The NBA regular season finale is in the rearview mirror as the first-round matchups are locked in for next weekend. The league had to wait until game 82 to find out any of the matchups, but this year’s postseason is now poised to be one of the best ones yet.
Eastern Conference
The New York Knicks and the Atlanta Hawks face off in the 3 vs. 6 matchup in the East, with New York holding home court advantage. These two bitter rivals had their feud sparked by Trae Young in the 2021 playoffs, where the Hawks won four straight to sink the Knicks 4-1. Young is now gone, but a red-hot Hawks side will feel confident they can pull off a first-round upset at MSG again.
In the other confirmed matchup, the Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Raptors after Toronto stormed up to the fifth seed. Both teams have no shortage of superstar talent, but have struggled to find playoff success in recent seasons. James Harden will be playing with a chip on his shoulder, while a deep Raptors team will be licking its lips at this specific matchup.
Western Conference
The most competitive first-round matchup features the Denver Nuggets taking on the Minnesota Timberwolves. Minnesota has reached the Western Conference Finals in back-to-back seasons, including a Game 7 win over Denver in 2023. Nikola Jokic and Rudy Gobert always make for a fascinating matchup in the paint, and a healthy Anthony Edwards can go toe-to-toe with the Nuggets’ shooters on the outside.
The Los Angeles Lakers take on the Houston Rockets in the final first-round matchup. While this should be a great series, injuries to both Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic make the Rockets firm favorites to advance. LeBron James will have to put forth a Herculean performance to reach the second round without his co-stars.
Play-In Tournament
The 76ers and Magic face off in the East with the winner heading to Boston for a series against the Celtics. The loser of that matchup will take on the winner of the Hornets vs Heat, with the final playoff spot earning a matchup against the No. 1 Detroit Pistons.
In the West, the Clippers and Warriors are in the 9 vs. 10 matchup, where the season will end for either Kawhi Leonard or Steph Curry with a defeat. The 7 vs 8 matchup is between the Suns and Trail Blazers, with the winner facing the Spurs and the loser getting a second chance against either the Clippers or the Warriors.
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