NBA play-in match guidelines, defined for 2025, with up to date standings for tight races

The NBA play-in match has been used to find out the ultimate playoff groups in every convention since being adopted by the league throughout the bubble. The present iteration of the play-in match has a format that’s simple to know, and places additional stress on groups to maximise their common season win complete to safe their seeding.

The NBA play-in match has by no means been extra consequential than it’s this 12 months, with 5 Western Convention groups battling for the final three protected seeds within the last video games of the common season. Two of those groups might be sequestered to the play-in match, the place their season can finish shortly in the event that they don’t ship. The 4 Jap Convention play-in groups are already locked in, however the combat for positioning will go right down to last day of the season.

Right here’s a fast clarification of how the play-in match works, plus a have a look at the groups preventing to remain out of it earlier than the common season ends on Sunday, April 13.

• The No. 7 staff within the common season standings hosts the No. 8 staff in a single-elimination sport. The winner will get the No. 7 seed within the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
• The No. 9 staff within the common season standings hosts the No. 10 staff in a single-elimination sport. The loser’s season is over.
• The winner of the 9-10 sport faces the loser of the 7-8 sport for the No. 8 seed within the 2025 NBA Playoffs.

Right here’s what it seems to be like in graphic type. Now, let’s dive into the groups concerned within the 2025 NBA play-in match throughout the last days of the common season.

No NBA staff needs to be within the play-in match, as a result of your season can finish with one (or two) dangerous nights. Right here’s the present common season standings within the East and the West.

NBA Western Convention standings, play-in race, and video games remaining

We’ll replace these standings each evening till the tip of the common season. Final replace: April 11 afternoon.

The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder have clinched the No. 1 seed. The Houston Rockets are poised to lock up the No. 2 seed. The Los Angeles Lakers have clinched a playoff berth, which means they’ve averted the play-in match, however are nonetheless preventing for seeding. Right here’s what the remainder of the West play-in image seems to be like proper now:

Right here’s the remaining common season schedule for every staff concerned:

3. Los Angeles Lakers: vs. Rockets, @ Path Blazers

4. Denver Nuggets: vs. Grizzlies, @ Rockets

5. Los Angeles Clippers: @ Kings, @ Warriors

6. Golden State Warriors: @ Path Blazers, vs. Clippers

7. Memphis Grizzlies: @ Nuggets, vs. Mavericks

8. Minnesota Timberwolves: vs. Nets, vs. Jazz

9. Sacramento Kings: vs. Clippers, vs. Suns

10. Dallas Mavericks: vs. Raptors, @ Grizzlies

NBA Jap Convention standings, play-in race, and video games remaining

We’ll replace these standings each evening till the tip of the common season. Final replace: April 11 afternoon.

The six protected playoff groups within the East are locked in. The New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers are nonetheless preventing for the No. 3 seed within the final days of the season. Right here’s what the standings seem like proper now:

Right here’s the remaining common season schedule for the play-in groups:

7. Orlando Magic: @ Pacers, @ Hawks

8. Atlanta Hawks: @ 76ers, vs. Magic

9. Chicago Bulls: vs. Wizards, @ 76ers

10. Miami Warmth: @ Pelicans, vs. Wizards

Groups that get eradicated within the play-in match enter the NBA draft lottery. You’ll find up to date NBA lottery odds right here.

The common season might be over on Sunday. With two video games left for each staff, there’s by no means been extra stress to safe the playoff seed or play-in match placement groups want forward of the postseason push.