NBA’s play-in field, top-six playoff seeds set after jam-packed final day of regular season

The NBA wrapped up its 2023-24 regular season on Sunday, and the teams and seeds for this year’s play-in tournament have been set.

Boston secured the top seed in the Eastern Conference and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs early this month. The top seed for the Western Conference playoffs went down to the wire, with upstart Oklahoma City securing that status on Sunday afternoon.

Here are the play-in matchups:

Eastern Conference

Wednesday, April 17

• Game 1: Miami Heat (8) at Philadelphia 76ers (7), 7:00 pm ET
  • Winner secures No. 7 seed; loser plays on Friday.
• Game 2: Atlanta Hawks (10) at Chicago Bulls (9), 9:30 pm ET
  • Winner plays on Friday; loser is eliminated.

Friday, April 19
 

• Winner of Game 2 at Loser of Game 1, TBD
  • Winner secures No. 8 seed; loser is eliminated.

Western Conference

Tuesday, April 16

• Game 1: Los Angeles Lakers (8) at New Orleans Pelicans (7), 7:30 pm ET
  • Winner secures No. 7 seed; loser plays on Friday.
• Game 2: Golden State Warriors (10) at Sacramento Kings (9), 10:00 pm ET
  • Winner plays on Friday; loser is eliminated.

Friday, April 19
 

• Winner of Game 2 at Loser of Game 1, TBD
  • Winner secures No. 8 seed; loser is eliminated.

Once the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds in each conference are set later this week, the eight first-round matchups will be finalized. Those first-round series will tip off on April 20 and 21.

Here are the top six seeds in each conference, along with the matchups that are locked in so far (and Game 1 info, per the NBA):

Eastern Conference

• Boston Celtics (1) vs. No. 8 seed (play-in) ^
• New York Knicks (2) vs. No. 7 seed (play-in) *
• Milwaukee Bucks (3) vs. Indiana Pacers (6) ^
• Cleveland Cavaliers (4) vs. Orlando Magic (5) *

* Series begins on April 20.
^ Series begins on April 21.

Western Conference

• Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. No. 8 seed (play-in) ^
• Denver Nuggets (2) vs. No. 7 seed (play-in) *
• Minnesota Timberwolves (3) vs. Phoenix Suns (6) *
• Los Angeles Clippers (4) vs. Dallas Mavericks (5) ^

* Series begins on April 20.
^ Series begins on April 21.