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2024 NBA Playoff Preview: Series Facts, Stats, Key Players, Favorites

April 20, 2024

The Hoops Wire series-by-series guide to the 2024 NBA playoffs …

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

(4)Cleveland Cavaliers – (48-34) vs. (5)Orlando Magic- (47-35)

The fourth-seeded Cavaliers will host the fifth-seeded Magic; when looking at their previous regular season matchup history, both teams split the season series 2-2. This first-round battle will be a gritty defensive showdown, as these two teams each rank bottom seven in pace this season, as well as to note, the Magic give up the fourth-least amount of points per game to opponents (108.4), while the Cavaliers give up the seventh-least amount of points to opponents (110.2).

Key Players:

Cavaliers: Donovan Mitchell (26.6 ppg)/Darius Garland (18.0 ppg)

Magic: Paolo Banchero (22.6 ppg)/Franz Wagner(19.7 ppg)

Game 1 will start on Saturday at 1 pm ET in Cleveland (ESPN). Cavs are the favorites (-4.5); game total over/under: 207.5 points.

(2)New York Knicks- (50-32) vs. (7)Philadelphia 76ers- (47-35)

The second-seeded Knicks will face off with the seventh-seeded 76ers at Madison Square Garden; New York has a 3-1 record this year vs. Philadelphia. These two teams famously scored only 152 points combined in a game vs. each other last month (76ers won 79-73; 3/10). The Knicks give up the third-least amount of points per game to opponents this season (108.2), while the 76ers give up the ninth-least points (111.5).

Key players:

Knicks: Jalen Brunson (28.7 ppg)/Donte DiVincenzo (15.5 ppg)

76ers: Joel Embiid (34.7 ppg)/Tyrese Maxey (25.9 ppg)

Game 1 will take place on Saturday at 6 pm ET in New York (ESPN). Knicks are the favorites (-2.5); game total over/under: 208.5 points.

(1)Boston Celtics- (64-18) vs. (8)Miami Heat- (46-36)

The Celtics, who have the best record in the NBA this season, will match up against the eighth-seeded Heat. This will be a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals, in which the Heat won (4-3). Boston went 3-0 vs. Miami in this year’s regular season. To point out, the Celtics’ offense scores the second-most points per game (120.6), while the Heat’s defense gives up the second-least amount of points to opponents (108.1).

Key players:

Celtics: Jayson Tatum (26.9 ppg)/Jaylen Brown (23.0 ppg)/Kristaps Porzingis (20.1 ppg)

Heat: Jimmy Butler (20.8 ppg)— OUT; MCL sprain/Tyler Herro (20.8 ppg)/Bam Adebayo (19.3 ppg)

Game 1 will be played on Sunday at 1 pm ET in Boston (ESPN). Celtics are the favorites (-14.5); game total over/under: 208.5.

(3)Milwaukee Bucks- (49-33) vs. (6)Indiana Pacers- (47-35)

The third-seeded Bucks will go against their regular season nemesis, the sixth-seeded Pacers, as this will be a rematch from the In-Season Tournament Semifinals game (Pacers won 128-119). The Pacers hold the season series lead at 4-1. To note, the stage is set for a shootout, as the Pacers score the most points per game in the NBA this season (123.1) with the second-highest pace (102.16), while the Bucks score the fourth-most points (119.0) with the eighth-highest pace (100.51).

Key players:

Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo (30.4 ppg)— OUT; calf/Damian Lillard (24.3 ppg)/Khris Middleton (15.1 ppg)

Pacers: Pascal Siakam (21.3 ppg)/Tyrese Haliburton (20.1 ppg)/Myles Turner (17.1 ppg)

Game 1 will tip-off Sunday at 7 pm ET in Milwaukee (ESPN). Pacers are the favorites (-1.5); game total over/under: 233.5 points.

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

(3)Minnesota Timberwolves- (56-26) vs. (6)Phoenix Suns- (49-33)

The third-seeded Timberwolves will welcome the Suns; Phoenix holds a 3-0 advantage in the season series this year vs. Minnesota. The Timberwolves’ defense gives up the least amount of points per game in the NBA this season (106.5), even so, the Suns’ offense scored an average of 118.3 points in their three matchups this season and had a point differential advantage of 15.7 points in the three wins.

Key players:

Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards (25.9 ppg)/Karl Anthony Towns (21.8 ppg)

Suns: Kevin Durant (27.1 ppg)/Devin Booker (27.1 ppg)/Bradley Beal (18.2 ppg)

Game 1 will start on Saturday at 3:30 pm ET in Minnesota (ESPN). Timberwolves are the favorites (-1.5); game total over/under: 214.5 points.

(2)Denver Nuggets- (57-25) vs. (7)Los Angeles Lakers- (47-35)

The second-seeded Nuggets will host the seventh-seeded Lakers, which will be a rematch of last season’s Western Conference Finals. The Nuggets were 3-0 in the regular season series, and have now won eight straight vs. the Lakers dating back to last year. The Lakers’ offense scores the sixth-most points per game in the NBA (118.0), while the Nuggets’ defense gives up the sixth-least amount of points to opponents this season (109.6).

Key players:

Nuggets: Nikola Jokic (26.4 ppg)/Jamal Murray (21.2 ppg)

Lakers: LeBron James (25.7 ppg)/Anthony Davis (24.7 ppg)

Game 1 will take place on Saturday at 8:30 pm ET in Denver (ESPN). Nuggets are the favorites (-6.5); game total over/under: 223.5 points.

(4)Los Angeles Clippers- (51-31) vs. (5)Dallas Mavericks- (50-32)

The fourth-seeded Clippers will go head-to-head with the fifth-seeded Mavericks; Los Angeles has a 2-1 record vs. Dallas in the season series. The Clippers have the fourth-best offensive rating in the NBA this season (117.9), while the Mavericks have the eighth-best offensive rating (117.0).

Key players:

Clippers: Kawhi Leonard (23.7 ppg)— questionable; right knee inflammation/Paul George (22.6 ppg)/James Harden (16.6 ppg)

Mavericks: Luka Doncic (33.9 ppg)/Kyrie Irving (25.6 ppg)

Game 1 will be played on Sunday at 3:30 pm ET in Los Angeles (ESPN). Mavs are the favorites (-1.5); the game total over/under: 223.5 points.

(1)Oklahoma City Thunder- (57-25) vs. (8)New Orleans Pelicans- (49-33)

The Thunder, who have the best-record in the West this season, will take on the eighth-seeded Pelicans; Oklahoma City is 2-1 against New Orleans in the season series. The Thunder’s offense scores the third-most points per game (120.1), while the Pelicans’ defense gives up the eighth-least amount of points to opponents (110.5).

Key players:

Thunder: Shai-Gilgeous Alexander (30.1 ppg)/Jalen Williams (19.1 ppg)/Chet Holmgren (16.5 ppg)

Pelicans: Zion Williamson (22.9 ppg)— OUT; hamstring strain/Brandon Ingram (20.8 ppg)/CJ McCollum (20.0)

Game 1 will tip-off on Sunday at 9:30 pm ET in Oklahoma City (ESPN). Thunder are the favorites (-7.5); game total over/under: 214.5 points.