The NBA Playoffs are always an exciting time of the year for basketball enthusiasts all over the world. However, the NBA has recently expanded its postseason to include a new tournament style format known as the Play-In Tournament. As part of this tournament, the 9th and 10th seeded teams in each conference battle it out for the last two spots in the playoffs. As we approach the 2023 Play-In Tournament, fans are eager to see which teams will emerge victorious in Wednesday’s matchups. In this article, we will take a closer look at the two games set to take place and provide a preview of what fans can expect to see on the court.
The AT&T NBA Play-In Tournament is heating up, with two matchups on the docket for April 12th. In the East, the 10th seeded Chicago Bulls will take on the 9th seeded Toronto Raptors at 7 pm ET on ESPN. The winner will advance to face the loser of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 matchup between the Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks on the road in a game that will determine the No. 8 seed in the East. The loser of the Bulls-Raptors game will be eliminated and enter the NBA Draft Lottery. The Raptors took the regular-season series 2-1 against the Bulls, thanks in part to their length on defense. Bulls’ forward DeMar DeRozan will face his former team in the playoffs for the first time since being traded in 2018.
In the West, the 10th seeded Oklahoma City Thunder will take on the 9th seeded New Orleans Pelicans at 9:30 pm ET on ESPN. The winner will advance to face the loser of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves on the road on April 15th in a game that will determine the No. 8 seed in the West. The loser of the Thunder-Pelicans game will be eliminated and enter the NBA Draft lottery. The Pelicans dominated the regular-season series, 3-1, but the Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has emerged as a bona fide NBA star this season, averaging 33.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in four games against the Pelicans. Pelicans’ forward Brandon Ingram will be guarded by Thunder’s Lu Dort, who has held his own against the league’s best this season. The winner of this matchup will have a shot at making a second-straight playoff run.
As the 2023 AT&T Play-In Tournament continues to unfold, excitement and anticipation are at an all-time high. Wednesday’s matchups promise to deliver intense battles between the top teams in the league, each vying for a coveted playoff spot. Fans eagerly await the outcomes of these contests, eager to see which teams will emerge victorious and move on to the next stage of the tournament. No matter who you’re rooting for, one thing is certain – the 2023 AT&T Play-In Tournament is shaping up to be an unforgettable event that will be talked about for years to come. So buckle up, basketball fans – the action is just getting started!