The NBA is the most exciting basketball league in the world. But if you’re new to the league, you’re probably wondering – how do the NBA playoffs work?
The NBA’s format is complex, particularly for basketball newcomers. The campaign starts with the regular season and is followed by a play-in tournament, which precedes the NBA playoffs.
Then, at the end of the playoffs, the NBA finals are held, which are contested by the top two teams from the best-of-seven series. Granted, this sounds complicated, but this guide explains precisely how the NBA playoffs work and breaks down each stage of the season.
So, read on for the lowdown on the NBA teams in each conference and how they qualify for the NBA playoffs and finals each season.
Key Takeaways
- 30 teams compete in the NBA regular season, playing 82 games apiece.
- The top eight teams in the Western Conference and the top eight teams in the Eastern Conference qualify for the NBA playoffs.
- The top six teams in each Conference qualify automatically. The teams ranked seventh to tenth in the regular season compete for the final four playoff spots.
- There are four rounds in the NBA playoffs – round one, the conference semi-finals, the conference finals, and the NBA finals.
- Each round is a best-of-seven series, with the winner of each playoff fixture progressing to the next round.
- The winners of the conference finals progress to the NBA finals. Whoever wins the NBA finals is crowned the winner and receives the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.
Structure of the NBA Playoffs
Each year, 30 teams compete in the NBA regular season, 29 from the USA and one from Canada. The teams are split into two 15-team conferences, with three divisions in each.
The NBA season begins in October and runs until April when the regular season ends. The NBA playoffs then get underway, ending in June with the NBA finals.
But the action doesn’t stop there. The NBA post-season establishes the All-NBA Team, the All-Defensive Team, and the All-Rookie Team.
Below is the current structure of the NBA, split into the Eastern and Western Conferences for the regular season:
Western Conference
Northwest Division
- Denver Nuggets
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Utah Jazz
Pacific Division
- Golden State Warriors
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Phoenix Suns
- Sacramento Kings
Southwest Division
- Dallas Mavericks
- Houston Rockets
- Memphis Grizzlies
- New Orleans Pelicans
- San Antonio Spurs
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
- Boston Celtics
- Brooklyn Nets
- New York Knicks
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Toronto Raptors
Central Division
- Chicago Bulls
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Detroit Pistons
- Indiana Pacers
- Milwaukee Bucks
Southeast Division
- Atlanta Hawks
- Charlotte Hornets
- Miami Heat
- Orlando Magic
- Washington Wizards
During the NBA regular season, every team plays 82 games, 41 with home-court advantage and 41 away from home. Every team also plays the other teams in their division four times yearly, for a total of 16 games.
Then, each team plays against six of the teams from the other two divisions within its conference four times, totaling 24 games. They then play the remaining four teams three times. Finally, they play all the teams in the other conference twice, making 30 games.
When the regular season ends, the top eight teams in each conference qualify for the NBA playoffs, as we describe below.

Qualification Process
So, how many teams qualify for the NBA playoffs? At the end of the regular season, 16 playoff teams continue the season. Qualification is achieved by finishing in one of the top eight positions in each conference.
At the end of the season, the teams are ranked by their win and loss record from each game week. The six teams with the most regular season wins automatically qualify from each conference. Then, the seventh to tenth-placed teams in each conference play for the four spots still up for grabs.
In the NBA, this is known as the play-in tournament, essentially a mini-playoff before the main event begins.
The Play-in Tournament
The teams ranked seventh to tenth in each conference compete for the final two playoff spots in each conference via the NBA play-in tournament.
The NBA play-in tournament was introduced in 2021 to change the league’s format and increase the chances of all teams securing the final two playoff spots.
The winners of the playoff tournament fixtures (four teams in total) make up the final spots in the NBA playoffs.
The Playoff Rounds
Once the NBA play-in tournament is settled, all basketball fans prepare for the start of the NBA playoffs. The NBA playoffs are seeded, with the top six teams ranked from one to six. Teams with a better regular season record are seeded higher, offering an easier route to the NBA finals.
The NBA playoffs work via a best-of-seven format. Therefore, when the draw is made, the two teams can play each other up to seven times, depending on the outcome of each game. The first team to win four matches wins the playoff round and progresses to the next stage.
There are several rounds in the NBA playoffs to be aware of:
Round one
Western Conference | Eastern Conference |
Seed 1 v Seed 8 | Seed 1 v Seed 8 |
Seed 2 v Seed 7 | Seed 2 v Seed 7 |
Seed 3 v Seed 6 | Seed 3 v Seed 6 |
Seed 4 v Seed 5 | Seed 4 v Seed 5 |
The winners of each round proceed to the conference semi-finals.
Round two (Conference semi-finals)
The two winners from the Western Conference are drawn against one another, while the two winners from the Eastern Conference are drawn against one another. Again, this follows a best-of-seven format.
Round three (Conference finals)
At this stage, the top teams from each conference face off for the Eastern and Western Conference finals to be crowned the winners of their respective leagues.
Final round (NBA Finals)
The last step is the best-of-seven series between the two conference winners. The winning team claims the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy at the end of the series and is declared the NBA winner.
Importance of Home-Court Advantage
As in every sport, home-court advantage makes a big difference in basketball. While each team plays the same number of games at home and away during the regular season, the NBA playoffs work differently.
The teams with the better regular season record play more games at home. For instance, the seventh seed and eighth seed will play more playoff games away from home, while the three playoff teams with the better regular season record will play more at home.
Currently, the teams with the better record play games one, two, five, and seven at home for a significant advantage over their opponents. Therefore, when betting on basketball, always consider home-court advantage before making your selections.
Historical Context and Changes
Numerous changes have been made to the NBA playoffs over the years. For instance, the NBA switched to its current format in 2015-16, which saw the top eight conference teams proceed to the playoffs regardless of their divisional alignment. Before this, each division winner entered the playoffs as the top seeds.
Another recent change that affected the structure and format of the NBA playoffs was the introduction of the NBA play-in tournament, as introduced above. This change was made in 2021 and has significantly changed the way the NBA playoffs are structured.
The Boston Celtics are the NBA’s most successful team, with 18 championships. The LA Lakers are second with 17, followed by the Golden State Warriors with six.
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Though it takes a little time to fully understand how the NBA playoffs work, you’re now ready to bet on your favorite NBA teams throughout the season.
We recommend researching each team’s head-to-head record, current form, and injuries before making your selections. The NBA season is long, grueling, and super competitive!
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