On April 16, Beijing time, the NBA playoffs entered the final day of competition, the ninth Eagle and the eighth Cavaliers competed for the last playoff spot in the East; the Pelicans and Clippers were to decide the last promotion list in the West. Look at the NBA, just at Tencent Sports, the following is a preview summary (home team is behind).
7:30 Eagles vs Knights (Free Live)
The Cavaliers won 44-38 in the regular season and the Eagles had 43-39 in the regular season, and the two sides were only one win apart and were equal in strength. But judging by the momentum of the last period, the Hawks have the upper hand, counting the play-offs, they have won 8-2 in their last 10 games. The Cavaliers have been affected by injuries and have lost 3-9 in their last 12 games.
The two teams have played each other four times this season, with the Hawks 3-1, but the Cavaliers are missing Garland in one game and Allen and Mobley in the other. The Cavaliers have not found a good way to limit Trae Young, averaging 32.5 points and 9 assists per game against the Cavaliers, shooting 41.2% from three-point range, and he had 41 points and 9 assists in his third regular season game against the Cavaliers. In this game, the battle for point guards will become the focus, and the play between Trae Young and Garland will have a direct impact on the direction of this game.
After missing 19 games due to injury, cavaliers starting center Jarrett Allen has a 50% chance of returning in this life-and-death battle, and the Cavaliers need to use the advantages of the interior to build a good attack and defense against the Hawks' strong firepower.
The Cavaliers also hope to seize the weakness of the Hawks' "home dragon, away bug" in this game, this season, the Hawks have won 27 wins and 14 losses at home, but only 16 wins and 25 losses away from home, while the Cavaliers' home record is 25 wins and 16 losses, and they also hope to use the encouragement of fans to get a victory at home.
The losing side of this game will be eliminated directly, and the winning side will qualify as the eighth in the East, playing the first round against the First Place Heat in the East. The last time the Cavaliers made the playoffs without LeBron James was in the 1997-98 season, and this time they want to relive their old dreams. And the Eagles, who reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season, don't want to be out of the game, who can win this life-and-death battle?
10:00 Pelicans vs Clippers
The Pelicans beat the Spurs in their first play-off and morale was buoyant. The Clippers suffered a timberwolf reversal, and they needed to put the loss behind them and get back on their spirits.
In the four meetings between the two sides in the regular season, the Pelicans won 3-1, and they won the first three meetings, averaging 18.6 points per game, only to lose in the last meeting. The Pelicans showed their inside edge, with Valanciunas becoming the main point of attack against the Clippers, and in his first meeting, he had a game-high 26 points and 13 rebounds. In the second meeting, Varan had 39 points and 15 rebounds, once again dominating the game.
The Clippers limited Downs in one game, but Varan, unlike Towns, has a strong low-post offensive ability and can play a good lethal role against the Clippers' small lineup. Moreover, the Pelicans also have a scoring combination of Ingram and McCollum, and mccollum scored 32 points in the last game against the Spurs, and 27 points in the first half, showing the old and spicy side.
But the Clippers were able to get to where they were missing major generals this season, relying on defensive execution and excellent team play, their defensive efficiency ranked eighth, after the return of George and Powell, the Clippers' overall defense should also be better, Morris's play will be the key, if he is a good center in the small-ball lineup, the Clippers' defensive rotation will be faster, but Morris needs to give the opponent back on the offensive end, especially in the outside to play efficient performance, to destroy the Pelicans defense.
Paul George averaged 22.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 2.8 steals per game after his return, shooting 52.5 percent from three-point range, and the Clippers needed him to stay in the best form to stage The Three Heroes.
The winner of this game will advance to the playoffs as eighth in the West, playing against the first-place Suns in the West in the first round.