With the NBA playoffs starting in a couple of weeks all fans are closely watching the standings and focused on playoffs matchups. Each year there are plenty of entertaining first-round series and matchups. Let’s take a look at the five best possible first-round matchups from an entertainment, intrigue and competitive standpoint.
NBA Playoffs 2024: 5 Best Potential First Round Matchups
Clippers Mavericks
The Clippers and Mavericks produced two of the most entertaining first-round matchups in 2020 and 2021. In those series, a young Luka Doncic averaged 33.5 ppg, 9.5 assists, and 8.8 rebounds. Despite Luka’s exceptional play, the Clippers won both series in six and seven games respectively. Both these rosters have changed a lot in three years with the Mavericks adding Kyrie Irving and the Clippers adding James Harden and Russell Westbrook. This increased perimeter talent for both teams will create an even more entertaining series. Given Luka’s dominance against the Clippers and the Mavericks surging play, this series could go either way. Currently, the Clippers are the fourth seed and the Mavericks are the fifth seed making this a very possible first-round matchup.
Bucks Heat
The Bucks and Heat is a common playoff matchup and one of the league’s best rivalries. The two teams have faced off in the playoffs three times since 2020 with the Heat winning two of the three series. Including last year when Miami pulled off a first-round upset as the eighth seed en route to an improbable final run. Damian Lillard requested a trade to the Heat this off-season but ultimately landed with the Bucks. This adds yet another interesting element to this possible matchup.
Currently, the Bucks are the two seed and the Heat are the seven making this a very realistic first-round series. From a matchup perspective, the Bucks fast-paced offense-heavy style versus Miami’s slower defensive style is an interesting contrast. Furthermore, seeing how the Bucks’ defense would gameplan around Jimmy Butler is very intriguing. The Bucks have always struggled with this matchup and this roster is less equipped to defend Butler. If this series happens the Bucks will have to count on their offense to overwhelm the Heat. Ultimately this checks all the boxes for a great first-round series and there’s serious upset potential.
Thunder Suns
Kevin Durant returning to face his former team immediately sets this up as a fun matchup. Currently, this is the projected three-six matchup. The two teams have been constructed in polar opposite ways. The Thunder have built an elite young core mainly through the draft whereas the Suns traded for stars to pair with Devin Booker. This contrast between a top-heavy team with tons of star power and a young team exceeding all expectations is very intriguing.
Both teams have questions about them going into the playoffs can the experienced Suns elevate their play in the playoffs, and can the young Thunder sustain their success? Elite shot creation and scoring would make this an incredibly entertaining matchup. Furthermore, it would be interesting to see how the Suns would game plan around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren as they don’t have any natural defender to contain them. From both a narrative and basketball perspective, this series projects to be fantastic.
Nuggets Pelicans
Many are eyeing a conference finals rematch between the Nuggets and Lakers in the first round. However, a potential Nuggets-Pelicans is more intriguing to me. Currently, the two teams are two and seven seeds setting up for a possible playoff matchup. The Pelicans balance and depth could make for a somewhat challenging first-round opponent for the Nuggets. In all likelihood, the Nuggets would still win the series due to the greatness of Nikola Jokic and their elite offense.
Nevertheless watching them adapt to a pesky Pelicans defense would be intriguing. Furthermore, the style contrast between Jokic and Zion Williamson would be incredibly entertaining. This mirrors the overall intrigue of this matchup. The Nuggets style of ball movement, and three-point shooting. Compared to the Pelicans identity around defense and athleticism would make for an interesting matchup. Ultimately a potential matchup with the Pelicans would be the most entertaining and competitive first-round series for the defending champs.
Timberwolves Lakers
The Timberwolves are in a three-team race for the top seed in the West. While the Lakers are in a close race for seeding in the Play-In Tournament. Making this a possible one-eight or two-seven matchup. The two teams have similar identities around defense and size with similar offensive concerns. The Lakers experience compared to the Timberwolves youth adds to the intrigue of this matchup. It’s worth noting these teams gave us three ultra-competitive regular season games. With Karl-Anthony Towns returning from injury it’s unclear what his impact will be. Setting up a potential upset for the Lakers. However, the Timberwolves dominant top-ranked defense could translate to real playoff success and they have been much better than the Lakers this year. Ultimately this would be one of the most competitive and unpredictable first-round series.
