Eighth seed needs to be beaten twice in Play-In Tournament

Tournament will take place in a conference if the ninth seed is four or fewer games behind the eight seed.

The NBA will have a play-in tournament for the eighth seed as part of its 22-team return-to-play, but there will be several conditions, as reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

If the ninth seed is four or more games back, then the eighth seed will earn the spot in the playoffs. If the ninth seed or higher is four or fewer games behind, then there will be a play-in tournament. The ninth seed will be a single-elimination format, while the existing eighth seed will need to lose twice.

In the Western Conference, the Memphis Grizzlies currently own the eighth seed with the Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans, Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs each within four games. The Phoenix Suns are six games behind the Grizzlies. In the Eastern Conference, instead, the Orlando Magic are five-and-a-half games ahead of the Washington Wizards.

Post your comment