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The first two games in the Western Conference's Play-In Tournament are in the books, with the Los Angeles Lakers clinching the No. 7 seed and the Sacramento beating the Golden State Warriors in the second contest to set up a matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans for the No. 8 seed.
Below, we'll break down the updated playoff bracket and preview the finalized matchups.
Eastern Conference Seeds
1. Boston Celtics
2. New York Knicks
3. Milwaukee Bucks
4. Cleveland Cavaliers
5. Orlando Magic
6. Indiana Pacers
7. Philadelphia 76ers or Miami Heat
8. Sixers, Heat, Chicago Bulls or Atlanta Hawks
Western Conference Seeds
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. Denver Nuggets
3. Minnesota Timberwolves
4. Los Angeles Clippers
5. Dallas Mavericks
6. Phoenix Suns
7. Lakers
8. Pelicans or Kings
Breaking Down the Known Matchups
We start in the East, where two series are set—the Bucks vs. Pacers and Cavaliers vs. Magic.
Everything in the former series will come down to the health of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who reportedly will be out for at least part of the series:
Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespnESPN Sources: The Milwaukee Bucks are preparing to be without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo for the start of their opening round series against the Indiana Pacers, but are hopeful treatment on his left calf strain will allow him to return sometime later in the series. <a href="https://t.co/8p0wCiRSRl">pic.twitter.com/8p0wCiRSRl</a>
Eric Nehm @eric_nehmHow is Giannis Antetokounmpo progressing?<br><br>Doc Rivers: "He's doing well. He's walking around and looks good. I can say he's farther than we thought he would be, but just not ready yet."<br><br>Still hopeful he can play?<br><br>Rivers: "I'm still hopeful, but I just have no idea right now."
Even with a healthy Greek Freak, this series wouldn't have been a walk in the park for a Bucks team that was 30-13 under Adrian Griffin but just 17-19 under Doc Rivers. The Bucks also went just 1-4 against Indiana this season.
This has potential upset written all over it.
In the other series, the Cavaliers will be favored, and for good reason. The teams split the season series, 2-2, but Cleveland has a roster with more postseason experience than the young Magic, highlighted by Donovan Mitchell.
Still, the Cavs have been a weird team this year. This is a team loaded with talent, but the Cavs have gone just 13-18 since Feb. 12, and it hasn't helped that Mitchell has played just 11 of a possible 29 games since the All-Star break due to various injuries.
The Cavs have more talent given the frontcourt of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley and an explosive backcourt featuring Mitchell and Darius Garland, so this is a series they should win. But Orlando will put up a fight.
In the West, three series are now locked in place.
In the first, the Nuggets will look to eliminate the Lakers for a second straight season after sweeping them in last year's Western Conference Finals. The Lakers can beat any team on any night, given the presence of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets have now won eight straight in this rivarly.
This may not be a sweep again, but the Nuggets are a tough matchup for the Lakers and should advance without too much drama.
The No. 3 seed T-Wolves against the 6-seed Suns is a fascinating matchup, and one that may be dictated by whether Karl-Anthony Towns can shake off the rust that came with missing essentially a month of action due to knee surgery before recently returning.
The Suns went 7-3 down the stretch, all against postseason teams. Few teams can boast a core as talented as Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. The Suns just don't have much depth beyond that, while Minnesota has the size advantage and the ascendant Anthony Edwards. This has the makings of a seven-game battle.
The 4-5 matchup between the Clippers and Mavericks should be just as thrilling. The Clippers were red hot at one point in the season, going 26-5 for a stretch in the first half of the year as Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, James Harden and Russell Westbrook looked to coexist. This is a very talented team that can beat anyone on any given night.
Few teams have been hotter than the Mavs, however, winners of 16 of 18 games late in the season before clinching a playoff berth and sitting Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving for the final two games of the season.
This is another series that could easily go seven, and there's enough star power in play to make it arguably the most enticing matchup of the first round.
