NBA Play-In tournament predictions
The NBA's third annual play-in tournament, which determines the seventh and eighth seeds in the playoffs, begins Tuesday. Here are predictions for the tournament:
Western Conference
Minnesota Timberwolves (8) at Los Angeles Lakers (7)
Despite Minnesota's 113-108 win against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, it's hard to bet on the Timberwolves. Rudy Gobert punching Kyle Anderson mid-game Sunday and Jaden McDaniels fracturing his hand puts this team in a precarious position.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, is playing its best basketball of the season. Since the All-Star Game, the Lakers are 16-7 and have the third-best defensive rating in the NBA (112.8). The Timberwolves are 11-10 since the break and have been average defensively all season. Without Gobert and McDaniels -- their two best defenders -- they will surely suffer.
Anthony Davis should dominate the offensive and defensive interior as Karl Anthony-Towns is ill-equipped to deal with a skilled big man like Davis.
Los Angeles is playing some of its best basketball, is fully healthy and will have the home-court advantage.
The pick: Los Angeles Lakers, 118-99
Oklahoma City Thunder (10) at New Orleans Pelicans (9)
Oklahoma City has had an outstanding season, defying all expectations, but this matchup will be tough. While the Thunder will have the best player in this game (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander), they appear, on paper at least, outmatched due to their lack of size.
Seven-footer Jonas Valanćiūnas will dominate the offensive and defensive glass. Valanćiūnas is averaging 10.2 rebounds, and against inexperienced and undersized (6-foot-9) Jaylin Williams, he'll likely soar past his average.
At home, the Pelicans are 27-14 compared to just 15-26 on the road. The home-court advantage and its roster size make New Orleans the likely option.
The pick: New Orleans Pelicans, 115-103
New Orleans Pelicans (9) at Minnesota Timberwolves (8)
Minnesota will still be without its best point-of-attack defender, Jaden McDaniels. That's a huge problem when matching up against Brandon Ingram, an excellent three-level scorer. On the other hand, New Orleans should have Herb Jones (its best point-of-attack defender) to help slow Anthony Edwards. In the Timberwolves' 113-108 win over the Pelicans, New Orleans went 3-for-21 (14.3%) on threes. That won't happen again.
Minnesota looks like a team that's reeling. The odds will likely be stacked against it The better-coached Pelicans should take advantage.
The pick: New Orleans Pelicans, 112-108
Eastern Conference
Atlanta Hawks (8) at Miami Heat (7)
These teams failed to meet expectations all season. Atlanta is 1-3 this season against Miami and 0-2 the Heat on the road. The Hawks have hovered around .500 all season, as have the Heat.
However, at home, Miami has played well (27-14) while Atlanta has yet to build any consistency on the road (17-24). The Hawks' defensive woes and Trae Young's shooting inconsistencies have been the team's Achilles' heel and will hurt the Hawks again.
Future Hall of Fame head coach Erik Spoelstra and the defensive-minded Heat should be enough to push them over the top.
The pick: Miami Heat, 105-97
Chicago Bulls (10) at Toronto Raptors (9)
This may be the toughest matchup to predict due to the uniqueness and versatility of Toronto.
Chicago has played well recently. Since the All-Star break, they have the No. 1 defense in the NBA (111.9). The Bulls are 14-9 during that stretch. Toronto hasn't been a slouch either, though, going 13-10 since the break.
DeMar DeRozan should look to put on a show against his former team and if Zach LaVine plays to his potential, Chicago will pull off the upset.
The pick: Chicago Bulls, 100-95
Chicago Bulls (9) at Atlanta Hawks (8)
While Chicago has fielded the best defense in the final stretch of the regular season, Atlanta has fielded one of the worst, with a 120.5 defensive rating during that same time.
Patrick Beverly and Alex Caruso are the perfect matches to hound Young basket to basket, pressuring him full-court throughout the game. Chicago's defensive pressure should overwhelm Atlanta, making the Hawks uncomfortable the entire game.
The pick: Chicago Bulls, 107-100
More must-reads: