The non-stop elimination frenzy of March Madness might have come to an end, but there’s still plenty of action out there for basketball fans in the form of the AT&T NBA Play-In Tournament.
Approved by the NBA in 2022, this is a new addition to the official sporting calendar that bridges the gap between the end of basketball season and the start of the playoffs. The Play-In Tournament will determine which teams fill the seventh and eighth seed places in the NBA Playoffs.
How does it work?
Eight teams–four from the Eastern conference and four from the Western conference—participate in the tournament, which takes place over three nights with two games per evening.
Which teams are playing in the NBA Play-In Tournament?
The Miami Heat, Atlanta Hawks, LA Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, New Orleans Pelicans and Oklahoma City Thunder will all be competing in the NBA Play-In Tournament this year.
When does the tournament begin?
The NBA Play-In Tournament commences on Tuesday, April 11 with a game between the Heat and the Hawks at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by a second game between the Lakers and the Timberwolves at 10 p.m. ET.
The tournament will continue on April 12 with the Raptors playing the Bulls at 7 p.m. ET and the Pelicans vs. Thunder at 9:30 p.m. ET. Then, on April 14, the 7th or 8th seeded Eastern and Western losers will play the 9th or 10th seeded East and West winners, respectively, determining which two teams will occupy the 7th and 8th seed in the Playoffs.
How can I watch the NBA Play-In Tournament?
The Play-In Tournament will be televised live across TNT and ESPN. TNT will air the Hawks v. Heat and Lakers v. Timberwolves games, while ESPN will broadcast the Raptors v. Bulls and Pelicans v. Thunder games.
You can also stream the NBA Play-In Tournament on the ESPN website and app, and on the TNT app or at TNTDrama.com.
Philip Ellis is a freelance writer and journalist from the United Kingdom covering pop culture, relationships and LGBTQ+ issues. His work has appeared in GQ, Teen Vogue, Man Repeller and MTV.
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