Welcome to the culmination of the NBA season! Yes, the playoffs are finally here. After an incredible regular season featuring 82 games, the next chapter is now within reach for up to 20 teams.
The Play-in Tournament will be the curtain-raiser, featuring eight teams—four in each conference—battling for the remaining two spots.
Want to know more about what to expect and how you can catch some action? Read below!
Every NBA team has had an 82-game experience that has been the beginning of their road to the playoffs. Before the playoffs start with a play-in tournament, this lists who is in the chase who has already secured a slot among the eight.
PLAYOFF TEAMS WHO ARE ALREADY IN NBA
Eastern Conference teams:
Boston Celtics [1]
New York Knicks [2]
Milwaukee Bucks [3]
Cleveland Cavaliers [4]
Orlando Magic [5]
Indiana Pacers [6]
Western Conference Teams:
Oklahoma City Thunder [1]
Denver Nuggets [2]
Minnesota Timberwolves [3]
Los Angeles Clippers [4]
Dallas Mavericks [5]
Phoenix Suns [6]
Positional Matches
PLAYOFFS WESTERN CONFERENCE MATCHUPS:
Oklahoma City Thunder [1] vs 8th seed
Denver Nuggets [2] vs 7th seed
Minnesota Timberwolves [3] vs. Phoenix Suns [6]
LA Clippers [4] vs Dallas Mavericks [5]
PLAYOFFS EASTERN CONFERENCE MATCHUPS:
Boston Celtics [1] vs. 8th seed
New York Knicks [2] vs 7th seed
Milwaukee Bucks [3] vs Indiana Pacers [6]
Cleveland Cavaliers [4] vs Orlando Magic [5]
TEAMS IN PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT:
The play-in tournament is for the ninth and tenth teams from each conference.
WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAY-IN TEAMS
New Orleans Pelicans [7]
Los Angeles Lakers [8]
Sacramento Kings [9]
Golden State Warriors [10]
EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAY-IN CONTENDER
Philadelphia 76ers [7]
Miami Heat [8]
Chicago Bulls [9]
Atlanta Hawks [10]
PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT MATCHUPS
WESTERN CONFERENCE
New Orleans Pelicans [7] vs. Los Angeles Lakers [8]: The winner will face the Denver Nuggets, while the loser will have another shot at the Kings vs. Warriors winner.
Sacramento Kings [9] vs. Golden State Warriors [10]: The winner continues to fight the loser of Pelicans [7] vs. Lakers [8].
Pelicans vs. Lakers loser and the winner of Kings vs. Warriors will advance to face the Oklahoma City Thunder.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Philadelphia 76ers [7] vs Miami Heat [8] – the winner plays New York Knicks, while the loser remains up for battle against the winner of Bulls vs. Hawks.
Chicago Bulls [9] vs. Atlanta Hawks [10]: The winner battles it out with the loser of the 76ers vs. Heat.
76ers vs. Heat loser will face the winner of Bulls vs. Hawks – The Winner will face Boston Celtics
TEAMS EXCLUDED FROM NBA PLAYOFF CONTENTION
- Houston Rockets;
- Utah Jazz;
- Memphis Grizzlies;
- San Antonio Spurs;
- Portland Trail Blazers;
- Brooklyn Nets;
- Toronto Raptors;
- Charlotte Hornets;
- Washington Wizards;
- Detroit Pistons;