The NBA playoffs are set to begin on Tuesday with the start of the play-in tournament, which will determine the final two qualifiers in both the Eastern and Western Conference. Teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors, who have won championships in the past, are in the running for another title this year. The pairings for the play-in games were not decided until the last game of the regular season due to congestion in the standings of both conferences.
In the Western Conference, the LA Lakers will face off against the New Orleans Pelicans, while the Golden State Warriors will take on the Sacramento Kings in the play-in games. The winners of these matchups will then face the losers of the other game to determine who will secure the final playoff spots in the West. In the Eastern Conference, the Miami Heat will play the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Atlanta Hawks will take on the Chicago Bulls in the play-in games.
The play-in format was adopted by the NBA Board of Governors in the 2020 COVID season due to scheduling irregularities caused by the pandemic. Initially met with criticism, the play-in games have now become a permanent fixture in the league. While the play-in games have generally followed form, there have been instances where lower seeds have advanced to the playoffs, such as the Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, and Atlanta Hawks in recent years.
In the Eastern Conference, a tiebreaker rule involving the Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers, and Philadelphia 76ers determined the seeding for the play-in games. The Magic, as the division winner, received the fifth seed, while the Pacers won the season series against the 76ers, earning them the sixth seed. This left the 76ers in the play-in round, where they will face off against the Miami Heat. The winner of this game will take on the New York Knicks in a best-of-seven playoff series.
In the Western Conference, the Phoenix Suns secured the sixth seed and avoided the play-in games by defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday. Oklahoma City Thunder claimed the top seed, followed by the defending champion Denver Nuggets in second place. The Lakers and the Warriors will compete in the play-in games, with the winners advancing to the playoffs. Both teams have a history of success in the NBA, with the Warriors winning the championship in 2022 and the Lakers securing the title in 2020.
