NBA Playoff Predictor

04/14/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

Tonight’s Play-In Games Fill Out The 8-Seeds in Round 1 of NBA Playoffs, But Who Is The Team To Beat?

The NBA Play-In has provided plenty of intrigue over the last few days, and it comes to a head tonight with the 8-seeds on the line. The Bulls-Heat (7:00 pm ET) and Thunder-Timberwolves (9:30 pm ET) will duke it out for the final spots. Then, the real playoffs start on Saturday. With first-round action on the way, here’s a look at the playoff matchups starting this weekend:

 

Eastern Conference Matchups

#1 Bucks vs. 8-Seed TBD

#2 Celtics vs. #7 Hawks

#3 76ers vs. #6 Nets

#4 Cavaliers vs. #5 Knicks

 

Western Conference Matchups

#1 Nuggets vs. 8-Seed TBD

#2 Grizzlies vs. #7 Lakers

#3 Kings vs. #6 Warriors

#4 Suns vs. #5 Clippers

 

Our Predictions: It’s hard to isolate just one first-round matchup as the most interesting because, well, they all are. Cavs-Knicks has the potential to go seven games, and most of the West matchups do, too. We’ll take the Bucks to come out of the East after the Celtics and 76ers likely beat each other up with a war of attrition in the East semifinals. Out West, the Suns can get past the Clippers and Nuggets to reach the West Finals. We like the Warriors to take down the Kings and outlast the Grizzlies in a thrilling semifinal series, but the champs’ repeat bid stops there. Give us Bucks-Suns in a repeat of the 2021 NBA Finals with the Suns claiming the Larry O’Brien Trophy this time around.

 

Tonight’s Play-In Schedule (8-Seeds)

East: Bulls at Heat (Fri. 7:00 pm)

West: Thunder at Timberwolves (Fri. 9:30 pm)

 

Additional Storylines

SI: Thunder Are Proving the Play-In Tournament is Working

ESPN: The Stars, Stats & Storylines That Matter Most This NBA Postseason

Yahoo! Sports: Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins Cleared to Play After Nearly 2 Months Away

 

Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images