The Boston Celtics are heading to the postseason as the team is locked in as the No. 7 seed.
The Celtics (36-36), as the seventh seed, will take part in the Play-In Tournament, which begins May 18, followed by the first round on May 22.
Boston ended the regular season with a loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday, 96-92. Brad Stevens' team will play the No. 8 Washington Wizards on Tuesday night at 9 p.m.
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Here's what you need to know about the Play-In Tournament with the Eastern Conference matchups set.
What is the format for the 2021 NBA Playoffs?
This year's playoffs feature a new wrinkle: the NBA Play-In Tournament. Here's how it works: The No. 7 through No. 10 seeds in the Western Conference and Eastern Conference, respectively, qualify for the Play-In Tournament.
The tournament begins May 18 and consists of two rounds for each conference with the following format:
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Round 1
No. 7 seed vs. No. 8 seed (winner earns No. 7 seed; loser to Round 2)
No. 9 seed vs. No. 10 seed (winner to Round 2; loser eliminated)
Round 2
Loser of 7-8 vs. Winner of 9-10 (winner earns No. 8 seed; loser eliminated)
Once the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds are decided for each conference, the first round will begin May 22 with the traditional format: seven-game series featuring the 1-8, 2-7, 3-6 and 4-5 matchups.
Where are the Celtics in the Eastern Conference standings?
The Celtics are the No. 7 seed in the East. Washington secured the No. 8 seed by defeating the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday, and owning the tiebreaker over the Indiana Pacers.
Here are the Eastern Conference's play-in teams:
Team | GB From No. 1 |
7. Boston Celtics | 12.5 |
8. Washington Wizards | 14.5 |
9. Indiana Pacers | 14.5 |
10. Charlotte Hornets | 15.5 |
Who will the Celtics play in the Play-In Tournament?
The Celtics are set to play the Wizards.
Here are the East play-in matchups:
Away | Home | Game time |
No. 10 Charlotte Hornets | No. 9 Indiana Pacers | Tuesday, May 18, 6:30 p.m. |
No. 8 Washington Wizards | No. 7 Boston Celtics | Tuesday, May 18, 9 p.m. |
What are the Celtics' playoff odds?
The Celtics currently have +20000 odds to win the 2021 NBA championship -- odds provided by our partner, PointsBet Sportsbook.
In the Eastern Conference, six teams have better title odds than the Celtics: The Brooklyn Nets (+250), Milwaukee Bucks (+700), Philadelphia 76ers (+800), Miami Heat (+4000), Atlanta Hawks (+10000) and New York Knicks (+15000).
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