The NBA Play-In tournament is finished and the full first-round playoff schedule is locked in. With matchups and seeds set, now comes the rush to secure tickets for each series. If you’re planning to attend games in the opening round, here’s a clear, step-by-step guide to finding and buying seats without getting overwhelmed.

First, confirm which games will be played in your city. Higher-seeded teams host more home games in a best-of-seven series, so check the official playoff schedule on team and league pages to see exact dates and times. Knowing which dates are home games for each team is the foundation for every ticket purchase—you don’t want to buy for the wrong arena or the wrong night.

Start with the primary sources: the team’s official box office and the NBA team page. Those channels will list on-sale dates for single-game tickets, presales for season-ticket members and verified partner offers. If you qualify for a presale (season-ticket holders, credit-card partners, or team fan clubs), use that window to get the best seats and avoid markups from resellers.

If tickets sell out quickly, turn to verified secondary marketplaces—major platforms that handle large volumes of resale tickets. Compare total prices (face value plus fees), check seat locations on interactive maps, and confirm delivery method (mobile transfer is common). Verify seller ratings and the marketplace’s buyer guarantees to reduce the risk of fraud or invalid tickets.

Final tips: buy as soon as you see a fair price if you must attend—prices can spike on game day for marquee matchups. Consider group options, single-game versus series packs, and transportation and parking logistics at the arena. Always review refund and transfer policies before purchasing, and save confirmation emails or screenshots until the tickets are delivered to your mobile wallet and scanned at the venue.