NBA Play-In Games Preview (April 12 - 13)
As of the last few years, the NBA playoffs aren’t set until seeds seven through 10 in both NBA conferences battle it out. In the East, the seventh-seeded Nets will host the eighth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers tomorrow night. This will be followed by a battle between the Hornets and the Hawks in Atlanta on Wednesday. In the West, the Timberwolves will host the Clippers Tuesday night. The last set game will feature the Pelicans hosting the Spurs in New Orleans and it’s the winning team getting a chance to play the loser of the Clippers/Timberwolves on Friday. Let’s take a look at the matchups that are set between the current seventh to tenth seeds in both conferences, to eliminate four of eight teams featured in this article from the NBA playoffs.
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Tuesday, April 12
Eastern Conference: 8. Cleveland Cavaliers at 7. Brooklyn Nets
The Nets right now are playing the most lethal basketball they have all season. With the messy non-vaccination situation affecting Kyrie Irving out of the way after New York City Mayor Eric Adams modified previous restrictions, the Nets have been able to play multiple consecutive games at the end of the season with their two best players. On Friday, Kevin Durant dropped 36 points against the Cavs in a crucial 118-107 win which sealed the seventh seed for the Nets ahead of Tuesday’s play-in games.
The Cavs might be without Jarrett Allen for Tuesday’s games. He is currently listed as questionable as a result of the finger injury which has kept him out since March. 6. While he could play on Tuesday, the Cavs’ outlook against the Nets looks bleak. Brooklyn has won nine of its last twelve games of the regular season. They’re closing out the regular season with four consecutive wins, and look rock-solid heading into Tuesday night. If Brooklyn manages to lose this game at home, especially now that Kyrie is allowed to play in Brooklyn, the Nets would really make me, and most of us, look like naive fools. This should be a fun one to watch, and I think Cleveland will compete to keep things interesting. While Jarett Allen’s status for Tuesday remains unclear (but likely inactive), the Cavs will work it in the paint with their rookie stud Evan Mobley. Darius Garland is always a threat when the ball is in his hands as well.
Western Conference: 8. Los Angeles Clippers at 7. Minnesota Timberwolves
This game should be a much more even matchup than the Nets' matchup against the Cavaliers. The Timberwolves finished the regular season five games ahead of the Clippers. While Paul George returned to the Clippers to play great basketball, Minnesota has much more depth. The T-Wolves have the better roster with Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, and D’Angelo Russel all ready to go for Tuesday night.
While PG-13 is in form and ready to go, Kawhi’s absence from the team has certainly damaged the Clippers’ season. Nonetheless, the Clippers finished the season on a high note, winning their last five regular-season games, including a 138-88 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night. It is noteworthy that Paul George did not play last night, but the Clippers still managed to score 138 points without him. Amir Coffey erupted for 35 points (13-22 FG), 13 boards, and five assists. This is a guy who is averaging 22.7 MPG through 69 games played this season for nine points per game. Seven Clippers last night scored in double-figures, which demonstrates how capable they are working as a team even without their superstar.
The winning teams of Tuesday’s games earn 7th seeds in their respective conferences and qualify for the NBA playoffs.
Wednesday, April 13
Eastern Conference: 10. Charlotte Hornets at 9. Atlanta Hawks
At the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings are the Hornets and the Hawks. Gordon Hayward had been out since early February before playing one 17-minute game in April. 2. Hayward has not played since this game, and will not participate in the play-in game against the Hawks. Likewise, Atlanta will probably be without one of their best players, John Collins. The explosive big out of Wake Forest has been sidelined since March 11 and is listed as questionable ahead of Tuesday’s game. Both the Hornets and the Hawks finished the regular season with an identical record of 43 wins for 39 losses. The Hawks have been a very strong team defending the home floor, going 27-14 this season at the Spectrum Center. The second-seeded Milwaukee Bucks have won and lost the same amount of home games as the Hawks have this season. Atlanta has the upper hand going into Wednesday night’s game. Trae Young will look to build on his invaluable experience in the playoffs last year, and at the very least help, the Hawks make it to the first round of the NBA playoffs.
It is definitely crucial to know that Charlotte has been hot towards the end of the regular season. The Hornets are 11-4 over their last 15 games. This includes a 116-106 win over the Hawks. Both teams will likely face off without one of their starting forwards (John Collins and Gordon Hayward). Although the Hornets are balling right now, Trae Young’s playoff experience last year and the home-court advantage should overwhelm Lamelo Ball and Miles Bridges, at least before the tip-off. As a Knicks fan, I’m cheering for the Hornets in this game. As an analyst, the Hawks have the edge going in over the Hornets despite Charlotte’s outstanding play through the last 15 games of the regular season.
Western Conference: 10. San Antonio Spurs at 9. New Orleans Pelicans
I think the Spurs have the team chemistry and superior talent to steal a win from New Orleans on Wednesday night and help Greg Popovich fight his way into the NBA Playoffs. The Pelicans have made the play-in tournament because C.J. McCollum left Portland with a punctured lung to average 25.2 PPG in a total of 25 games played for New Orleans this season.
This season, McCollum averaged 20.5 PPG through 36 games played in Portland before making his way down to the Big Easy. Although C.J. has gotten more offensive opportunities in NOLA, the Pelicans have been 14-11 since he joined the roster. In contrast, the Spurs have definitely been one of the hottest teams in the West in this last bit of the season, winning seven of their last 10 games.
The winning teams of these two games will play the losers of Tuesday’s games in their respective conference. The losing teams for Wednesday’s games will be disqualified from the NBA playoffs.
Play-In Games on Friday, April 15
Eastern Conference: Winner of Hawks/Hornets (4/13) vs. Loser of Nets/Cavaliers (4/12)
Western Conference: Winner of Pelicans/Spurs (4/13) vs. Loser of Timberwolves/Clippers (4/12)
Winning teams in Friday’s games will earn the eighth seed within their respective Conference. Losings teams will be disqualified from the NBA playoffs.
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