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Charlotte Hornets: NBA releases 2021 NBA Play-In Tournament details

By Shawn Simmons

PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 01: LaMelo Ball #2 of the Charlotte Hornets works against Carmelo Anthony #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers in the fourth quarter at Moda Center on March 01, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 01: LaMelo Ball #2 of the Charlotte Hornets works against Carmelo Anthony #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers in the fourth quarter at Moda Center on March 01, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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The Charlotte Hornets kick off the second half of the 2020-21 NBA on Thursday at home versus the Detroit Pistons. The Hornets begin this ending stretch of the season with a 17-18 record, sitting at seventh place in the Eastern Conference. If the NBA Playoffs began today, the Hornets would participate in the NBA Play-In Tournament that will determine the seventh and eighth seeds in each conference.

On Wednesday, the NBA broke down the details for the Play-In Tournament on the league’s social media accounts.

The Play-In Tournament will begin on May 18 and conclude on May 21. The teams who finish seventh through tenth in each conference will participate. The seventh and the eighth team in each conference will have two opportunities to earn a playoff spot, while the teams that finish ninth and tenth are only guaranteed one opportunity.

The Play-In Tournament will consist of three games in each conference, six total games overall.

In the Seven-Eight Game, the seventh and eighth teams in each conference will play. The winner of the game will earn the seventh seed in their respective conference.

In Nine-Ten Game, the ninth and tenth teams in each conference will play. The winner of the game will move on to Game Three. The loser of the Nine-Ten Game will be eliminated.

In Game Three, the Seven-Eight Game loser will play the Nine-Ten winner. The winner of Game Three will earn the eighth seed in their respective conference.

The Play-In Tournament is an exciting inclusion into the NBA season at the end of the regular season prior to the beginning of the playoffs. The tournament gives an additional two teams in each conference the opportunity to earn a spot in the playoffs without expanding the 16-team, 8-team per conference field.

The Hornets were a surprise team in the first half of the season. They’ll catch no team off guard during the second half of the season. Should the Hornets return to full strength, and possibly add another impact player prior to the trade deadline on March 25, there is no reason to believe that the Hornets will not have an opportunity to secure a playoff berth for the first time since the 2015-16 season.

Next. Charlotte Hornets NBA schedule release: 2 tough road trips. dark

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