2024 NBA Playoffs Preview

Nuggets (2) vs Lakers (7)

With the NBA playoffs finally here, Players’ Lounge wanted to give you a preview of some key series of the first round, and what better place to start than with a rematch of last year's Western Conference Finals, the defending champion Denver Nuggets who will try to knock out Lebron’s Los Angeles Lakers for the second straight season. As Nuggets head coach Mike Malone likes to remind the media, the Nuggets not only swept the Lakers out of the playoffs last season but swept the Lakers in the regular season as well this season. So what can change? For starters, D’Angelo Russell has had a recent resurgence and is currently playing the best basketball of his career. He’ll have to continue this level of play, coming off a postseason where he only shot 31 percent from three, which won’t be acceptable against the defending champs. You can watch game 1 Saturday at 8:30 PM ET on ABC!

Defending Finals MVP Nikola Jokic

Clippers vs Mavericks

In one of the most anticipated series of the playoffs, the Luka Doncic vs the Clippers playoff saga continues as the 4 seeded LA Clippers will face off against the 5 seeded Dallas Mavericks. The Clippers have gotten the best of the Mavericks in their last two playoff battles, and Luka when asked what’s different about this series, gave a very simple and direct answer, “We Have Kai now.” NBA Champion Kyrie Irving is quietly coming off another great statistical season, shooting almost 50 percent from the field and averaging over 25 points per game as the second option to Luka. While Kyrie will be the X Factor for the Mavericks, the biggest question of the series is the health of Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard, who reportedly received multiple knee injections in hopes of playing in game 1. If Kawhi plays and is healthy, this is truly a team with limitless potential with the big three of James Harden, Paul George, and Kawhi Leonard looking unstoppable at times when healthy this season. However, there are so many question marks regarding if this Clippers team can stay healthy, and the Mavericks have such a high ceiling offensively, that there’s major speculation that this could finally be the series the Mavericks can take out the Clippers. You can catch game 1 of the series Sunday at 3:30 PM ET on ABC!

Mavericks Superstar Luka Doncic (left) alongside Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard (right)

Knicks vs 76ers

The New York Knicks are coming off arguably their most successful regular season in over a decade, the number 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. What is their reward for that? A matchup with the reigning MVP Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers. Joel Embiid recently returned from a meniscus injury that kept him out since January and helped power his team to a play-in win against the Miami Heat, however, he didn’t look like his usual self in the win. Embiid looked often fatigued and lacked the explosiveness and ability to get to the rim that he had previously. While it was pretty unreasonable to expect Embiid to be in full game shape after multiple months injured and recently returning, Philadelphia needs a Joel Embiid that looks a lot more like the one that won MVP last year if they want to take down the Knicks and budding superstar and current king of New York Jalen Brunson. You can watch game 1 of the series today at 6 PM ET, on ESPN!

2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid

Play NBA2K24 for money on Players’ Lounge!

While the NBA’s best will be competing for a championship, you can compete on NBA2K24 for real money and glory on Players’ Lounge, the number 1 place to play Madden, and 2K for money! Play in daily tournaments that pay out up to the top 32 players, or wager other users on the site using Players’ Lounge unique ranking system, that matches you up with someone on your skill level! The NBA playoffs are sure to bring rating changes to your favorite players on NBA2K24 and it’s important to be aware of that when selecting your team! Bet on yourself on Players’ Lounge today!

Players’ Lounge. The number 1 place to play Madden and 2K for money!