The 2020-21 NBA playoffs -- and play-in! -- are finally here. And this thing is as wide open as ever.
But before we lock in the full 16-team field, here's a look at the first round of the play-in tournament, during which two teams from each conference will secure the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds:
Eastern Conference (Tuesday)
No. 10 Charlotte Hornets at No. 9 Indiana Pacers (6:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
No. 8 Washington Wizards at No. 7 Boston Celtics (9 p.m. ET, TNT)
Western Conference (Wednesday)
No. 10 San Antonio Spurs at No. 9 Memphis Grizzlies (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
No. 8 Golden State Warriors at No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers (10 p.m. ET, ESPN)
And yes, that is not a typo: The defending champion Lakers are in fact fighting for their postseason lives in the play-in tournament. If they can make it into the field, a healthy LeBron James and Anthony Davis could make the Lakers one of the most dangerous No. 7 or No. 8 seeds in NBA history.
The Lakers are among 20 teams still vying for an NBA championship. Here's everything you need to know about each of them, including the most concerning challenges, stats to watch and the biggest matchups in each first-round series and play-in showdown.
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