The 2022 NBA Playoffs are here. While lottery teams are hoping to land one of the top prospects in the 2022 NBA Draft, postseason contenders are ready to fight for the Larry O'Brien trophy.
The Suns are the team to beat in the Western Conference after they racked up 64 wins during the regular season. Phoenix could face formidable foes such as the Grizzlies and Warriors as it seeks to reach the NBA Finals for the second consecutive year.
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Over in the Eastern Conference, the Heat will enter the bracket as the No. 1 seed, but they are far from an overwhelming favorite. The Bucks, Celtics and 76ers all have talented rosters and are hoping to make deep runs.
Here's everything you need to know about the 2022 NBA Playoffs.
When do the NBA Playoffs start?
- Play-In Tournament: April 12-15
- NBA Playoffs: April 16
The 2021-22 NBA regular season will end on Sunday, April 10. The 2022 NBA Play-In Tournament will begin on Tuesday, April 12. The first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs will start four days later on Saturday, April 16.
How will the NBA Playoffs work?
- The NBA Play-In Tournament will be held after the conclusion of the 2021-22 regular season and before the start of the first round of the 2022 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, the 2022 NBA Playoffs will follow the typical format, with full best-of-seven series all the way through the NBA Finals.
NBA Playoff schedule 2022
April 16
| Game | Time (ET) | National TV (US) |
| Jazz vs. Mavericks | 1 p.m. | ESPN |
| Timberwolves vs. Grizzlies | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Raptors vs. 76ers | 6 p.m. | ESPN |
| Nuggets vs. Warriors | 8:30 p.m. | ABC |
April 17
| Game | Time (ET) | National TV (US) |
| Hawks vs. Heat | 1 p.m. | TNT |
| Nets vs. Celtics | 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
| Bulls vs. Bucks | 6:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Pelicans vs. Suns | 9 p.m. | TNT |
NBA standings 2022: Eastern Conference
| Seed | Team | Record | Games back |
| 1. | Heat* | 53-29 | — |
| 2. | Celtics* | 51-31 | 2 |
| 3. | Bucks* | 51-31 | 2 |
| 4. | 76ers* | 51-31 | 2 |
| 5. | Raptors* | 48-34 | 5 |
| 6. | Bulls* | 46-36 | 7 |
| 7. | Nets** | 44-38 | 9 |
| 8. | Cavaliers** | 44-38 | 9 |
| 9. | Hawks** | 43-39 | 10 |
| 10. | Hornets** | 43-39 | 10 |
| — | |||
| — | |||
*clinched NBA Playoff berth
**clinched NBA Play-In berth
Eliminated from NBA Playoff contention: Knicks, Magic, Pacers, Pistons, Wizards
NBA standings 2022: Western Conference
| Seed | Team | Record | Games back |
| 1. | Suns* | 64-18 | — |
| 2. | Grizzlies* | 56-26 | 8 |
| 3. | Warriors* | 53-29 | 11 |
| 4. | Mavericks* | 52-30 | 12 |
| 5. | Jazz* | 49-33 | 15 |
| 6. | Nuggets* | 48-34 | 16 |
| 7. | Timberwolves** | 46-36 | 18 |
| 8. | Clippers** | 42-40 | 22 |
| 9. | Pelicans** | 36-46 | 28 |
| 10. | Spurs** | 34-48 | 30 |
| — | |||
| — | |||
*clinched NBA Playoff berth
**clinched NBA Play-In berth
Eliminated from NBA Playoff contention: Kings, Lakers, Rockets, Thunder, Trail Blazers
NBA Play-In Tournament, Playoff bracket 2022
