What is an NBA tie-breaker? Rules explained with examples
NBA tie-breakers are very important for playoff seeding. If two or more teams end the regular season with the same record, the tie-breakers will determine which team will be placed above everyone else.
The 2023-24 NBA season is very competitive, which is why the tie-breakers will play a major role in completing the playoff picture.
NBA tie-breakers are quite simple when two teams are tied. However, things get more complicated when three or more teams end the season with the same record.
NBA tie-breakers are very important late in the season
The sixth-placed Dallas Mavericks (44-29) are only 1.5 games ahead of the seventh-placed Phoenix Suns (43-31), and eighth-placed Sacramento Kings (42-31) are also 1.5 games ahead of the ninth-placed LA Lakers (41-33). There is a good chance that the two or all teams will finish the season with the same record.
Here are the tie-breakers when teams have the same record:
- Head-to-head record
- Division leader over team not leading division
- Higher winning percentage within division if teams share a division
- Higher winning percentage in conference games
- Higher winning percentage vs. playoff teams in own conference
- Higher winning percentage vs. playoff teams in other conference
- Higher point differential (points scored vs. points allowed)
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If the two teams split the regular-season series, the league would look at a division leader.
NBA tie-breaker are more complex when three or more teams are tied
When three or more teams end the regular season with the same record, the league has to determine which of them will get a higher seed. These tie-breakers usually result in a large shift in the standings.
Here are the rules for determining the NBA tie-breakers when three or more teams are tied:
- Division leader over team not leading division
- Head-to-head record
- Higher winning percentage within division if teams share a division
- Higher winning percentage in conference games
- Higher winning percentage vs. playoff teams in own conference
- Higher winning percentage vs. playoff teams in other conference
- Higher point differential (points scored vs. points allowed)
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NBA tie-breakers have become crucial after introduction of play-in tournament
All playoff contenders are fighting for a top-six finish since the NBA permanently inserted the play-in tournament. It's proving to be a great hit and strategy to increase the excitement at the end of the regular season with seedings on the line.
Tie-breakers have become more crucial in these scenarios with direct playoff qualification at stake. The play-in tournament can be tricky, especially for teams placed ninth and 10th, who have to win consecutive knockout games to qualify for the playoffs.