The Final slate of NBA Play-In games are set.
The New Orleans Pelicans will be taking on the Sacramento Kings in the West, while out East the Miami Heat will battle against the Chicago Bulls.
Both games hold a win-or-go-home scenario for the opposing teams. Here is a preview leading up to both games.
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NBA Play-In Preview: Heat vs. Bulls
Date: Friday, April 19th
Time: 7:00 PM
Network: ESPN
The Chicago Bulls defeated the Atlanta Hawks to keep their season alive, thanks to a big performance from Coby White, who scored 42 points.
The same could not be said for the Heat, who lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in a close one. Now having the task of taking on a hot Chicago Bulls team that has managed to win three of their last four games.
It was a long regular season for both clubs, as they both dealt with significant injury blows throughout the year. However, the Heat and Bulls have managed to take care of business during the regular season to get to this point and now we will see who is the more resilient amongst the two.
READ MORE: Heat Star Jimmy Butler May Have Suffered Serious Knee Injury in Play-in Loss vs Sixers
NBA Play-In Preview: No Jimmy Butler for the Heat and Another Injury for the Bulls
The injury bug may have reared its ugly head yet again for both teams.
The Miami Heat find themselves in a bit of a dilemma approaching Friday night's game without All-Star forward Jimmy Butler.
According to an article by Athletic NBA Insider, Shams Charnia, Butler is feared to have sustained a MCL injury.
The expectation is Miami's Jimmy Butler will be out multiple weeks, sources said. Butler remarkably played the final three quarters vs. 76ers last night with what is now feared to be an MCL injury. https://t.co/dEDMAuuXuN
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 18, 2024
Jimmy Butler landed awkwardly in the first quarter while going for a fast break after trying to fake out 76ers small forward Kelly Oubre Jr., causing them to both buckle knees.
Butler managed to play through the final three-quarters of the game for them; however, Charnia said the Heat star would likely be sidelined indefinitely and miss the Playoffs entirely.
Jimmy Butler has missed a significant number of games during the regular season. Being sidelined for this postseason game is a huge blow to a Miami team with championship aspirations.
Butler was a big part of last season's Miami Heat NBA Finals run, one that saw them fall to the Denver Nuggets in five games. He remained the heart and soul of this Heat team throughout the regular season and was a significant factor in their playoff success coming into the postseason this year.
It seems that without their leader on the court, the Heat may have trouble returning to the playoffs, let alone the NBA Finals.
Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso may miss Friday's game due to a severe ankle injury, according to ESPN NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski. This was possibly caused by Bulls center Andre Drummond accidentally stepping on his foot during last night's game.
Alex Caruso is the best defensive guard for a Bulls team that was middle of the pack defensively this season. Without him, it may be hard for the Bulls to slow down a guard like Tyler Herro or Terry Rozier.
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NBA Play-In: X-Factors for the Heat and Bulls
Without Jimmy Butler, the Heat guard Tyler Herro has to find his shot, as he did a bit too late in the game against the 76ers.
Herro scored 25 points on an inefficient 9-27 shooting. At times, Herro has proven to be the best player on the court for the Heat throughout the regular season when fully healthy.
He would need to turn it on for Miami without Butler on the court.
Coby White was big-time in the Bulls win over the Hawks, dropping a career-high 42 points on an efficient 15-21 shooting.
He may need to put together another big performance for the Bulls to have any hope of winning this game.
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NBA Play-In Preview: Final Verdict
The Miami Heat have the edge in experience when facing a win-or-go-home game, even without Jimmy Butler.
The Heat also hold a defense that is able to slow down DeMar DeRozan, Coby White, and Nikola Vucevic; the Bulls' primary sources of offense.
The Miami Heat over the Chicago Bulls.
READ MORE: NBA Play-In Preview: Pelicans to Face Kings Without Zion Williamson
NBA Play-In Preview: New Orleans Pelicans vs Sacramento Kings
Date: Friday, April 19th
Time: 9:30 PM EST
Network: ESPN
The New Orleans Pelicans have so far proven their superiority over the Sacramento Kings, sweeping them in the season series with an impressive 5-0 record.
McCollum, Ingram, and Williamson have managed to torch the Kings in each game during the regular season.
In a high-stakes win-or-go-home scenario, the Pelicans would typically be the favored team. However, the absence of their star power forward, Zion Williamson, could make things a little more challenging this time around.
READ MORE: Warriors: Stephen Curry Reflects on Potential Future Without Klay Thompson and Draymond Green
NBA Play-In Preview: Zion Williamson's Health in Question
Zion Williamson's health status is what will determine this game.
According to ESPN NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski, Williamson will be out of the game on Friday due to a left hamstring injury.
ESPN story on Pelicans star Zion Williamson out with hamstring injury for Friday’s Play-In game vs. Kings and beyond https://t.co/V51Mtra76C
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 17, 2024
The Pelicans not having their lead scorer after a star-making 40-point performance is a drastic blow to a team that would have been odds on favor to win this game.
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NBA Play-In Preview: In X-Factors for the Pelicans and Kings
Being without Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk, the Kings small forward Keegan Murray has stepped up; scoring 23 points on Tuesday against the Warriors.
Murray showed the world what Kings fans have known for a long time, that he is legit.
In the absence of Zion Williamson, the Pelicans are going to have to rely heavily on Brandon Ingram to step up, if they do hope to secure the playoff spot.
Ingram, who has recently returned from a left knee contusion that kept him out of action for a month, had an abysmal performance against LA; shooting just 4-for-12 from the field and finishing with 11 points against the Lakers.
One could argue that he is still recovering from an injury that has kept him out for an extended period of time. This may explain Brandon Ingram's lackluster performance, but at the same time he will need to shake off the rust in order to help New Orleans past the Kings.
During the regular season Ingram has demolished the Kings, averaging 24.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.2 assists in their previous five games.
READ MORE: Lakers: Darvin Ham Makes Bold Statement Regarding Their Chances vs Nuggets in Playoffs
NBA Play-In Preview: Final Verdict
These are some of the best young teams in the Western Conference.
The New Orleans Pelicans have a lot going for them with home-court advantage and guards who can slow down Sacramento star guard De'Aaron Fox. However, without Zion Williamson in the lineup, the Pelicans chances of winning have gone down drastically.
READ MORE: Bucks vs. Pacers Playoffs: 4 Ways Milwaukee Is Not Ready Yet for the Postseason
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