NBA Play-In: Hawks, Cavaliers, Pelicans and Clippers vie for final spots

Win and you're in, lose and you're going home.

In these final play-in games, it's really all on the line. And both teams in each matchup took a different path to get here.

The winners of the No. 9 vs. 10 games are riding a high after escaping the jaws of death. Now they have to do it again, and if they pull it off, they must be wondering how far that momentum could take them in Round 1.

The losers of the No. 7 vs. 8 games are desperately hoping to avoid missing two opportunities to make the playoffs. The Los Angeles Clippers probably still can't believe they blew a lead to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Cleveland Cavaliers probably can't believe they're in this position after being a third seed at the All-Star break.

The Play-In Tournament games have been thrilling so far, and we've got one more night of action before the playoffs are set.

East: No. 8 Cavaliers vs. No. 9 Hawks

Season Series: 3-1 Atlanta

Betting Line: Hawks by 1.5 (Courtesy FanDuel at time of publication)

Quick Tape

Hawks: 43-39 | No. 2 offence | No. 26 defence | No. 14 net rating

Cavaliers: 44-38 | No. 20 offence | No. 5 defence | No. 13 net rating

What happened in Play-In game No. 1

Cavaliers: The Brooklyn Nets came out like a house on fire and jumped to a 20-point lead. Kyrie Irving made his first 12 shots. It was basically over before it even started. Cleveland clawed back over the next three quarters for a 115-108 finish, but the result was never really in doubt after that horrid first quarter.

Hawks: The Hawks looked like the team that shocked the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round last season. It wasn't even Trae Young's best game, but six different players scored double digits to push Atlanta to a resounding 132-103 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. De'Andre Hunter's 22 points were particularly encouraging. All of a sudden they look like an interesting eight seed.

What they need to do Friday

Cavaliers: Shore up the defence and give Garland some help. For all their flaws, the Hawks' offence — with Young surrounded by shooters — is excellent. Cleveland needs to slow it down, and then find more help for its point guard on the offensive end. Getting centre Jarrett Allen back will be a massive boost for both.

Hawks: Do it again, De'Andre Hunter. Alright, it's not all on him, but the Hawks need a similar type of performance as Wednesday versus Charlotte — and one of the key components was how Hunter played.

Matchup to watch

Trae Young vs. Darius Garland. Two young and supremely skilled point guards, both of whom led their teams in points and assists by significant margins. Should make for a great duel.

Prediction: Hawks win.

West: No. 8 Clippers vs. No. 9 Pelicans

Season Series: 3-1 New Orleans

Betting Line: Clippers by 4

Quick Tape

Clippers: 42-40 | No. 25 offence | No. 8 defence | No. 18 net rating

Pelicans: 36-46 | No. 19 offence | No. 18 defence | No. 21 net rating

What happened in Play-In game No. 1

Clippers: The Clippers completely shut down Karl-Anthony Towns, forcing him to foul out in one of the worst games of his career, and led heading into the fourth quarter. But the Minnesota Timberwolves were relentless and fed off the energy of their home crowd to down the Clippers 109-104. The most memorable night in recent Wolves history.

Pelicans: CJ McCollum scored 27 first-half points in front of an electrifying home crowd, finishing with 32. Brandon Ingram pitched in 27 of his own and Jonas Valanciunas scored 22. It looked like it would be a blow-out, but the Spurs reeled it in at the end and the game finished 113-103.

What they need to do Friday

Clippers: Kill them from deep. The Clippers are the far-superior three-point shooting team in this game, and the Pelicans allow one of the highest opponent three-point percentages in the league. The Clippers should get good looks, and are more than capable of draining them.

Now that George is out, the Clippers will also need to channel the team-oriented energy that led to success this season.

Pelicans: Ride the Big 3. The Pelicans actually have the edge in star power this game. A Top 3 of McCollum, Ingram and Valanciunas beats what the Clippers have, even if George was healthy. They'll need to perform on Friday, just as they have down the stretch, and just as they did last game.

Matchup to watch

CJ McCollum vs. Norman Powell. Both former teammates who found greener pastures this season, you know they'll try to get the best of each other. Without Kawhi Leonard and George, Powell will be the man scoring the basket for the Clippers. McCollum, with the way he's playing, is probably the best player in this game. The shooting-guard-turned-point-guard has been dynamite since his trade to New Orleans.

Prediction: Pelicans win.