NBA Western Conference Play-In Tournament brings the drama

The GIST: Love it or hate it, the NBA Play-In Tournament delivered with last night’s thrilling Western Conference (WC) tip-off, giving way to tonight’s Eastern Conference (EC) double-header. Nothing like high-stakes hoops.

How it works: The top six teams in each conference already punched their playoff tickets, but the Play-In tourney gives the seventh- through 10th-placed squads a chance to earn a spot.

• The winners of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 games clinch the No. 7 seed in their conference, but the losers face the winners of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 matchups to decide the No. 8 spots. Living for the chaos.

Last night’s WC recap: LeBron James and the No. 8 LA Lakers topped the No. 7 New Orleans Pelicans 110–106, earning the No. 7 seed and a first-round showdown with the No. 2 Denver Nuggets…who swept them in the 2023 Western Conference Finals. *gulp*

• And come Friday, the Pels will face the No. 9 Sacramento Kings for the WC No. 8 spot after the Kings topped the Golden State Warriors 118–94. Revenge is best served in the play-in.

EC Preview — No. 8 Miami Heat vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers — Tonight at 7 p.m. ET: The Sixers’ success hinges on one man’s knee health, but if reigning MVP Joel Embiid (pronounced jo-ELL em-BEAD) plays at full strength, Philly could dominate.

• That said, no one loves to defy the odds as much as the Heat, who fought their way from the 2023 Play-In to the Finals behind Playoff Jimmy Butler.

EC Preview — No. 10 Atlanta Hawks vs. No. 9 Chicago Bulls — Tonight at 9:30 p.m. ET: Chicago’s seen this film before, winning their first 2023 play-in game, but experience aside, the Bulls have struggled with consistency all season, much like…the Hawks.

So despite Chicago’s three regular season wins over Atlanta, this match feels like a toss up, especially with the Hawks’ Trae Young back on the floor. Will Chicago break out their pint-sized secret weapon? Only time will tell.