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Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 21 (from laksa019)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa021.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical, ml_categories_json AS ml_categories_json, ml_types_json AS ml_types_json, ml_intent_types_json AS ml_intent_types_json, meta_language AS meta_language, attrs_author AS attrs_author, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_publish_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_original_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_original_publish_time, ifNull(attrs_is_republished, 0) AS attrs_is_republished, ifNull(attrs_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_nr_words, ifNull(attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, ifNull(body_ext_links_number, 0) AS body_ext_links_number, ifNull(body_int_links_number, 0) AS body_int_links_number, ifNull(meta_nofollow, 0) AS meta_nofollow, ifNull(meta_noarchive, 0) AS meta_noarchive, ifNull(props_was_rendered, 0) AS props_was_rendered, ifNull(src_redirect, \'\') AS src_redirect, ifNull(download_time_msec, 0) AS download_time_msec, ifNull(download_ttfb_msec, 0) AS download_ttfb_msec, ifNull(download_size, 0) AS download_size FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://blog.betway.com/basketball/how-do-the-nba-playoffs-work-nba-playoffs-explained/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://blog.betway.com/basketball/how-do-the-nba-playoffs-work-nba-playoffs-explained/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/how-do-the-nba-playoffs-work-nba-playoffs-explained\/","crawl_time":1775999960,"first_indexed_time":1587686146,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,betway!blog,\/basketball\/how-do-the-nba-playoffs-work-nba-playoffs-explained\/ s443","src_root_hash":"13228465259816069621","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"How do the NBA playoffs work? NBA playoffs explained - Betway Insider","meta_descriptions":[],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Here's everything you need to know about the NBA playoffs, from the series format to how the teams are seeded.\nWhat are the NBA playoffs?\nThe NBA Playoffs are the end-of-season tournament to determine which team deserves the NBA title. They’re battled out by the best teams across the last season, to crown the ultimate champion.\nHow many teams are in the NBA playoffs?\nThe playoffs are comprised of 16 teams in total – eight from each of the NBA’s two conferences (East and West). The teams in each conference are ranked by their win-loss record from the regular season; the six teams with the most wins from each conference then progress immediately to the playoffs.\nThe 7th-10th-placed teams in each conference then play for the remaining four spots in a ‘play-in tournament’.\nWhat is the NBA play-in tournament?\nSince 2021, the final two playoff spots in each conference have been decided by a play-in tournament. The tournament features the teams ranked 7th to 10th in each conference, who play each other in a format that is a combination of single-elimination and double-elimination.\nFirst, the seventh-placed team plays the eighth-placed team, with the winner handed the seventh seed in their conference.\nThe ninth-placed team then plays the 10th-placed team, and the losing team is eliminated. The loser of the first game then plays the winner of the second, for the eighth seed.\nHow many games are in the NBA playoffs?\nIn the NBA playoffs, there can be anywhere between 60 and 105 total games. This is because there are four rounds – the First Round, Conference Semi-finals, Conference Finals, and the NBA Finals – each of which are a best-of-seven, meaning a team needs 4 victories to win the round.\nHow does NBA playoff seeding work?\nIn each conference, the top six teams are seeded 1 to 6 based on their regular-season record. The team with the best record in each conference receives the no. 1 seed, while the team with the worst (among those six franchises) record receives the no. 6 seed, and so on.\nNBA playoff rules for seeding when there’s a tie\nBut what if there’s a tie? There are four tiebreakers to separate teams, applied in the following order:\nThe season\nhead-to-head record\nis used to determine which team receives the better seed.\nIf the head-to-head is also level, however, the higher seed goes to the franchise that is a\ndivisional champion\n.\nShould both or neither team be divisional champion, the third tie-breaker is the win-loss\nrecord against other teams\nin their division.\nAnd if that doesn’t separate the teams,\nwin-loss percentage against conference teams\nis the final tie-breaker!\nThe seventh and eighth seeds in each conference are decided by the play-in tournament. As the season ramps up after the mid-season \nNBA All-Star\n break, teams jostle for position, hoping to earn a spot in the postseason playoffs.\nHow do the NBA playoffs work?\nThe playoffs use a best-of-seven elimination format. This means two teams play each other up to seven times, with the team that wins four games first progressing to the next round.\nIn the first round of the NBA playoffs, the 1st seed in each conference plays the 8th seed, while 2 plays 7, 3 plays 6, and 4 plays 5. The bracket will then progress like this:\nConference\nFirst round\nConference semi-finals\nConference finals\nNBA Finals\nEastern Conference\nE1\nWinner of E1 vs E8\nWinner of Eastern Conference semi-final 1\nWinner of Eastern Conference final\nE8\nE4\nWinner of E4 vs E5\nE5\nE3\nWinner of E3 vs E6\nWinner of Eastern Conference semi-final 2\nE6\nE2\nWinner of E2 vs E7\nE7\nWestern Conference\nW1\nWinner of W1 vs W8\nWinner of Western Conference semi-final 1\nWinner of Western Conference final\nW8\nW4\nWinner of W4 vs W5\nW5\nW3\nWinner of W3 vs W6\nWinner of Western Conference semi-final 2\nW6\nW2\nWinner of W2 vs W7\nW7\nThe second round is then known as the conference semi-finals, and the third round is the conference finals. The teams that progress from each conference then meet in the NBA Finals to determine the champion.\nHow is home advantage determined in the NBA playoffs?\nIn each round, the team with the better regular-season record is rewarded with home-court advantage. A playoff series follows a 2-2-1-1-1 home\/away format; and of the seven games in a series, the team with the better seed plays games 1, 2, 5 and 7 at home.\nWhen do the NBA playoffs start?\nThe 2025 NBA Playoffs started with the play-in tournament on April 15, which ran until April 18. When the play-in tournament was complete, the NBA Playoffs began on April 19.\nThe NBA Finals are scheduled to take place starting on June 5. If necessary, Game 7 of the Finals is scheduled to take place on June 22, which is the latest possible date the season will end.\nHow to bet on the NBA playoffs\nAll the latest \nNBA odds\n can be found on the \nBetway sportsbook\n. Before finalising your online sports betting selections, make sure to check out our experts’ \nNBA insights\n.\nWe also offer\nbasketball betting odds\nfor other leagues that might be of interest, such as\nNCAAB\n.","attrs_markdown":"[![](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/themes\/betway_back\/assets\/img\/0logo.png)](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/)\n\n- [Football](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/football\/)\n- [Horse Racing](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/horse-racing\/)\n- [Cricket](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/cricket\/)\n- [Darts](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/darts\/)\n- [Formula 1](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/formula-1\/)\n\n[Other sports](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/how-do-the-nba-playoffs-work-nba-playoffs-explained\/#collapseOtherSports)\n\n- [Tennis](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/tennis\/)\n- [Rugby](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/rugby\/)\n- [Golf](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/golf\/)\n- [Basketball](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/)\n- [NFL](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/nfl\/)\n- [NHL](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/nhl\/)\n- [MLB](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/mlb\/)\n- [GAA](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/gaa\/)\n- [Boxing](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/boxing\/)\n- [UFC](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/ufc\/)\n- [Formula 1](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/formula-1\/)\n\n[More](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/how-do-the-nba-playoffs-work-nba-playoffs-explained\/#collapseMore)\n\n- [Casino](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/casino\/)\n- [Casino Game Reviews](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/casino-game-reviews\/)\n- [Betting terms](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/betting-terms\/)\n- [How to bet](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/how-to-bet\/)\n- [Meet the Team](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/meet-the-team\/)\n\n- [Sports](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/how-do-the-nba-playoffs-work-nba-playoffs-explained\/)\n  - [Football](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/football\/)\n  - [Cheltenham](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/horse-racing\/cheltenham\/)\n  - [Horse Racing](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/horse-racing\/)\n  - [Cricket](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/cricket\/)\n  - [Darts](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/darts\/)\n  - [NHL](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/nhl\/)\n  - [Basketball](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/)\n  - [UFC](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/ufc\/)\n  - [MLB](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/mlb\/)\n  - [Snooker](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/snooker\/)\n  - [NFL](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/nfl\/)\n  - [Tennis](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/tennis\/)\n- [Betting Terms](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/how-do-the-nba-playoffs-work-nba-playoffs-explained\/)\n- [How to Bet](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/how-do-the-nba-playoffs-work-nba-playoffs-explained\/)\n- [Meet the Team](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/meet-the-team\/)\n\n[![Football](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Football-OnBlack.svg)](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/football\/) Football\n\n[![Horse Racing](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Horse-Racing-OnBlack.svg)](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/horse-racing\/) Horse Racing\n\n[![Cricket](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Cricket-OnBlack.svg)](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/cricket\/) Cricket\n\n[![Basketball](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/NBA-OnBlack.svg)](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/) Basketball\n\n[![Golf](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Golf-OnBlack.svg)](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/golf\/) Golf\n\n# How do the NBA playoffs work? NBA playoffs explained\n14 Apr \\| BY [Betway Insider](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/authors\/betway-insider\/) \\|  MIN READ TIME \\|\n\n![How do the NBA playoffs work? NBA playoffs explained](https:\/\/de2.sportal365images.com\/process\/smp-betway-images\/betway.com\/29072023\/82113f99-c274-458d-a4d2-05dc6913e197.jpg?format=webp)\n\n## Here's everything you need to know about the NBA playoffs, from the series format to how the teams are seeded.\n## What are the NBA playoffs?\nThe NBA Playoffs are the end-of-season tournament to determine which team deserves the NBA title. They’re battled out by the best teams across the last season, to crown the ultimate champion.\n\n## How many teams are in the NBA playoffs?\nThe playoffs are comprised of 16 teams in total – eight from each of the NBA’s two conferences (East and West). The teams in each conference are ranked by their win-loss record from the regular season; the six teams with the most wins from each conference then progress immediately to the playoffs.\n\nThe 7th-10th-placed teams in each conference then play for the remaining four spots in a ‘play-in tournament’.\n\n### What is the NBA play-in tournament?\nSince 2021, the final two playoff spots in each conference have been decided by a play-in tournament. The tournament features the teams ranked 7th to 10th in each conference, who play each other in a format that is a combination of single-elimination and double-elimination.\n\nFirst, the seventh-placed team plays the eighth-placed team, with the winner handed the seventh seed in their conference.\n\nThe ninth-placed team then plays the 10th-placed team, and the losing team is eliminated. The loser of the first game then plays the winner of the second, for the eighth seed.\n\n## How many games are in the NBA playoffs?\nIn the NBA playoffs, there can be anywhere between 60 and 105 total games. This is because there are four rounds – the First Round, Conference Semi-finals, Conference Finals, and the NBA Finals – each of which are a best-of-seven, meaning a team needs 4 victories to win the round.\n\n## How does NBA playoff seeding work?\nIn each conference, the top six teams are seeded 1 to 6 based on their regular-season record. The team with the best record in each conference receives the no. 1 seed, while the team with the worst (among those six franchises) record receives the no. 6 seed, and so on.\n\n### NBA playoff rules for seeding when there’s a tie\nBut what if there’s a tie? There are four tiebreakers to separate teams, applied in the following order:\n\n1. The season **head-to-head record** is used to determine which team receives the better seed.\n2. If the head-to-head is also level, however, the higher seed goes to the franchise that is a **divisional champion**.\n3. Should both or neither team be divisional champion, the third tie-breaker is the win-loss **record against other teams** in their division.\n4. And if that doesn’t separate the teams, **win-loss percentage against conference teams** is the final tie-breaker\\!\n\nThe seventh and eighth seeds in each conference are decided by the play-in tournament. As the season ramps up after the mid-season [NBA All-Star](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/who-are-the-most-popular-nba-all-stars\/) break, teams jostle for position, hoping to earn a spot in the postseason playoffs.\n\n## How do the NBA playoffs work?\nThe playoffs use a best-of-seven elimination format. This means two teams play each other up to seven times, with the team that wins four games first progressing to the next round.\n\nIn the first round of the NBA playoffs, the 1st seed in each conference plays the 8th seed, while 2 plays 7, 3 plays 6, and 4 plays 5. The bracket will then progress like this:\n\n|   |   |   |   |   |\n|---|---|---|---|---|\n| **Conference** | **First round** | **Conference semi-finals** | **Conference finals** | **NBA Finals** |\n| *Eastern Conference* | E1 | Winner of E1 vs E8 | Winner of Eastern Conference semi-final 1 | Winner of Eastern Conference final |\n| E8 |   |   |   |   |\n| E4 | Winner of E4 vs E5 |   |   |   |\n| E5 |   |   |   |   |\n| E3 | Winner of E3 vs E6 | Winner of Eastern Conference semi-final 2 |   |   |\n| E6 |   |   |   |   |\n| E2 | Winner of E2 vs E7 |   |   |   |\n| E7 |   |   |   |   |\n| *Western Conference* | W1 | Winner of W1 vs W8 | Winner of Western Conference semi-final 1 | Winner of Western Conference final |\n| W8 |   |   |   |   |\n| W4 | Winner of W4 vs W5 |   |   |   |\n| W5 |   |   |   |   |\n| W3 | Winner of W3 vs W6 | Winner of Western Conference semi-final 2 |   |   |\n| W6 |   |   |   |   |\n| W2 | Winner of W2 vs W7 |   |   |   |\n| W7 |   |   |   |   |\n\nThe second round is then known as the conference semi-finals, and the third round is the conference finals. The teams that progress from each conference then meet in the NBA Finals to determine the champion.\n\n## How is home advantage determined in the NBA playoffs?\nIn each round, the team with the better regular-season record is rewarded with home-court advantage. A playoff series follows a 2-2-1-1-1 home\/away format; and of the seven games in a series, the team with the better seed plays games 1, 2, 5 and 7 at home.\n\n## When do the NBA playoffs start?\nThe 2025 NBA Playoffs started with the play-in tournament on April 15, which ran until April 18. When the play-in tournament was complete, the NBA Playoffs began on April 19.\n\nThe NBA Finals are scheduled to take place starting on June 5. If necessary, Game 7 of the Finals is scheduled to take place on June 22, which is the latest possible date the season will end.\n\n## How to bet on the NBA playoffs\nAll the latest [NBA odds](https:\/\/betway.com\/en\/sports\/grp\/basketball\/usa\/nba) can be found on the [Betway sportsbook](https:\/\/betway.com\/en\/sports). Before finalising your online sports betting selections, make sure to check out our experts’ [NBA insights](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/).\n\nWe also offer [basketball betting odds](https:\/\/betway.com\/en\/sports\/cat\/basketball) for other leagues that might be of interest, such as [NCAAB](https:\/\/betway.com\/en\/sports\/grp\/basketball\/usa\/ncaab).\n\nTAGS\n\n![Betway Insider](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/6b55ace7-13e4-43c7-920b-50a5d2ac0830.png)\n\nBetway Insider\n\nThe Insider is an editorial blog for Betway, one of the [best betting sites](https:\/\/betway.com\/en\/sports), featuring sporting insight, intelligent comment and informed [betting tips](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/) for [football betting](https:\/\/betway.com\/en\/sports\/cat\/soccer) and all other major sports.\n\n[SEE PROFILE](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/authors\/betway-insider\/)\n\n![Betway Insider](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/6b55ace7-13e4-43c7-920b-50a5d2ac0830.png)\n\nBetway Insider\n\nThe Insider is an editorial blog for Betway, one of the [best betting sites](https:\/\/betway.com\/en\/sports), featuring sporting insight, intelligent comment and informed [betting tips](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/) for [football betting](https:\/\/betway.com\/en\/sports\/cat\/soccer) and all other major sports.\n\n[SEE PROFILE](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/authors\/betway-insider\/)\n\nMORE Basketball\n\n[![The Art of the Game \\| Your Chance To Win £10k](https:\/\/de2.sportal365images.com\/process\/smp-betway-images\/blog.betway.com.en\/26032026\/cdd9f05e-752b-43c4-aa22-d544c961d9f8.png?format=webp)](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/the-art-of-the-game\/)\n\n[Basketball](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/) 26 Mar\n\n## [The Art of the Game \\| Your Chance To Win £10k](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/the-art-of-the-game\/)\n\n[![Matt Bonner: Wembanyama shows ‘Face of the NBA’ potential](https:\/\/de2.sportal365images.com\/process\/smp-betway-images\/blog.betway.com.en\/12112025\/062f08ec-4b73-4480-85b7-da59a3e848ba.jpg?format=webp)](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/matt-bonner-wembanyama-shows-face-of-the-nba-potential\/)\n\n[Basketball](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/) 12 Nov\n\n## [Matt Bonner: Wembanyama shows ‘Face of the NBA’ potential](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/matt-bonner-wembanyama-shows-face-of-the-nba-potential\/)\n\n[![How to bet on basketball](https:\/\/de2.sportal365images.com\/process\/smp-betway-images\/blog.betway.com.en\/29102025\/2b429ae5-7b5f-4234-b871-ab8ca2c043cb.jpg?format=webp)](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/how-to-bet-on-basketball\/)\n\n[Basketball](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/) 29 Oct\n\n## [How to bet on basketball](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/how-to-bet-on-basketball\/)\n\n[![The most-backed teams for the 2025\/26 NBA season](https:\/\/de2.sportal365images.com\/process\/smp-betway-images\/blog.betway.com.en\/05032025\/b588e71c-19b5-45d5-9db0-b42e59d8a999.jpg?format=webp)](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/the-most-backed-teams-for-the-202526-nba-season\/)\n\n[Basketball](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/) 21 Oct\n\n## [The most-backed teams for the 2025\/26 NBA season](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/the-most-backed-teams-for-the-202526-nba-season\/)\n\n[![How to bet on NBA games](https:\/\/de2.sportal365images.com\/process\/smp-betway-images\/blog.betway.com.en\/05032025\/b588e71c-19b5-45d5-9db0-b42e59d8a999.jpg?format=webp)](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/how-to-bet-on-nba-games\/)\n\n[Basketball](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/) 25 Sep\n\n## [How to bet on NBA games](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/how-to-bet-on-nba-games\/)\n\n[![The WNBA teams with the most championships](https:\/\/de2.sportal365images.com\/process\/smp-betway-images\/blog.betway.com.en\/11082025\/1b6c496d-beb8-403d-a799-b1f6620dbc71.jpg?format=webp)](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/wnba-teams-with-most-championships\/)\n\n[Basketball](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/) 12 Aug\n\n## [The WNBA teams with the most championships](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/wnba-teams-with-most-championships\/)\n\n[![WNBA MVPs over the years](https:\/\/de2.sportal365images.com\/process\/smp-betway-images\/blog.betway.com.en\/12082025\/014be6a9-ef9b-412a-9bb3-21b0d377a07e.jpg?format=webp)](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/wnba-mvp-history\/)\n\n[Basketball](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/) 12 Aug\n\n## [WNBA MVPs over the years](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/wnba-mvp-history\/)\n\n[![What is the WNBA draft format?](https:\/\/de2.sportal365images.com\/process\/smp-betway-images\/blog.betway.com.en\/12082025\/014be6a9-ef9b-412a-9bb3-21b0d377a07e.jpg?format=webp)](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/how-does-the-wnba-draft-work\/)\n\n[Basketball](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/) 12 Aug\n\n## [What is the WNBA draft format?](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/how-does-the-wnba-draft-work\/)\n\n[![Who has scored the most points for the Toronto Raptors?](https:\/\/de2.sportal365images.com\/process\/smp-betway-images\/blog.betway.com.en\/11082025\/510bd3cb-2b1d-4f98-9b39-5f0b2c843942.jpg?format=webp)](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/most-points-toronto-raptors\/)\n\n[Basketball](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/) 11 Aug\n\n## [Who has scored the most points for the Toronto Raptors?](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/most-points-toronto-raptors\/)\n\n[![How many WNBA teams are there?](https:\/\/de2.sportal365images.com\/process\/smp-betway-images\/blog.betway.com.en\/11082025\/67e221f8-ffe1-4953-92ee-047c1c60d139.jpg?format=webp)](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/how-many-wnba-teams\/)\n\n[Basketball](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/) 11 Aug\n\n## [How many WNBA teams are there?](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/how-many-wnba-teams\/)\n\n[LOAD MORE](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/how-do-the-nba-playoffs-work-nba-playoffs-explained\/)\n\nSTANDINGS\n***\n\nMOST READ\n\n[![Paul Townend: My preview of Day 2 at the Aintree Festival](https:\/\/de2.sportal365images.com\/process\/smp-betway-images\/blog.betway.com.en\/09042026\/0230c485-50c5-4541-b0a1-365d79c9fdee.png?format=webp)](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/horse-racing\/aintree\/paul-townend-my-preview-of-day-2-at-the-aintree-festival\/)\n\n[Aintree](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/horse-racing\/aintree\/)\n\n## [Paul Townend: My preview of Day 2 at the Aintree Festival](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/horse-racing\/aintree\/paul-townend-my-preview-of-day-2-at-the-aintree-festival\/)\n09 Apr\n\n[![Paul Townend: My preview of Day 1 at the Aintree Festival](https:\/\/de2.sportal365images.com\/process\/smp-betway-images\/blog.betway.com.en\/08042026\/60332026-3730-4a68-b187-86af5c994a1b.png?format=webp)](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/horse-racing\/aintree\/paul-townend-my-preview-of-day-1-at-the-aintree-festival-2026\/)\n\n[Aintree](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/horse-racing\/aintree\/)\n\n## [Paul Townend: My preview of Day 1 at the Aintree Festival](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/horse-racing\/aintree\/paul-townend-my-preview-of-day-1-at-the-aintree-festival-2026\/)\n08 Apr\n\n[![Richard Hoiles: My tips for Day 1 at the Aintree 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Festival](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/horse-racing\/aintree\/richard-hoiles-my-tips-for-day-2-at-the-aintree-festival\/)\n09 Apr\n\n[![Aintree 2026 tips: Four each-way bets for Day 2](https:\/\/de2.sportal365images.com\/process\/smp-betway-images\/betway.com\/29072023\/a2391be3-fd5e-40ed-be78-2c90ba8b1f3f.png?format=webp)](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/horse-racing\/aintree\/aintree-2026-tips-four-each-way-bets-for-day-2\/)\n\n[Aintree](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/horse-racing\/aintree\/)\n\n## [Aintree 2026 tips: Four each-way bets for Day 2](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/horse-racing\/aintree\/aintree-2026-tips-four-each-way-bets-for-day-2\/)\n09 Apr\n\nVIDEOS\n\n[![Watch: Celebrate Xmas with Thierry Henry, Kelly Brook & Dave](https:\/\/de2.sportal365images.com\/process\/smp-betway-images\/blog.betway.com.en\/26112025\/0ece35e7-d426-4a54-aede-7b7514efad07.jpg?format=webp)](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/videos\/watch-celebrate-xmas-with-thierry-henry-kelly-brook-and-dave\/) [Other 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2024](https:\/\/de2.sportal365images.com\/process\/smp-betway-images\/blog.betway.com.en\/04042024\/091edd9e-faf0-429f-ba0e-d31c057407e8.png?format=webp)](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/videos\/watch-graeme-smith-picks-his-all-star-ipl-xi-for-2024\/) [Cricket](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/cricket\/)\n\n[Watch: Graeme Smith picks his All-Star IPL XI for 2024](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/videos\/watch-graeme-smith-picks-his-all-star-ipl-xi-for-2024\/)\n\n04 Apr\n\n## Free Bet Club\nJoin the club that lets you earn £10 in Free Bets EVERY WEEK\n\n[OPT IN](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/how-do-the-nba-playoffs-work-nba-playoffs-explained\/)\n\n\\[mc4wp\\_form id=83564\\]\n\nAlso of Interest\n\n- [How the Regular Season and Playoffs Work](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/nfl\/nfl-explained-how-the-regular-season-and-playoffs-work\/)\n- [How do the Stanley Cup Playoffs Work](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/nhl\/how-do-the-stanley-cup-playoffs-work-stanley-cup-explained\/)\n- [MLS: League ‘Conference’ 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Betway Limited is licensed and regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority to offer Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 gaming services under licence number: MGA\/B2C\/130\/2006 issued on August 1st 2018 **and regulated in Great Britain by the Gambling Commission under account number [39372](https:\/\/www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk\/public-register\/business\/detail\/39372).**\n\n[![](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/gambling-commission.png)](https:\/\/www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk\/public-register\/business\/detail\/39372)\n\n[![](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/gambleaware.png)](https:\/\/www.begambleaware.org\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ecogra-de3b9116653b83e52f317af8559db6d0f1f5a83e.webp)](https:\/\/secure.ecogra.org\/certification\/a660f634-a7d6-4718-aa2a-3c83c9838985)\n\n[![ecogra](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/ecograISO-new-2023_grayscale-1024x400.png)](https:\/\/medusa.betwaygroup.com\/media\/8428\/e2411459bewi27rec-betway-i27-re-certification-audit-certificate.pdf)\n\n[![](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/399a01df603752e6fc22065c5635b7a8881d4a17-300x143.webp)](https:\/\/authorisation.mga.org.mt\/verification.aspx?company=a78672d4-f566-4daf-adb8-24d0fcc30e7c)\n\n[![](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/ibas.png)](http:\/\/www.ibas-uk.com\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ibia-4289cdae7c82e83ffe1c7f9eb1f92c3fc10e51f0.webp)](https:\/\/secure.ecogra.org\/certification\/a660f634-a7d6-4718-aa2a-3c83c9838985)\n\n![](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/essa.png)\n\n[![](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/icon-18up-en.png)](https:\/\/account.betway.com\/v1)\n\n[![](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/responsible-gambling-trust.png)](https:\/\/www.gamingregulation.com\/association\/united-kingdom\/responsible-gambling-trust\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/time-to-think.png)](https:\/\/www.taketimetothink.co.uk\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/visa.png)](https:\/\/www.visa.co.uk\/)\n\n![](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/visa-electron.png)\n\n[![](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/paypal-1.png)](https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/uk\/home)\n\n[![](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/skrill.png)](https:\/\/www.skrill.com\/en\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/neteller.png)](https:\/\/www.neteller.com\/en)\n\n[![paysafe en](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/paysafecard.png)](https:\/\/www.paysafecard.com\/en\/)\n\n[![Betway App on Google Playstore](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/google-playsotre.webp)](https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.betway.sports)\n\n[![Betway App on the App Store](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/e24922116771417e3958e92c2dfa5afe69163bb3.png)](https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/app\/id538775096)\n\n© 2025 Betway\n\n- [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/betway.com\/en\/sports\/dyn\/Security)\n- [Terms](https:\/\/betway.com\/en\/sports\/dyn\/TermsAndConditions)\n- [Cookie policy](https:\/\/betway.com\/en\/sports\/dyn\/cookiePolicy)\n\n- [![](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/sitepress-multilingual-cms\/res\/flags\/en.svg)English](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/how-do-the-nba-playoffs-work-nba-playoffs-explained\/)\n- [![](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/sitepress-multilingual-cms\/res\/flags\/de.svg)Deutsch (German)](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/de\/)\n- [![](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/sitepress-multilingual-cms\/res\/flags\/es.svg)Español (Spanish)](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/es\/)\n- [![](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/flags\/pt-br.svg)Portuguese](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/pt\/)\n- [![](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/flags\/download.png)Canada](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/ca\/)","attrs_readable_markdown":"## Here's everything you need to know about the NBA playoffs, from the series format to how the teams are seeded.\n## What are the NBA playoffs?\nThe NBA Playoffs are the end-of-season tournament to determine which team deserves the NBA title. They’re battled out by the best teams across the last season, to crown the ultimate champion.\n\n## How many teams are in the NBA playoffs?\nThe playoffs are comprised of 16 teams in total – eight from each of the NBA’s two conferences (East and West). The teams in each conference are ranked by their win-loss record from the regular season; the six teams with the most wins from each conference then progress immediately to the playoffs.\n\nThe 7th-10th-placed teams in each conference then play for the remaining four spots in a ‘play-in tournament’.\n\n### What is the NBA play-in tournament?\nSince 2021, the final two playoff spots in each conference have been decided by a play-in tournament. The tournament features the teams ranked 7th to 10th in each conference, who play each other in a format that is a combination of single-elimination and double-elimination.\n\nFirst, the seventh-placed team plays the eighth-placed team, with the winner handed the seventh seed in their conference.\n\nThe ninth-placed team then plays the 10th-placed team, and the losing team is eliminated. The loser of the first game then plays the winner of the second, for the eighth seed.\n\n## How many games are in the NBA playoffs?\nIn the NBA playoffs, there can be anywhere between 60 and 105 total games. This is because there are four rounds – the First Round, Conference Semi-finals, Conference Finals, and the NBA Finals – each of which are a best-of-seven, meaning a team needs 4 victories to win the round.\n\n## How does NBA playoff seeding work?\nIn each conference, the top six teams are seeded 1 to 6 based on their regular-season record. The team with the best record in each conference receives the no. 1 seed, while the team with the worst (among those six franchises) record receives the no. 6 seed, and so on.\n\n### NBA playoff rules for seeding when there’s a tie\nBut what if there’s a tie? There are four tiebreakers to separate teams, applied in the following order:\n\n1. The season **head-to-head record** is used to determine which team receives the better seed.\n2. If the head-to-head is also level, however, the higher seed goes to the franchise that is a **divisional champion**.\n3. Should both or neither team be divisional champion, the third tie-breaker is the win-loss **record against other teams** in their division.\n4. And if that doesn’t separate the teams, **win-loss percentage against conference teams** is the final tie-breaker\\!\n\nThe seventh and eighth seeds in each conference are decided by the play-in tournament. As the season ramps up after the mid-season [NBA All-Star](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/who-are-the-most-popular-nba-all-stars\/) break, teams jostle for position, hoping to earn a spot in the postseason playoffs.\n\n## How do the NBA playoffs work?\nThe playoffs use a best-of-seven elimination format. This means two teams play each other up to seven times, with the team that wins four games first progressing to the next round.\n\nIn the first round of the NBA playoffs, the 1st seed in each conference plays the 8th seed, while 2 plays 7, 3 plays 6, and 4 plays 5. The bracket will then progress like this:\n\n|   |   |   |   |   |\n|---|---|---|---|---|\n| **Conference** | **First round** | **Conference semi-finals** | **Conference finals** | **NBA Finals** |\n| *Eastern Conference* | E1 | Winner of E1 vs E8 | Winner of Eastern Conference semi-final 1 | Winner of Eastern Conference final |\n| E8 |   |   |   |   |\n| E4 | Winner of E4 vs E5 |   |   |   |\n| E5 |   |   |   |   |\n| E3 | Winner of E3 vs E6 | Winner of Eastern Conference semi-final 2 |   |   |\n| E6 |   |   |   |   |\n| E2 | Winner of E2 vs E7 |   |   |   |\n| E7 |   |   |   |   |\n| *Western Conference* | W1 | Winner of W1 vs W8 | Winner of Western Conference semi-final 1 | Winner of Western Conference final |\n| W8 |   |   |   |   |\n| W4 | Winner of W4 vs W5 |   |   |   |\n| W5 |   |   |   |   |\n| W3 | Winner of W3 vs W6 | Winner of Western Conference semi-final 2 |   |   |\n| W6 |   |   |   |   |\n| W2 | Winner of W2 vs W7 |   |   |   |\n| W7 |   |   |   |   |\n\nThe second round is then known as the conference semi-finals, and the third round is the conference finals. The teams that progress from each conference then meet in the NBA Finals to determine the champion.\n\n## How is home advantage determined in the NBA playoffs?\nIn each round, the team with the better regular-season record is rewarded with home-court advantage. A playoff series follows a 2-2-1-1-1 home\/away format; and of the seven games in a series, the team with the better seed plays games 1, 2, 5 and 7 at home.\n\n## When do the NBA playoffs start?\nThe 2025 NBA Playoffs started with the play-in tournament on April 15, which ran until April 18. When the play-in tournament was complete, the NBA Playoffs began on April 19.\n\nThe NBA Finals are scheduled to take place starting on June 5. If necessary, Game 7 of the Finals is scheduled to take place on June 22, which is the latest possible date the season will end.\n\n## How to bet on the NBA playoffs\nAll the latest [NBA odds](https:\/\/betway.com\/en\/sports\/grp\/basketball\/usa\/nba) can be found on the [Betway sportsbook](https:\/\/betway.com\/en\/sports). Before finalising your online sports betting selections, make sure to check out our experts’ [NBA insights](https:\/\/blog.betway.com\/basketball\/).\n\nWe also offer [basketball betting odds](https:\/\/betway.com\/en\/sports\/cat\/basketball) for other leagues that might be of interest, such as [NCAAB](https:\/\/betway.com\/en\/sports\/grp\/basketball\/usa\/ncaab).","meta_canonical":null,"ml_categories_json":"{\"\/Sports\":996,\"\/Sports\/Team_Sports\":987,\"\/Sports\/Team_Sports\/Basketball\":985}","ml_types_json":"{\"\/Article\":994,\"\/Article\/How_to\":384}","ml_intent_types_json":"{\"Informational\":999,\"Commercial\":234}","meta_language":"en","attrs_author":null,"attrs_publish_time":1744651680,"attrs_original_publish_time":1587686146,"attrs_is_republished":1,"attrs_nr_words":"1504","attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words":"876","body_ext_links_number":32,"body_int_links_number":101,"meta_nofollow":0,"meta_noarchive":0,"props_was_rendered":0,"src_redirect":"","download_time_msec":60,"download_ttfb_msec":43,"download_size":36020}

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How do the NBA playoffs work? NBA playoffs explained - Betway Insider

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Here's everything you need to know about the NBA playoffs, from the series format to how the teams are seeded. What are the NBA playoffs? The NBA Playoffs are the end-of-season tournament to determine which team deserves the NBA title. They’re battled out by the best teams across the last season, to crown the ultimate champion. How many teams are in the NBA playoffs? The playoffs are comprised of 16 teams in total – eight from each of the NBA’s two conferences (East and West). The teams in each conference are ranked by their win-loss record from the regular season; the six teams with the most wins from each conference then progress immediately to the playoffs. The 7th-10th-placed teams in each conference then play for the remaining four spots in a ‘play-in tournament’. What is the NBA play-in tournament? Since 2021, the final two playoff spots in each conference have been decided by a play-in tournament. The tournament features the teams ranked 7th to 10th in each conference, who play each other in a format that is a combination of single-elimination and double-elimination. First, the seventh-placed team plays the eighth-placed team, with the winner handed the seventh seed in their conference. The ninth-placed team then plays the 10th-placed team, and the losing team is eliminated. The loser of the first game then plays the winner of the second, for the eighth seed. How many games are in the NBA playoffs? In the NBA playoffs, there can be anywhere between 60 and 105 total games. This is because there are four rounds – the First Round, Conference Semi-finals, Conference Finals, and the NBA Finals – each of which are a best-of-seven, meaning a team needs 4 victories to win the round. How does NBA playoff seeding work? In each conference, the top six teams are seeded 1 to 6 based on their regular-season record. The team with the best record in each conference receives the no. 1 seed, while the team with the worst (among those six franchises) record receives the no. 6 seed, and so on. NBA playoff rules for seeding when there’s a tie But what if there’s a tie? There are four tiebreakers to separate teams, applied in the following order: The season head-to-head record is used to determine which team receives the better seed. If the head-to-head is also level, however, the higher seed goes to the franchise that is a divisional champion . Should both or neither team be divisional champion, the third tie-breaker is the win-loss record against other teams in their division. And if that doesn’t separate the teams, win-loss percentage against conference teams is the final tie-breaker! The seventh and eighth seeds in each conference are decided by the play-in tournament. As the season ramps up after the mid-season NBA All-Star break, teams jostle for position, hoping to earn a spot in the postseason playoffs. How do the NBA playoffs work? The playoffs use a best-of-seven elimination format. This means two teams play each other up to seven times, with the team that wins four games first progressing to the next round. In the first round of the NBA playoffs, the 1st seed in each conference plays the 8th seed, while 2 plays 7, 3 plays 6, and 4 plays 5. The bracket will then progress like this: Conference First round Conference semi-finals Conference finals NBA Finals Eastern Conference E1 Winner of E1 vs E8 Winner of Eastern Conference semi-final 1 Winner of Eastern Conference final E8 E4 Winner of E4 vs E5 E5 E3 Winner of E3 vs E6 Winner of Eastern Conference semi-final 2 E6 E2 Winner of E2 vs E7 E7 Western Conference W1 Winner of W1 vs W8 Winner of Western Conference semi-final 1 Winner of Western Conference final W8 W4 Winner of W4 vs W5 W5 W3 Winner of W3 vs W6 Winner of Western Conference semi-final 2 W6 W2 Winner of W2 vs W7 W7 The second round is then known as the conference semi-finals, and the third round is the conference finals. The teams that progress from each conference then meet in the NBA Finals to determine the champion. How is home advantage determined in the NBA playoffs? In each round, the team with the better regular-season record is rewarded with home-court advantage. A playoff series follows a 2-2-1-1-1 home/away format; and of the seven games in a series, the team with the better seed plays games 1, 2, 5 and 7 at home. When do the NBA playoffs start? The 2025 NBA Playoffs started with the play-in tournament on April 15, which ran until April 18. When the play-in tournament was complete, the NBA Playoffs began on April 19. The NBA Finals are scheduled to take place starting on June 5. If necessary, Game 7 of the Finals is scheduled to take place on June 22, which is the latest possible date the season will end. How to bet on the NBA playoffs All the latest NBA odds can be found on the Betway sportsbook . Before finalising your online sports betting selections, make sure to check out our experts’ NBA insights . We also offer basketball betting odds for other leagues that might be of interest, such as NCAAB .

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NBA playoffs explained 14 Apr \| BY [Betway Insider](https://blog.betway.com/authors/betway-insider/) \| MIN READ TIME \| ![How do the NBA playoffs work? NBA playoffs explained](https://de2.sportal365images.com/process/smp-betway-images/betway.com/29072023/82113f99-c274-458d-a4d2-05dc6913e197.jpg?format=webp) ## Here's everything you need to know about the NBA playoffs, from the series format to how the teams are seeded. ## What are the NBA playoffs? The NBA Playoffs are the end-of-season tournament to determine which team deserves the NBA title. They’re battled out by the best teams across the last season, to crown the ultimate champion. ## How many teams are in the NBA playoffs? The playoffs are comprised of 16 teams in total – eight from each of the NBA’s two conferences (East and West). The teams in each conference are ranked by their win-loss record from the regular season; the six teams with the most wins from each conference then progress immediately to the playoffs. The 7th-10th-placed teams in each conference then play for the remaining four spots in a ‘play-in tournament’. ### What is the NBA play-in tournament? Since 2021, the final two playoff spots in each conference have been decided by a play-in tournament. The tournament features the teams ranked 7th to 10th in each conference, who play each other in a format that is a combination of single-elimination and double-elimination. First, the seventh-placed team plays the eighth-placed team, with the winner handed the seventh seed in their conference. The ninth-placed team then plays the 10th-placed team, and the losing team is eliminated. The loser of the first game then plays the winner of the second, for the eighth seed. ## How many games are in the NBA playoffs? In the NBA playoffs, there can be anywhere between 60 and 105 total games. This is because there are four rounds – the First Round, Conference Semi-finals, Conference Finals, and the NBA Finals – each of which are a best-of-seven, meaning a team needs 4 victories to win the round. ## How does NBA playoff seeding work? In each conference, the top six teams are seeded 1 to 6 based on their regular-season record. The team with the best record in each conference receives the no. 1 seed, while the team with the worst (among those six franchises) record receives the no. 6 seed, and so on. ### NBA playoff rules for seeding when there’s a tie But what if there’s a tie? There are four tiebreakers to separate teams, applied in the following order: 1. The season **head-to-head record** is used to determine which team receives the better seed. 2. If the head-to-head is also level, however, the higher seed goes to the franchise that is a **divisional champion**. 3. Should both or neither team be divisional champion, the third tie-breaker is the win-loss **record against other teams** in their division. 4. And if that doesn’t separate the teams, **win-loss percentage against conference teams** is the final tie-breaker\! The seventh and eighth seeds in each conference are decided by the play-in tournament. As the season ramps up after the mid-season [NBA All-Star](https://blog.betway.com/basketball/who-are-the-most-popular-nba-all-stars/) break, teams jostle for position, hoping to earn a spot in the postseason playoffs. ## How do the NBA playoffs work? The playoffs use a best-of-seven elimination format. This means two teams play each other up to seven times, with the team that wins four games first progressing to the next round. In the first round of the NBA playoffs, the 1st seed in each conference plays the 8th seed, while 2 plays 7, 3 plays 6, and 4 plays 5. The bracket will then progress like this: | | | | | | |---|---|---|---|---| | **Conference** | **First round** | **Conference semi-finals** | **Conference finals** | **NBA Finals** | | *Eastern Conference* | E1 | Winner of E1 vs E8 | Winner of Eastern Conference semi-final 1 | Winner of Eastern Conference final | | E8 | | | | | | E4 | Winner of E4 vs E5 | | | | | E5 | | | | | | E3 | Winner of E3 vs E6 | Winner of Eastern Conference semi-final 2 | | | | E6 | | | | | | E2 | Winner of E2 vs E7 | | | | | E7 | | | | | | *Western Conference* | W1 | Winner of W1 vs W8 | Winner of Western Conference semi-final 1 | Winner of Western Conference final | | W8 | | | | | | W4 | Winner of W4 vs W5 | | | | | W5 | | | | | | W3 | Winner of W3 vs W6 | Winner of Western Conference semi-final 2 | | | | W6 | | | | | | W2 | Winner of W2 vs W7 | | | | | W7 | | | | | The second round is then known as the conference semi-finals, and the third round is the conference finals. The teams that progress from each conference then meet in the NBA Finals to determine the champion. ## How is home advantage determined in the NBA playoffs? In each round, the team with the better regular-season record is rewarded with home-court advantage. A playoff series follows a 2-2-1-1-1 home/away format; and of the seven games in a series, the team with the better seed plays games 1, 2, 5 and 7 at home. ## When do the NBA playoffs start? The 2025 NBA Playoffs started with the play-in tournament on April 15, which ran until April 18. When the play-in tournament was complete, the NBA Playoffs began on April 19. The NBA Finals are scheduled to take place starting on June 5. If necessary, Game 7 of the Finals is scheduled to take place on June 22, which is the latest possible date the season will end. ## How to bet on the NBA playoffs All the latest [NBA odds](https://betway.com/en/sports/grp/basketball/usa/nba) can be found on the [Betway sportsbook](https://betway.com/en/sports). Before finalising your online sports betting selections, make sure to check out our experts’ [NBA insights](https://blog.betway.com/basketball/). We also offer [basketball betting odds](https://betway.com/en/sports/cat/basketball) for other leagues that might be of interest, such as [NCAAB](https://betway.com/en/sports/grp/basketball/usa/ncaab). TAGS ![Betway Insider](https://blog.betway.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/6b55ace7-13e4-43c7-920b-50a5d2ac0830.png) Betway Insider The Insider is an editorial blog for Betway, one of the [best betting sites](https://betway.com/en/sports), featuring sporting insight, intelligent comment and informed [betting tips](https://blog.betway.com/) for [football betting](https://betway.com/en/sports/cat/soccer) and all other major sports. 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## Here's everything you need to know about the NBA playoffs, from the series format to how the teams are seeded. ## What are the NBA playoffs? The NBA Playoffs are the end-of-season tournament to determine which team deserves the NBA title. They’re battled out by the best teams across the last season, to crown the ultimate champion. ## How many teams are in the NBA playoffs? The playoffs are comprised of 16 teams in total – eight from each of the NBA’s two conferences (East and West). The teams in each conference are ranked by their win-loss record from the regular season; the six teams with the most wins from each conference then progress immediately to the playoffs. The 7th-10th-placed teams in each conference then play for the remaining four spots in a ‘play-in tournament’. ### What is the NBA play-in tournament? Since 2021, the final two playoff spots in each conference have been decided by a play-in tournament. The tournament features the teams ranked 7th to 10th in each conference, who play each other in a format that is a combination of single-elimination and double-elimination. First, the seventh-placed team plays the eighth-placed team, with the winner handed the seventh seed in their conference. The ninth-placed team then plays the 10th-placed team, and the losing team is eliminated. The loser of the first game then plays the winner of the second, for the eighth seed. ## How many games are in the NBA playoffs? In the NBA playoffs, there can be anywhere between 60 and 105 total games. This is because there are four rounds – the First Round, Conference Semi-finals, Conference Finals, and the NBA Finals – each of which are a best-of-seven, meaning a team needs 4 victories to win the round. ## How does NBA playoff seeding work? In each conference, the top six teams are seeded 1 to 6 based on their regular-season record. The team with the best record in each conference receives the no. 1 seed, while the team with the worst (among those six franchises) record receives the no. 6 seed, and so on. ### NBA playoff rules for seeding when there’s a tie But what if there’s a tie? There are four tiebreakers to separate teams, applied in the following order: 1. The season **head-to-head record** is used to determine which team receives the better seed. 2. If the head-to-head is also level, however, the higher seed goes to the franchise that is a **divisional champion**. 3. Should both or neither team be divisional champion, the third tie-breaker is the win-loss **record against other teams** in their division. 4. And if that doesn’t separate the teams, **win-loss percentage against conference teams** is the final tie-breaker\! The seventh and eighth seeds in each conference are decided by the play-in tournament. As the season ramps up after the mid-season [NBA All-Star](https://blog.betway.com/basketball/who-are-the-most-popular-nba-all-stars/) break, teams jostle for position, hoping to earn a spot in the postseason playoffs. ## How do the NBA playoffs work? The playoffs use a best-of-seven elimination format. This means two teams play each other up to seven times, with the team that wins four games first progressing to the next round. In the first round of the NBA playoffs, the 1st seed in each conference plays the 8th seed, while 2 plays 7, 3 plays 6, and 4 plays 5. The bracket will then progress like this: | | | | | | |---|---|---|---|---| | **Conference** | **First round** | **Conference semi-finals** | **Conference finals** | **NBA Finals** | | *Eastern Conference* | E1 | Winner of E1 vs E8 | Winner of Eastern Conference semi-final 1 | Winner of Eastern Conference final | | E8 | | | | | | E4 | Winner of E4 vs E5 | | | | | E5 | | | | | | E3 | Winner of E3 vs E6 | Winner of Eastern Conference semi-final 2 | | | | E6 | | | | | | E2 | Winner of E2 vs E7 | | | | | E7 | | | | | | *Western Conference* | W1 | Winner of W1 vs W8 | Winner of Western Conference semi-final 1 | Winner of Western Conference final | | W8 | | | | | | W4 | Winner of W4 vs W5 | | | | | W5 | | | | | | W3 | Winner of W3 vs W6 | Winner of Western Conference semi-final 2 | | | | W6 | | | | | | W2 | Winner of W2 vs W7 | | | | | W7 | | | | | The second round is then known as the conference semi-finals, and the third round is the conference finals. The teams that progress from each conference then meet in the NBA Finals to determine the champion. ## How is home advantage determined in the NBA playoffs? In each round, the team with the better regular-season record is rewarded with home-court advantage. A playoff series follows a 2-2-1-1-1 home/away format; and of the seven games in a series, the team with the better seed plays games 1, 2, 5 and 7 at home. ## When do the NBA playoffs start? The 2025 NBA Playoffs started with the play-in tournament on April 15, which ran until April 18. When the play-in tournament was complete, the NBA Playoffs began on April 19. The NBA Finals are scheduled to take place starting on June 5. If necessary, Game 7 of the Finals is scheduled to take place on June 22, which is the latest possible date the season will end. ## How to bet on the NBA playoffs All the latest [NBA odds](https://betway.com/en/sports/grp/basketball/usa/nba) can be found on the [Betway sportsbook](https://betway.com/en/sports). Before finalising your online sports betting selections, make sure to check out our experts’ [NBA insights](https://blog.betway.com/basketball/). We also offer [basketball betting odds](https://betway.com/en/sports/cat/basketball) for other leagues that might be of interest, such as [NCAAB](https://betway.com/en/sports/grp/basketball/usa/ncaab).

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