Only four of eight NBA first-round playoff matchups have been determined: In the West, the No. 3 Wolves will play No. 6 Phoenix and the No. 4 Clippers will play No. 5 Dallas. In the East, No. 3 Milwaukee will play No. 6 Indiana and No. 4 Cleveland will play No. 5 Orlando. The remaining matchups will be determined after this week’s play-in tournament. The first round begins with four games Saturday and four Sunday; times are to be announced, but the Wolves will play Game 1 vs. Phoenix on Saturday.
On to the playoffs, sort of: First-round pairings and setting up the play-in tournament
The Thunder earned the top seed in the West to go with the Celtics in the East.
The Minnesota Star Tribune
April 15, 2024 at 3:33AM
WEST
1. Oklahoma City 57-25
2. Denver 57-25
3. Wolves 56-26
4. L.A. Clippers 51-31
5. Dallas 50-32
6. Phoenix 49-33
Play-in tournament (TNT)
Game 1: L.A. Lakers at New Orleans, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday (winner gets No. 7 seed, plays Denver in first round)
Game 2: Golden State at Sacramento, 9 p.m. Tuesday (loser eliminated)
Game 6: Game 2 winner at Game 1 loser, TBA Friday (winner gets No. 8 seed, plays Oklahoma City in first round)
EAST
1. Boston 64-18
2. New York 50-32
3. Milwaukee 49-33
4. Cleveland 48-44
5. Orlando 47-35
6. Indiana 47-35
Play-in tournament (ESPN)
Game 3: Miami at Philadelphia, 6 p.m. Wednesday (winner gets No. 7 seed, plays New York in first round)
Game 4: Atlanta at Chicago, 8:30 p.m. Wednesday (loser eliminated)
Game 5: Game 4 winner at Game 3 loser, TBA Friday (winner gets No. 8 seed, plays Boston in first round)
Naz Reid led the Wolves with 25 points off the bench, Anthony Edwards added 21, and Minnesota made sure Charlotte didn’t leave Target Center with another victory.
