How many teams make the NBA Play-In Tournament?

The Los Angeles Lakers struggled in the first half of the season and made a slew of moves at the trade deadline to try and make a push toward the NBA Playoffs. If they could just get into the dance with LeBron James and Anthony Davis then anything can happen.

Things were looking very promising and after a huge win over the Dallas Mavericks, Lakers fans started to ponder if this team could make the top six in the Western Conference and outright make the playoffs.

However, LeBron James suffered a foot injury that will keep him out of action for several weeks. Many fans came back down to earth and are now just hoping that the team could make the play-in. The NBA’s play-in system is still relatively new and might be unclear. Here is everything you need to know.

How many teams make the NBA Play-In Tournament?

Four teams from each conference make up the NBA Play-In Tournament. The 7-10 seeds in each conference make the play-in, with the 1-6 seeds automatically making the playoffs.

The no. 7 and no. 8 seed play at no. 7’s home arena with the winner advancing as the no. 7 seed in the West. The losing team gets one more crack at it, playing the winning team of the no. 9 and no. 10 game for one last shot at the playoffs. That game is played at the no. 8 team’s home arena.

How long has the NBA Play-In Tournament existed?

The first version of the play-in was birthed in the Orlando bubble after the covid-19 pandemic halted the 2019-20 season. Since the teams did not play a full season, if the no. 9 seed in either conference finished within four games of the no. 8 seed in the standings they would get a chance to play for a playoff spot.

In that situation, the no. 9 seed had to beat the no. 8 seed two games in a row in order to advance while the no. 8 seed only had to win one game. This actually happened, with the no. 8 seed Blazers beating the no. 9 seed Grizzlies to maintain their spot in the playoffs.

After that, the NBA adopted the current format that we know today starting in the 2020-21 season, making this the third year with the NBA Play-In Tournament.

Previous NBA Play-In Tournament results:

The following list comprises the teams that played in the NBA Play-In Tournament. They are listed by their seeding at the end of the regular season, with their playoff seeding based on the results in parenthesis.

2020-2021: 

• Western Conference:
  • 7. Los Angeles Lakers (Won first game, advanced as the no. 7 seed)
  • 8. Golden State Warriors (Lost 2 games, eliminated from playoffs)
  • 9. Memphis Grizzlies (Won 2 games, advanced as the no. 8 seed)
  • 10. San Antonio Spurs (Lost first game, eliminated from playoffs)
• Eastern Conference:
  • 7. Boston Celtics (Won first game, advanced as the no. 7 seed)
  • 8. Washington Wizards (Won second game, advanced as the no. 8 seed)
  • 9. Indiana Pacers (Lost second game, eliminated from playoffs)
  • 10. Charlotte Hornets (Lost first game, eliminated from playoffs)

2021-2022:

• Western Conference:
  • 7. Minnesota Timberwolves (Won first game, advanced as the no. 7 seed)
  • 8. Los Angeles Clippers (Lost 2 games, eliminated from playoffs)
  • 9. New Orleans Pelicans (Won 2 games, advanced as the no. 8 seed)
  • 10. San Antonio Spurs (Lost first game, eliminated from playoffs)
• Eastern Conference: 
  • 7. Brooklyn Nets (Won first game, advanced as the no. 7 seed)
  • 8. Cleveland Cavaliers (Lost 2 games, eliminated from playoffs)
  • 9. Atlanta Hawks (Won 2 games, advanced as the no. 8 seed)
  • 10. Charlotte Hornets (Lost first game, eliminated from playoffs)

As you can see, three of the four no. 8 seeds were unable to secure a playoff berth, with the no. 9 seed winning both games in each of those instances. The Washington Wizards in 2020 were the only no. 8 seed to lose the first game and win the second.

The no. 7 seed has won the 7-8 matchup every single time thus far.

Can the Los Angeles Lakers make the NBA Play-In Tournament?

Los Angeles is absolutely in a spot to make the play-in. As of the time of writing this, the Lakers are only one game behind the New Orleans Pelicans and Utah Jazz, who make up the no. 9 and no. 10 seed.

The Lakers are 1.5 games back of the no. 8 seed Minnesota Timberwolves and two games back of the no. 6 seed Dallas Mavericks. Los Angeles just needs to play winning basketball and needs one of those teams to fall off.

And as history shows us, Lakers fans should definitely hope that the team can climb all the way to the no. 7 seed as that almost guarantees a playoff berth. If not no. 7, history is on no. 9’s side.