TL;DR
The SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament runs April 14-17 with all games streaming on Prime Video -- the first round of the playoffs begins April 18, presented by Google.
MSM Perspective
USA Today and NBA.com have published the full play-in schedule and format; the top six seeds in each conference are set while seeds 7-10 fight for the final two playoff spots in each conference.
X Perspective
X is tracking the final playoff seeding battles, with the Knicks on a six-game win streak, the Spurs on the playoff bubble, and the 76ers-Hornets play-in matchup drawing the most attention.
The NBA regular season is over. The postseason begins in two stages.
The SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament runs April 14-17, with all six games streaming exclusively on Prime Video [1]. The format is unchanged: the 7th and 8th seeds in each conference play for the higher playoff seed, with the winner advancing directly to the first round. The 9th and 10th seeds play an elimination game, with the winner facing the loser of the 7-8 game for the final playoff spot [2].
The first round of the NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, tips off April 18 [3]. The top six seeds in each conference have clinched their positions. The Knicks enter as the East's third seed on a six-game win streak. The Nuggets, Timberwolves, and Suns occupy the middle of the Western Conference bracket [4].
The play-in matchups are where the drama lives. The 76ers and Hornets are projected to face each other in the East -- a pairing that few predicted at the start of the season [5]. In the West, the Spurs can still clinch a direct playoff berth with a strong finish, avoiding the play-in entirely [6].
The playoffs run through June. The Finals begin in early June and conclude by month's end. But the first weekend belongs to the play-in: four days, six games, and half the teams going home.
-- AMARA OKONKWO, Lagos
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