The NBA’s play-in tournament first appeared on the scene in 2020, but its current iteration can be traced back to the 2021 season.
In 2025, the tournament will begin on April 15 and will conclude on April 18.
Currently, the teams in the Eastern Conference are set. The seeding could change by the time the regular season ends, but the teams will remain the Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat.
In the Western Conference, things get a bit messier. As of the time of this writing, the Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies all have 46 wins and four games remaining. All of those teams will be in the playoffs. Just behind those squads are the Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns. Depending on how the final week of the regular season shakes out, any combination of those squads could make it.
But let's take a look back at the past NBA play-in tournaments.
History (and Results) of the NBA Play-In Tournament
While the first play-in tournament was played in part due to the restrictions of COVID-19, the plan was originally designed to increase competition down the stretch and increase the window of opportunity for teams to make the playoffs, and that's more or less what we've seen in the NBA since it’s been fully implemented.
Teams that are just outside the top eight seeds in each conference usually strive for a playoff spot, playing stars in an effort to get in. But the current format is the result of tweaks and changes by the league over time.
2020 NBA Play-In Tournament
When the NBA's season restarted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the league built in the potential for the first play-in tournament, though with different rules that we have today.
If the No. 8 team in a conference had at least a four-game lead over the No. 9 team, there would be no play-in tournament. However, if the No. 8 team had a lead of less than four games, then we would get a play-in for the final spot in the postseason, with the No. 9 team needing to win two games against the No. 8 team to earn the spot, and the No. 8 team only needing one win to get in.
Portland finished 1.5 games ahead of Memphis, triggering the play-in game(s). So, Memphis would need to win two games in order to become the No. 8 seed. However, the Trail Blazers took care of business. After making the field of 16, Portland was knocked out in the first round by the Lakers in five games.
August 15, 2020
Play-In Game 1: Blazers 126, Grizzlies 1222021 NBA Play-In Tournament
No team that began in the play-in tournament in 2021 won more than two games in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
May 18, 2021
Game 1: (7) Celtics 118, (8) Wizards 100Game 2: (9) Pacers 144, (10) Hornets 117
May 19, 2021
Game 3: (7) Lakers 103, (8) Warriors 100Game 4: (9) Grizzlies 100, (10) Spurs 96
May 20, 2021
Game 5: (8) Wizards 142, (9) Pacers 115
May 21, 2021
Game 6: (9) Grizzlies 117, (8) Warriors 112 (OT)
2022 NBA Play-In Tournament
Again, there was no run to be had by any team in the play-in tournament this season. Only one team (Brooklyn) was swept in the first round, however.
Tuesday, April 12:
Game 1: (7) Nets 115, (8) Cavaliers 108Game 2: (7) Timberwolves 109, (8) Clippers 104
offs
April 13, 2022
Game 3: (9) Hawks 132, (10) Hornets 103Game 4: (9) Pelicans 113, (10) Spurs 103
April 15, 2022
Game 5: (9) Hawks 107, (8) Cavaliers 101Game 6: (9) Pelicans 105, (8) Clippers 101
2023 NBA Play-In Tournament
The Miami Heat went from the play-in tournament to the NBA Finals this season, upsetting the No. 2 seed Boston in the conference finals before falling to the Denver Nuggets. In the West, the Los Angeles Lakers also made a run to the conference finals, proving that teams can absolute go on a dangerous run after making it out of the play-in tournament.
April 11, 2023
Game 1: (8) Hawks 116, (7) Heat 105Game 2: (7) Lakers 108, (8) Timberwolves 102 (OT)
April 12, 2023
Game 3: (10) Bulls 109, (9) Raptors 105Game 4: (10) Thunder 123, (9) Pelicans 118
April 14, 2023
Game 5: (8) Heat 102, (10) Bulls 91Game 6: (8) Timberwolves 120, (10) Thunder 95
2024 NBA Play-In Tournament
Another rough year for teams competing in the play-in tournament, as only the 76ers managed to win more than one game in the first round of the playoffs.
April 16, 2024
Game 1: (7) 76ers 105, (8) Heat 104Game 2: (7) Lakers 110, (8) Pelicans 106
April 17, 2024
Game 1: (9) Bulls 131, (10) Hawks 116Game 2: (9) Kings 118, (10) Warriors 94
April 19, 2024
Game 1: (8) Pelicans 105, (9) Kings 98Game 2: (8) Heat 112, (9) Bulls 91