While some games in the NBA’s play-in tournament have been a little more exciting than others, the end result of all four has been the same so far: the higher seed has advanced.
That means we’ve got a pair of No. 8 vs. No. 9 matchups on tap, with the final playoff spot in each conference on the line, starting on Thursday night with the Eastern Conference….
Indiana Pacers (9) at Washington Wizards (8)
Given the way the last month of their respective seasons played out, the red-hot Wizards looked like a safe bet to earn a playoff spot, while the inconsistent, injury-plagued Pacers seemed to be a candidate for an early exit. But Washington couldn’t knock off Boston on Tuesday, and a shorthanded Indiana squad dominated Charlotte, setting up an elimination game between the two teams for Thursday.
Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook fueled the Wizards’ 17-6 finish to the season, but neither player looked quite like himself on Tuesday. Beal, still bothered by a hamstring injury, scored 22 points on 10-of-25 shooting, a subpar night by his lofty standards. Westbrook was worse — after averaging a monster line of 23.0 PPG, 14.0 APG, and 13.5 RPG in Washington’s final 23 games, he shot just 6-of-18 on Tuesday and had nearly as many turnovers (4) as assists (5).
To advance on Thursday, the Wizards will need more from their two backcourt stars and from $80MM man Davis Bertans, who missed all seven of his 3-point attempts on Tuesday and was a game-worst minus-23.
As for the Pacers, even without key players like Caris LeVert, Myles Turner, and T.J. Warren available, they put up 144 points in their win over Charlotte. But the Hornets had backed into the play-in tournament, losing 15 of their last 21 games of the regular season, and were dealing with injury absences of their own, including standout forward Gordon Hayward. Indiana will face a more difficult challenge on Thursday and will no longer benefit from home-court advantage.
What do you think? Will the Wizards or Pacers win on Thursday and clinch the East’s No. 8 seed?
Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.
Memphis Grizzlies (9) at Golden State Warriors (8)
The Warriors defeated the Grizzlies on the last day of the regular season to earn the No. 8 seed in the play-in tournament. On Friday, just five days later, they’ll be looking to repeat that result to clinch the No. 8 seed for the playoffs.
Although the Warriors couldn’t pick up a win on Wednesday, their performance against the defending-champion Lakers showed why they’ll enter Friday’s game as the favorites. The Dubs held the Lakers to 40.7% shooting and led for most of the night, but a miracle LeBron James three-pointer broke a tie in the game’s final minute.
Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins, who combined for 58 of Golden State’s 100 points on Wednesday, may need a little more help on Friday, but the fact that Los Angeles couldn’t slow down Curry (37 points on 12-of-23 shooting) even with so much defensive attention on him is an encouraging sign for the Warriors.
The Grizzlies shouldn’t be ruled out, however. While the final score in Wednesday’s 100-96 win over San Antonio was close, Memphis dominated the minutes that Ja Morant (+20) and Jonas Valanciunas (+26) played and figure to lean heavily on that duo again on Friday.
The Grizzlies’ chances of hanging with Golden State and pulling off the upset hinge not only on Valanciunas’ ability to punish the Warriors inside like he did the Spurs (23 points, 23 rebounds), but on Memphis’ ability to play good defense while the veteran center is on the court. In Sunday’s loss, Valanciunas racked up 29 points and 16 boards, but the Grizzlies posted an awful 127.0 defensive rating during his 36 minutes.
What do you think? Will the Warriors or Grizzlies win on Friday and lock up the No. 8 seed in the West?
Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Both home teams will win and this whole play in tourney will be shown to be a complete waste of time because the 7 & 8 seeds will still be the 7 & 8 seeds.
Better cry some more about it.
Don’t like it, mute me. I’m not begging for you as an audience.
Don’t like being called a crybaby, mute me. I”m not your safe space.
I’m pretty sure the 10’s of millions of dollars made by the league and players says otherwise.
That proves the point. It’s a waste of time money grab.
Money= us viewing.
JVG is the waste.
So true X !!!
Analysts says the play in were a huge success because it happens to be gsw and the lakers having a good game. How about if its not them!?
Well, I think the blowout between Washington and Indiana kind of answers that question for you. I changed the channel a while ago.
The play in is not just about the games themselves and it makes around 1/3 of the teams trying instead of not caring at the end of the season. 6 seed is trying to not fall to the play in. 7 and 8 seed trying to get out of the play in. 9 and 10 seed trying to be 8 and 9 seeds. 11 seed trying to make the play in.
Moreover, the play in itself gives a rare chance for fans to see how the lower seeded teams perform in important games against opponents of similar seeding instead of getting desotryed by the top seeds or not playing at all.
Great points Rewane !!
Children, children…behave yourselves or I will have to give you a timeout.
Were those stats right? Valens. had a +16 in that game, seems odd he would have a poor defensive rating.
Well this may be the game that Melton breaks out, since Curry will need covered.
Yesterday brought me even and probably these games will too. MEM & IND, as I assume WAS has health problems.
Valanciunas was a -13 on Sunday.
Okay, previous game. Darn Melton was negative too. Does not look good.
I won’t be too surprised if Memphis beats Golden State.
The Grizzlies lost twice to the Warriors so far this season. It would be an upset to finally win one.
Put down the pipe.
Wiz swept IND in the regular season, they win again. GS has a shoulder chip after LA game, they win.
Wizards and grizzlies is my guess.
Hey you nailed it. Nice. I had Wizards & Warriors. Oh well. Nice job though. I’m wondering if the Grizzlies can give Utah any problems in the next one. We’ll see.
Neither of the #8 seeded teams is a shoo-in to advance.
Fratello should be fired for saying Raul Neto is a good player. That’s a violation if I ever heard one. Turn in your badge.
Fratello is like 75 years old. Cut him some slack. I actually think he’s not bad, and he actually asks some decent questions of coaches when given the chance.
I hope the Grizzlies don’t phone it in tomorrow like the Pacers did tonight.
What makes you think that the Grizzlies will win if they play their best? They have lost to the Warriors twice. What makes you think they will play any better this time.
What happened? Did the Wiz tank earlier?
WallyWorld hates the Warriors like Marty McRae, except for Wardell Curry II. The whole organization is terrible. So, he thinks they will beat the Warriors. It is always easy to irritate WallyWorld
I don’t think the Grizzlies will mail it in. They’re young and hungry. Jaren Jackson Jr hasn’t played a lot so he wants to show what he can do and so will ja Morant. They know everybody’s watching The Warriors so this is their chance to show what they’ve got.
As a warrior fan I am in no way counting this as a guaranteed victory. That Brooks guy plays pretty strong defense and he D Curry pretty well the last game. I’ll be watching from tip-off till the end even if it’s a blowout. These guys like Mulder and Pashcal need to get some run because you know they’ll be needed at some point in the playoffs