NBA

What's the difference between the NBA Play-In Tournament and the Playoffs?

With the 2021-22 NBA regular season finale just around the corner, some fans may wonder how the basketball postseason works. Find out here what's the difference between the Play-In Tournament and the Playoffs.

April 06, 2022 08:19PM EDT

**© Al Bello/Getty Images**Kevin Durant (left) and Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets.

With only a few games left in the2021-22 NBA regular season, fans are already projecting the possible routes of their teams in the postseason. Except for those franchiseswho have already been eliminated from playoff contention, of course.

Even though LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers will be a notable absence, the knockout stage of the season will be a must-watch, with many teams heading into the playoffs as legit contenders.

The National Basketball Association, however, introduced a significant change to its traditional playoffs by creating the Play-In Tournament. Here, find out what’s the difference between the Play-In and the Playoffs.

NBA postseason explained: What is the Play-In Tournament?

The Play-In Tournament is part of the postseason but it precedes the first round of the playoffs. This idea was implemented for the Orlando bubblein 2020 under the strange circumstances of the pandemic-shortened season and established itself as an official part of the postseason the following campaign.

This has changed the traditional playoff system by which the first eight teams ineach conference advanced to the playoffs. The Play-In Tournament involves teams that finished from 7th to 10th in each conference, while the first six of the East and West advance directly to the playoffs.

Qualify directly for the playoffs: 1st to 6th of each conference
Take part in Play-In Tournament: 7th to 10th of each conference

How does the NBA Play-In Tournament work?

The Play-In Tournament consists of single-game playoff ties for a place in the playoffs, with the 7th and 8th seeds up for grabs.Once the regular season concludes, the team with the 7th highest percentage in each conference hosts the team with the 8th best record. The winner claims the 7th seed and advances to the playoffs.

Meanwhile, the 9th best record in each conference hosts the team with the 10th highest winning percentage. The winner of this game faces the loser of the 7-8 game for the 8th seed and final ticket to the playoffs.

7th place vs. 8th place: Winner advances to playoffs with 7th seed
Loser 7-8 vs. Winner 9-10: Winner advances to playoffs with 8th seed

NBA Play-In Tournament Explained: Bracket

The Play-In Tournament of the 2021-22 NBA season will take place on April 12-15, while the playoffs get underway on April 16. This is what the NBA postseason bracket looks like with the Play-In:

(via nba.com)

Martín O’donnell

Martin O'Donnell is a bilingual sports writer fluent in English and Spanish, currently serving as the Editor of Bolavip. He began his journey with the website in February 2021, making a name for himself through comprehensive coverage of soccer, NFL, and NBA, with a specialty in real-time reporting of major events such as the World Cup, UEFA Champions League finals, and the Super Bowl. In June 2024, Martin took on the role of Subeditor, where he excelled in overseeing the publication of stories, assisting staff writers, and ensuring content quality. His prior experience includes managing social media for CONMEBOL Libertadores and Sudamericana in English and Spanish, as well as reporting on Brazilian football for Sambafoot. Known for his meticulous attention to detail and ability to capture breaking news, Martin has consistently been a valuable asset to the Bolavip team, especially during crucial sports seasons involving trades, playoffs, and finals. Now, as the Editor, Martin brings his extensive experience and keen editorial sense to lead Bolavip’s team, driving the website's growth and ensuring it remains a top source for sports news and analysis.