Honestly, if you thought the NBA play in tournament 2025 was just going to be another "tune-up" before the real playoffs started, you clearly weren't watching the same games I was. It was absolute bedlam. We’re talking about a four-day stretch in April that basically redefined how we look at the bottom of the playoff bracket.
Most people think the 7th and 8th seeds are just cannon fodder for the heavy hitters at the top. This year? Not even close. Between April 15 and April 18, 2025, we saw history. We saw the first-ever 10th seed climb out of the basement to secure a playoff spot. We saw Ja Morant remind everyone why he’s a human highlight reel. Basically, the regular season ended on April 13, but the real season—the high-stakes, "lose and go home" season—started 48 hours later.
What Actually Went Down in the NBA Play In Tournament 2025
The Eastern Conference was where the real shockwaves started. The Orlando Magic, who actually finished with a mediocre $41-41$ record, came out like they had something to prove. They dismantled the Atlanta Hawks $120-85$. It wasn't even a game; it was a statement. But the real story was the Miami Heat.
Miami entered as the 10th seed. They shouldn't have been there according to the "old" NBA rules. But thanks to this format, they got a life raft. First, they went into Chicago and beat the Bulls $109-90$. Then, they survived an overtime thriller against the Hawks, winning $123-114$ to clinch the 8th seed. It was the first time in NBA history a 10th-seeded team actually navigated the whole play-in gauntlet to make the playoffs.
The Western Conference Slugfest
Over in the West, the Golden State Warriors showed that veteran experience still matters. They drew the Memphis Grizzlies in the 7/8 game. Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler (who was with Golden State by this point in the 2024-25 season) combined for 75 points. The Warriors took the No. 7 seed with a $121-116$ win.
But Memphis didn't just fold. They had to play the winner of the 9/10 game, which turned out to be the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavs had a weird season. Even with Anthony Davis—who Dallas acquired in a massive mid-season trade—putting up 40 points in the play-in, it wasn't enough. Memphis rolled over them $120-106$ on Friday night to grab that final spot.
Breaking Down the Format (In Case You’re Still Confused)
Look, the math is kinda simple once you see it in action, but explaining it always feels like solving a riddle.
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The No. 7 team plays the No. 8 team. The winner of that single game is the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. Easy, right?
Then, the No. 9 team plays the No. 10 team. The loser of that game goes home immediately. No second chances. The winner, however, doesn't get a playoff spot yet. They have to travel to play the loser of the first 7/8 game. The winner of that final game on Friday night gets the No. 8 seed.
It’s brutal. It’s unfair to the teams that played better over 82 games. And that’s exactly why fans love it.
Why the 2025 Results Matter for the Future
The NBA play in tournament 2025 proved that the "Page-McIntyre" system—which is the technical name for this bracket style—is here to stay. Before this year, the 10th seed almost never made it. The stats were heavily skewed toward the 7th and 8th seeds because they only have to win one game, whereas the 9th and 10th seeds have to win two in a row.
Miami's run changed the narrative. It showed that a team that struggles with injuries during the regular season can "get healthy" at the right time and wreck the bracket.
- The "Double Chance" is real: The 7th and 8th seeds have a massive safety net. Even though Memphis lost their first game to Golden State, they still made the playoffs because they had that second life against Dallas.
- The 10th Seed Jinx is broken: Prior to 2025, people called the 10th seed "dead on arrival." Not anymore.
- Home Court is huge: The higher seed hosts these games. In the 2025 Eastern Play-In, the atmosphere in Orlando and Atlanta was basically at a Conference Finals level of intensity.
Expert Take: Is the Play-In Actually "Fair"?
A lot of purists hate this. They argue that a team like the 2025 Orlando Magic, who finished several games ahead of the 10th-place Heat, shouldn't have to risk their postseason on a single night.
But from a business perspective? It’s a goldmine. It keeps teams from "tanking" or resting players in March because the gap between the 6th seed (guaranteed playoffs) and 7th seed (Play-In) is a terrifying cliff.
According to data from the 2024-25 season, viewership for the Friday night "8-seed" games actually rivaled some of the first-round playoff series. The league wants drama, and the 2025 tournament delivered exactly that when the Miami Heat forced their way into a first-round matchup against the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.
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Take Action: What to Watch Next
If you want to understand the impact of these games, don't just look at the scores. Look at the roster management. Teams are now built specifically to survive these high-pressure, single-elimination scenarios.
- Check the 2026 Schedule: The NBA has already confirmed the 2026 Play-In will run from April 14 to April 17.
- Study the "Tiebreaker" Rules: Because the 7-10 seeds are often separated by just one or two games, head-to-head records during the regular season are now more valuable than ever.
- Watch the 9/10 Matchups: These are often the highest-scoring games because both teams know a loss ends their year. There is zero "feeling out" period.
The NBA play in tournament 2025 wasn't just a bridge to the playoffs; it was the main event for a lot of fanbases. It gave us the Ja Morant dunk of the year and the Miami Heat’s historic underdog run. If you're a bettor or just a casual fan, you can't ignore the bottom of the standings anymore. The "boring" end-of-season stretch is officially dead.