CINCINNATI — As someone who loves basketball, I am looking forward to the NBA Playoffs. It’s two months of high-level basketball, and the days off in between games offer a small version of a Super Bowl flavor.
The Play-In Tournament is in its third season, and I think it has been good for the NBA. We have seen a team like the Miami Heat come out of the Play-In Tournament to go on a Cinderella run to the NBA Finals in 2023. We saw Minnesota in 2022 win their Play-In game to get the seventh seed in the Western Conference, then giving second-seeded Memphis all it could handle in the First Round of the Playoffs.
This year, we get a lot of stars in the NBA Play-In Tournament. Philadelphia, a team at the top of the Eastern Conference when Joel Embiid had knee surgery in February, was still able to secure a Playoff berth thanks to the Play-In Tournament. Golden State benefited from the Play-In Tournament, despite finishing tenth in the Western Conference. Thanks to the Play-In, there’s still a chance we get to see Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green in the Playoffs.
Let’s take a look at this year’s NBA Play-In Tournament matchups, starting with the four matchups taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday. I’ll update this post once we know who will play Friday in two win-or-go-home games to determine the No. 8 seeds in both conferences.
Tuesday, April 16th
8. Los Angeles Lakers (47-35) @ 7. New Orleans Pelicans (49-33) – 7:30 p.m. on TNT
Smoothie King Center (New Orleans)
Commentators: Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller, Allie LaForce
The Western Conference was, once again, a beast this season. New Orleans would have tied for third in the Eastern Conference, while Los Angeles would have tied for fifth. Now, these two teams will face off in a rematch from just this past Sunday. The Lakers won in New Orleans just two days ago to send the Pelicans to the Play-In, and now Anthony Davis can further torment the Pelicans fanbase by beating his former team to propel the Lakers into the Playoffs. On the other side, Zion Williamson may be the most mercurial player in the NBA. He oozes with talent, but he leaves so much to be desired by Pelicans fans and NBA fans overall. Here’s a golden opportunity for him and the Pelicans to take the next step and beat a Lakers team with two future Hall of Famers and get into the Playoffs with four days off before Game 1 in Denver.
Regular-Season Matchups (Lakers won series 3-1)
Dec. 7, 2023: Lakers 133-Pelicans 89
Dec. 31, 2023: Pelicans 129-Lakers 109
Feb. 9, 2024: Lakers 139-Pelicans 122
April 14, 2024: Lakers 124-Pelicans 108
Game Pick: Lakers 114-Pelicans 107
10. Golden State Warriors (46-36) @ 9. Sacramento Kings (46-36) – 10 p.m. on TNT
Golden1 Center (Sacramento, California)
Commentators: Brian Anderson, Stan Van Gundy, Chris Haynes
ESPN Radio: Mike Couzens, Kelenna Azubuike
These two teams gave us a great seven-game series in the First Round of the 2023 Playoffs. And if you like offense, this game could offer plenty of it. These two teams ranked eighth and ninth in scoring in the regular-season, and both teams have plenty of offensive weapons. The Warriors have the Splash Brothers and a pedigree that includes four NBA Championships from 2015-2022. The Kings have De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, the latter of which had 26 triple-double in the regular season while averaging a double-double on the season. Keep in mind that the winner of this game is still not in the Playoffs and the loser will have their season come to an end. These are two really talented teams, and this is just a Play-In game.
Regular-Season Matchups (Series tied 2-2)
Oct. 27, 2023: Warriors 122-Kings 114
Nov. 1, 2023: Warriors 102-Kings 101
Nov. 28, 2023: Kings 124-Warriors 123
Jan. 25, 2024: Kings 134-Warriors 133
Game Pick: Warriors 121-Kings 118
Wednesday, April 17th
8. Miami Heat (46-36) @ 7. Philadelphia 76ers (47-35) – 7 p.m. on ESPN
Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia)
Commentators: Mike Breen, JJ Reddick, Doris Burke, Lisa Salters
Another great matchup, and both teams could end up in the Playoffs. Keep in mind Miami was in this 8-7 game last season where they lost to Atlanta. But a win over Chicago gave them the No. 8 seed, and they would upset Milwaukee, New York and Boston en route to the NBA Finals. Philadelphia has not played in the Play-In Tournament since its inception in 2021. There’s a case to be made they are only in this Tournament this season because Joel Embiid missed nearly two months after undergoing knee surgery. They may be seventh in the East and may end up being a No. 7 seed, but they are a dangerous team in the Playoffs if they get in.
Regular-Season Matchups (Series tied 2-2)
Dec. 25, 2023: Heat 119-76ers 113
Feb. 14, 2024: Heat 109-76ers 104
March 18, 2024: 76ers 98-Heat 91
April 4, 2024: 76ers 109-Heat 105
Game Pick: 76ers 110-Heat 102
10. Atlanta Hawks (36-46) @ 9. Chicago Bulls (39-43) – 9:30 p.m. on ESPN
United Center (Chicago)
Commentators: Ryan Ruocco, Richard Jefferson, Cassidy Hubbarth
ESPN Radio: Sean Kelley, Cory Alexander
Even though both teams finished with losing records, this matchup features star players on both sides in Trae Young of the Hawks and DeMar DeRozan of the Bulls. Both teams are veterans of the Play-In Tournament, having both played in it in 2023 and the Hawks winning two games to get the No. 8 seed in the 2022 NBA Playoffs.
Regular-Season Matchups (Bulls won 2-1)
Dec. 26, 2023: Bulls 118-Hawks 113
Feb. 12, 2024: Bulls 136-Hawks 126
April 1, 2024: Hawks 113-Bulls 101
Game Pick: Hawks 118-Bulls 115
Friday, April 19th
9. Chicago Bulls @ 8. Miami Heat – 7 p.m. on ESPN
Kaseya Center (Miami)
Commentators: Ryan Ruocco, Richard Jefferson, Cassidy Hubbarth
ESPN Radio: Jorge Sedano, Cory Alexander
These two teams met last year in the Play-In Tournament to battle for the No. 8 seed. Miami won the game, outscoring the Bulls 35-23 in the fourth quarter, and then went on an incredible run to the NBA Finals. Miami is going to need that kind of performance on Friday night, but can they rely on their inconsistent offense to carry them into the Playoffs?
The Bulls looked great offensively in their Play-In win over the Hawks Wednesday night, shooting nearly 57 percent in a 131-116 win. Coby White was the star with 42 points, and Nikola Vucevic had 24 points and 12 rebounds. DeMar DeRozan also had 22 points and nine assists.
Regular-Season Matchups (Series tied 2-2)
Nov. 18, 2023: Bulls 102-Heat 97
Nov. 20, 2023: Heat 118-Bulls 100
Dec. 14, 2023: Bulls 124-Heat 116
Dec. 16, 2023: Heat 118-Bulls 116
Game Pick: Bulls 114-Heat 111
9. Sacramento Kings @ 7. New Orleans Pelicans – 9:30 p.m. on TNT
Smoothie King Center (New Orleans)
Commentators: Ian Eagle, Grant Hill, Jared Greenberg
ESPN Radio: Marc Kestecher, P.J. Carlesimo
I think the Pelicans missed their chance to get into the Playoffs. They played a great game Tuesday night against the Lakers, and they still came up short. What’s worse is Zion Williamson isn’t going to play Friday night after straining his left hamstring injury Tuesday night. Williamson is mercurial, but he was great Tuesday night with 40 points and 11 rebounds. However, the Pelicans went 7-5 without him this season.
Sacramento made a statement Tuesday night against Golden State. A 24-point win against that team, especially after losing to them in seven games in last year’s First Round, is a big step forward for that team. Their offense is electric, and it can put pressure on the Pelicans. Not to mention, there’s already pressure on the Pelicans having already lost a home game in the Play-In Tournament. No team has ever lost two home games in the Play-In Tournament since its inception in 2021.
Regular-Season Matchups (Pelicans won 5-0)
Nov. 20, 2023: Pelicans 129-Kings 93
Nov. 22, 2023: Pelicans 117-Kings 112
Dec. 4, 2023: Pelicans 127-Kings 117
Jan. 7, 2024: Pelicans 133-Kings 100
April 11, 2024: Pelicans 135-Kings 123
Game Pick: Kings 119-Pelicans 113
Let me be Frank and Cut to the Chase 