Welcome to the NBA playoffs — well, almost. Before the first-round matchups officially begin on April 19, the league has added a little extra drama with the NBA Play-In Tournament. Since its introduction in the 2020-2021 season, the Play-In Tournament has given fringe playoff teams a second chance — and fans a fun, chaotic appetizer before the main course.

The action tips off Tuesday, April 15, with the 7 seed vs. 8 seed games in both conferences. From there, the final two playoff spots in the East and West will be up for grabs.

Let’s break down exactly how the NBA Play-In Tournament works, look at this year’s matchups and highlight a few betting picks worth considering as the postseason gets underway.

How Does the Play-In Work?

Before the Play-In Tournament existed, the NBA Playoffs were simple: The top eight teams in each conference made the playoffs — 1 played 8, 2 played 7 and so on. But starting in 2021, the league added a twist.

Now, only the top six teams in each conference are guaranteed a playoff spot. Seeds 7 through 10 have to earn their way in through the Play-In Tournament — a mini-tournament that decides the final two playoff spots in each conference.

Here’s how it works:

→ Game 1 (Tuesday, April 15): The 7 seed hosts the 8 seed.

• Winner = Earns the 7 seed in the playoffs
• Loser = Gets one more chance to qualify

→ Game 2 (Wednesday, April 16): The 9 seed hosts the 10 seed.

• Winner = Advances to play the loser of Game 1
  Loser = Eliminated

→ Game 3 (Friday, April 18): The loser of the 7 vs. 8 game hosts the winner of the 9 vs. 10 game.

• Winner = Earns the 8 seed in the playoffs
• Loser = Eliminated

By the end of Friday night, the full 16-team playoff bracket will be set, with the 7 and 8 seeds in each conference officially locked in.

NBA Play-In Tournament Schedule 2025

Here’s a look at the schedule for the 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament. At the time of publishing, we know the four teams battling it out in the Eastern Conference, while the Western Conference play-in matchups will be finalized after the regular season concludes.

Eastern Conference Play-In Matchups

Tuesday, April 15 – Game 1
(7) Orlando Magic vs. (8) Atlanta Hawks
→ Winner secures the 7 seed and a first-round matchup against the 2 seed.

Wednesday, April 16 – Game 2
(9) Chicago Bulls vs. (10) Miami Heat
→ Loser is eliminated. Winner advances to play the loser of Magic vs. Hawks.

Friday, April 18 – Game 3
Loser of Magic/Hawks vs. Winner of Bulls/Heat
→ Winner earns the 8-seed. Loser is eliminated.

Western Conference Play-In Matchups

Still to be determined as the regular season wraps up, but the format will follow the same structure:

Tuesday, April 15 – Game 1
(7) TBD vs. (8) TBD
→ Winner secures the 7 seed and a first-round matchup against the 2 seed.

Wednesday, April 16 – Game 2
(9) TBD vs. (10) TBD
→ Loser is eliminated. Winner advances to play the loser of 7 vs. 8.

Friday, April 18 – Game 3
Loser of 7/8 Game vs. Winner of 9/10 Game
→ Winner earns the 8-seed. Loser is eliminated.

We’ll update this section as soon as the West matchups are locked in.

Best Bets for the 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament

Looking for expert picks and betting recommendations for the 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament? Our team is tracking all of their bets — sides, totals, props, and more — in FTN’s Bet Tracker.

→ Check out all of our NBA Play-In bets here.

We’ll be adding plays throughout the week as lines move and matchups are finalized, so be sure to check back often.

2025 NBA Play-In Tournament: Predictions, Analysis & Best Bets for Each Conference

Let’s break down each conference and analyze the matchups to see which teams are most likely to advance. We’ll use FTN’s simulations, team ratings and recent form to help guide our picks.

Eastern Conference Play-In Predictions & Analysis

(7) Orlando Magic vs. (8) Atlanta Hawks Prediction

The Orlando Magic come into the Play-In Tournament playing their best basketball in months. It’s been an up-and-down season for Orlando, but with its roster finally healthy, it has caught fire at the perfect time, winning 9 of its last 11 games.

Remember, this was a team many expected to push for a top-four seed in the East behind rising stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. And while injuries derailed that early momentum, the Magic’s strong finish shows why they were so highly regarded.

The Atlanta Hawks, meanwhile, have been the definition of inconsistent all year. They’ve beaten some of the NBA’s best teams — including Boston, Cleveland (twice) and New York — but also lost twice to the lowly Wizards. After reaching the semifinals of the NBA’s In-Season Tournament, the Hawks fell apart in January, losing eight straight and trading away De’Andre Hunter at the deadline. They also lost a potential all-star in Jalen Johnson to injury. 

Still, Atlanta finished the regular season on a positive note, going 9-5 in March and leaning heavily on Trae Young’s offense.

Matchup Breakdown

These are two teams trending in different directions — and FTN’s model reflects that. Orlando currently ranks 15th in FTN’s power ratings, while Atlanta sits 19th.

The key matchup here is Orlando’s elite defense against Trae Young. The Magic allow the fewest points per game in the NBA and rank sixth in defensive efficiency according to FTN’s model. They’ll need a vintage Young explosion for Atlanta to pull off the upset, but that’s a tall ask against this Magic defense.

FTN Simulation Analysis

This section will be updated as soon as FTN’s simulations are run on Sunday Night.

Marshall’s Pick: Orlando Magic 104, Atlanta Hawks 95

The Magic are the better team, they are at home and are peaking at the right time. Atlanta arguably has the best player in this game in Young, but Orlando’s defense and depth should be enough to slow him down and secure the 7 seed.

(9) Chicago Bulls vs. (10) Miami Heat Prediction

This is a matchup between two teams that probably don’t deserve to be here but have a chance to reach the playoffs thanks to the play-in games.

For the Bulls, this season was anticipated to be a rebuilding year after years of mediocrity. DeMar DeRozan departed in free agency, and Zach LaVine was traded at the deadline. However, the Bulls defied expectations, securing the ninth seed in the East. This late-season surge was led by Josh Giddey, who has been exceptional since the All-Star break, averaging nearly a triple-double with 21.2 PPG, 10.7 RPG and 9.3 APG. Initially considered a throw-in from Oklahoma City in the Alex Caruso trade, Giddey has emerged as a cornerstone for Chicago.

In Miami, this isn’t the typical Heat squad that opponents fear in the playoffs. While Erik Spoelstra remains at the helm, Jimmy Butler is no longer with the team. Butler was known for elevating his game in the postseason, making the Heat a formidable opponent. Without him, the Heat have struggled, posting a 24-32 record. Although they still have strong players like Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, this version of the Heat doesn’t instill the same fear as previous iterations.

Matchup Breakdown

Even without Butler, FTN’s model slightly favors the Heat in this matchup on a neutral court, ranking them 20th compared to the Bulls at 24th.

Is it bold to suggest that Giddey is the best player in this game? While Adebayo is a three-time NBA All-Star and five-time NBA All-Defensive player, and Herro made the All-Star game this year, Giddey is currently playing at an elite level. The Bulls carry more momentum into this matchup, and it’s plausible they could ride that into the next phase of the play-in.

FTN Simulation Analysis

This section will be updated as soon as FTN’s simulations are run on Sunday Night.

Marshall’s Pick: Chicago Bulls 108, Miami Heat 105

This game feels like a coin flip. The Bulls are playing better at the moment, but the Heat have the advantage in coaching and playoff experience. If the Heat were at home, the pick might lean their way, but the slight edge goes to the home team in this scenario.

Western Conference Play-In Predictions & Analysis

Coming Soon