NBA fans have desperately asked for parity, and recent NBA Playoffs have delivered some of the most electrifying moments in nearly a decade. As the NBA Play-In Tournament kicks off tomorrow, let’s dive into the matchups that will shape the full playoff landscape. Two critical play-in games are set for tomorrow, potentially leading to a showdown between two of the NBA’s biggest superstars for the eighth seed in the Western Conference.
The first play-in game of the two will see Zion Williamson and the seventh-seeded New Orleans Pelicans face off against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers clinched a win in yesterday’s preview of this matchup, taking the season series 3-1. Brandon Ingram, returning from a month-long absence due to a knee contusion, will be crucial for stretching the Lakers’ defense and opening lanes for Zion to dominate at the rim. His ability to score and stretch out the defense of the Los Angeles Lakers is key to Zion being able to find lanes to get to the rim and score at will. Additionally, Anthony Davis facing his former team adds another layer of intrigue, promising a gritty and competitive battle. Fresh from becoming the first NBA player in history to achieve 40K points, 11K assists, and 1K rebounds, LeBron is not expected to go down without a fight.
Zion Williamson finished the season averaging 23 points, five rebounds, five assists, and a steal. The winner of this matchup will play the defending champion Denver Nuggets, who finished the season with the second-best record in the Western Conference.
The second matchup of the night has Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors taking a quick trip to play in-state rival the Sacramento Kings.
The tenth-seed Warriors are coming into playoffs with some encouraging momentum. As the contributions of Klay Thompson as a reliable six-man continue to flourish, while Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins are starting to find a new stride, this Warriors team feels like they’re primed for a run. They have to face off against the same team they beat in the playoffs in the first round last season: A feisty and exciting Sacramento Kings team that has battled injuries all year.
With six-man Malik Monk out for the season, it will be imperative that someone like former Golden State Warrior Harrison Barnes, Kevin Heurter, or Keon Ellis step up on both sides of the floor to help the duo of De’AAron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. The season series between these two teams was fiercely competitive, with three games decided by just one point. The Kings, fueled by their enthusiastic home crowd, are eager to secure their playoff position in a potential Thursday matchup against the loser of the Lakers/Pelicans game.
Steph Curry averaged 34 points, five rebounds, and five assists in this series last season in the first round of the playoffs. Head Coach Mike Brown of the Sacramento Kings was an assistant at Golden State for a while and will schematically try his best to minimize the damage Curry can do. If he can get a solid game from his duo and hold Curry under 30, the Kings may be able to return the favor of sending the Warriors home in April.
Tomorrow’s two games will be on TNT. The crew will prepare you for the games at 7 p.m. Eastern.
