The NBA’s preliminary playoff competition has commenced spectacularly, as the Charlotte Hornets secured their season’s continuation with an overtime victory over the Miami Heat, and the Trail Blazers moved into the postseason following an unexpected triumph against the Phoenix Suns.
The play-in phase progresses on Wednesday, featuring another pair of critical matchups.
In the Eastern Conference, the seventh-seeded Philadelphia 76ers are set to welcome the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic. The victor will secure the seventh playoff berth and face the Boston Celtics in their initial series. The defeated team will then compete against the Hornets this Friday for the final playoff position, which entails a first-round confrontation with the Detroit Pistons.
Over in the Western Conference, the ninth-seeded LA Clippers are scheduled to host the tenth-seeded Golden State Warriors in a decisive elimination contest, guaranteeing an early exit for either Kawhi Leonard or Stephen Curry. The winning side will advance to a Friday game against the Suns, vying for the eighth seed.
Which teams are poised to advance this Wednesday? Our contributing sports journalists analyze the pairings and provide their predictions.
What’s your perspective on the Magic versus Sixers?
Dan Devine: Orlando must find a way to contain Tyrese Maxey. Given Joel Embiid’s absence due to an appendectomy, the All-NBA point guard is expected to be Philadelphia’s main offensive engine, generating shots for himself and others. Should the recently returned Anthony Black (who primarily guarded Maxey in their three prior regular-season games) and Jalen Suggs effectively challenge Maxey, it would significantly hinder a Philly offense that has ranked among the league’s lowest-scoring teams when Embiid is off the court this season. For example, Maxey tallied 72 points total in the 76ers’ two victories over Orlando; conversely, when he managed a more subdued 20 points against Orlando during the NBA Cup group stage in November, the Magic secured a dominant 41-point win.
Nekias Duncan: Orlando needs to dictate the pace. Though I’m genuinely eager for a crucial play-in match, VJ Edgecombe’s inaugural playoff appearance, and the efficient play of Paul George (averaging 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists on 53/42/74 shooting since his comeback), I must focus on the Magic first. This team has experienced an erratic season, despite my initial hopes for them to finish in the top three. However, on an optimal evening, their capabilities are evident: a roster boasting skilled height, led by Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, supported by Jalen Suggs’ strong, switch-heavy defense that can overwhelm opponents.
Given Embiid’s absence, Banchero and Wagner (along with the significantly undervalued Wendell Carter Jr., to a lesser extent) ought to dominate the interior in this single game. With both Suggs and Black at full health, Maxey should not have an easy time. Yet, the Magic have displayed such inconsistency this season, with numerous unfulfilled potentials, that it’s challenging to place full confidence in them.
Dan Titus: Will the 76ers mercifully end the Magic’s season? Both squads enter with equivalent win-loss records, but the morale in Orlando seems low. They failed to secure a win against an undermanned Celtics team last Sunday. Banchero appears disconnected, and the choice to restrict Desmond Bane’s minutes to 17 late in the game for health preservation has sparked more concerns than clarity. Jamahl Mosley’s tenure as coach is precarious.
Conversely, Philadelphia is missing Embiid — a familiar situation for them. Their defensive efficiency remains consistent whether Embiid plays or not, but I anticipate they will accelerate the game’s tempo to compensate for their interior weakness. Philadelphia’s path to victory hinges on their guard tandem of Maxey and Edgecombe. While it’s true the Magic boast a healthier roster, I detect a greater sense of urgency from the Sixers playing before their home fans compared to a Magic squad seemingly eager for the season’s conclusion.
What are your thoughts on the Warriors versus Clippers?
Duncan: My interest is piqued by the defensive attention on the star players. Stephen Curry and Kawhi Leonard are not merely top-tier NBA talents; they are also exceptionally disheartening for opponents. Curry effortlessly executes seemingly impossible plays, making every defensive misstep or screen navigation error feel catastrophic. Kawhi’s scoring possesses a certain nonchalance that, when he’s performing well, can cause even the most composed defenders to falter.
Ideally, Curry would be contained by the joint efforts of Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr. Ideally, Kawhi would be neutralized by Draymond Green, or the tenacious defense of Gui Santos or the smaller but impactful Gary Payton II would permit the Warriors to maintain individual matchups. This situation, however, is far from ideal.
While this game presents numerous intriguing narratives, Curry and Kawhi captivating my attention the most. What frequency will these two encounter double-teams? How often will such defensive maneuvers be deliberate — both players faced blitzes on over 15% of their pick-and-rolls this season, according to Second Spectrum — and at what crucial moments will these occur? Their capacity to attract and overcome multiple defenders will be pivotal to the game’s outcome.
Titus: It’s all on the Clippers. Tenth-seeded teams rarely progress to the playoffs successfully. The Warriors are metaphorically hobbling into this contest against an opponent performing at an elevated standard. Leonard has been delivering All-NBA caliber performances, while the remainder of the Clippers roster has hit its stride since the trade deadline. Golden State, conversely, has compiled a 10-21 record since February 5th, largely due to a depleted roster lacking healthy players.
Porziņģis and Curry will be under minute limitations. Of course, the Dubs always possess a faint possibility of victory with Curry and favorable three-point shooting luck, but the Clippers are unequivocally the superior squad. Their offensive arsenal is too extensive for the Dubs to manage. Furthermore, their defensive adaptability can neutralize Golden State’s secondary players. The Warriors would require an extraordinary performance from Curry to remain in contention. Nevertheless, such an event is improbable this Wednesday evening.
Devine: My focus is on the contrast between extended team performance and the intensity of a single-game elimination. Following their 6-21 record on December 18th, the Clippers have established the Western Conference’s third-best record and net rating, demonstrating particular superiority with Leonard playing, outscoring adversaries by almost 13 points per 100 possessions during his time on the court. In contrast, the Warriors have struggled for the majority of the last three months, primarily due to injuries that concluded Jimmy Butler’s season — he served as Steve Kerr’s primary defender against Kawhi in their initial two encounters — and kept Stephen Curry out for two months.
However, the Warriors now see Curry and trade-deadline acquisition Porziņģis both returned to active play; this duo has achieved a plus-18 rating in their inaugural 51 minutes combined. They can deploy Draymond to defend Kawhi, and Payton alongside De’Anthony Melton to challenge Darius Garland, aiming to disrupt an offense that has been highly effective. Brandin Podziemski has maintained a 40% success rate from beyond the arc for six weeks; Santos recorded 25 or more points in three of Golden State’s last seven games. Kerr possesses various strategic components. The Clippers have undeniably been the stronger team for several months. Yet, can the Warriors, with Steph’s return, maintain a superior performance for the entire 48 minutes?
Forecasts: Which Teams Progress?
Titus: Philadelphia and Los Angeles Clippers. My pick is Philly defeating a Magic squad whose coaching change under Mosley is overdue. The Clippers will proceed, while the Warriors prepare for a pivotal offseason where Kerr requires a new contract and Curry needs additional support.
Devine: Philadelphia and Los Angeles Clippers. I favor Philly, despite Embiid’s absence, as Orlando has failed to inspire confidence, and the Clippers, because I believe the Warriors lack sufficient defensive solutions for Kawhi.
Duncan: Orlando and Los Angeles Clippers. The Magic possess greater health in crucial positions, and the Clippers have consistently performed as the superior team over extended periods this year, in addition to holding home-court advantage. Orlando’s struggles and an iconic Curry performance could certainly prove my prediction wrong, but that wouldn’t be unprecedented.
