play-in game
Bubble team's chance
A play-in game is a preliminary contest that determines which teams qualify for the main bracket of a tournament or playoff.
The term is most associated with the NBA's play-in tournament, where teams ranked 7th through 10th in each conference compete for the final playoff spots: They need to win the play-in game to make the playoffs.
Play-in games add stakes for borderline teams while giving bubble teams a second chance.
- playoffContest deciding advancement
- wildcardUnpredictable factor in play
- eliminationAct of removing entirely
- tournamentMulti-round competitive event
- bracketSupport or category
qualifying · tiebreaker · seed · postseason · overtime · upset · underdog · contender · home court · road team · clinch · survive · advance · NBA · knockout · desperation · buzzer · bubble
- Basketball EventsNBA Finals, playoffs, championship, finals, draft day
- elimination formatssingle elimination, double elimination, sudden death, playoffs, semifinals
- playoffsbracket, brackets, elimination, playoff bracket, playoff round
- tournament roundsfirst round, second round, third round, final round, opening round
- College BasketballNCAA, March Madness, bracket, Final Four, Elite Eight
- Soccer Termsgoals, scoring, shots, shooting, striker
play-in gamechampionship game
Contest determining the champion
NBA Finals · conference finals · Game 7 · elimination game · finals
play, game, plays, played, playing, player, players, playful, playfully