How and where to watch the 2023 NBA Play-Ins
The 2023 NBA Playoffs begin on Saturday, April 15, but as you know, the playoffs are not yet set. Here we are going to tell you everything you need to know about the Play-Ins, when the games are and which teams are facing each other to get into the Playoffs.
During the pandemic in the NBA they decided to try a new model of Playoffs. This time only the first 6 teams of each conference would qualify directly and from 7th to 10th would have to play a kind of Final Four… but with nuances.
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How the Play-Ins are played and who moves on to the NBA Playoffs
As mentioned above, in search of a new format more attractive to fans, the NBA decided three years ago to set up a competition prior to the NBA Playoffs. It seems that a playoff with hundreds of millions of annual viewers was not enough.
That’s why the Play-In was created. Now the first 8 teams from each conference no longer qualify automatically, but the first 6 teams do. The 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th teams from the East and West have to play each other to get into the Playoffs.
And the way they play is quite curious. Let’s explain it. The 7th and 8th ranked teams from the East and West play each other. The winner of this duel goes directly to the Playoffs to play against the 2nd ranked team of that conference.
It’s easy, isn’t it? In short, 7th and 8th can advance to the Playoffs by winning just one game, while 9th and 10th have to win two games to get into the finals.
Schedule and where to see the 2023 NBA Play-Ins
Early this morning the first games of the Play-In have started, so we already have the Los Angeles Lakers (who will play against the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round) and the Atlanta Hawks (who will play against the Boston Celtics in the first round). Here are the schedules for the first round of the 2023 Playoffs, in case you’re interested.
But let’s get to the schedules for the remaining games of the NBA 2023 Play-In, which will take place early this morning and early Friday morning:
- Thursday, April 13 at 01 h in Spain: Toronto Raptors vs Chicago Bulls (NBA League Pass and Movistar+). Time slots: 17 PDT / 20 EDT
- Thursday, April 13 at 3:30 pm in Spain: New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma Thunder (NBA League Pass and Movistar+). Time slots: 19:30 PDT / 22:30 EDT
- Friday, April 14 at 1AM in Spain: Miami Heat vs Raptors/Bulls winner (NBA League Pass and Movistar+). Time slots: 17 PDT / 20 EDT
- Friday, April 14 at 03:30 in Spain: Timberwolves vs winner of Pelicans/Thunder (NBA League Pass and Movistar+). Time slots: 19:30 PDT / 22:30 EDT
The NBA is still open and there are four games left to decide which will be the final bracket and the definitive teams that will fight to win the NBA championship ring. The glory of getting that ring is difficult to match in the world of sports. You can watch them on Movistar+, NBA League Pass or with VPNs.
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