Revised schedule for NBA return

THE NBA’s return is imminent — but only with 22 teams.

The NBA’s Board of Governors approved a plan that would restart the season in Orlando utilising a 22-team format, according to the league.

The Board of Player Representatives of the National Basketball Players Association ( NBPA) approved further negotiations with the NBA on a 22-team return to play scenario to restart the 2019-20 NBA season, the NBPA announced last week. Three-fourths of the 30 NBA teams must also ratify the proposal. The new plan would see 13 Western Conference teams and nine Eastern Conference teams play eight “seeding”games to determine seeds in the playoffs.

Afterwards, the seven teams in each conference with the best combined records with both regular season games and seeding games would qualify for the playoffs — set to proceed the way they always have.

The top eight teams in both conferences will be a part of the 22 teams playing, the NBA said. The remaining six teams will be those within six games of eighth place.

The 22 teams participating are: Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns. The restart would tentatively begin on July 31, the NBA stated, with the NBA Finals ending no later than October 12. — CNN.