With this season’s edition of the NBA Play-In Tournament concluded, all eight of the first-round matchups have been decided, and each series has undergone its tone-setting first game over the weekend. There’s a number of intriguing matchups and stories to follow; from yet another Clippers-Mavericks rematch to the youngest #1 seed in history in the Oklahoma City Thunder, these first-round matchups will certainly continue to feature plenty of nerve-wracking nail-biters and history-making performances. Here is a preview of all of this postseason’s opening series, accompanied by an explained prediction of each outcome.
Eastern Conference
#1 Boston Celtics vs. #8 Miami Heat
Prediction: Celtics win 4-0
Game 1 result: Celtics won 114-94
With the unfortunate report of Heat star Jimmy Butler’s MCL sprain, Miami could potentially be without their best player for the entirety of the first round. The Heat were able to breeze past Chicago in the Play-In Tournament without Butler to gain the #8 seed, but Boston will be a different story. Their dominance all year has been undeniable, especially considering they swept Miami 3-0 in the regular season. This series will be a continuation of that dominance: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and the rest of the crew will likely enjoy a collection of blowout wins to kick off their playoff run.
#2 New York Knicks vs. #7 Philadelphia 76ers
Prediction: Knicks win 4-3
Game 1 result: Knicks won 111-104
New York’s point guard Jalen Brunson, who averaged an astounding 37.8 points and 8.3 assists over his last 10 games of the regular season, will not struggle to remain hot against a Philadelphia perimeter defense that doesn’t have the scrappiness required to stifle his offensive firepower. With Joel Embiid back in the lineup, a fully healthy 76ers team is undoubtedly quite dangerous. Most Improved Player candidate Tyrese Maxey will certainly come out firing and be a massive problem for New York’s defense. On the same note, however, Embiid will inevitably show some wear and tear, as he displayed in the play-in win against Miami; he’s still recovering from his knee injury. Further, the Knicks are one of four teams that are in the league’s top 10 in both offense and defense, and the recent addition of OG Anunoby has done absolute wonders. In a drawn-out war of a series, the Knicks will force Philly to rethink “The Process” yet again.
#3 Milwaukee Bucks vs. #6 Indiana Pacers
Prediction: Bucks win 4-2
Game 1 Result: Bucks won 109-94
Evidently, Milwaukee has been struggling since the firing of head coach Adrian Griffin and the hiring of Doc Rivers. Now, with 2x MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo likely to miss at least the first few games of the first round with a calf injury, things aren’t looking up. In the regular season, the Pacers beat the Bucks four out of the five times they matched up. However, this isn’t the end of the story. The star guards from both squads, Damian Lillard of the Bucks and Tyrese Haliburton of the Pacers, have both been shooting poorly as of recently, with three-point efficiencies uncharacteristically low. Only one of them will manage to get back on track enough to lead their team to a series win, and it will be Lillard, who infamously has a new gear he switches into come playoff time. The clock will turn to “Dame Time”, and he will help carry his Milwaukee squad to the conference semifinals.
#4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #5 Orlando Magic
Prediction: Cavaliers win 4-2
Game 1 result: Cavaliers won 97-83
This series is likely going to fly under the radar as one of the most dramatic of them all. With the interior presence on both ends from both of these rosters being so powerful, this is bound to be an intensely physical series, and there may be some games where neither team cracks 100 points. Additionally, Cavs star guard Donovan Mitchell has just recently begun to show some signs of life, overcoming his lingering sore knee, and he’s another player that enters a new realm of stardom once the playoffs begin. He may struggle to maintain his footing, but a few 30-point outings from him along with paint-stifling defense from big men like Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley will be enough to send them to the conference semifinals.
Western Conference
#1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. #8 New Orleans Pelicans
Prediction: Thunder win 4-2
Game 1 result: Thunder won 94-92
As mentioned earlier, the Oklahoma City Thunder have made history as the youngest team to ever achieve the top seed in their conference, with an average age of just 23.4. Point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has had a breakout MVP-caliber year, reaching 30.1 points per game on 53.5% from the field, and shot-blocking machine Chet Holmgren has had a fantastic rookie year. While New Orleans does have optimal perimeter defenders to throw at SGA, such as Herb Jones and Jose Alvarado, they won’t have the scoring firepower to maintain pace with Oklahoma City’s onslaught of talent—especially without the help of Zion Williamson, who has been ruled out as he recovers from a hamstring strain.
#2 Denver Nuggets vs. #7 Los Angeles Lakers
Prediction: Nuggets win 4-1
Game 1 result: Nuggets won 114-103
Fortunately for Denver and unfortunately for Los Angeles, not much has changed since the last time these two met in the postseason. The Nuggets have won their last seven games against the Lakers, four of which being their clean sweep of LeBron’s squad in last year’s Western conference finals. While Lakers’ guard D’Angelo Russell likely be closer to being more efficient than the disappointing 6.3 points per game that he averaged in last year’s series, this matchup will probably still be a repeat. They’ll manage to pull out one home game, but the Lakers simply don’t have enough to stop the reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, his partner in crime Jamal Murray, and the rest of last season’s champions.
#3 Minnesota Timberwolves vs. #6 Phoenix Suns
Prediction: Suns win 4-2
Game 1 result: Timberwolves won 120-95
This Wolves-Suns series is going to emerge as one of the most entertaining for fans, as it will be a shootout between Minnesota’s breakout superstar Anthony Edwards and Phoenix’s suddenly healthy super-trio of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal. The lack of consistent health, and lack of depth to make up for those injuries, is unquestionably the sole reason Phoenix finds themselves as low as the #6 seed—and they will make up for it with a strong run of games against Minnesota. The Timberwolves excel at defending the inside, but against a Suns offense that thrives from creating plays from the perimeter, they will struggle to keep up.
#4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. #5 Dallas Mavericks
Prediction: Mavericks win 4-3
Game 1 result: Clippers won 109-97
A rematch between the Clippers and the Mavericks—a gift from the basketball gods. The Clip’s star-studded roster, which includes Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook, have their eyes set on finally getting over the hump and making a championship run. For the Mavs, the new star duo of MVP candidate Luka Doncic and All-NBA guard Kyrie Irving haven’t disappointed in their first full season together, outscoring opponents by 10.5 points per 100 possessions when sharing the court. The Clippers have bested Doncic and Dallas twice in the playoffs already, even with Doncic putting up astounding offensive numbers. With the help of Irving, some of that load will be lifted off of Luka’s shoulders, and Dallas will embody the ‘third time’s the charm’ phrase, sending the Clippers home in a hard-fought sequence of close games.
This year’s installment of the NBA postseason will end in one team being crowned champions of basketball, but it’s starting with sixteen teams, all desperate to do so. When the regular season transitions into the playoffs, an unmatched energy is brought onto the court as each team collectively pours their heart into the resilient desire to win. Any number of these squads could head into the offseason with an NBA Finals run under their belt, but who will it be?
