NBA play-in tournament 2023 - Schedule, projections, standings
The NBA's play-in tournament adds a fascinating wrinkle to the end of the 2022-23 regular season and the start of the postseason. Teams were already less incentivized to tank games down the stretch because of the flattened lottery odds instituted in 2019. Now that the top 10 teams in the standings will finish the regular season with at least a chance to make the playoffs, more franchises will stay in the mix longer.
Some players, such as Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic, were less than thrilled about the prospect of the play-in tournament, but we should expect some heated contests as teams fight to capture the final playoff seeds in each conference, as we've seen in each season the NBA has used this setup.
Here's everything you need to know about the 2023 play-in tournament, including matchups, when and where it's happening and how it works.
Here's a look at the current projected play-in matchups as of today (through games of April 4):
Eastern Conference
No. 10 Chicago Bulls at No. 9 Toronto Raptors
No. 8 Atlanta Hawks at No. 7 Miami Heat
Western Conference
No. 10 Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 9 Minnesota Timberwolves
No. 8 New Orleans Pelicans at No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers/LA Clippers
Here are the current play-in tournament standings for each conference.
Eastern Conference
6. Brooklyn Nets — 43-36 (1 game ahead of 7th)
7. Miami Heat — 42-37
8. Atlanta Hawks — 40-39
9. Toronto Raptors — 40-39
10. Chicago Bulls — 38-41
t-11. Indiana Pacers — 34-45 (4 games behind 10th)
t-11. Orlando Magic — 34-45
t-11. Washington Wizards — 34-45
The Raptors and Bulls are guaranteed a play-in berth. The Pacers, Wizards, Magic, Hornets and Pistons have been eliminated from postseason contention.