How does the 2024 NBA play-in tournament work Dates matchups and rules explained

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The NBA's play-in tournament has concluded with four teams emerging from the eight-team field to secure spots for the 2024 playoffs. 

Initially implemented during the 2020-21 NBA season, the play-in tournament expanded the NBA's postseason to 20 teams (10 from each conference). The top six teams from each conference automatically qualify for the playoffs, while the 7- through 10-seeds enter the play-in tournament for a chance to extend their seasons.

This season's play-in tournament race was tight, going down to the final day of the season, as teams jockeyed to get homecourt advantage in the play-in, or avoid it altogether.

In the East, the Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic won on the season's final day to secure a top-six spot, sending the Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat to the play-in. The 76ers beat the Heat 105-104 in the first play-in game to claim the No. 7 seed and a matchup with the No. 2 New York Knicks. The Heat then knocked out the Chicago Bulls (who had previously eliminated the Atlanta Hawks, 131-116) to claim the East's No. 8 seed with a 112-91 win. Miami will next face off the East's top seed Boston Celtics.

In the West, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the New Orleans Pelicans, 110-106, in the first play-in game to earn the No. 7 seed. They will face the No. 2 seed Denver Nuggets in the first round. The Pelicans then defeated Sacramento Kings (who had previously beat the Golden State Warriors, 118-94), for the No. 8 seed. That gives the Pelicans a first-round matchup with the West's top seed Oklahoma City Thunder. 

Here's everything you need to know about the 2024 play-in tournament, including how it works, current standings and matchups.

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Eastern Conference play-in tournament results 76ers 105, Heat 104 Bulls 131, Hawks 116 Heat 112, Bulls 91 Western Conference play-in tournament results Lakers 110, Pelicans 106 Kings 118, Warriors 94 Pelicans 105, Kings, 98 Sunday's key regular season finale results Pacers 157, Hawks 115 Heat 118, Raptors 103 Magic 113, Bucks 88 76ers 107, Nets 88 Suns 125, Timberwolves 106 Lakers 124, Pelicans 108 Warriors 123, Jazz 116 Kings 121, Trail Blazers 82 How does the NBA play-in tournament work?

There will be six total games involving eight teams as part of the play-in tournament, split up between the two conferences.

The teams that finish Nos. 1-6 in each conference will be guaranteed playoff spots, while team Nos. 7-10 in the standings will enter the play-in. Any team that finishes worse than No. 10 will be in the NBA draft lottery. 

Here's how the games will work:

Game 1s: Each conference's No. 7 team in the standings will host the No. 8 team, with the winner earning the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. The losing teams get another chance in Friday's Game 3s. Game 2s: Each conference's No. 9 team will host the No. 10 team, with the winner moving on to Game 3. The losers are eliminated and enter the NBA draft lottery. Game 3s (Friday): The losers of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 matchups will host the winners of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 matchups, with the victors grabbing each conference's No. 8 seed in the postseason. The losers of Game 3 enter the NBA draft lottery.

Under the format, teams with the seventh- and eighth-highest winning percentages will have two opportunities to win one game to earn a playoff spot, while the teams with the ninth- and 10th-highest winning percentages need to win two straight games to advance.