NBA Play-In Tournament: Predicting the 4 teams that will win their way into the playoffs

Miami Heat (Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports)
Miami Heat (Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports)
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NBA
NBA Anthony Edwards (Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports)

Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks

This is going to be the unfortunate end for the Bulls. For as much as they have played better as of late, I believe that the Hawks will win this game to qualify for the 8th seed. At least for now, the Hawks are a better team. Slightly better.

Trae Young will have a night and the Hawks’ supporting cast will do just enough to overcome the Bulls’ last punch of the season. It will send the Hawks into the NBA Playoffs and the Bulls into an offseason that will offer plenty of questions for the team and its future.

Prediction: Hawks 

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

In this battle between two of the up-and-coming teams in the Western Conference, I believe that the Wolves will pull through. It would be quite the story if the Thunder was able to qualify for the playoffs but I still believe that they’re a year or two away from being a playoff threat in the West.

The Wolves are still an interesting team to watch in a possible first-round series with the Denver Nuggets, especially with how dynamic Anthony Edwards has been through the first few years of his career.

Prediction: Timberwolves 

That means that the NBA Playoff picture will look if these predictions come to fruition.

Eastern Conference 

1. Milwaukee Bucks 

2. Boston Celtics 

3. Philadelphia 76ers 

4. Cleveland Cavaliers 

5. New York Knicks 

6. Brooklyn Nets 

7. Miami Heat 

8. Atlanta Hawks 

Western Conference 

1. Denver Nuggets 

2. Memphis Grizzlies 

3. Sacramento Kings 

4. Phoenix Suns 

5. LA Clippers 

6. Golden State Warriors 

7. Los Angeles Lakers 

8. Minnesota Timberwolves 

The NBA Playoffs officially begin Saturday, April 15.