The 2023-24 NBA regular season is down to its final week. Ten teams in each conference have secured a spot in the playoffs or the NBA Play-In Tournament. Now, it’s all down to positioning over these last few games before the season ends April 14.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 09: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on April 09, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Here’s how the format works as well as the latest scenarios for each conference:
Two-time MVP sidelined: Giannis Antetokounmpo has soleus strain in left calf; ruled out for regular season
From NFL plays to college sports scores, all the top sports news you need to know every day.
2024 NBA Play-In Tournament format
The tournament features three games in each conference over two rounds involving four teams, structured like this:
Round 1:
- Game 1: No. 7 seed vs. No. 8 seed
- Game 2: No. 9 seed vs. No. 10 seed
Game 1 winner secures the No. 7 seed in their respective conference bracket.
Round 2
- Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 winner
Game 3 winner secures the No. 8 and final seed in their conference.
‘Not going to have long to live’: Former NBA guard Nate Robinson on kidney replacement
2024 NBA Play-In Tournament: Eastern Conference current picture and scenarios
In the Eastern Conference, Game 2 of the tournament is set. The Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks have clinched the No. 9 and No. 10 seed, respectively, and will face off to determine who plays the loser of Game 1. At time of publishing, the Philadelphia 76ers (No. 7) and Miami Heat (No. 8) will play in Game 1.
The No. 1 seed Boston Celtics are the only team in the league to secure their playoff spot. Here are the highest or lowest seeds the remaining Eastern Conference teams could secure ahead of the final day of the regular season:
Milwaukee Bucks
- Highest possible: No. 2
- Lowest possible: No. 4
New York Knicks
- Highest possible: No. 2
- Lowest possible: No. 4
Cleveland Cavaliers
- Highest possible: No. 2
- Lowest possible: No. 4
Orlando Magic
- Highest possible: No. 5
- Lowest possible: No. 8
Indiana Pacers
- Highest possible: No. 5
- Lowest possible: No. 8
Philadelphia 76ers
- Highest possible: No. 5
- Lowest possible: No. 8
Miami Heat
- Highest possible: No. 5
- Lowest possible: No. 8
Chicago Bulls
- Highest possible: No. 9
- Lowest possible: No. 9
Atlanta Hawks
- Highest possible: No. 10
- Lowest possible: No. 10
2024 NBA mock draft post-March Madness: UConn’s Donovan Clingan, Purdue’s Zach Edey climb board
2024 NBA Play-In Tournament: Western Conference scenarios
The Western Conference is far more open than the East. Ten teams have secured a playoff spot but none have clinched a specific seed. At time of publishing, the Phoenix Suns (No. 7) would host the Los Angeles Lakers (No. 8) in Game 1 and the Sacramento Kings (No. 9) would host the Golden State Warriors (No. 10) in Game 2.
Three teams are locked into Play-In Tournament: the Kings, Warriors, and Lakers. Two teams have clinched their playoff spot: the Los Angeles Clippers (No. 4) and Dallas Mavericks (No. 5). Here are the highest or lowest seeds the 10 playoff teams could secure ahead of the regular season finale:
Minnesota Timberwolves
- Highest possible: No. 1
- Lowest possible: No. 3
Denver Nuggets
- Highest possible: No. 1
- Lowest possible: No. 3
Oklahoma City Thunder
- Highest possible: No. 1
- Lowest possible: No. 3
Los Angeles Clippers
- Highest possible: No. 4
- Lowest possible: No. 4
Dallas Mavericks
- Highest possible: No. 5
- Lowest possible: No. 5
New Orleans Pelicans
- Highest possible: No. 6
- Lowest possible: No. 7
Phoenix Suns
- Highest possible: No. 6
- Lowest possible: No. 7
Sacramento Kings
- Highest possible: No. 8
- Lowest possible: No. 10
Los Angeles Lakers
- Highest possible: No. 8
- Lowest possible: No. 10
Golden State Warriors
- Highest possible: No. 8
- Lowest possible: No. 10
2024 NBA Play-In Tournament schedule
The tournament runs from April 16-19. Round 1 games will likely take place on April 16-17 with the Round 2 game in each conference set for April 19. The NBA playoffs begin a day later.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament: Playoff bracket scenarios ahead of regular season finale
News Related-
Russian court extends detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Gershkovich until end of January
-
Russian court extends detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, arrested on espionage charges
-
Israel's economy recovered from previous wars with Hamas, but this one might go longer, hit harder
-
Stock market today: Asian shares mixed ahead of US consumer confidence and price data
-
EXCLUSIVE: ‘Sister Wives' star Christine Brown says her kids' happy marriages inspired her leave Kody Brown
-
NBA fans roast Clippers for losing to Nuggets without Jokic, Murray, Gordon
-
Panthers-Senators brawl ends in 10-minute penalty for all players on ice
-
CNBC Daily Open: Is record Black Friday sales spike a false dawn?
-
Freed Israeli hostage describes deteriorating conditions while being held by Hamas
-
High stakes and glitz mark the vote in Paris for the 2030 World Expo host
-
Biden’s unworkable nursing rule will harm seniors
-
Jalen Hurts: We did what we needed to do when it mattered the most
-
LeBron James takes NBA all-time minutes lead in career-worst loss
-
Vikings' Kevin O'Connell to evaluate Josh Dobbs, path forward at QB