NBA Play-In Teams Rarely Advance in Playoffs

Since 2021, NBA play-in teams have a 2–14 first-round playoff record, illustrating the difficulty of advancing deep into the postseason through the Play-In Tournament, which was introduced in 2020. Notable exceptions include the 2023 Miami Heat, who overcame an initial play-in loss, defeated the No. 1 seed Milwaukee Bucks, and reached the NBA Finals, and the 2023 Los Angeles Lakers, who also won a playoff series after advancing from the play-in. Most play-in teams are typically eliminated in the first round by higher-seeded opponents. NBA playoff history continues to show that no team has ever come back from a 3–0 series deficit, though several teams have forced a Game 7. Legendary individual playoff performances by players such as Oscar Robertson and Dirk Nowitzki are remembered, but dramatic team comebacks remain rare. The evolving format and unpredictable outcomes underscore the challenges faced by lower-seeded and play-in teams.