Tyrese Maxey will bear the brunt of Philly’s offense because it hosts Orlando in Wednesday’s Play-In matchup.
The second evening of this yr’s SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament will decide the No. 7 seed within the East and eradicate a crew within the West. Get prepared for the motion with previews and predictions for Wednesday’s matchups.
East: (8) Orlando Magic at (7) Philadelphia 76ers
7:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video
- The winner: Advances to face the No. 2-seeded Boston Celtics within the first spherical of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
- The loser: Plays once more Friday (7:30 ET, Prime Video) towards the Charlotte Hornets to decide the East’s closing playoff qualifier.
- Regular-season outcomes: Magic, 2-1.
Keep your eyes on: Embiid’s understudies
The availability of Sixers heart Joel Embiid is among the league’s longest-running cleaning soap operas, and he gained’t be on the ground once more this week. His emergency appendectomy in Houston final week shifts Embiid’s minutes to Adem Bona and Andre Drummond, sufficiently big our bodies however nothing just like the multi-dimensional offensive weapon Embiid represents. Bona is extra athletic, Drummond is the savvy vet, and whichever one is within the sport will likely be relied upon primarily for protection. Embiid solely confronted the Magic as soon as this season (scoring 22 factors with 9 boards), so the Sixers have patched it collectively earlier than on this matchup.
Key matchup: Orlando’s bigs vs. Philadelphia’s smalls
The Magic have superior size and like to flex it, counting on Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner to create offense or earn their means to the foul line (Orlando shot and made probably the most free throws within the NBA this season). They added Desmond Bane this season from Memphis, but nonetheless ranked close to the underside in 3-point classes. The Sixers are nearly the exact opposite when Embiid is absent, leaning on their guards and wings to play quick and punish defenses that can’t sustain. Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe will check Orlando’s backcourt defenders, wing Paul George has a shot at redeeming an disagreeable season and Quentin Grimes provides one other guard to probably torment the bigger Magic lineup.
Prediction: Magic
Both groups had loftier aspirations than the Play-In. But they each needs to be grateful they’re in a two-and-done predicament quite than only one as Sixers coach Nick Nurse feels his squad benefited from the season that saved going sideways in that whatever-doesn’t-kill-you means. Orlando’s Jamahl Mosley and his gamers are simply determined to erase the chatter about inner frictions and underachieving. If the Magic win this one, they at the very least get an opportunity in a recent best-of-seven to make up for his or her embarrassingly unserious Game No. 82 towards the Celtics.
West: (10) Golden State Warriors at (9) L.A. Clippers
10 p.m. ET, Prime Video
Will Stephen Curry or Kawhi Leonard drive their crew to a win in Wednesday’s win-or-go-home Play-In matchup?
- The winner: Advances to Friday’s sport (7:30 ET, Prime Video) towards the Phoenix Suns to decide the West’s closing playoff qualifier.
- The loser: Eliminated from postseason competitors.
- Regular-season outcomes: Clippers, 3-1.
Keep your eyes on: Steph Curry’s on/off minutes
The Warriors’ legendary shooter returned on Easter after a two-month layoff with a leg damage, and a few Steph is best than no Steph. But coach Steve Kerr mentioned Curry would possibly have the ability to play 32 minutes Wednesday, which can make the opposite 16 minutes essential if the Clippers can take benefit when he’s on the facet. Curry’s season plus/minus of 89 factors was his second-lowest since 2012-13.
Key matchup: Draymond Green vs. Kawhi Leonard
Green has a shot to land his tenth consecutive All-Defensive crew choice this spring, however it’s an honor he’ll have to earn as a very powerful a part of Golden State’s sport plan towards Leonard. The Clippers’ 34-year-old elite scorer has averaged 29 factors per sport since they began shedding that reptilian 6-16 document, and he has scored at the very least 20 factors 41 instances, 30 or extra 16 instances and 40+ 5 instances.
Obviously, Green isn’t going to put a lot strain again on the Clippers together with his rudimentary offensive sport. But no matter coach Steve Kerr’s troops have completed in defending Leonard has largely labored. Leonard has averaged solely 21.7 ppg towards them (taking 18.7 pictures to accomplish that), and is 4-for-18 on 3-pointers as properly.
Prediction: Clippers
Frankly, it’s arduous to suppose that both Curry or Leonard will likely be despatched into the offseason on Wednesday evening, however that’s the place this all stands. This will not be your father’s Golden State squad, lugging lowly rankings of nineteenth in offense, sixteenth in protection and twentieth in web ranking. The work the Clippers have completed in recovering their season suggests they’ve a momentum benefit, and if the Warriors (37-45) are ousted, there gained’t be any sub-.500 groups left on this postseason. A five-game hole from No. 9 to No. 10 would possibly even make some people want there weren’t a Play-In alternative for a crew that far again within the standings.
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Steve Aschburner has written in regards to the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail him here, discover his archive here and follow him on X.
