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How the NBA’s Play-in Tournament, Which Debuted in 2021, Actually Works

The NBA play-in tournament was first introduced in 2021 and fans have loved it. Of course, some teams don’t care for it too much. Why? Well, it takes away some sense of security from teams that were barely able to sneak into the postseason. At the same time, it gives hope to squads that in previous years would have no chance of making the playoffs.

It sounds more confusing than it is. Here’s how the NBA’s play-in tournament works:

In previous years, the top eight teams in each conference would qualify for the postseason while every other squad would start their offseason.