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)
Despite so-so record, Wolves have improved at crunch time.
