The regular NBA season is over and we’ve reached the most exciting part of it all – the NBA playoffs. Of course, first we have to complete the first-round matchups, for which we will have to wait the results of the NBA play-in tournament.
In this article, we will explain the format of the NBA playoffs, the play-in tournament, and provide you with all related information that you may find useful.
How Do the NBA Playoffs Work – Standings, Format, Play-In Tournament
Since last season, the NBA playoffs don’t start immediately after the regular season ends, which was the case before. Now, the first things scheduled once the team play their 82-game regular season is the play-in tournament, which is played to determine who makes it to the playoffs.
What’s the NBA Play-In Tournament?
The NBA play-in tournament is a tournament in which the teams seeded 7th-10th are fighting for the last two spots in the playoffs in each conference. This was first introduced in the 2020-2021 NBA season as a way to reduce tanking by giving more teams a chance to make the playoffs and to make the end of the regular season more exciting.
How the NBA Play-In Tournament Works?
The play-in tournament works by pitting the 7h seed against the 8th seed and the 9th seed against the 10th seed in each conference. The winner of the first game clinches the 7th seed for the upcoming playoffs, while the loser of the first game and the winner of the second game play another game to determine which team will be the 8th seed in the playoffs. Higher seeded teams are hosting the games.
The NBA Playoffs Format and Standings
The NBA playoffs start with the first round as soon as the play-in tournament is over. The pairs are determined by seeding, with the 1st seed playing the 8th seed, the 2nd seed playing the 7th seed, and so on. The teams compete in a best of 7 format, which means that the winner of the series is the team that wins four games.
In total, 16 teams compete in the NBA playoffs. After the first round, the next stage are conference semi-finals, then the conference finals, and, lastly, the NBA finals. The winner of the NBA final series is the new NBA champion.
NBA Standings for the 2022 Season
| Seed (Eastern Conference) | Seed (Western Conference) |
|---|---|
| 1. Miami Heat |
1. Phoenix Suns |
| 2. Boston Celtics |
2. Memphis Grizzlies |
| 3. Milwaukee Bucks |
3. Golden State Warriors |
| 4. Philadelphia 76ers |
4. Dallas Mavericks |
| 5. Toronto Raptors |
5. Utah Jazz |
| 6. Chicago Bulls |
6. Denver Nuggets |
| 7. Brooklyn Nets |
7. Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 8. Cleveland Cavaliers |
8. Los Angeles Clippers |
| 9. Atlanta Hawks |
9. New Orleans Pelicans |
| 10. Charlotte Hornets |
10. San Antonio Spurs |
2022 NBA Playoffs – All You Need to Know
The NBA playoffs will start right after the play-in tournament, which will last from April 12th to April 15th. So, the first game of the 2022 NBA playoffs will be played on April 16th. The remaining schedule will be determined based on how the series go and how many games are played in each series, but we do know that the NBA Finals will start on June 2nd.
How to Watch the NBA Playoffs?
You can watch NBA playoff games on many platforms, just like the regular season. We’ve covered all the possible ways to watch the NBA playoffs in this article.
Where to Find the Best Odds for NBA Playoffs?
If you want to bet on the NBA playoffs, you can use our odds tracker to find the top odds for all NBA games, starting with the play-in tournament and all the way to the NBA Finals.
Where to Bet on the NBA Playoffs
To bet on the various offers available for the NBA Playoffs, we’ve compiled a table with the best offers and our exclusive codes to get started easily. To further boost your odds, our NBA daily picks have you covered to make an informed decision. For fans of parlays, we have an exhaustive free daily NBA playoffs parlay and same game parlay picks updated daily.
| Operator | NBA Playoffs Offers | Claim Now |
|---|---|---|
| BetMGM |
BetMGM NBA Playoffs Promo: Get a First Bet Offer up to $1,000 Refer a Friend Offer: Both of you will receive a $50 bonus One Game Parlay: Try One Game Parlay at BetMGM Sports to Combine Your Bets and Increase the Fun NBA Finals Offer: Get A Bonus Token When Your Team Advances! Terms and Conditions: 21+ years old and located in any of the states where BetMGM is legal and licensed. Valid in NJ, WV, IN, CO, NV, MI, PA, TN, IA, VA, DC, AZ, NY, LA, IL |
|
| Caesars Sportsbook |
Classic Sportsbook Offer: Get Up To $1,250 On Caesars + 1000 Tier Credits + 1000 Reward Credits®! Refer a Friend: Earn a $100 Bonus Bet Terms and Conditions: 21+ years old and located in any of the states where Caesars is legal and licensed. Valid in NJ, WV, IN, CO, MI, TN, IA, NY, IL |
|
| BetRivers |
BetRivers Offer: Get up to $250 Bonus Match on your 1st Deposit! Terms and Conditions: 21+ years old and located in any of the states where BetRivers is legal and licensed. Valid in NJ, IN, CO, MI, IA, NY, IL, PA, VA |
|
| DraftKings Sportsbook |
DraftKings Sportsbook Offer: 20% Deposit Bonus of up to $1,000 Daily Fantasy Sports: Deposit Bonus up to $500 Terms and Conditions: 21+ years old and located in any of the states where DraftKings is legal and licensed. Valid in PA, WV, CO, IN, IL, IA, TN, VA, MI, NJ, NY, and LA |
|
| FanDuel Sportsbook |
FanDuel Sportsbook Welcome Offer: $1000 No Sweat First Bet Daily Fantasy: Two Free Entries if you deposit $10 Terms and Conditions: 21+ years old and located in any of the states where FanDuel is legal and licensed. Valid in PA, WV, CO, IN, IL, IA, TN, VA, MI, NJ, NY, and LA |
