NBA’s Play-In Field, Top-Six Playoff Seeds Set

The NBA wrapped up its 2022/23 regular season on Sunday, and the teams and seeds for this year’s play-in tournament have been set. Here are the play-in matchups:

Eastern Conference

Tuesday, April 11

  • Game 1: Atlanta Hawks (8) at Miami Heat (7), 7:30pm ET
    • Winner secures No. 7 seed; loser plays on Friday.

Wednesday, April 12

  • Game 2: Chicago Bulls (10) at Toronto Raptors (9), 7:00pm ET
    • Winner plays on Friday; loser is eliminated.

Friday, April 14

  • Winner of Game 2 at Loser of Game 1, 7:00 or 7:30pm ET
    • Winner secures No. 8 seed; loser is eliminated.

Western Conference

Tuesday, April 11

  • Game 1: Minnesota Timberwolves (8) at Los Angeles Lakers (7), 10:00pm ET
    • Winner secures No. 7 seed; loser plays on Friday.

Wednesday, April 12

  • Game 2: Oklahoma City Thunder (10) at New Orleans Pelicans (9), 9:30pm ET
    • Winner plays on Friday; loser is eliminated.

Friday, April 14

  • Winner of Game 2 at Loser of Game 1, 9:30 pm or 10:00pm ET
    • Winner secures No. 8 seed; loser is eliminated.

Once the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds in each conference are set later this week, the eight first-round matchups will be finalized. Those first-round series will tip off on April 15 and 16.

Here are the top six seeds in each conference, along with the matchups that are locked in so far (and Game 1 info, per the NBA):


Eastern Conference

  • Milwaukee Bucks (1) vs. No. 8 seed (play-in) ^
  • Boston Celtics (2) vs. No. 7 seed (play-in) *
  • Philadelphia 76ers (3) vs. Brooklyn Nets (6) *
  • Cleveland Cavaliers (4) vs. New York Knicks (5) *

* Series begins on April 15.
^ Series begins on April 16.


Western Conference

  • Denver Nuggets (1) vs. No. 8 seed (play-in) ^
  • Memphis Grizzlies (2) vs. No. 7 seed (play-in) ^
  • Sacramento Kings (3) vs. Golden State Warriors (6) *
  • Phoenix Suns (4) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (5) ^

* Series begins on April 15.
^ Series begins on April 16.

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