The NBA has sent a proposal to teams calling for a 78-game regular season, along with an in-season tournament for all teams and a reseeding of the playoffs when the field is cut to the final four clubs.
The plan laid out for teams calls for a play-in tournament to decide the seventh and eighth seeds in both conferences — the top 10 finishers in both the East and West would therefore have a chance at the playoffs — as well as a $1 million per player prize for the in-season tournament.
The league would make the changes for the 2021-22 season on a trial basis, with an option to continue the next season. The league's board of governors is expected to discuss and likely decide whether to go forward or not with the plan in April.
The notion of adding an in-season tournament has been something Commissioner Adam Silver has talked about since at least 2016, drawing the parallel to how such events are customary in European soccer.
Portland 118, Orlando 103: Damian Lillard scored 36 points and CJ McCollum 31 as the Blazers beat the Magic in Portland. Hasaan Whiteside added 10 points and 17 rebounds. Nikola Vucevic scored 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Magic.
Dallas 117, Philadelphia 98: Kristaps Porzingis had 22 points and a career-high 18 rebounds, Tim Hardaway Jr. added 27 points and the Mavs, without injured star guard Luka Doncic, handed the 76ers their second straight home loss.
Oklahoma City 126, Phoenix 108: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a career-high 32 points, and the Thunder rolled past the Suns.
Dennis Schroder scored 24 points and Danilo Gallinari scored 22 for the Thunder, which has won eight of 11 to even its record at 14-14.
