The Golden State Warriors are set to take on the Memphis Grizzlies in a crucial match for a spot in the Playoffs. The NBA regular season concluded in an exciting manner, with significant changes in the play-in tournament standings in the Western Conference and familiar teams qualifying in the East. The play-in tournament has produced many memorable moments already, with more thrilling matchups to come in 2025. Viewers can catch Tuesday’s games on TNT Sports and Wednesday’s games on ESPN. The Eastern Conference Play-In game for the No. 8 seed will be broadcast on TNT, while ESPN will air the West’s game. All games can also be streamed on the NBA’s League Pass.
The play-in tournament was introduced during the Covid-era NBA bubble in 2020 and was fully adopted by the league in 2022. It aims to make the end of the regular season more competitive by giving the ninth and tenth-placed teams in each conference the opportunity to make the playoffs. The tournament format includes a single-elimination game between the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds, with the winner securing the seventh seed and advancing to a first-round series. The No. 9 seed hosts the No. 10 seed, and the victor faces the loser of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 matchup to determine the eighth seed.
In the Western Conference, the Golden State Warriors will face the Memphis Grizzlies in a play-in game after a thrilling final day of the regular season. The Warriors, who have a 3-1 record against the Grizzlies this season, have been performing well since acquiring Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat. Led by Steph Curry and Draymond Green, the team is considered a threat in the postseason. On the other hand, the Grizzlies had a coaching change late in the season and will rely on Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr, and Desmond Bane for a strong performance.
In another play-in matchup, the Sacramento Kings will meet the Dallas Mavericks. The Kings, who last made the playoffs in 2023, are looking to secure a spot this year. The Mavericks, who acquired Anthony Davis in a trade involving Luka Doncic, will also be aiming to advance in the tournament.
It feels like just yesterday for fans, but a lifetime ago, the Sacramento Kings dropped to the No. 9 seed last season and find themselves there again now with a significantly different roster. Although they brought in DeMar DeRozan in the 2024 free agency, the Kings traded away franchise star De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs in February as the team’s season started to unravel. The addition of Zach LaVine, acquired in the Fox trade, did little to improve the team’s performance as they struggled to a No. 9 seed with a losing record. Looking beyond this postseason, where hopes of a strong performance are already fading, the Kings face tough decisions regarding the future direction of the franchise. Despite the challenges, Sacramento fans should keep their spirits up, as things could be worse.
On the other hand, Dallas Mavericks fans experienced a bleak period after reaching the 2024 NBA Finals and losing to the Boston Celtics. The team had high hopes with talents like Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, but everything changed on February 2. The Mavericks shocked the basketball world by trading Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, receiving Anthony Davis in return. However, Davis got injured in his Mavericks debut, and Irving suffered a season-ending ACL injury. With a depleted roster, it will be a challenge for the Mavericks to make a postseason run.
Orlando Magic fans are left pondering what could have been this season. Despite a promising start as the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, injuries to key players like Paulo Banchero and Franz Wagner derailed their momentum. Jalen Suggs also had his season cut short due to knee surgery. While the Magic look forward to next season, this postseason could offer valuable playoff experience to their young core.
The Atlanta Hawks were gearing up for an exciting season, but a season-ending shoulder injury to Jalen Johnson in January dealt a significant blow to their chances. Despite setbacks, players like Dyson Daniels and Zaccharie Risacher have shown promise, and Trae Young continues to shine on offense. While the Hawks may face challenges this season, their young core looks promising for the future.
Can Herro lead Miami to the playoffs? The Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat are both competing in the play-in tournament. The Bulls have undergone significant changes since the start of the season, with key players like Zach LaVine and Alex Caruso being traded. Lonzo Ball has returned but has been plagued by injuries. The Bulls have fallen short in the play-in tournament in the past two seasons, and their prospects for advancing further this postseason seem limited. On the other hand, the Miami Heat’s season took a downturn after trading Butler to Golden State. Despite a strong history in the play-in tournament, the absence of “Playoff Jimmy” diminishes their chances of a repeat Finals appearance. While Tyler Herro has shown improvement, Bam Adebayo has struggled, and Miami has faced challenges closing out games in the fourth quarter. For more CNN news and newsletters, sign up at CNN.com.
