The NBA will indeed return with a 22-team playoff format in Orlando, with tip-off being July 31st until game 7 of the NBA finals on October 12th. 13 teams from the West and 9 from the East will be involved. Below is what the format will look like.
• 8 regular season games before play-in round, which can jostle seeding
EAST: (under current seeding)
Wizards vs Magic
WEST: (Under current seeding)
PLAY-IN ROUND 1:
Pelicans vs Suns
Kings vs Spurs
PLAY-IN ROUND 2: (under current seeding)
Grizzlies vs highest remaining seed
Blazers vs lowest remaining seed
PLAY-IN Round 3: (Under current seeding.
Play-in round finals for 8th seed.
Grizzlies and Magic need to lose twice as opposed to once everyone else involved in play-in tournament.
Playoffs (Under current seeding)
Lakers vs 8 seed
Jazz vs Thunder
Nuggets vs Rockets
Clippers vs Mavs
Bucks vs Magic/Wizards
Raptors vs Nets
Celtics vs 76ers
Heat vs Pacers
One more important thing to note!
After the 8 regular season games, the play-in tournaments only takes place if teams are within 4 games of the 8th seed.
An example would be the Washington Wizards, who are currently 5.5 games back of the 8th seeded Magic. However, if they close the gap during those 8 regular season games, they will participate in the play-in tournament. If not, the Magic would make the playoffs automatically.
LOTTERY:
The NBA is likely to conduct the draft lottery after the potential play-in round; taking the 6 losers and the 8 non-resuming teams (Knicks ,Hawks, Pistons , Cavs, Bulls, Hornets, Warriors, and TimberWolves) and draw the three lotteries for the top 3 picks in the 2020 NBA draft come October.
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