NBA Playoffs First implemented in 1984, the NBA Playoffs’ current format involves 16 teams competing in four rounds. The first round was best-of-five until 2003 when it became a best-of-seven matchup. Since the 2016 playoffs, the top six teams in the Eastern and Western Conferences qualify according to their win-loss records. The coronavirus pandemic changed how teams qualify for the NBA Playoffs as the league managed two shortened seasons. Now, the play-in tournament grants two teams with playoff seeds No. 7 and No. 8 employing a four-team, three-game format. Number of participating teams: 16 Rounds: four Format: best of seven games Most NBA Playoff appearances: Los Angeles Lakers (63) Least NBA Playoff appearances: New Orleans Pelicans (7) Longest NBA Playoff drought: Sacramento Kings (last appearance: 2005-06) Longest active NBA Playoff appearance streak: Portland Trail Blazers (8 consecutive playoffs since 2013-14) Longest NBA Playoff streak ever: San Antonio Spurs and Philadelphia 76ers (22 consecutive seasons) Featured articles: NBA Playoffs: How Does the NBA Play-In Tournament Work? The Most Significant NBA Playoff Injuries of All Time Larry Bird Cried Foul in the 1998 NBA Playoffs and Drew a Brutal Response From Phil Jackson Visit NBA.com‘s NBA Playoffs section. Read the latest articles about the NBA Playoffs: Read more
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NBANBA Referee’s Controversial Call May Have Saved LeBron James and the Lakers From the Play-In Game by Tim Crean Published on May 15, 2021 11:55 am
NBA40-year-old Udonis Haslem Played His First Game of the Season for the Miami Heat, Scored Twice, and Got Ejected for Fighting All in 3 Minutes by Tim Crean Published on May 14, 2021 11:35 am
NBAWhen Was the Last Time the New York Knicks Made the Playoffs? by Jack Dougherty Published on May 13, 2021 10:19 am
NBAThe Philadelphia 76ers Just Dramatically Increased Their NBA Finals Chances With a Simple Announcement by Jack Dougherty Published on May 11, 2021 8:22 pm
NBAEvan Wasch, the Guy LeBron James Wanted Fired, Doubles Down in Defending the NBA Play-In Tournament by Luke Norris Published on May 11, 2021 7:04 pm
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NBAWhich 5 Teams Have the Longest NBA Championship Droughts? by Luke Norris Published on May 10, 2021 6:00 am
NBAJames Harden Provides Brooklyn Nets Fans With an Encouraging Injury Update Ahead of the NBA Playoffs by Jack Dougherty Published on May 6, 2021 4:59 pm
NBALuka Doncic’s ‘Disrespectful Response to a Referee’ Puts Him 1 Step Away From a Suspension by Tim Crean Published on May 3, 2021 7:00 pm
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NBAMichael Jordan Owns a Pair of Records in the NBA Playoffs That Are Literally Impossible to Break by Luke Norris Published on May 3, 2021 11:34 am
NASCARDenny Hamlin Mimicked One of Michael Jordan’s Most Iconic NBA Moments Following a Dominating NASCAR Cup Series Victory by Luke Norris Published on May 2, 2021 4:04 pm
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NBADan Majerle Reveals the Unorthodox Defensive Strategy He Used Against Michael Jordan in the 1993 NBA Finals and Was ‘Shocked’ MJ Called Him Out in ‘The Last Dance’ by Luke Norris Published on April 8, 2021 8:55 pm
NBARay Allen’s Clutch Jumper for the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals Shouldn’t Have Counted by Luke Norris Published on February 11, 2021 4:36 pm
SportsMichael Jordan and Tom Brady Actually Once Won a Championship Together by Luke Norris Published on February 9, 2021 7:12 pm
NFLRobert Horry Hilariously Welcomes Tom Brady to the ‘7-Chip Club’ by Luke Norris Published on February 8, 2021 2:12 pm