The Bounce: Previewing the (really enjoyable!) Play-In Tournament video games

The Bounce Newsletter  | This is The Athletic’s day by day NBA publication. Sign up right here to obtain The Bounce straight in your inbox.

We have a large week forward of us. We have the end-of-season Bouncies to present out as awards. We’ll go over our preseason predictions (I’d really like to skip that). The Play-In Tournament arrives tomorrow. Taxes are due on Wednesday. And the playoffs begin Saturday.

---

Season is over

All it’s essential to know from ultimate weekend

We made it by the 2025-26 common season! They claimed it couldn’t be completed, and we proved them mistaken. This NBA season was stuffed with drama, a few of which has but to be resolved (the Clippers’ salary-cap circumvention investigation and playing scandals from the second day of the season). Tanking was a large difficulty that’s getting solved subsequent month, we predict. The 65-game rule was an enormous bag of drama, and we predict the NBA is sticking with it. Giannis Antetokounmpo could be on the transfer round draft evening in late June.

Oh, and there was additionally some actually good basketball — and absurd particular person performances. Here’s the place we stand after the final weekend of action, together with a fast introduction to our playoff sequence (emoji meter out of 5):

• Nikola Jokić and Victor Wembanyama each certified for postseason awards. Luka Dončić is anticipated to attraction his standing. Cade Cunningham ought to be part of him.
• Cooper Flagg had 33 factors in a showdown with Wemby (40-13-15 in 26 minutes) on Friday. Then he solely performed 10 minutes on Sunday due to a sprained ankle.
• Luka (33.5) is your scoring champ (whole factors and common).
• Jokić (12.9) is your rebounding champ (common). Donovan Clingan had probably the most whole boards.
• Jokić (10.7) is your assists champ (common and whole assists).
• Jokić is the first participant in historical past to steer the league in rebounding and help common.
• Kon Knueppel (273) and LaMelo Ball (272) have been first and second in made 3-pointers.
• The Wizards secured the worst document (17-65). The Pacers (19-63) and Nets (20-62) join them with the best lottery odds (14 % for the highest decide). Washington set the document for many 20-point losses with 28.
• The Jazz and Kings may have a coin flip for the fourth-best lottery odds. New Orleans and Dallas may have a coin flip for the seventh-best lottery odds.
• Doc Rivers agreed to step down as the Bucks coach.

Eastern Conference sequence

(8) 76ers/Magic/Hornets/Heat versus (1) Pistons: A wholesome Sixers staff or an impressed Hornets squad may take a look at the top-seeded Pistons. Detroit should take care of business, however we may see some fascinating matchups.

Upset menace stage: 🚨🚨

(7) 76ers/Magic/Hornets/Heat versus (2) Celtics: I would think about a stylistic difficulty for the Celtics if Joel Embiid have been wholesome, however no person is anticipating Boston to be in bother right here. Charlotte can be a enjoyable matchup, although.

Upset menace stage: 🚨

(6) Hawks versus (3) Knicks: The new-look Hawks are hoping their defense can stop New York’s quest for its first finals look since we have been frightened about Y2K.

Upset menace stage: 🚨🚨🚨

(5) Raptors versus (4) Cavaliers: I actually don’t know what to make of these two teams and their playoff competency. But the Cavs may need the 2 greatest gamers on this sequence.

Upset menace stage: 🚨🚨

Western Conference sequence

(8) Suns/Blazers/Clippers/Warriors versus (1) Thunder: Maybe for those who mixed these 4 groups, we may see them threatening the Thunder in a first-round sequence.

Upset menace stage: 🧹

(7) Suns/Blazers/Clippers/Warriors versus (2) Spurs: The Suns may present an intriguing type of play towards the Spurs. But this younger San Antonio staff must be secure.

Upset menace stage: 🚨

(6) Wolves versus (3) Nuggets: We noticed an epic battle between these two in 2024. The Wolves are totally different now, and the Nuggets are deeper. This could be a bloody first-round series if Ant is wholesome. But a wholesome Nuggets staff is title-capable.

Upset menace stage: 🚨🚨🚨🚨

(5) Rockets versus (4) Lakers: We don’t know if Luka or Austin Reaves will seem on this sequence. So not even the Rockets can find a possibility to give this one away.

Upset menace stage: 🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨

---

The final 24

🦌 Bucks cease right here. It was an aimless, drama-filled yr for Giannis and Milwaukee. Our Eric Nehm goes inside the Bucks’ season from hell.

🏆 Survey says! Who will win all of it? We requested 161 gamers in our annual nameless ballot to give their pick to take the title.

🏀 Decade after dominance. Today marks the tenth anniversary of the Warriors securing their record-breaking 73rd win. Our Nick Friedell has a look back on that team.

🐂 Let’s speak. The Bulls are adamant about Billy Donovan remaining their coach. We don’t know if it’s mutual.

👑 You’re secure. The Sacramento Kings have had 13 coaches within the final 20 years. Doug Christie is coming back, though.

🏀 Mock-ery. The WNBA Draft is tonight. Our Sabreena Merchant has the most recent intel on who may go the place in her new mock draft.

Stream the NBA on Fubo (try it for free!) and catch out-of-market video games on League Pass.

---

East Play-In preview

Redemption for Magic? Can Hornets buzz?

Because of a Philadelphia Flyers NHL dwelling sport, the East 7-8 matchup is going on on Wednesday as a substitute of tomorrow. That’s as a result of the Magic misplaced to Luka Garza and the Celtics on the ultimate day of the season. Let’s preview all of the Play-In video games!

(8) Magic at (7) 76ers, Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime

• Play-In expertise for the 76ers: They’re 1-0 with a one-point win over Miami to seize the No. 7 seed again in 2024.
• Play-In expertise for the Magic: They’re 1-0, with their first look leading to a 25-point win over Atlanta for the No. 7 seed final yr.
• Best storyline for the sport: Will the Magic’s extremely disappointing season finish this week?
• How’d the season sequence go? How related was it? The 76ers gained the sequence 2-1, however these groups haven’t performed since Jan. 9.
• Key matchup: Jalen Suggs guarding Tyrese Maxey. The Magic want to connect with their outdated defensive methods, and Suggs having the ability to decelerate Maxey with out Embiid out there’s the important thing.
• Key stat: Free throws. These are two of one of the best at attending to the charity stripe, and so they’re each actually good at holding opponents off the road. These groups will want low cost, simple factors.
• Who ought to the Celtics wish to win? Probably Orlando. I doubt they’re sweating both, however the Magic can’t shoot with them.
• Prediction: 76ers by six.

(10) Heat at (9) Hornets, tomorrow, 7:30 p.m., Amazon Prime

• Play-In expertise for the Hornets: 0-2 of their historical past, with two blowout losses to Indiana in 2021 and Atlanta in 2022.
• Play-In expertise for the Heat: They’re 4-2 and have secured the No. 8 seed in every of the final three seasons. Last yr, they did it towards Atlanta and Chicago because the tenth staff within the East.
• Best storyline for the sport: Can the Hornets’ unimaginable turnaround proceed into their first playoff look since 2016?
• How’d the season sequence go? How related was it? The Heat gained the sequence 3-1, with the final two of these video games coming in March.
• Key matchup: Moussa Diabate towards Bam Adebayo. We’re not anticipating 83 from Bam, however Diabate having the ability to decelerate Adebayo’s offensive influence can be huge for Charlotte.
• Key stat: Offensive boards. The Hornets seize the fourth-highest proportion of offensive boards, and the Heat are eighth in defensive rebounding. Limiting Charlotte’s possessions is big.
• Who ought to the Pistons wish to win? They most likely wish to face Orlando or Miami due to their offensive points. Charlotte could be a bit of too scrappy.
• Prediction: Hornets by 9.

---

West Play-In preview

Either Kawhi or Steph might be going dwelling

Now let’s flip our gaze to the West Play-In matchups:

(8) Blazers at (7) Suns, tomorrow, 10 p.m., on Amazon Prime

• Play-In expertise for the Suns: None.
• Play-In expertise for the Blazers: 1-0. They gained the very first Play-In matchup towards Memphis in 2020 within the bubble.
• Best storyline for the sport: Both Portland and Phoenix have been anticipated to come back up quick this season, and now they’ve an opportunity on the seventh seed.
• How’d the season sequence go? How related was it?Phoenix gained the sequence 2-1, with solely a kind of video games because the All-Star break.
• Key matchup: Toumani Camara guarding Devin Booker. Camara is likely one of the greatest defenders within the league, and Booker is likely one of the greatest scorers. Whoever will get the higher of this matchup will most likely assist his staff win.
• Key stat: 3-point taking pictures. The Suns are seventh in quantity and twelfth in 3-point proportion. Portland is third in quantity and twenty seventh in proportion. The Blazers must shoot higher to maintain up.
• Who ought to the Spurs wish to win? They most likely wish to take care of Portland, contemplating the Blazers are so dangerous at 3-point taking pictures.
• Prediction: Suns by three.

(10) Warriors at (9) Clippers, Wednesday, 10 p.m., Amazon Prime

• Play-In expertise for the Clippers: 0-2. They misplaced each Play-In video games in 2022 to Minnesota and New Orleans.
• Play-In expertise for the Warriors: 1-3. They gained the seventh seed final yr towards Memphis. They misplaced to Sacramento to get ousted in 2024 and misplaced to the Lakers and Grizzlies in 2021.
• Best storyline for the sport: Either Kawhi Leonard or Steph Curry might be eradicated from an opportunity at a postseason spot with a loss right here. Kawhi is 34, and Steph is 38.
• How’d the season sequence go? How related was it? The Clippers gained the sequence 3-1, with the ultimate sport on the ultimate day of the season. Only one sport occurred earlier than the Clippers’ turnaround.
• Key matchup: Curry towards Darius Garland. Curry remains to be coming off a knee damage, and Garland is giving the Clippers quite a bit on offense. If he can match Curry, the Clippers might be in a fantastic place to win.
• Key stat: Turnovers. Both of those groups are within the backside 10 in turnover fee, however the Warriors are fifth-best at forcing turnovers. The Clippers are middle-of-the-road. Who will give the sport away, and who will take it?
• Who ought to the Thunder wish to win? I’m unsure they’ll even know these groups are right here. It’s going to be a sweep regardless.
• Prediction: Clippers by seven.