How many teams make the NBA Play-In Tournament?

Before the playoffs begin, the seventh and eighth seeds are determined in the NBA play-in tournament. Here is how many teams participate in the competition.

There is around one month remaining of the 2022-23 NBA regular season remaining, which means the focus will be on the playoffs. From there, eight teams in each conference will face off to earn a berth in the NBA Finals. Then, they will play the opposing conference champion in the NBA Finals, looking to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

It is no longer the top eight teams in each conference that make the NBA Playoffs. Rather, it is the top six, while the No. 7 and 8 seeds are determined in the NBA play-in tournament.

For those wondering how many teams will be battling for the seventh and eighth seeds, we have the answer for you.

How many teams make the NBA Play-In Tournament?

The teams that placed No. 7-10 in each conference will participate in the four-team play-in tournament.

The winner of the No. 7 and No. 8 team matchup will earn the seventh seed in their respective conference. As for the No. 9 vs No. 10 matchup, the winner of that will advance to face the loser of the No. 7 vs. No 8 game. The winner of that matchup will receive the eighth seed in their respective conference.

Once the play-in tournament concludes, the No. 7 seed will take on the No. 2 seed and the No. 8 seed will face the No. 1 seed in their respective conference in the first round.

Ever since the four-team play-in tournament format went into effect in the 2020-21 season, no one who has earned the No. 7 and 8 seeds has ever made it past the first round.

For the 2022-23 season, the play-in tournament officially begins on Apr. 11 and concludes on Apr. 14, which is between the end of the regular season and the start of the NBA Playoffs.