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Seeds 7-10 battle for the final playoff spots
The Play-In Tournament has added a new dimension to the NBA regular season. Teams that previously would have been eliminated from postseason contention now have a path to the playoffs, keeping fanbases engaged and players motivated deep into March and April.
The 7th and 8th seeds have a significant advantage in the Play-In: they get two chances to advance. They only need to win one of two games, while the 9th and 10th seeds face single-elimination pressure from their very first game. This makes the battle for 7th vs 9th particularly meaningful.
The Play-In Tournament features seeds 7-10 in each conference competing for the final two playoff spots. 7 vs 8 plays first (winner gets 7th seed). 9 vs 10 plays next (loser eliminated). The loser of 7-vs-8 plays the winner of 9-vs-10 for the 8th seed.
The Play-In Tournament typically occurs in mid-April, between the end of the regular season and the start of the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
Each Play-In game is a single-elimination contest. Teams seeded 7th and 8th get two chances to advance (they can lose one game and still qualify), while teams seeded 9th and 10th are eliminated with their first loss.
Opinions are divided. Critics argue it punishes teams that earned top-8 seeds over 82 games. Supporters say it adds excitement and keeps more teams competitive late in the season. Since its introduction in 2020, it has produced dramatic moments and boosted league-wide interest.