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Basketball is back, but first is the NBA Play-In Tournament, which decides the final teams in the NBA Playoffs. Wondering how to watch the NBA Play-In Tournament? Well, we have the recommendation for the best and one of the cheapest ways to stream the start of NBA season and it won’t break the bank.
The NBA Play-In Tournament is a series of games that determine the NBA teams that fill the seventh and eighth playoff seeds in both the Western and Eastern conferences for the 2024 NBA Playoffs. While the NBA teams that finish number 1 to 6 in the standings of each conference are guaranteed a playoff spot, the teams that finish number 7 to 10 in standings must compete in the Play-In Tournament to determine who will secure the seventh and eighth playoff seeds.
Here’s how the NBA Play-In Tournament works. Each conference’s number 7 team in the standings will host the number 8 team. The winner will secure the number 7 seed in the NBA Playoffs, while the loser will get another chance to earn a playoff spot. Then, each conference’s number 9 team in the standings will host the number 10 team. The winner will advance to the final stage of the Play-In Tournament, while the losers are eliminated. The losers of the number 7 vs. number 8 game will host the winners of the number 9 vs. number 10 games. The winners will secure the number 8 seed in the NBA playoffs for their respective conferences, while the losing teams will be eliminated.
So where can basketball fans stream the NBA Play-In Tournament? Read on for how to watch the NBA Play-In Tournament to see which teams move on to the next stage of the NBA Playoffs and which teams are sent home.
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When is the NBA Play-In Tournament 2024?
The NBA Play-In Tournament will be held from Tuesday, April 16, to Friday, April 19, a day before the first round of the NBA Playoffs start. See the NBA Play-In Tournament schedule for the Western and Eastern Conferences below.
Tuesday, April 16, 2024 – Western Conference
Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Orleans Pelicans @ 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT
Golden State Warriors vs. Sacramento Kings @ 10 p.m. ET on TNT
Wednesday, April 17, 2024 – Eastern Conference
Miami Heats vs. Philadelphia 76ers @ 7 p.m. ET on ESPN
Atlanta Hawks vs. Chicago Bulls @ 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
How to watch the NBA Play-In Tournament 2024 live
The 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament games air on TNT and ESPN. The Western Conference games (Lakers vs. New Orleans and Golden State vs. Sacramento) air on TNT, while the Eastern Conference games (Miami Heats vs. Philadelphia 76ers and Atlanta Hawks vs. Chicago Bulls) air on ESPN.
The NBA Play-In Tournament is available to stream on services like Sling TV, which offers two plans with both TNT and ESPN: Sling Orange and Sling Orange + Blue. Sling Orange starts at $30 for your first month and continues at $40 per month after your first month ends. Sling Orange + Blue starts at $50 for your first month and continues at $60 per month after your first month.
As for differences between the plans, Sling Orange offers 32 total channels and the ability to stream on device at a time. Sling Orange + Blue offers 46 total channels and the ability to stream on three devices at the same time. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the NBA Play-In Tournament with Sling TV.
Visit Sling.com
Click “Try Us Today”
Create an account
Choose your plan between Sling Orange and Sling Orange + Blue for TNT and ESPN
Enter your information and payment method
Search for TNT or ESPN and start watching the NBA Play-In Tournament
What teams are in the NBA Play-In Tournament 2024?
There are eight teams in the NBA Play-In Tournament—four teams from the Western Conference and four teams from the Eastern Conference.
Western Conference
Los Angeles Lakers
New Orleans Pelicans
Golden State Warriors
Sacramento Kings
Eastern Conference
Miami Heats
Philadelphia 76ers
Atlanta Hawks
Chicago Bulls
What is the NBA Playoffs 2024 schedule?
See below for the NBA Playoffs schedule for 2024.
April 16 – 19: NBA Play-In Tournament
April 20: NBA Playoffs start
May 6 – 7: NBA Conference Semifinals
May 21 – 22: NBA Conference Finals
June 6: NBA Finals Game 1
June 9: NBA Finals Game 2
June 12: NBA Finals 3
June 14: NBA Finals 4
June 17: NBA Finals Game 5 (if necessary)
June 20: NBA Finals Game 6 (if necessary)
June 23: NBA Finals Game 7 (if necessary)
The NBA Play-In Tournament airs on TNT and ESPN. Stream it with Sling TV.
