NBA play-in tournament preview
Photo Credit: NBA.com
With the NBA regular season complete, the attention switches to the highly-anticipated playoffs. Before the playoffs begin on April 19, the 7-seeds through 10-seeds in each conference participate in the play-in tournament for the right to make the postseason. With the play-in matchups set to start on Tuesday, let’s take a look at how the teams stack up against each other.
Eastern Conference
No. 8 Atlanta Hawks at No.7 Orlando Magic (Tuesday, April 15/7:30 PM ET)
The winner represents the Eastern Conference as the No. 7 seed in the NBA playoffs. The loser hosts the winner of the Eastern Conference’s No. 9 vs. No. 10 game for the right to represent the Eastern Conference as the No. 8 seed in the NBA playoffs.
Orlando Magic
Team Notes
Second in the league in defensive rating (109.1)
Led the league in blocks per game (6.0)
Led the league in personal fouls drawn per game (20.3)
Forward Franz Wagner led the team in points per game (24.1)
Guard Jalen Suggs (knee) and center Moritz Wagner (knee) are out for the season
Atlanta Hawks
Team Notes
Second in the league in steals per game (9.7)
Third in free throws made per game (18.0)
Fifth in the league in points per game (118.2)
Guard Trae Young led the team in points per game (24.2)
Center Clint Capela (hand), and forwards Larry Nance Jr. (knee) and Jalen Johnson (shoulder) are out with injuries
Season Series
The Orlando Magic won the season series 2-1
No. 10 Miami Heat at No. 9 Chicago Bulls (Wednesday, April 16/10 PM ET)
The winner plays the loser of the Eastern Conference’s No. 7 vs. No. 8 game for the right to represent the Eastern Conference as the No. 8 seed in the NBA playoffs.
Chicago Bulls
Team Notes
Led the league in defensive rebounds per game (35.8)
Third in three-pointers made per game (15.4)
Third in free throw percentage (80.9)
Guard Coby White led the team in points per game (20.4)
Guards Ayo Dosunmu (shoulder) and Lonzo Ball (wrist) will be out
Miami Heat
Team Notes
Led the league in the least amount of personal fouls per game (15.5)
Eighth in free throw percentage (79.1)
Ninth in defensive rebounds per game (33.7)
Guard Tyler Herro led the team in points per game (23.9)
Guard Dru Smith (Achilles) is out for the season
Season Series
The Chicago Bulls won the season series 3-0
Western Conference
No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies at No. 7 Golden State Warriors (Tuesday, April 15/7:30 PM ET)
The winner represents the Western Conference as the No. 7 seed in the NBA playoffs. The loser hosts the winner of the Western Conference’s No. 9 vs. No. 10 game for the right to represent the Western Conference as the No. 8 seed in the NBA playoffs.
Golden State Warriors
Team Notes
Fourth in the league in three-pointers made per game (15.4)
Fourth in assists per game (29.1)
Fifth in offensive rebounds per game (12.5)
Guard Steph Curry led the team in points per game (24.5)
The Warriors have no injuries heading into the play-in tournament
Memphis Grizzlies
Team Notes
First in the league in free throws made per game (18.3)
Second in points per game (121.7)
Second in field goals made per game (44.8)
Guard Ja Morant led the team in points per game (23.2)
Fired head coach Taylor Jenkins on March 28
Forwards Brandon Clarke (knee) and Jaylen Wells (wrist, concussion) are out for the season
Season Series
The Golden State Warriors won the season series 3-1
No. 10 Dallas Mavericks at No. 9 Sacramento Kings (Wednesday, April 16/10 PM ET)
The winner plays the loser of the Western Conference’s No. 7 vs. No. 8 game for the right to represent the Western Conference as the No. 8 seed in the NBA playoffs.
Sacramento Kings
Team Notes
Fourth in the league in free throw percentage (80.6)
Fifth in blocks against per game (4.3)
Ninth in field goals made per game (43.0)
Forward DeMar DeRozan led the team in points per game (22.2)
Guard Malik Monk (calf) won’t play
Dallas Mavericks
Team Notes
Sixth in the league in free throws made per game (17.8)
Seventh in blocks per game (5.4)
Eighth in personal fouls per game (17.8)
Guard Kyrie Irving led the team in points per game (24.7)
Guard Kyrie Irving (knee) and forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper (wrist) are out for the season
Season Series
The Sacramento Kings won the season series 3-0
