The NBA’s Play-In concept is still a relatively new idea to the league. Introduced during the COVID-plagued season of 2019-20, this will be just the fourth time the league has utilized this format.
How it works is the seven and eight seeds from each conference will face off ahead of the actual playoff tournament in a one-game setting, with the winner immediately securing the seven-seed and a showdown with that conference’s two-seed. However, the loser will have another chance to earn the eight-seed in another one-game setting. Elsewhere, the nine and 10 seeds will also go head-to-head, with the loser knocked out of the postseason completely and the winner taking on the loser of the seven-eight seed matchup.