The Earvin Edit

The matchups for the NBA play-in tournament are set, and basketball fans are excited to see who will secure a spot in the NBA Playoffs. Four games will begin on Tuesday, and it remains to be seen which of the eight teams will compete for the final playoff seeds and which will see their season come to an end.

Written by Earvin Adjei

With the NBA regular season finally coming to a conclusion, it’s time to turn our attention to the play-in tournament. Many teams look to extend their season and the early slate of matchups is set to deliver the competitiveness of the NBA postseason. From veteran-led squads looking to keep their championship hopes alive to young squads hoping to make a name for themselves, here’s a look at the early matchups and predictions to how the play-in tournament might shake out.

Atlanta Hawks at Orlando Magic

The first game of the play-in tournament will feature the Atlanta Hawks traveling to Orlando to face the Magic. Both teams have struggled to find their footing throughout the season, but they managed to secure the 7th and 8th seeds. The Magic’s difficulties can be largely attributed to a slew of injuries that sidelined their star players, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, who both missed several weeks due to oblique injuries. Their absence significantly impacted the team’s performance. On the other hand, the Hawks hovered around the .500 mark for most of the season and seemed to signal a rebuild when they traded DeAndre Hunter, a key 3-and-D player in their rotation. Despite this trade, Atlanta maintained a steady level of play, led by Trae Young and rookie Zaccharie Risacher, who showed tremendous growth as the season went on. In my opinion, the Magic have a more talented and experienced roster, which will lead them to victory in this game. Orlando is eager to return to the playoffs after suffering a heartbreaking loss in Game 7 last year, and that motivation will be enough for them to come out on top in this matchup.

Prediction: Magic win

Memphis Grizzlies at Golden State Warriors

This one’s a grudge match. The last time these teams met in a postseason setting, Golden State ended Memphis’ season in the 2022 West Semis. The seasons for Golden State and Memphis presented two contrasting narratives. Earlier in the season, Memphis held the second seed in the Western Conference with an impressive 38-20 record. However, following the All-Star break, the Grizzlies struggled to maintain that success, finishing the season with a disappointing 10-14 record and a firing of head coach Taylor Jenkins. On the other hand, the Warriors experienced a resurgence after making an in-season trade for Jimmy Butler. The dubs started 25–26 and sat outside the playoff picture — until a midseason trade for Jimmy Butler flipped the script. They finished strong with a record of 23-8, including a notable win against Memphis in which Stephen Curry dropped 52 points. Memphis has struggled offensively all season, while Golden State has the defenders needed to contain Ja Morant and his supporting cast. With Golden State’s experience, momentum, and the Grizzlies’ offensive struggles, this feels like a Warriors W.

Prediction: Warriors win

Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls

Who could have predicted that the Chicago Bulls would finish the season stronger than the Miami Heat? “Heat Culture” seemed to have diminished following the trade of Jimmy Butler. Since trading the star forward, the team has looked lost, losing 21 of their last 33 games, and even enduring a 10-game losing streak. Chicago, on the other hand, finally turned the page. Led by Coby White and offseason addition Josh Giddey, the Bulls notched signature wins against playoff-caliber squads like the Lakers (twice) and the Nuggets. They’re young, energetic, and playing with house money. Despite this, I think Miami finds just enough grit to escape with a narrow win. Erik Spoelstra is arguably the best coach in the league when it comes to postseason prep, and stars Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo are experienced with playoff pressure and high-stakes games. In the end, Miami’s veteran presence — both on the roster and the sidelines — may be too much for this young Bulls team to overcome.

Prediction: Heat win

Dallas Mavericks at Sacramento Kings

The Dallas Mavericks completely fell apart this season. After an NBA Finals appearance last season, the team shockingly traded away their franchise superstar, Luka Dončić, going 13-20 following the trade. Anthony Davis, who was acquired in exchange for Dončić, had a lengthy injury absence and played just nine games for Dallas. To make matters worse, the team’s leading scorer, Kyrie Irving, tore his ACL on March 3 — ironically, in a loss to these same Kings. Given these circumstances, it’s easy to see why I am picking the Kings to win this matchup. Although Sacramento hasn’t been particularly impressive this season, they have home court advantage and the healthier roster. The trio of DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Domantas Sabonis continue to be reliable, and the Kings finished the season with a top-10 offensive rating. Dallas is running on fumes at this point and should be looking to take a long look in the mirror this offseason. Expect Sacramento to control the pace and win comfortably.

Prediction: Kings win