We’re inching closer to the NBA playoffs, but we still need to get past one last hurdle. With the first seven seeds of each conference already locked in and all but two series defined, two teams will join the party by winning their final Play-In Tournament game.
The loser of the first game will host the winner of the second game, hoping to bounce back and take care of business this time. Unfortunately for both of them, they’ll have a bit of an uphill battle, as they’ll be without their best players.
Considering that, we’re going to take a look at the final two matchups before the start of the actual NBA playoffs, sharing our best picks for each game.
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Miami Heat vs Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls dominated the Atlanta Hawks from start to finish. They were efficient on offense and pesky on defense, and they managed to get away every single time the Hawks got close.
Alex Caruso’s availability for this game is in jeopardy after some friendly fire from Andre Drummond caused him an injury. However, the Bulls should still win this game, as Jimmy Butler won’t be available for the Miami Heat.
Butler will miss weeks with an injured MCL. The Heat will rely heavily on Tyler Herro and Terry Rozier for offense, and that might not be enough to secure a spot in the eight best teams in the Eastern Conference.
Pick: Bulls +1.5
New Orleans Pelicans vs Sacramento Kings
The New Orleans Pelicans put up a big fight against the Los Angeles Lakers, and they almost secured the No. 7 seed. Then, Zion Williamson suffered a hamstring injury that took him out of the game at the most crucial time.
The Sacramento Kings, on the other hand, dominated and got back at the Golden State Warriors, possibly even putting the last nail in their dynasty’s coffin. And even though they’re also undermanned, they should keep the ball rolling.
Despite not having Malik Monk or Kevin Huerter, Mike Brown’s team was disciplined, ready to play, and extremely physical on the boards. Now, they will face a Pelicans team missing its primary scorer and best player.
Pick: Kings +1
