NBA Play-In Tournament, explained: Format, matchups, seeds, schedule ahead of 2022 NBA Playoffs

Jordan Greer

NBA Play-In Tournament, explained: Format, matchups, seeds, schedule ahead of 2022 NBA Playoffs image

The creation of the NBA Play-In Tournament brought a new level of excitement to the end of the 2020-21 regular season, and it managed to do the same this year.

The 2022 edition of the Play-In Tournament may not have a matchup as juicy as Warriors vs. Lakers, but NBA commissioner Adam Silver told reporters on April 6 that he is "very pleased" with how the event has increased the level of competitiveness around the league. He believes the Play-In Tournament will remain a consistent part of the NBA schedule for years to come.

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"As I've mentioned before, when we first were examining it, we were very focused on the actual Play-In games themselves," Silver said. "What we're seeing is a far greater impact essentially on the last month of the season, where teams are either jockeying to get into the Play-In Tournament itself or jockeying to get out of the Play-In Tournament with a locked-in sixth seed."

Who will escape this year's Play-In Tournament and earn a spot in the NBA Playoff bracket?

Here's a breakdown of what to expect from the 2022 Play-In Tournament, including a bracket and schedule for upcoming games.

How does the NBA Play-In Tournament work?

  • The NBA Play-In Tournament will be held after the conclusion of the 2021-22 regular season and before the start of the first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs. The teams that finish Nos. 1-6 in the standings of each conference will be guaranteed playoff spots. Teams Nos. 7-10 will enter the Play-In Tournament.
  • Each conference's Nos. 7 and 8 teams will face off, with the winner earning the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. The loser will still have one more opportunity to reach the playoffs.
  • Each conference's Nos. 9 and 10 teams will face off, with the winner advancing to play the loser of the No. 7-vs.-No. 8 game. The loser of the No. 9-vs.-No. 10 game will be eliminated from playoff contention.
  • The loser of the No. 7-vs.-No. 8 game and the winner of the No. 9-vs.-No. 10 game will then play against each other. The winner of that game will be the No. 8 seed in the playoffs. The loser will be eliminated from playoff contention.
  • Beyond the Play-In Tournament, the 2022 NBA Playoffs will follow the typical format, with full best-of-seven series all the way through the NBA Finals.

When does the NBA Play-In Tournament start?

  • Play-In Tournament: April 12-15
  • NBA Playoffs: April 16

The 2021-22 NBA regular season will end on Sunday, April 10. The 2022 NBA Play-In Tournament will begin on Tuesday, April 12. The first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs will start four days later on Saturday, April 16.

NBA Play-In Tournament bracket 2022

NBA Play-In Tournament bracket 2022
(Getty Images)

NBA Play-In Tournament matchups 2022

Eastern Conference

(7) Nets vs. (8) Cavaliers

(9) Hawks vs. (10) Hornets

Western Conference

(7) Timberwolves vs. (8) Clippers

(9) Pelicans vs. (10) Spurs

NBA Play-In Tournament schedule

April 12

Game
Nets 115, Cavaliers 108
Timberwolves 109, Clippers 104

April 13

Game
Hawks 132, Hornets 103
Pelicans 113, Spurs 103

April 15

Game
Hawks 107, Cavaliers 101
Pelicans 105, Clippers 101

Jordan Greer

Jordan Greer Photo

Jordan Greer has been with The Sporting News since 2015. He previously worked for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He is a graduate of Westminster College and Syracuse University.