The NBA play-in tournament matchups have been decided, with the Los Angeles Lakers facing the New Orleans Pelicans and the Golden State Warriors taking on the Sacramento Kings for an elimination game. The Miami Heat will also compete in the play-in, facing the Philadelphia 76ers for the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference. These games will determine the final playoff seeding and matchups for the first round.
The East playoff seeds are as follows: Boston, New York, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Orlando, Indiana, Philadelphia, Miami, Chicago, and Atlanta. In the West, the order is from No. 1 to No. 10: Oklahoma City, Denver, Minnesota, LA Clippers, Dallas, Phoenix, New Orleans, Lakers, Sacramento, and Golden State. The Thunder finished No. 1 in the West, setting them up for a strong playoff run.
The regular season’s final day saw some blowout victories, including Oklahoma City beating Dallas by 49 points, Indiana defeating Atlanta by 42 points, and Orlando taking down Milwaukee by 25 points. The Heat-76ers winner will face the Knicks in Round 1, while the loser will play the Hawks-Bulls winner for the chance to meet No. 1 seed Boston. In the West, the Lakers-Pelicans winner will face defending champion Denver, while the loser will play the Sacramento-Golden State winner for the right to play No. 1 seed Oklahoma City.
The Warriors will face a crucial play-in game against the Kings, with Game 7-type consequences on the line. Golden State coach Steve Kerr is expecting a challenging atmosphere but is confident in his team’s ability to perform. The Suns, who defeated Minnesota on Sunday, will return there for a Game 1 matchup next weekend. Cleveland secured the No. 4 seed in the East for the second consecutive year, despite missing the opportunity to move up in the standings in their final game against Charlotte, ultimately lost to the Hornets.
The playoff matchups and seeding have created excitement and anticipation among NBA fans, with teams like the Lakers, Warriors, Heat, and 76ers all fighting for their spot in the postseason. With the play-in games and first-round matchups set, the stage is set for an intense and competitive playoff season. The final games of the regular season provided some dramatic moments, and teams are now gearing up for the challenges ahead as they strive for a chance to compete for the NBA championship.
