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With the 82-game regular season now wrapped up and in the rear-view mirror, just the 2022 NBA Play-In Tournament separates the league from its full-fledged postseason, which will begin on Saturday, April 16.
The play-in tournament deciphers the last two seeds in each conference, completing the full eight-game field in both the East and West with high stakes to spark the do-or-die drama early.
How does the NBA Play-In Tournament work?
Courtesy of NBA.com
The Play-In Tournament is a single-game elimination mini-tournament that features the No. 7-10 seeds (based on winning percentage) in both the Eastern and Western Conferences. The No. 7 seed hosts the No. 8 seed while the No. 9 seed hosts the No. 10 seed.
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Whichever team wins the matchup between Nos. 7 and 8 will immediately advance to the NBA Playoffs and assume the No. 7 seed where they will face the No. 2 seed in the first round.
Meanwhile, the loser of that play-in game will face the winner of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 game.
The winner of that game, then, cinches the No. 8 seed in the playoffs to face the No. 1 seed.
NBA Play-In Tournament schedule, games, TV
| Date, Time (ET) |
Matchup |
Conference |
TV |
| Tuesday, April 12 (7 p.m.) |
No. 8 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 7 Brooklyn Nets |
East |
TNT |
| Tuesday, April 12 (9:30 p.m.) |
No. 8 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 7 Minnesota Timberwolves |
West |
TNT |
| Wednesday, April 13 (7 p.m.) |
No. 10 Charlotte Hornets vs. No. 9 Atlanta Hawks |
East |
ESPN |
| Wednesday, April 13 (9:30 p.m.) |
No. 10 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 9 New Orleans Pelicans |
West |
ESPN |
| Friday, April 15 (TBD) |
Game 3 winner vs. Game 1 loser |
East |
ESPN |
| Friday, April 15 (TBD) |
Game 4 winner vs. Game 2 loser |
West |
TNT |
Information courtesy of NBA.com
