The NBA Playoffs have arrived.
This year's postseason will tip off with the NBA Play-In Tournament, which first debuted last year. The Play-In was such a hit that the NBA plans to incorporate it in every season from now on.
"As I've mentioned before, when we first were examining it, we were very focused on the actual Play-In games themselves," NBA commissioner Adam Silver told reporters. "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."
Even though there is a Play-in Tournament, when it comes down to the overall bracket, the mission is still the same: Win 16 games, and capture the Larry O'Brien trophy.
Here's everything you need to know about watching the 2022 NBA Playoffs.
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How to watch NBA Playoff games in India
- TV: MTV, Vh1, Sports18 1
- Digital: Voot Select, JioTV
- Stream: NBA League Pass
- Live scores: NBA Scoreboard
In India, select NBA Playoff games will be broadcast live on MTV, Vh1 and Sports18 1. Those games can also be live-streamed on Voot Select and JioTV.
The games not on national television can be streamed on NBA League Pass.
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 13-16 (IST)
- NBA Playoffs: April 17 (IST)
The 2021-22 NBA regular season will end on Monday, April 11 (IST). The 2022 NBA Play-In Tournament will begin on Wednesday, April 13. The first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs will start four days later on Sunday, April 17.
NBA Play-In Tournament, Playoff bracket 2022
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 13
| Game |
| Nets 115, Cavaliers 108 |
| Timberwolves 109, Clippers 104 |
April 14
| Game |
| Hawks 132, Hornets 103 |
| Pelicans 113, Spurs 103 |
April 16
| Game |
| Hawks 107, Cavaliers 101 |
| Pelicans 105, Clippers 101 |
NBA Playoff matchups 2022
Eastern Conference
(1) Heat vs. (8) Hawks
(2) Celtics vs. (7) Nets
(3) Bucks vs. (6) Bulls
(4) 76ers vs. (5) Raptors
Western Conference
(1) Suns vs. (8) Pelicans
(2) Grizzlies vs. (7) Timberwolves
(3) Warriors vs. (6) Nuggets
(4) Mavericks vs. (5) Jazz
NBA Playoff schedule 2022: First Round
April 16/17
| Game | Time (IST) | How to watch |
| Jazz vs. Mavs (Game 1) | 10:30 p.m. | League Pass |
| Timberwolves vs. Grizzlies (Game 1) | 1 a.m. | League Pass |
| Raptors vs. 76ers (Game 1) | 3:30 a.m. | League Pass |
| Nuggets vs. Warriors (Game 1) | 6 a.m. | MTV, Vh1, Sports18 1 (only HD) |
April 17/18
| Game | Time (IST) | How to watch |
| Hawks vs. Heat (Game 1) | 10:30 p.m. | League Pass |
| Nets vs. Celtics (Game 1) | 1 a.m. | League Pass |
| Bulls vs. Bucks (Game 1) | 4 a.m. | League Pass |
| Pelicans vs. Suns (Game 1) | 6:30 a.m. | MTV, Vh1, Sports18 1 |
April 19
| Game | Time (IST) | How to watch |
| Raptors vs. 76ers (Game 2) | 5 a.m. | MTV, Vh1, Sports18 1 |
| Jazz vs. Mavericks (Game 2) | 6 a.m. | League Pass |
| Nuggets vs. Warriors (Game 2) | 7:30 a.m. | League Pass |
April 20
| Game | Time (IST) | How to watch |
| Hawks vs. Heat (Game 2) | TBD | League Pass |
| Timberwolves vs. Grizzlies (Game 2) | TBD | League Pass |
| Pelicans vs. Suns (Game 2) | 7:30 a.m. | MTV, Vh1, Sports18 1 |
April 21
| Game | Time (IST) | How to watch |
| Nets vs. Celtics (Game 2) | 4:30 a.m. | League Pass |
| 76ers vs. Raptors (Game 3) | 5:30 a.m. | League Pass |
| Bulls vs. Bucks (Game 2) | 7 a.m. | MTV, Vh1, Sports18 1 |
April 22
| Game | Time (IST) | How to watch |
| Grizzlies vs. Timberwolves (Game 3) | 5 a.m. | MTV, Vh1, Sports18 1 |
| Mavericks vs. Jazz (Game 3) | 6:30 a.m. | League Pass |
| Warriors vs. Nuggets (Game 3) | 7:30 a.m. | League Pass |
April 23
| Game | Time (IST) | How to watch |
| Heat vs. Hawks (Game 3) | TBD | League Pass |
| Bucks vs. Bulls (Game 3) | 6:00 a.m. | MTV, Vh1, Sports18 1 |
| Suns vs. Pelicans (Game 3) | TBD | League Pass |
