The NBA Play-In Tournament games will officially begin on Tuesday, four teams battle it out for the final two seeds in the Eastern Conference. On Wednesday, four more teams will compete for the final two seeds in the Western Conference. That will include a scintillating matchup between Lebron’s Lakers and Steph’s Warriors. NBA 2K21 has been getting fans ready for the action, as they gauge which teams may have the most support to move on.
NBA 2K21 hypes NBA Play-In Tournament games for Eastern Conference
On Tuesday, May 19, NBA 2K asked fans which teams they expect to advance from the Play-In Tournament to the main playoffs bracket. The four teams in the East part of the Play-In Tourney will consist of the Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, and Boston Celtics.
The NBA Play-In Tournament officially begins on Tuesday night as LaMelo Ball and the 33-39 Charlotte Hornets take on the 34-38 Indiana Pacers. Indiana was listed as a two-point favorite for the game, as of this report. Fans can catch the game on TNT at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
The winner advances to a second game to potentially earn the No. 8 seed, while the loser’s quest to make the playoffs will end.
TNT will follow up with the presentation of Jayson Tatum and the No. 7 Boston Celtics as they go against Bradley Beal’s No. 8 Washington Wizards. Tatum was recently featured in the limited-time NBA 2K21 Future Rewind Packs release. Beal, one of the top scorers in the league this season, may have to put in a video game effort, due to his strained hamstring.
An ESPN report said Beal was not 100 percent ahead of the game and the latest odds favor Boston by two points. Even if Beal is hobbled, recent triple-double record-breaker Russell Westbrook should be on the court. The winner of this game gets into the bracket as the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. The loser plays the winner of the Pacers vs. Hornets for No. 8 seed.
Western Conference to feature LeBron’s Lakers vs. Steph’s Warriors
Over in the West, it’s the Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors, and Los Angeles Lakers. That’s right, the defending champions will have to play their way in, and they’ll face scoring champ Stephen Curry and the Warriors in their first Play-In game.
That game is scheduled for Wednesday night on ESPN starting at 10 p.m. Eastern Time. It has all the makings of a classic, and the good news is that whoever loses sticks around to get another chance to get in the playoffs. The winner of the game becomes the No. 7 seed.
In the earlier Western Conference Play-In game, Rookie of the Year Ja Morant will try to lead the Grizzlies past the Spurs. They’re set to go at it on the hardwood starting at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN.
The winner moves on to play the loser of the Warriors vs. Lakers, a tough task in its own right. The loser is unfortunately out of the Play-In Tournament and unable to qualify for the NBA Playoffs.
Based on retweets, many fans are showing support for the Lakers, Grizzlies, Spurs, and Wizards. The Pacers, Hornets, and Celtics aren’t getting quite as much love.
Once the Play-In Tournament has completed, fans will have a better look at the official NBA Playoffs bracket. Most likely, NBA 2K21 will roll out themed content and possibly predictions of who runs this year’s bracket to win the Finals.
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