NBA In-season Tournament; TV Schedule, Dates, Format

Playoffs have come early in the National Basketball Association! After most teams have only played four or five games, Adam Silver has decided to implement a five-week-long in-season tournament ending with one team hoisting the trophy in Las Vegas.

Whether you agree with this new tournament’s validity or not, (we at Section 400 are skeptical) the first group play games tip off this Friday, November 3.

If you are confused about the format of the five-week event, don’t worry we are too, so that’s why I pulled together everything you need to know below.

Group Play

The tournament kicks off with a “round robin” style group play. Teams from each conference were split up into three groups, creating six groups total.

Every team will play four games against their respective group in the first stage of the tournament, much like the group stage of the FIFA World Cup or Champions League. (Don’t worry overtime still exists, ties are unAmerican)

After each team has played four games, the winners of each group (6 teams) and the non-group winner with the best record among non-group winners in their respective conference (2 teams) will advance to the knockout stage.

The group stage begins on Friday, November 3. All records and player statistics recorded in the group stage will count towards the regular season standings.

How to watch group play action

TNT and ESPN will air 14 of the group play games starting November 3 with the Knicks taking on the Bucks on ESPN, and concluding with the Warriors taking on the Kings on November 28.

As always, non-nationally televised games can be viewed on local networks and NBA League Pass.

The full schedule, with nationally televised games listed, can be found below.

Knockout Stage

The remaining eight teams advance to the knockout stage, with he quarterfinals taking place December 4-5.

The winner of each quarterfinal advances to Las Vegas, where the semi-finals and championship will be played at T-Mobile Arena.

Statistics and records from the quarter and semifinals will count towards regular season standings, while the Championship game will be treated as a postseason game with all player statistics and records counting as such.

The semis are scheduled for December 7 in Vegas, with the championship two days later on the 9th.

How to Watch knockout stage action

All games from the quarterfinals on will be nationally televised on ESPN or TNT.