In the last five seasons, home teams in the NBA playoffs won 62 percent of their games. Looking specifically at the 4 vs. 5 first-round series, the underdogs have won 7 of 10, but home teams there hold an even stronger edge, winning 64 percent of their games. (No. 5 seeds are 21-7 at home in postseasons 2014-18.)
So, does seeding matter? Kyrie Irving’s maintained it doesn’t much for weeks. Al Horford, meanwhile, called home court “very important” after Boston maintained control of fourth in the East by holding off Miami on Monday night.