After a four month break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, professional basketball is back in full swing. With the regular season coming to a close and most of the playoff spots locked up, the NBA will host its first ever play-in game for the final 8th seed of the Western Conference.
The play-in game forces the two remaining low seeds to play each other, to see which team advances to the playoff tournament. The team that advances from the play-in game will have to face the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
The play-in game will involve the 8th seed and the 9th seed in the Western Conference to see who gets to move on to the playoffs. As things stand right now, the Memphis Grizzlies as the 8th seed control their own destiny and the Portland Trailblazers hold the 9th spot.
Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns are on the outside looking in with a chance to make the playoffs.
According to ESPN, the Memphis Grizzlies have a 62% chance of maintaining the final spot. However, the Grizzlies are 1-5 over the last six games, while the Trailblazers have been red hot as of late and are 4-2.
Both teams are led by guard play, but the Grizzlies suffered a huge loss with the injury to Jaren Jackson, while Damian Lillard has been NBA Jam “He’s on Fire!” hot by going bananas and dropping 51 points on the 76ers with Carmelo Anthony chipping in 20 points, as well.
The play-in game is set for August 15 at 2:30 p.m. ET on ABC. If the 8th seed wins, they are automatically in the playoffs. If they lose, a second game will be played on August 16 at 4:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
