The NBA postseason is nearly upon us, but before the playoffs tip off on April 20, eight teams will battle it out in the intense Play-In Tournament for the coveted final two spots in each conference. While initially met with skepticism, the Play-In has undoubtedly added extra intrigue and drama to the regular season’s closing stretch.
Teams further down the standings now have a genuine shot at playoff qualification, injecting new life into games that may have previously held little consequence.
The NBA’s regular season has come to a thrilling close, with several teams battling it out for the remaining Play-In Tournament spots. The Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans are set for a rematch of Sunday’s season finale, with the winner earning the 7th seed in the Western Conference playoffs and a date with the top-seeded Denver Nuggets.
For the Lakers, the availability of their star duo LeBron James and Anthony Davis will be crucial.
The Golden State Warriors’ pursuit of a favorable playoff seed hit another snag on Friday as they prepared to face the New Orleans Pelicans without two key rotation players. Jonathan Kuminga and Gary Payton II were ruled out for the pivotal matchup at Chase Center, leaving the Warriors shorthanded in their bid to climb up the Western Conference standings.
Kuminga, the promising 21-year-old forward, suffered a right pelvic contusion in Thursday’s win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
