Play-In Tournament Predictions

This year’s play-in tournament will be exciting to watch with a loaded Western Conference and the Eastern Conference teams battling back from injuries. This tournament includes teams that finish 7-10 in the standings for each conference. They will play in an elimination tournament to determine who gets the 7th and 8th seeds in the playoffs for their respective conferences. This is a prediction on how the play-in tournament games will unfold and who will fill in the final playoff spots.

 

 

 

 

The Pelicans have been a better overall team on both sides of the floor this year than the Lakers. However, in head-to-head matchups, the Lakers have come out on top in 3 out of their 4 games this season. This Pelicans team has only played 1 playoff series together losing in the first round in 2022 and missed the playoffs last season. LeBron James and Anthony Davis have had dominant careers and know how to win in the playoffs. They can take over in a 1-game tournament matchup to secure a playoff spot.

 

 

 

 

A rematch of last year’s first round series that went to 7 games that the Warriors eventually won. This season, their head-to-head games were split 2-2 as they were mostly close games. The Kings will be without 2 key rotation players in Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk due to injuries, and the Warriors will be without Gary Payton II. The Kings have declined in the past couple weeks going 4-7 in their last 11 games, while the Warriors have won 10 of their last 12. Steph Curry and the Warriors have played in numerous big games over the past decade and in a single-game elimination it’s hard to pick against them even though the Kings will come out seeking revenge from last year’s playoff exit.

 

 

 

 

 

Both teams have dealt with injuries all season long, but both teams should be relatively healthy for the post-season. The 76ers are on an 8-game win streak (including a win over the Heat), largely due to Embiid’s return. The Miami Heat always seem to step up and turn on the gas once the playoffs start. Last year, they made the NBA Finals as a play-in team, and they will look to get back there this season. However, the 76ers are a better team when fully healthy and matchup well with the Heat.

 

 

 

 

The Hawks and Bulls are both below 0.500, but this is still an entertaining matchup between Trae Young and DeMar DeRozan. The head-to-head games this year between these two teams is 2-1 in favor of the Bulls. The Bulls have home court advantage, and the Hawks are without 3 rotation players in Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu, and Saddiq Bey. If this becomes a close game down the stretch, DeRozan could take this game over as he has been one of the best players in clutch time situations.

 

 

 

 

 

This is a rematch of last years play-in game. The Heat made a comeback to secure the win, eventually reaching the NBA Finals. Eric Spoelstra is one of the best coaches in the league, and playoff Jimmy and the rest of the Heat always seem to turn it up a notch in the playoffs. The Heat are a better team and should be able to take care of business to get the last playoff seed in the East.

 

 

 

 

The Pelicans matchup well with the Warriors. They play big and physical, have length and are a top 10 defense in the league. The Pelicans are 2-1 in head-to-head matchups this season with their most recent win on April 12th last week. However, while the Warriors aren’t the same championship Warriors in previous seasons, Steph Curry could still take over a single-game elimination to advance his team to the playoffs. With all that being said, this is a tough matchup to predict, but the Pelicans are a better team and have a slight edge over the Warriors.

 

 

 

 

7th Seed – Los Angeles Lakers

8th Seed – New Orleans Pelicans

 

7th Seed – Philadelphia 76ers

8th Seed – Miami Heat