Play-in tournament will decide final 4 spots in NBA playoff field

For the Miami Heat, here's the bad news: They're in the play-in tournament again.And for the Heat, here's also some good news: They're in the play-in tournament again.The play-in — where the final four playoff spots will be decided — has become an unwanted tradition for Miami, which is in the event for the fourth consecutive season. The Heat used it as a springboard to the playoffs in each of the last three years, and will need to win two road games this week to extend that streak."It's harrowing. It's nuts," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "You have to absolutely embrace it. It makes you feel alive, that's for sure, if you're a competitor... Once you're in it, it's exhilarating. And you have to embrace the competition, embrace how every single possession really does matter. It's a Game 7. And so, I just want our guys to take on that challenge."Also in the field: Charlotte, Orlando and Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference, along with Golden State, the Los Angeles Clippers, Portland and Phoenix in the Western Conference.The Clippers have a chance to get to the playoffs after a dismal 6-21 start to the season."It's a great achievement," Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said.The schedule— East No. 10 Miami at East No. 9 Charlotte, Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.— West No. 8 Portland at West No. 7 Phoenix, Tuesday, 10 p.m.— East No. 8 Orlando at East No. 7 Philadelphia, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.— West No. 10 Golden State at West No. 9 Los Angeles Clippers, Wednesday, 10 p.m.The formatEvery game will either have a team clinching a playoff berth and/or being eliminated from postseason contention.— Losers of Miami-Charlotte and Golden State-LA Clippers games are eliminated.— Winners of Portland-Phoenix and Orlando-Philadelphia games become No. 7 seeds on playoff bracket (East will face Boston in Round 1, West will face San Antonio in Round 1.)— Orlando-Philadelphia loser will host Miami-Charlotte winner Friday (7:30 p.m.) to determine No. 8 seed in East and who'll face No. 1 Detroit in Round 1. Losing team in that game is eliminated.— Portland-Phoenix loser will host Golden State-LA Clippers winner Friday (10 p.m.) to determine No. 8 seed in West and who'll face No. 1 Oklahoma City in Round 1. Losing team in that game is eliminated.Play-in historyPhoenix is making its first appearance in the play-in tournament. The other seven teams have all been there at least once before.Miami and Golden State are both about to make their fourth appearances in the play-in. Charlotte is in this round for the third time, while this is the second trip for Orlando, Philadelphia, Portland and the Clippers.The Heat have gone 4-2 in play-in games. Orlando, Philadelphia and Portland are all 1-0, Golden State is 1-3, while Charlotte and the Clippers are both 0-2.Portland won the first play-in game ever — over Memphis in the bubble in 2020, in what became a one-game playoff. The league went to the current play-in format with eight teams playing down to four spots in 2021.FINAL NBA STANDINGS EASTERN CONFERENCEAtlantic Division&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;W&emsp;&emsp;L&emsp;&emsp;Pct&emsp;&emsp;GBy-Boston&emsp;&emsp;56&emsp;&emsp;26&emsp;&emsp;.683&emsp;&emsp;—x-New York&emsp;&emsp;53&emsp;&emsp;29&emsp;&emsp;.646&emsp;&emsp;3x-Toronto&emsp;&emsp;46&emsp;&emsp;36&emsp;&emsp;.561&emsp;&emsp;10Philadelphia&emsp;&emsp;45&emsp;&emsp;37&emsp;&emsp;.549&emsp;&emsp;11Brooklyn&emsp;&emsp;20&emsp;&emsp;62&emsp;&emsp;.244&emsp;&emsp;36Southeast Division&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;W&emsp;&emsp;L&emsp;&emsp;Pct&emsp;&emsp;GBy-Atlanta&emsp;&emsp;46&emsp;&emsp;36&emsp;&emsp;.561&emsp;&emsp;—Orlando&emsp;&emsp;45&emsp;&emsp;37&emsp;&emsp;.549&emsp;&emsp;1Charlotte&emsp;&emsp;44&emsp;&emsp;38&emsp;&emsp;.537&emsp;&emsp;2Miami&emsp;&emsp;43&emsp;&emsp;39&emsp;&emsp;.524&emsp;&emsp;3Washington&emsp;&emsp;17&emsp;&emsp;65&emsp;&emsp;.207&emsp;&emsp;29Central Division&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;W&emsp;&emsp;L&emsp;&emsp;Pct&emsp;&emsp;GBz-Detroit&emsp;&emsp;60&emsp;&emsp;22&emsp;&emsp;.732&emsp;&emsp;—x-Cleveland&emsp;&emsp;52&emsp;&emsp;30&emsp;&emsp;.634&emsp;&emsp;8Milwaukee&emsp;&emsp;32&emsp;&emsp;50&emsp;&emsp;.390&emsp;&emsp;28Chicago&emsp;&emsp;31&emsp;&emsp;51&emsp;&emsp;.378&emsp;&emsp;29Indiana&emsp;&emsp;19&emsp;&emsp;63&emsp;&emsp;.232&emsp;&emsp;41WESTERN CONFERENCESouthwest Division&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;W&emsp;&emsp;L&emsp;&emsp;Pct&emsp;&emsp;GBy-San Antonio&emsp;&emsp;62&emsp;&emsp;20&emsp;&emsp;.756&emsp;&emsp;—x-Houston&emsp;&emsp;52&emsp;&emsp;30&emsp;&emsp;.634&emsp;&emsp;10New Orleans&emsp;&emsp;26&emsp;&emsp;56&emsp;&emsp;.317&emsp;&emsp;36Dallas&emsp;&emsp;26&emsp;&emsp;56&emsp;&emsp;.317&emsp;&emsp;36Memphis&emsp;&emsp;25&emsp;&emsp;57&emsp;&emsp;.305&emsp;&emsp;37Northwest Division&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;W&emsp;&emsp;L&emsp;&emsp;Pct&emsp;&emsp;GBz-Oklahoma City&emsp;&emsp;64&emsp;&emsp;18&emsp;&emsp;.780&emsp;&emsp;—x-Denver&emsp;&emsp;54&emsp;&emsp;28&emsp;&emsp;.659&emsp;&emsp;10x-Minnesota&emsp;&emsp;49&emsp;&emsp;33&emsp;&emsp;.598&emsp;&emsp;15Portland&emsp;&emsp;42&emsp;&emsp;40&emsp;&emsp;.512&emsp;&emsp;22Utah&emsp;&emsp;22&emsp;&emsp;60&emsp;&emsp;.268&emsp;&emsp;42Pacific Division&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;W&emsp;&emsp;L&emsp;&emsp;Pct&emsp;&emsp;GBy-L.A. Lakers&emsp;&emsp;53&emsp;&emsp;29&emsp;&emsp;.646&emsp;&emsp;—Phoenix&emsp;&emsp;45&emsp;&emsp;37&emsp;&emsp;.549&emsp;&emsp;8L.A. Clippers&emsp;&emsp;42&emsp;&emsp;40&emsp;&emsp;.512&emsp;&emsp;11Golden State&emsp;&emsp;37&emsp;&emsp;45&emsp;&emsp;.451&emsp;&emsp;16Sacramento&emsp;&emsp;22&emsp;&emsp;60&emsp;&emsp;.268&emsp;&emsp;31x-clinched playoff spoty-clinched divisionz-clinched conferenceSunday's gamesMiami 143, Atlanta 117Charlotte 110, New York 96Philadelphia 126, Milwaukee 106Cleveland 130, Washington 117Toronto 136, Brooklyn 101Detroit 133, Indiana 121Boston 113, Orlando 108Phoenix 135, Oklahoma City 103Houston 132, Memphis 101Dallas 149, Chicago 128Portland 122, Sacramento 110L.A. Lakers 131, Utah 107Denver 128, San Antonio 118L.A. Clippers 115, Golden State 110Minnesota 132, New Orleans 126Tuesday's play-in gamesMiami at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m. Portland at Phoenix, 10 p.m. Wednesday's play-in gamesOrlando at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. Golden State at L.A. Clippers, 10 p.m.