A loss in the NBA play-in tournament doesn’t mean you’re out. Well, unless you’re the loser of the game between the No. 9 and 10 seeds.
But everyone else will get a second and maybe third chance.
So how does this all work? Let’s start with who’s playing.
In the Eastern Conference, the No. 7 Celtics will square off with the No. 8 Wizards. That leaves the Pacers (No. 9) facing the Hornets (No. 10). Both of those games are Tuesday.
In the West, the defending champion Lakers are No. 7 and face the No. 8 Warriors. The No. 9 Grizzlies take on the No. 10 Spurs in the other matchup. Both of those games are Wedesday.
Again, whoever loses the Nos. 9-10 matchups is out.
But whoever loses the Nos. 7-8 games can still survive. All the loser or those games will need to do is beat the winner of the 9-10 game.
And if even they don’t, they’ll get another chance.
“If the incumbent 8 seed wins a single game, the series is over and they make the playoffs,” explained Mike D. Sykes II of USA Today. “If they get beaten twice by the 9 seed, then they lose that 8th spot and move into the lottery with the rest of the non-playoff teams.”
So there you have it.
Oh, and whoever loses this tournament and fails to make the actual playoffs will head straight for the lottery. So there’s that.
Now all that’s left is to let the games begin. And what fun they should be.
