The NBA play-in tournament is set, and it'll feature LeBron James and Stephen Curry facing off to make the playoffs

• The NBA regular season is over and the play-in tournament is set.
• The tournament pits the 7th to 10th seeds against each other in single games to make the playoffs.
• The tournament is highlighted by the Lakers-Warriors matchup to win the 7th seed.

The NBA is almost certainly getting what it wants from its first-ever play-in tournament.

The NBA regular season concluded on Sunday. This year, instead of going straight to the playoffs, the teams currently seeded 7th to 10th in both the Eastern and Western conferences will play in a play-in tournament to secure the 7th and 8th seeds to make the playoffs.

Here's how it works:

• The 7th and 8th seeds will play one game. The winner will be the 7th seed in the playoffs.
• The 9th and 10th seeds will play one game. The loser will be eliminated from playoff contention.
• The loser of the 7th v. 8th game and the winner of the 9th v. 10th game will play each other to determine the 8th and final playoff spot.

Here's a look at the bracket:

Here's a look at the schedule:

Tuesday, 5/18:

• Charlotte Hornets at Indiana Pacers, 6:30 PM E.T.
• Washington Wizards at Boston Celtics, 9:00 PM E.T.

Wednesday, 5/19:

• San Antonio Spurs at Memphis Grizzlies, 7:30 PM E.T.
• Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers, 10:00 PM E.T.

The final two games will be played Thursday and Friday, though exact teams and times aren't known yet.

Yes, the Lakers are in the play-in tournament

The NBA must be both thrilled and terrified by its premier matchup: the Lakers and Warriors.

It'll pit LeBron James and Stephen Curry against one another, battling for the seventh seed. The Lakers, the defending champions, enter the game as favorites, but Curry's hot shooting makes any single game a toss-up.

While the game is likely to draw tons of viewers, it'll also put the losing team in jeopardy of missing the postseason entirely. The league surely doesn't want to see James or Curry sent home early, though of course the loser will get one more chance against the winner of the 9th - 10th matchup.

Injuries to James and Anthony Davis this season have thrown a wrench into the entire Western Conference. Considered the preseason championship favorites, the Lakers tumbled down the standings because of injuries and fell into 7th place.

Now healthy, if they win their play-in game against the Warriors, they'll be the scariest seventh seed in league history. Imagine being the second-place Phoenix Suns, coming off the franchise's best regular season in a decade and drawing a first-round matchup with the defending champs.

The battle between the Wizards and Celtics will also have considerable star power in Russell Westbrook, Bradley Beal, Jayson Tatum, and Kemba Walker. The surging Wizards have a chance to nab the seventh seed and become a scary first-round opponent.

The introduction of the play-in tournament meant several playoff seeds were still up in the air as of Sunday, creating the most exciting finish to a season in years.

If the tournament games produce exciting, close finishes, you can bet the it is here to stay.