As the NBA season winds down, teams are gearing up for the final push towards the playoffs. For most franchises, the next few days provide a much-needed breather between the grueling 82-game marathon and the intense four-round sprint to the championship. However, for eight teams—four from each conference—the stakes are much higher. These teams will be battling it out in the play-in tournament, which offers the last two playoff berths in both the Eastern and Western Conferences.
The play-in tournament serves as a critical qualifying round that determines the last playoff spots. Of the eight teams participating, four will secure either the No. 7 or No. 8 seed for the playoffs, while the other four will face an early summer break. The tournament format favors the teams that finished higher in the standings during the regular season. Specifically, the two teams that claimed the seventh and eighth seeds will have a more straightforward path to the playoffs compared to those who ended up ninth and tenth.
The tournament kicks off on Tuesday night. The teams currently seeded seventh—the Golden State Warriors in the West and the Orlando Magic in the East—will host the eighth-seeded teams: the Memphis Grizzlies and the Atlanta Hawks, respectively. The winners of these matchups will advance to the playoffs as the seventh seed, facing off against the second seed in the opening round.
On Wednesday, the ninth-seeded teams—the Sacramento Kings and Chicago Bulls—will play against the tenth-seeded teams, the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat. The losing teams from these matchups will be eliminated from playoff contention. To wrap up the tournament, the Tuesday night losers will host the Wednesday night winners on Friday to determine the eighth and final seed in each conference.
To summarize, the Warriors and Magic need just one victory to secure their playoff spots, while the Kings, Bulls, Mavericks, and Heat must achieve two wins to advance.
As we anticipate the first night of the play-in tournament, here are our predictions for the matchups.
Atlanta Hawks at Orlando MagicThis Southeast Division clash marks the fifth meeting of the season between the Atlanta Hawks and the Orlando Magic, serving as a tiebreaker of sorts after the teams split their previous four encounters 2-2. However, the final game of the regular season saw both teams resting key players, which may skew the significance of their record.
The Hawks boast considerable offensive talent, and a standout performance from Trae Young could be the key to clinching the seventh seed. However, the Magic's defensive prowess could prove to be the decisive factor. If Orlando can complement its defense with strong scoring from star forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, they stand a good chance of securing a victory.
Prediction: Magic 115, Hawks 109
Memphis Grizzlies at Golden State WarriorsThe Golden State Warriors have had the upper hand in their season series against the Memphis Grizzlies, going 3-1. However, past matchups may not reflect the outcome of this critical game. The Warriors made a significant roster change with the acquisition of Jimmy Butler, while the Grizzlies recently parted ways with former coach Taylor Jenkins.
The most recent encounter, played on April 1, was an exhilarating battle, showcasing star players such as Stephen Curry, who scored 52 points, and Ja Morant, who contributed 36 points. If the Warriors are healthy, they stand a good chance of defeating the Grizzlies once again, especially considering Memphis's struggles in the latter half of the season.
Prediction: Warriors 120, Grizzlies 113
As excitement builds for the play-in tournament, basketball fans can expect thrilling matchups that will set the stage for the playoffs ahead.
