NBA Playoffs Schedule: Dates, Format, Bracket, Standings, Qualifications, Live Stream, Start Date, Begin, Qualification, All you need to know
The NBA playoffs 2021 are almost here. After we find out the 4 teams that will play in the Playoffs after they qualify from the NBA Play-In Tournament, the Playoffs are set to begin on the 22nd of May.
NBA Playoffs Schedule: NBA Playoffs 2021 Start Date
- Play-in tournament: May 18-21
- NBA playoffs: May 22
The 2021 NBA play-in tournament will begin on Tuesday, May 18. The first round of the 2021 NBA playoffs will start four days later on Saturday, May 22.
July 22 is the latest possible date for an NBA Finals game.
LA Lakers vs Golden State Warriors NBA Live Stream
Indiana Pacers vs Charlotte Hornets NBA Live Stream
NBA Playoffs Schedule: NBA Playoff 2021 Bracket
NBA Playoffs Schedule: NBA Playoffs 2021 Format
All rounds are best-of-seven series. Series are played in a 2–2–1–1–1 format, meaning the team with home-court advantage hosts games 1, 2, 5, and 7, while their opponent hosts game 3, 4, and 6, with games 5–7 being played if needed.
First Round (Round of 16): 8 Teams in each Bracket – Number #1 Seed vs. Number #8 Seed / Number #2 Seed vs. Number #7 Seed / Number #3 Seed vs. Number #6 Seed / Number #4 Seed vs. Number #5 Seed –
The tournament is 4 out of 7 Games Total in the First Round. The first team to win 4 games will advance to the Second Round (Quarter-Finals)
Second Round (Quarter-Finals): 4 Teams in each Bracket – Number #1 Seeded or Number #8 Seed vs. Number #4 Seed or Number #5 Seed / Number #2 Seed or Number #7 Seed vs. Number #3 Seed or Number #6 Seed –
The tournament is 4 out of 7 Games Total in the Second Round. The first team to win 4 games will advance to the Third Round (Semi-Finals)
Third Round (Semi-Finals): 2 Teams in each Bracket – Number #1 Seeded or Number #8 Seed or Number #4 Seed or Number #5 Seed vs. Number #2 Seed or Number #7 Seed or Number #3 Seed or Number #6 Seed –
The tournament is 4 out of 7 Games Total in the Third Round. The first team to win 4 games from the Western Conference Championship and Eastern Conference Championship will advance to the Fourth and Final Round (NBA Championship FINALS)
Fourth Round (NBA CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS) – 2 Teams Total for the NBA Championship
The 2021 NBA Playoffs:
I organized it so you wouldn’t have to pic.twitter.com/nnht0vxYkk
— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) May 17, 2021
NBA Playoff Schedule: NBA Play-In Tournament
May 18
| Game (play-in) | Time (ET) | National TV |
| Hornets vs. Pacers | 6:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Wizards vs. Celtics | 9 p.m. | TNT |
May 19
| Game (play-in) | Time (ET) | National TV |
| Spurs vs. Grizzlies | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Warriors vs. Lakers | 10 p.m. | ESPN |
May 20
| Game (play-in) | Time (ET) | National TV |
| Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Loser | 8 p.m. | TNT |
May 21
| Game (play-in) | Time (ET) | National TV |
| Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Loser | TBD | ESPN |
NBA Standings 2021: Eastern Conference
| Seed | Team | Record | Games back |
| 1. | 76ers* | 49-23 | — |
| 2. | Nets* | 48-24 | 1 |
| 3. | Bucks* | 46-26 | 3 |
| 4. | Knicks* | 41-31 | 8 |
| 5. | Hawks* | 41-31 | 8 |
| 6. | Heat* | 40-32 | 9 |
| 7. | Celtics** | 36-36 | 13 |
| 8. | Wizards** | 34-38 | 15 |
| 9. | Pacers** | 34-38 | 15 |
| 10. | Hornets** | 33-39 | 16 |
| — | |||
| — | |||
| — | |||
| — | |||
| — |
*clinched playoff berth
**clinched play-in berth
Eliminated from playoff contention: Bulls, Cavaliers, Magic, Pistons, Raptors
NBA Playoffs Schedule: NBA standings 2021: Western Conference
| Seed | Team | Record | Games back |
| 1. | Jazz* | 52-20 | — |
| 2. | Suns* | 51-21 | 1 |
| 3. | Nuggets* | 47-25 | 5 |
| 4. | Clippers* | 47-25 | 5 |
| 5. | Mavericks* | 42-30 | 10 |
| 6. | Trail Blazers* | 42-30 | 10 |
| 7. | Lakers** | 42-30 | 10 |
| 8. | Warriors** | 39-33 | 13 |
| 9. | Grizzlies** | 38-34 | 14 |
| 10. | Spurs** | 33-39 | 19 |
| — | 21 | ||
| — | 21 | ||
| — | |||
| — | Thunder | 30 | |
| — | 35 |
*clinched playoff berth
**clinched play-in berth
Eliminated from playoff contention: Kings, Pelicans, Rockets, Thunder, Timberwolves