The NBA wrapped up its 2023/24 regular season on Sunday, and the teams and seeds for this year’s play-in tournament have been set.
Boston secured the top seed in the Eastern Conference and home court advantage throughout the playoffs early this month. The top seed for the Western Conference playoffs went down to the wire, with upstart Oklahoma City securing that status on Sunday afternoon.
Here are the play-in matchups:
Eastern Conference
Wednesday, April 17
- Game 1: Miami Heat (8) at Philadelphia 76ers (7), 7:00 pm ET
- Winner secures No. 7 seed; loser plays on Friday.
- Game 2: Atlanta Hawks (10) at Chicago Bulls (9), 9:30 pm ET
- Winner plays on Friday; loser is eliminated.
Friday, April 19
- Winner of Game 2 at Loser of Game 1, TBD
- Winner secures No. 8 seed; loser is eliminated.
Western Conference
Tuesday, April 16
- Game 1: Los Angeles Lakers (8) at New Orleans Pelicans (7), 7:30 pm ET
- Winner secures No. 7 seed; loser plays on Friday.
- Game 2: Golden State Warriors (10) at Sacramento Kings (9), 10:00 pm ET
- Winner plays on Friday; loser is eliminated.
Friday, April 19
- Winner of Game 2 at Loser of Game 1, TBD
- Winner secures No. 8 seed; loser is eliminated.
Once the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds in each conference are set later this week, the eight first-round matchups will be finalized. Those first-round series will tip off on April 20 and 21.
Here are the top six seeds in each conference, along with the matchups that are locked in so far (and Game 1 info, per the NBA):
Eastern Conference
- Boston Celtics (1) vs. No. 8 seed (play-in) ^
- New York Knicks (2) vs. No. 7 seed (play-in) *
- Milwaukee Bucks (3) vs. Indiana Pacers (6) ^
- Cleveland Cavaliers (4) vs. Orlando Magic (5) *
* Series begins on April 20.
^ Series begins on April 21.
Western Conference
- Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. No. 8 seed (play-in) ^
- Denver Nuggets (2) vs. No. 7 seed (play-in) *
- Minnesota Timberwolves (3) vs. Phoenix Suns (6) *
- Los Angeles Clippers (4) vs. Dallas Mavericks (5) ^
* Series begins on April 20.
^ Series begins on April 21.
Lakers fans
Do you want 7th seed and face Nuggets first round?
Do you want to lose to Pelicans on Tuesday and then play Warriors or Kings?
Do you really want two play-in games?
Win vs the pels. Better face the nuggets now than later. Nuggets are favored but the Lakers has a puncher’s chance, at least.
No team wants to lose.
Lakers should have an easy time against the Pels…
They just have their number even when the Pels play at their best… Add in the referees and it’s an easy win…
Kings have been in a slump and should be easily handled by the Warriors…
It’s gonna be hilarious if I’m wrong as I’d love to see the Kings take out the Lakers to make the 8…
“Add in the referees and its an easy win”.
If you think the NBA are favoring this team why are you still following this league?!
Seriously. Everybody who’s all “it’s always rigged when x team plays” should just stop watching the NBA altogether. Just stop. You’re more annoying than the refs when you do that.
The refs had nothing to do with the Lakers dominating the Pelicans yesterday. but the evidence that the lakers get favorable officiating is definitely real over the last 2 seasons. 3 calls/nocalls were on the last 2 minute report which swung the game to the Lakers in the key game against the Grizzlies.
Last 2 seasons?
The numbers still show a fair chunk of favourable calls…
First free throws were in the 2nd quarter for the Pels… Lakers had the Pels in the penalty in the first quarter…
It’s a clear trend that has been a small issue for years, with the stars getting favourable whistles… The gambling industries involvement has just turned up the volume…
Lakers may have gotten the Pels into the penalty in the 1st Q but the Lakers only had 2 ftas to the Pels’ 0. FTA’s Q2 Pels 8, Lakers 1.
Lakers shot 60% in the 1st half to take a 17 pt lead, Pels shot 43% in the half, Zion 17%
Because Silver and co could see the issues and remove the league from the gambling industry and the issues it causes…
It might take a few years and some terrible calls, but the integrity of the sport has to be respectable and it just isn’t right now…
76ers and Heat are going to make it. I think 76ers get 7th and Heat are the 8th.
7th Lakers
8th Pelicans
I don’t understand why the 4/5 and 3/6 matchups aren’t all on Saturday, with the 2/7 and 1/8 contests on Sunday. I understand you don’t necessarily want to give play-in teams any favors, but I think it would make sense to at least give those teams one day of rest before immediately beginning another playoff series