GameSim Arena NBA playoffs start today. The season-long league is moving from weekly random matchups into a 16-team, single-elimination bracket tied to the real NBA Finals schedule on MyGameSim.

If you have an active GameSim+ subscription and an arena team, you are in the mix. Here is how playoff mode works and where to follow every round.

How the bracket works

  • 16 teams — The top teams in the arena standings by record (3 points per win, 1 per tie) earn seeds 1 through 16.
  • Classic seeding — Round 1 pairings are 1 vs 16, 2 vs 15, 3 vs 14, and so on through 8 vs 9.
  • Single elimination — Win and advance; lose and you are out.
  • Four rounds — Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Championship.

Finals dates = playoff dates

Each arena round is scheduled on the same calendar date as the corresponding NBA Finals game on the NBA schedule:

  • Round of 16 — Finals Game 1 date
  • Quarterfinals — Finals Game 2 date
  • Semifinals — Finals Game 3 date
  • Championship — Finals Game 4 date

Games simulate around 4:00 PM ET, the same daily window as the regular arena season. When every game in a round has finished simming, the bracket automatically advances and creates the next round’s matchups on the next Finals date.

What changes for your team

  • Weekly random matchups pause while playoffs are active — your schedule is driven entirely by the bracket.
  • Unplayed regular-season games are cleared when playoff mode starts so only bracket games remain going forward.
  • Check results, upcoming opponents, and scores on your usual arena pages — the Schedule page is now the home for the full bracket.
  • If you didn't qualify for the Playoffs, don't worry GameSim Arena is coming back next season.  Check out MLB GameSim Arena playing out the season now.

See the bracket now

Visit the GameSim Arena Schedule page to view the live playoff bracket, round labels, matchups, and results as games complete. When a champion is crowned, the winner is highlighted at the top of the bracket.

You can also track the league table on the Standings page and manage your lineup on Roster. New to the format? Read the full rules on About GameSim Arena — NBA.

Good luck to those in the Round of 16 may the best simulated roster win the title.