The NBA play-in tournament begins Tuesday, featuring two of the game’s biggest stars each fighting to secure a spot in the first round.

Before LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers take on the New Orleans Pelicans and Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors face the Sacramento Kings, our NBA experts are making their picks for the play-in games, including Wednesday’s Miami Heat-Philadelphia 76ers and Chicago Bulls-Atlanta Hawks showdowns in the Eastern Conference.

MORE: 20-team preview | Playoff news, schedules and results


Los Angeles Lakers (8) at New Orleans Pelicans (7)

Kendra Andrews: Lakers

Jerry Bembry: Lakers

Jamal Collier: Lakers

Israel Gutierrez: Pelicans

Chris Herring: Lakers

Tim Legler: Pelicans

Tim MacMahon: Lakers

Bobby Marks: Lakers

Dave McMenamin: Lakers

Kevin Pelton: Pelicans

Jorge Sedano: Lakers

André Snellings: Lakers

Marc J. Spears: Lakers

Ohm Youngmisuk: Lakers


Final tally: Lakers 11, Pelicans 3.

Golden State Warriors (10) at Sacramento Kings (9)

Kendra Andrews: Warriors

Jerry Bembry: Warriors

Jamal Collier: Warriors

Israel Gutierrez: Warriors

Chris Herring: Warriors

Tim Legler: Warriors

Andrew Lopez: Kings

Tim MacMahon: Warriors

Bobby Marks: Warriors

Dave McMenamin: Warriors

Kevin Pelton: Warriors

Jorge Sedano: Warriors

André Snellings: Warriors

Marc J. Spears: Warriors

Ohm Youngmisuk: Warriors


Final tally: Warriors 14, Kings 1.

Miami Heat (8) at Philadelphia 76ers (7)

Kendra Andrews: 76ers

Jerry Bembry: 76ers

Jamal Collier: 76ers

Israel Gutierrez: Heat

Chris Herring: 76ers

Tim Legler: 76ers

Andrew Lopez: 76ers

Tim MacMahon: 76ers

Bobby Marks: Heat

Dave McMenamin: 76ers

Kevin Pelton: 76ers

Jorge Sedano: Heat

André Snellings: 76ers

Marc J. Spears: 76ers

Ohm Youngmisuk: 76ers


Final tally: 76ers 12, Heat 3.

Atlanta Hawks (10) at Chicago Bulls (9)

Kendra Andrews: Bulls

Jerry Bembry: Bulls

Jamal Collier: Bulls

Israel Gutierrez: Bulls

Chris Herring: Bulls

Andrew Lopez: Bulls

Tim Legler: Bulls

Tim MacMahon: Bulls

Bobby Marks: Bulls

Dave McMenamin: Bulls

Kevin Pelton: Bulls

Jorge Sedano: Bulls

André Snellings: Bulls

Marc J. Spears: Bulls

Ohm Youngmisuk: Bulls


Final tally: Bulls 15, Hawks 0.