Australia’s NBA talent takes centre stage this week as Dyson Daniels and Josh Giddey headline ESPN’s live coverage of the 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament.
Running from April 16–19, the tournament sees eight teams battle it out for the final spots in the NBA Playoffs—with six must-win games across four days.
With everything on the line and the potential for an all-Aussie showdown, ESPN’s coverage promises to deliver high drama, big names, and no second chances.
From ESPN:
Australian superstars Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels headline NBA Play-In Tournament Live on ESPN
The NBA Play-In Tournament will showcase six high stakes season defining games live on ESPN from Wednesday April 16 to Saturday April 19 where Australia’s Josh Giddey and the Chicago Bulls, Dyson Daniels and the Atlanta Hawks plus the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings all fight for an NBA post-season place.
The NBA Play-In Tournament determines the final spots in the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
The tournament involves the teams ranked seventh through 10th in both the Eastern and Western Conference to determine the seventh and eighth seeds, the final two playoff teams in each conference bracket.
The NBA Play-In Round begins with a huge double header on Wednesday April 16 – the first of six live games in four days.
Australian Dyson Daniels and the #7th seed Atlanta Hawks face off against the #8th seed Orlando Magic, live at 9.30am AEST on ESPN.
Daniels remains one of the leading contenders for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award and surpassed Hall of Famer Allen Iverson for the most steals in a single season, during the modern NBA era.
The 22-year-old Aussie has enjoyed a breakout season with the Hawks, becoming one of the league’s most impactful two-way players.
Following immediately at 12pm AEST, the action moves to the Western Conference where #7th seed Golden State Warriors meet the #8th seed Memphis Grizzlies.
The winner of both these games will progress directly through to the NBA Playoffs as the seventh seed in their respective conferences.
The losers will have a final chance to earn an NBA playoff position, with a single elimination showdown on Saturday.
Thursday April 17 sees another crucial double header – tipping off at 9.30am AEST with Josh Giddey’s Chicago Bulls fighting for their season against Miami Heat.
Giddey was rested from the Bulls final regular season hit out following his recent series of heroics for Chicago.
The Australian recently joined the likes of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen in a group of superstar names to have registered 1000 points, 500 assists and 500 rebound in a single NBA season.
Victory over the Heat could potentially setup an all Aussie NBA Play-In showdown, should Dyson Daniels’ Hawks fall to Orlando on Wednesday.
At 12pm AEST, the Sacramento Kings host the Dallas Mavericks where there is also no tomorrow for the defeated.
The losers of Thursday’s double header will have their season officially ended, whilst the winners will progress to another win-or-go home scenario on Saturday.
ESPN will have live coverage of every game from the NBA Play-In Round, along with every game of the NBA Conference Finals and NBA Finals.
NBA Play-In Tournament Schedule:
Wednesday April 16
9.30am AEST, Orlando Magic vs Atlanta Hawks, ESPN
12pm AEST, Golden State Warriors vs Memphis Grizzlies, ESPN
Thursday April 17
9.30am AEST, Chicago Bulls vs Miami Heat, ESPN
12pm AEST, Sacramento Kings vs Dallas Mavericks, ESPN
Saturday April 19
8.30am AEST, Magic/Hawks vs Bulls/Heat, ESPN
11.30am AEST, Warriors/Grizzlies vs Mavericks/Kings, ESPN
