The NBA Play-In Tournament gets underway Tuesday night with a pair of matchups that will send two teams directly into the playoffs and set the stage for more drama over the next few nights.
Although the tournament has been in place for several seasons, the rules and format may still be confusing to some fans. It takes the teams ranked seventh through 10th in each conference and has them face off in what’s essentially a playoff before the playoffs.
The format was launched before the 2021 postseason and has injected some competition and excitement to the bottom quarter of the respective brackets in the Eastern and Western conferences.
What NBA games are tonight?
Tuesday’s slate features the No. 7 and No. 8 teams in their respective conferences playing for the right to fill the No. 7 seeds when the NBA playoffs officially begin Saturday.
Atlanta Hawks (40-42) at Orlando Magic (41-41)
Where: Kia Center, Orlando, Florida
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: TNT
Memphis Grizzlies (48-34) at Golden State Warriors (48-34)
Where: Chase Center, San Francisco, California
Time: 10 p.m. ET
TV: TNT
What NBA games are up next?
The winner of tonight’s games will advance to face the No. 2 seeds in their respective conferences in a best-of-seven series that will begin Sunday.
The Hawks-Magic winner will take on the Boston Celtics, while the loser will host the winner of tomorrow’s game between the No. 9 Chicago Bulls and No. 10 Miami Heat.
The Grizzlies-Warriors winner will take on the Houston Rockets, while the loser will host the winner of tomorrow’s game between the No. 9 Sacramento Kings and the No. 10 Dallas Mavericks.