With the conclusion of the NBA regular season this weekend, the keys to the NBA Play-In tournament have been fully defined. Here are all the details.
Eastern Conference
The Eastern Conference features four solid teams, all of which could go far with a little luck. The keys are as follows:
Game 1: Miami Heat vs. Atlanta Falcons
Miami (number 7) comes into this game looking to go far in the postseason. Meanwhile, Atlanta (number 8) had a relatively weak finish to the season. The winner of this game will face the Boston Celtics, who finished second in the conference. The loser of this match will play the third game.
Game 2: Toronto Raptors vs. Chicago Bulls
This matchup pits Toronto (#9) against Chicago (#10). The Raptors have had an inconsistent season so the Bulls will have a good chance to advance. The winner advances to the third game against the loser of the first game.
Third Match: Loser of first match vs. winner of second match
The winner will face the number one team in the Conference, the Milwaukee Bucks, while the loser will go home.
Western Conference
In the West, some big names make it to the tournament right off the bat. The matchups are as follows:
Game 1: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Lakers (number 7) managed to secure their participation in the tournament despite injuries to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Now, they will face Minnesota (number 8), a solid but inexperienced squad. James' talent and his supporting cast are expected to take the win. The winner will meet the Memphis Grizzlies, second in the conference, while the loser will advance to the third game.
Game 2: New Orleans Pelicans vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Pelicans (number 9) come into this match as favorites against the Thunder who have been on a hot streak in the last two weeks. The winner will have to play the third game to advance. The loser is eliminated from the competition.
Third Match: Loser of first match vs. winner of second match
The third game of the inning series will determine the pass to the next round. The winner of this game will face the Denver Nuggets, the top seed in the conference. The loser goes home.
Duel Dates
The dates for the duels are:
- The first game of both conferences will take place on Tuesday, April 11.
- The second game of both conferences is scheduled for Wednesday, April 12.
- The third game of both conferences will be played on Friday 15.
The teams that will face each other in the third game will have an additional day of rest. The teams that have already qualified for the postseason will have a week of rest and preparation while the Play-In duels are being resolved.