NBA play-off finale: The first round of the playoffs is finalized with 8 groups of matchups Lakers and Heat continue to play the East and West finals

On April 20, Beijing time, the second round of the NBA play-offs officially started, and the Eastern side lost to the 76ers' Heat in the first round, and ushered in the battle for eighth in the East with the Bulls at home, the latter defeated the Hawks in the first round of the play-offs to advance, and the Pelicans, who lost to the Lakers in the first round of the West, ushered in the eighth battle with the Kings at home, and the latter defeated the Warriors in the first round of the play-offs to advance.

In the second round of the play-offs, the relatively highly-ranked Heat and Pelicans both suffered from injuries.

Zion Pelicans suffered a hamstring strain and is expected to be reassessed in two weeks, while Butler, the heart of the Heat, sprained a medial collateral ligament in his right knee and will also be out for several weeks.

As a result, the Pelicans and Heat refused to go out of the game in the remaining situation, the Heat defeated the Bulls 112-91, and the Pelicans defeated the Kings 105-98, and the two teams locked up the eighth place in the East and West to advance to the playoffs.

With the rankings of the two teams finalized, the NBA play-offs ushered in the finale, and the first round of the playoffs was finalized with the eight-group matchups, and the Lakers Heat continued last season's east-west showdown.

West: Thunder (1) vs. Pelicans (8), Nuggets (2) vs. Lakers (7), Timberwolves (3) vs. Suns (6), Clippers (4) vs. Mavericks (5);

East: Celtics (1) vs. Heat (8), Knicks (2) vs. 76ers (7), Bucks (3) vs. Pacers (6), Cavaliers (4) vs. Magic (5).

Western Conference Group 1: Thunder (1) VS Pelicans (8)

The two young teams will meet in the first round of the playoffs, and this is not the first time the two teams have met in the playoffs, having met in the playoffs last year, when the Pelicans lost 118-123 to the Thunder and were eliminated.

After the win over the Kings, Ingram was also asked about the game against the Thunder, and he bluntly said that he didn't remember how the two sides played each other in the regular season, but remembered that the opponent eliminated him in the play-offs last season.

The main thing that will determine the outcome of this series is Zion's injury, who suffered a hamstring strain and will be rechecked in 2 weeks.

Group 2 in the West: Nuggets (2) vs Lakers (7)

It was another set of grievances, the two teams met in the Western Conference finals last year, and the Lakers were swept out of the West finals 4-0 by the Nuggets.

During the regular season this season, the Lakers were swept 3-0 by the Nuggets, that is, in the last seven games, the Nuggets swept the Lakers 7-0.

Therefore, for the Lakers, as long as they can avoid a sweep, it is a victory to some extent, and it is very difficult for the Black Seven to beat the Nuggets, and the Lakers need to be the best in all aspects.

Western Conference Group 3 Matchup: Timberwolves (3) VS Suns (6)

The Timberwolves and the Suns are the two extremes of the league this season, the former is the first in the league in defensive efficiency, and the latter has Beal + Booker + Durant, the best offensive triumvirate in the game, and the battle between the two teams is bound to be the strongest spear and shield battle.

Coupled with the Suns' 3-0 sweep of the Timberwolves in the regular season, the final game of the regular season is also the Suns defeating the Timberwolves to lock up the sixth, pulling the latter to third, and the matchup between the two sides is bound to be very interesting.

Western Conference Group 4 Matchup: Clippers (4) VS P (5)

This group has the smallest difference in rankings and the closest strength, with both teams boasting top-tier powerhouses.

The Clippers Wei Shao + Harden + George + Small Card 4 lineup, against the super duo of Doncic + Irving, what kind of sparks will be expected.

In addition, the fighting style of Kidd and Tyronn Lue is also quite interesting, and the two teams have met many times in the playoffs before, and this matchup after the lineup change is bound to be full of highlights.

There are also plenty of things to watch in the East, with the Heat and Lakers in a similar situation, facing last season's old rivals in the division finals in the first round, and the two teams will continue last season's division finals.

Whether the Knicks will face the 76ers led by healthy Embiid as an upstart, whether the Bucks, who were eliminated by the Pacers in the midseason championship, can get revenge in the playoffs, and who of the two young teams, the Magic and the Cavaliers, will be revealed in the first round of the Eastern Conference.

Butler lies down to win, and the Heat lock the 8th place to fight the Green Army again! The 4 groups of matchups in the East are finalized, and the rivals are together