April 19. The NBA playoffs begin a day later.