NBA play-in tournament preview, NBA playoff scenarios

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The 2022 NBA postseason is right here. However, for the second-straight 12 months, solely the highest six seeds for every convention are set because the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds in every convention are up for grabs.

This can come within the type of a play-in event, adopted by the NBA final season for the primary time. 

Eight groups whole, 4 from every convention, can play their method into the playoffs.

• Western Convention: Minnesota Timberwolves (7), Los Angeles Clippers (8), New Orleans Pelicans (9), San Antonio Spurs (10)
• Jap Convention: Brooklyn Nets (7), Cleveland Cavaliers (8), Atlanta Hawks (9), Charlotte Hornets (10)

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On Tuesday, the NBA’s play-in event begins because the Cleveland Cavaliers play the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers play the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The winner of Cavs-Nets turns into the 7-seed within the playoffs and can face the the Boston Celtics in a playoff collection. 

The loser of Cavs-Nets will play the winner of Hawks-Hornets, who play on Wednesday. The winner of that third recreation turns into the No. 8 seed within the East and can face the Miami Warmth within the playoffs.

On the Western Convention facet, the winner of Clippers-Wolves turns into the No. 7 seed within the West and can face the 2-seed Memphis Grizzlies. The loser of Clippers-Wolves will play the winner of the Pelicans-Spurs recreation slated for Wednesday. Then the winner of that third recreation strikes on to tackle the 1-seed Phoenix Suns in a playoff collection. 

• East: No. 8 Cleveland Cavaliers at No. 7 Brooklyn Nets, 7 p.m. ET (TNT)
• West: No. 8 Los Angeles Clippers at No. 7 Minnesota Timberwolves, 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT)

• East: No. 10 Charlotte Hornets at No. 9 Atlanta Hawks, 7 ET p.m. (ESPN)
• West: No. 10 San Antonio Spurs at No. 9 New Orleans Pelicans, 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

• East: Winner of Charlotte/Atlanta vs. loser of Cleveland/Brooklyn, TBD (ESPN)
• West: Winner of San Antonio/New Orleans vs. loser of Los Angeles/Minnesota, TBD (TNT)

• No. 1 Phoenix Suns vs. No. 8 TBD (collection begins Solar. April 17)
• No. 2 Memphis Grizzlies vs. No. 7 TBD (collection begins Sat. April 16)
• No. 3 Golden State Warriors vs. No. 6 Denver Nuggets (collection begins Sat. April 16)
• No. 4 Dallas Mavericks vs. No. 5 Utah Jazz (collection begins Sat. April 16)

• No. 1 Miami Warmth vs. No. 8 TBD (collection begins Solar. April 17)
• No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 TBD (collection begins Solar. April 17)
• No. 3 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 6 Chicago Bulls (collection begins Solar. April 17)
• No. 4 Philadelphia 76ers vs. No. 5 Toronto Raptors (collection begins Sat. April 16)

On the Locked On NBA podcast, hosts Matt Moore and David Ramil previewed Tuesday evening’s lineup of video games within the NBA play-in event between the Cavs and Nets and Clippers and Wolves.

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The Nets are favored by eight factors in Tuesday evening’s recreation towards the Cavaliers. The Nets are at house, and have star energy in Durant and Kyrie Irving. Whereas the Cavaliers surpassed expectations this season, they’ve handled vital accidents for a lot of 2022 and can probably be with out key heart Jarrett Allen on Tuesday.

David Ramil: “My feeling is that the Cavs surpassed expectations for this season after which there’s been this fixed punch to the intestine with accidents this season, it’s simply very robust for this roster to maintain it collectively. They’ve had excellent play from Garland and Kevin Love. Whereas they’d wish to proceed to construct on that success they’ve already surpassed, it’s exhausting to do if you’ve obtained a crew like Brooklyn, who’s absolute determined for one thing to hold their hat on.”

Matt Moore: “Darius Garland goes to must have an important recreation for Cleveland to have any shot on this recreation. He’s gotten factors and he was nice on Friday evening towards Brooklyn. However it didn’t matter. The Cavs simply don’t have sufficient weapons. I don’t assume the Nets are even that nice of a crew. If the Cavs had Jarrett Allen I believe it modifications issues…however with out Allen, there’s simply sufficient breakdowns on the perimeter. You throw in the truth that Durant can go for 40 simply. We’re in all probability getting Nets-Celtics, which might be an enchanting collection.”

After a 46-38 season, the Minnesota Timberwolves wish to make the playoffs for the primary time since 2018 and for simply the second time since 2005. However, they will not have a straightforward process getting the No. 7 seed as they face the skilled Los Angeles Clippers. 

Matt Moore: “My massive query for that is the Wolves defensive scheme tries to use strain on the ball handler. They need to skirmish and so they need to pressure turnovers. The Clippers are tenth greatest in limiting turnovers. On paper this can be a fairly poor matchup for the Wolves, and that exhibits in the truth that the Clippers handedly received the season collection.”

David Ramil: “I simply really feel such as you’re taking a look at this Clippers roster and that i like their probability. I believe Reggie Jackson goes to have a giant recreation and he’s going to have the ability to swing this recreation within the Clippers favor…A monster recreation from Karl-Anthony Cities is the one factor that may save Minnesota’s possibilities. L.A. is just too skilled and too nicely coached.”