76ers Playoff Watch: NBA Play-In Schedule Dates and Times

The Philadelphia 76ers concluded their 2022-2023 regular season run with a blowout victory over the Brooklyn Nets. Despite improving to 54-28 on the season, the Sixers were already locked into the Eastern Conference’s third seed.

In less than a week, the Sixers will go head-to-head with the Brooklyn Nets to kick off a seven-game series in round one. On Sunday, the NBA announced that the Sixers would begin their playoff run on Saturday in South Philly at 1 PM ET.

Before the Sixers and the Nets officially open the playoffs, though, the final two seeds in each conference will need to be decided by the NBA Play-In Tournament, which begins on Tuesday, April 11, with an Eastern Conference matchup.

Eastern Conference’s Battle for the Seventh Seed

Atlanta Hawks at Miami Heat

Date: April 11, 2023

Time: 7:30 PM ET.

Broadcast: TNT

The winner between the Hawks and the Heat will become the Eastern Conference’s seventh seed. Last season, these two teams met in the playoffs, with Miami as the first seed. The Heat took down the Hawks in five games.

Do-or-Die for Another Shot in the East

Chicago Bulls at Toronto Raptors

Date: Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Time: 7:00 PM ET.

Broadcast: ESPN

Unlike the first game, one win won’t get it done in this scenario. The winner between the Raptors and the Bulls will advance to the second and final round of the Play-In. Meanwhile, the loser is eliminated from playoff contention.

Last season, the Raptors avoided a Play-In scenario, clinching the fifth seed in the playoffs before losing to the Sixers in round one. The Bulls clinched the sixth seed and came up short against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first five games.

Eastern Conference’s Battle for the Eighth Seed

Winner of the second game visits the Loser of the first game

Date: Friday, April 14, 2023

Time: 7:00/7:30 PM ET.

Broadcast: TNT

The winner of this game will eliminate the only other team standing in the tournament to acquire the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. That will then draw a seven-game series against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Justin Grasso covers the Philadelphia 76ers for All76ers, a Sports Illustrated channel. You can follow him for live updates on Twitter: @JGrasso_.