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:
Trae Young joined LeBron James in a pair of highly exclusive NBA postseason clubs with a brilliant performance for the Hawks in their Game 1 victory over the Knicks.
No. 8 seeds rarely beat No. 1 seeds in the NBA Playoffs. But if Donovan Mitchell doesn’t come back soon, the Utah Jazz could join this list.
New York Knicks fans thought the nightmare of Reggie Miller’s choke game was behind them, but Trae Young just brought back some bad memories.
In a move no Brooklyn Nets fans asked for, Mayor Bill de Blasio dressed in a Nets outfit and became a meme we may see a lot in the playoffs.
NBA life seemed easy for presumptive Rookie of the year LaMelo Ball, right up until he met the Indiana Pacers in the NBA play-in game.
If LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers avoid the NBA Play-In Tournament, they will have NBA referees to thank for a crucial assist.
Miami Heat’s veteran big man played his first game of the season against the Philadelphia 76ers and created the “Udonis Haslem Hat Trick.”
The New York Knicks have just clinched a playoff berth in 2021. When was the last time Madison Square Garden hosted a postseason game?
The 76ers are on the verge of securing the No. 1 seed in the East, and they just received even more good news about their NBA Finals chances.
The NBA exec LeBron James wanted fired, Evan Wasch, continues to defend the upcoming NBA play-in tournament.
