The 2021 NBA playoffs is the post season tournament of the National Basketball Association’s 2020-21 season. The playoffs are scheduled to start from 22nd May this year and will conclude with the NBA finals. This year NBA finals are scheduled in July.
NBA Play-Ins Schedule:
Tuesday, May 18
East No. 10 vs. East No. 9
East No. 8 vs. No. 7 Boston
Wednesday, May 19
No. 10 San Antonio vs. West No. 9
West No. 8 vs. West No. 7
Thursday, May 20
Winner of East 9-10 game vs. Loser of East 7-8 Game
Friday, May 21
Winner of West 9-10 game vs. Loser of West 7-8 game
How will the NBA play-ins work?
The play-in tournament is held after the conclusion of the 2020-21 regular season and before the start of the first round of the 2021 NBA playoffs. The teams that finish Nos. 1-6 in the standings of each conference will be guaranteed playoff spots. Teams Nos. 7-10 will enter the play-in tournament.
Each conference's Nos. 7 and 8 teams will face off, with the winner earning the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. The loser will still have one more opportunity to reach the playoffs.
Each conference's Nos. 9 and 10 teams will face off, with the winner advancing to play the loser of the No. 7-vs.-No. 8 game. The loser of the No. 9-vs.-No. 10 game will be eliminated from playoff contention.
The loser of the No. 7-vs.-No. 8 game and the winner of the No. 9-vs.-No. 10 game will then play against each other. The winner of that game will be the No. 8 seed in the playoffs. The loser will be eliminated from playoff contention.
Beyond the play-in tournament, NBA playoffs will kickstart from 22nd May and will follow through the NBA finals. Find the expert advice for nba predictions and nba betting tips on sportytrader this season. LA Lakers will be defending the title this year. NBA Finals are scheduled from 8th-22nd July.
Some highlights of NBA playoffs 2021:
The Phoenix suns will play their first playoffs this season since 2010.
Toronto Raptors are going to miss their first playoffs this season after eight years.
The Utah Jazz will play their fifth consecutive playoffs.
The Brooklyn Nets entered their third consecutive playoffs.
The Philadelphia 76ers entered their fourth consecutive playoffs.
The Los Angeles Clippers entered their third consecutive playoffs.
The Denver Nuggets will enter their third consecutive playoffs.
The Milwaukee Bucks will enter their fifth consecutive playoffs.
The Miami Heat will enter their second consecutive playoffs.
The Atlanta Hawks will make their first playoffs appearance since 2017.
The New York Knicks will make their first playoffs appearance since 2013.
The Houston Rockets missed the playoffs for the first time in nine years.
The Oklahoma City Thunder missed the playoffs for first time in six years.
The Orlando Magic missed the playoffs for the first time in three years.
The Dallas Mavericks will enter their second consecutive playoffs.
Current Standings of top 10 teams in each conference:
Eastern Conference:
1. Philadelphia (49-23)
2. Brooklyn (48-24)
3. Milwaukee (46-25)
4. New York Knicks (41-31)
5. Atlanta Hawks (41-31)
6. Miami Heats (40-32)
7. Boston Celtics (36-36)
8. Washington Wizards (34-38)
9. Indiana Pacers (34-38)
10. Charlotte Hornets (33-39)
Western Conference:
1. Utah (51-20)
2. Phoenix (50-21)
3. Denver (47-24)
4. Los Angeles Clippers (47-24)
5. Dallas (42-29)
6. Portland (41-30)
7. Los Angeles Lakers (41-30)
8. Golden State (38-33)
9. Memphis (38-33)
10. San Antonio (33-38)
* Stats updated till the 17th May.
Also Read | NBA Hall of Fame Class of 2020
