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:
The Warriors haven’t lost in the first round of the playoffs with Steve Kerr at the helm, but they’re in danger of going home early against the Kings.
Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks had a lot to say about Lakers superstar LeBron James after his team’s win but hasn’t talked much after that.
The best moment of LeBron James’ historic Game 4 performance against the Grizzlies came after the buzzer sounded to end regulation.
The Hawks are down 3-1 to the Celtics in the NBA playoffs, and Game 5 could be tougher if Dejounte Murray is suspended for bumping a ref.
It’s been quite a while since the Los Angeles Lakers won a playoff series not played in the bubble.
The Warriors-Kings NBA playoff series just took a dramatic turn as Golden State went down 2-0 after Draymond Green stomped Domantas Sabonis.
The Lakers found a great deal by trading for the Rui Hachimura contract, and that move paid off big-time in Game 1 of the 2023 NBA playoffs.
Ja Morant suffered a scary hand injury in Game 1 against the Lakers, but will he be able to return to the court?
The Austin Reaves contract is up after this season, and the undrafted guard is proving the Lakers must re-sign him this offseason.
For the Eastern Conference NBA playoffs, Charles Barkley says Knicks vs. Cavs is the only series to watch in Round 1 (and he’s not wrong).
