We have 880 games in the books and another several more yet to get to. The 88 teams we started with have been narrowed down to 64, with half of those to be eliminated in this next round.
For the purposes of these first few rounds, I'm going to randomly pick some matchups and simulate the full series. I'll go into a little bit of detail about each game and provide some of the key stat lines from players and teams. This will be a little more in-depth than Group Play since each post will have fewer games to cover.
The up to date bracket, scores, and results from Group Play can be found here. All simulations are provided by WhatIfSports.com. Let's get to it!
(6) 1982 Los Angeles Lakers vs (3) 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers
Game 1: @ '16 CLE 123, '82 LAL 111
The Lakers were in control early and led by 9 after just one quarter. LA's lead was as high as 15 just four minutes into the second when the Cavs began to make a run, though they only managed to cut it to eight by intermission. Much of the third was a punch-counterpunch as the Cavs slowly cut into the lead, finally taking the lead with under three minutes to play in the frame. Cleveland led by six by the end of the third. The biggest blow for Los Angeles came midway through the fourth when Kareem fouled out down three. Five straight points from Iman Shumpert pushed the margin to eight, and the Lakers got no closer.
LeBron James ('16 CLE): 32 pts, 11 reb, 9 ast
Kyrie Irving ('16 CLE): 27 pts, 8 ast, 4 stl
Magic Johnson ('82 LAL): 18 pts, 9 reb, 8 ast
Game 2: @ '16 CLE 132, '82 LAL 106
The Lakers led again in the opening couple minutes, but Cleveland was ready with an answer earlier, leading by five after one. The Cavs pushed the lead to double digits early in the second, though the Lakers cut it to nine by halftime. LA spend the early part of the third keeping the margin in single digitss, but couldn't get enough stops and before long the Cavs were running away with the game.
LeBron James ('16 CLE): 24 pts, 13 ast
Kevin Love ('16 CLE): 30 pts, 8 reb
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ('82 LAL): 24 pts, 6 reb, 4 blk
Game 3: @ '82 LAL 114, '16 CLE 88
The first quarter went back and forth, with the hosts holding a three point lead upon its completion, then the Lakers scored the first six of the second to take control. An 11-2 Laker run late in the half pushed the lead to double digits, and the Lakers were up 16 at the break. It quickly pushed to 20 early in the third, and the Cavs got no closer than 12 the rest of the way.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ('82 LAL): 29 pts, 17 reb
Magic Johnson ('82 LAL): 16 pts, 11 reb, 6 ast, 5 stl
Jamaal Wilkes ('82 LAL): 21 pts, 6 reb, 3 blk
Game 4: '16 CLE 122, @ '82 LAL 117
It looked like the Cavs would run away with Game 4 early, as they opened the game on an 11-2 run. But the Lakers closed the frame on a 9-0 run to tie the game at 32. Cleveland would start to pull away in the second quarter and took a 66-60 lead into the break. Cleveland maintained a narrow lead around that margin for the entirety of the third quarter. LA cut it to just two early in the fourth, but Cleveland made enough plays down the stretch to grab the first road win of the series and take a stranglehold on the series.
Tristan Thompson ('16 CLE): 15 pts, 17 reb
JR Smith ('16 CLE): 24 pts, 4 stl
LeBron James ('16 CLE): 19 pts, 11 reb, 7 ast
This one was never close. After a Magic dunk made it 15-10 Cleveland just under three minutes into the game, the Cavs closed the opening stanza on a 22-6 run, with the Lakers going scoreless for four minutes after the aforementioned dunk. LA did cut it to 12 midway through the second quarter, but a 12-0 Cleveland run put a stop to that and the margin was 22 at halftime, and hit 30 by the midway point of the third. The Cavs easily advance to the Round of 32 in five games.
LeBron James ('16 CLE): 38 pts, 9 reb, 5 ast, 5 stl
Kyrie Irving ('16 CLE): 29 pts, 4 reb, 5 ast
Kevin Love ('16 CLE): 18 pts, 14 reb, 7 ast
(8) 2004 Detroit Pistons vs (1) 2023 Denver Nuggets
Game 1: @ '23 DEN 108, '04 DET 105
The first quarter was a heavyweight bout as the teams traded blows before Denver slowly took control, building a six point lead after 12 minutes. Detroit answered back in the second, opening the frame on an 11-2 run to flip the script and eventually take a five point lead into the locker room. That momentum continued into the third quarter as the Pistons built a lead as high as 15 late before Denver cut it to 11 by the end of the frame. An 8-0 Nuggets run midway through the fourth cut it to a one possession game, and for a while the Pistons were able to hold on, but a 12-0 Denver run flipped the game to a seven point Denver lead with just three minutes to go. A key sequence came with just under two minutes to play when Tayshaun Prince missed two of three free throws while down four, and Nikola Jokic responded with a three on the other end to make it a six point game. Despite that, the Pistons cut the deficit to one a couple times in the closing seconds, but after a pair of Jokic free throws made it 108-105, Rip Hamilton missed an open look to tie the game with just a second left, and Jokic corraled the rebound to seal the Game 1 victory.
Nikola Jokic ('23 DEN): 29 pts, 18 reb, 6 ast
Jamal Murray ('23 DEN): 21 pts, 6 reb, 7 ast
Richard Hamilton ('04 DET): 25 pts, 4 reb, 8 ast
Game 2: @ '23 DEN 108, '04 DET 93
The Pistons roared out to a 14-3 lead just three minutes into Game 2, but the Nuggets fought back, bridging the first and second quarters with a 14-0 run to take the lead. They got it to double digits late in the first half, and pushed it to 15 by the break. Detroit pulled back within five a couple times in the third, but a 12-0 Denver run pushed the lead back out, and they were up 11 after 3. Detroit scored its last points with three and a half minutes to go, and the Nuggets take a 2-0 lead to Detroit.
Nikola Jokic ('23 DEN): 36 pts, 17 reb, 11ast
Aaron Gordon ('23 DEN): 19 pts, 9 reb
Rasheed Wallace ('04 DET): 21 pts, 5 reb, 5 blk
Game 3: '23 DEN 110, @ '04 DET 89
The Pistons again got off to a good start leading 17-9 just five minutes in, but the Nuggets outscored the hosts 21-8 the rest of the period, and Detroit continued to struggle getting stops. Denver took a double digit lead late in the second and went to the locker room up 11. While the Pistons cut the deficit to single digits a couple times early in the third, the Nuggets offense got going and pushed it back to 20 midway through the frame. Denver pushed it as high as 30 before calling off the dogs.
Nikola Jokic ('23 DEN): 24 pts, 14 reb, 9 ast
Michael Porter, Jr ('23 DEN): 26 pts, 9 reb
Chauncey Billups ('04 DEN): 23 pts, 4 reb
Game 4: @ '04 DET 105, '23 DEN 104
Denver got out to a sizable early lead, going up 11 after one quarter. The Pistons struggled to cut into that, with the margin remaining at 11 at halftime. After the break Detroit began to make its run, using a 13-4 stretch to steal the lead late in the period, and after some back and forth, scored the final six of the period to go up five with 12 minutes to play. Jamal Murray went bonkers to open the fourth and tie the game, and a back and forth battle ensued. Five ties and seven lead changes occurred over the final 11 minutes, the most consequential of which came late. A Rip Hamilton three point play gave the Pistons a four point lead with just under a minute to play. An Aaron Gordon three cut it back to one, then after a Chauncey Billups missed three, Murray buried an 11 footer to put his team up 104-103 with nine seconds to go. But that was too much time, as Hamilton buried a 17 footer at the buzzer to keep his team alive.
Ben Wallace ('04 DET): 14 pts, 16 reb, 4 blk
Richard Hamilton ('04 DET): 17 pts, 7 ast, 5 stl; made game-winning shot at the buzzer
Nikola Jokic ('23 DEN): 20 pts, 15 reb, 7 ast, 3 stl
The Pistons carried some momentum over from the miracle finish to end Game 4, fighting off an early Denver push to lead by eight after one quarter. Denver fought back to take a two point lead going into the locker room. The Nuggets couldn't push the advantage in the third as the Pistons stayed with them, trailing by just one going into the final period. But the Pistons eventually ran out of gas, as a Nikola Jokic three a minute into the fourth gave Denver the lead back, and an extended 11-2 run midway through the period pushed the Nuggets' lead to double digits with about four minutes to go. Detroit's last gasp got no closer than seven as one of the tournament's top seeds advances.
Nikola Jokic ('23 DEN): 27 pts, 19 reb, 8 ast
Aaron Gordon ('23 DEN): 27 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast
Chauncey Billups ('04 DET): 24 pts, 4 reb, 4 ast
(6) 1977 Portland Trail Blazers vs (3) 2002 Los Angeles Lakers
Game 1: '77 POR 108, @ '02 LAL 89
The visitors jumped out to a 12-2 lead just two and a half minutes into the contest, and after the Lakers cut it to seven, used another 12-2 run to push the lead to 17, and would lead by as many as 19 in the opening quarter. That was the halftime margin as the Blazers were able to largely cruise in this one, using a 14-0 third quarter run to push the margin to 30. Both teams emptied their benches with about four minutes to play in this one, and the Lakers reserves made the margin look much closer than it actually was.
Bill Walton ('77 POR): 19 pts, 22 reb, 3 blk
Maurice Lucas ('77 POR): 32 pts, 10 reb
Kobe Bryant ('02 LAL): 22 pts, 4 reb, 5 ast
Game 2: @ '02 LAL 99, '77 POR 82
Portland controlled the early game again, leading by as many as 11 in the opening quarter before the Lakers cut it to five by the end of the period. LA took its first lead three minutes into the second as part of an extended 18-2 run that saw Portland make just one field goal over six minutes. By the time the dust settled, the Lakers were up eight going into the locker room. The Blazers got a couple early baskets in the third but couldn't get stops as the Lakers went up by as many as 18 in the third. Portland got as close as 10 midway through the fourth, but that was all as the Lakers tie the series.
Kobe Bryant ('02 LAL): 23 pts, 7 reb, 7 ast
Shaquille O'Neal ('02 LAL): 19 pts, 9 reb, 3 blk
Bill Walton ('77 POR): 21 pts, 11 reb, 4 ast, 3 blk
Game3: @ '77 POR 100, '02 LAL 99
Playing in front of their home crowd, Portland bounced back to take early control in Game 3, leading by three after one quarter of play, then used an 8-0 run midway through the second to push their advantage, getting it to double digits a couple times before settling into the break up five. The third quarter was tightly contested as the Lakers managed to make it a one possession game a couple of time, but couldn't get over the hump as Portland led by four going into the final stanza. An early Blazers surge got the lead back up to double digits with under nine minutes to play. After a Herm Gilliam three point play made it a 12 point game, the Lakers woke up, going on a 13-0 run to finally take the lead. Five straight from Bob Gross helped flip the game back to a five point Blazer lead, but the Lakers had another run in them. Kobe Bryant threw down a go-ahead dunk with 36 seconds left, and after Bill Walton missed a go-ahead try, Kobe grabbed the rebound and made two free throws off an intentional foul to go up three with 15 seconds left. A Maurice Lucas jumper cut it to a one point game, then the Blazers turned to Hack-a-Shaq. O'Neal missed both free throws, Lionel Hollins grabbed the rebound off the second miss, and Hollins himself just managed to slam home a game-winning dunk as time expired to give the Blazers the Game 3 win.
Bill Walton ('77 POR): 18 pts, 16 reb, 7 ast, 6 blk
Lionel Hollins ('77 POR): 11 pts, 5 reb, 3 stl; made game-winning dunk at the buzzer
Shaquille O'Neal ('02 LAL): 27 pts, 12 reb, 7 ast, 5 blk
Game 4: '02 LAL 113, @ '77 POR 100
The Lakers got the early momentum for the first time in the series, using a 12-2 run midway through the opening quarter to take control of the game and held the Blazers without a field goal over the final four minutes of that period, leading by 15. The Blazers managed to get back within six midway through the second, but a 9-1 run by the Lakers pushed the lead back to double digits, though Portland would trim it to eight by halftime. The third quarter stayed mostly around the 9-11 point margin as neither team could really gain an edge, though Portland would cut it to seven by the end of the third. But Derek Fisher hit three three's in the first four minutes of the fourth to effectively put the game out of reach, and the Lakers cruised to a comfortable win to even the series up.
Kobe Bryant ('02 LAL): 28 pts, 10 reb, 8 ast
Derek Fisher ('02 LAL): 27 pts, 4 reb
Bill Walton ('77 POR): 15 pts, 18 reb, 6 ast
Game 5: @ '02 LAL 107, '77 POR 102
The Lakers seemed like they had early control in this one, but the game was tied at 20 after 12 minutes. Then Portland opened the second on an 8-2 run and managed to stay ahead, pushing the lead to double digits for the first time with three and a half minutes left before the intermission. LA had a run in them before the break, and they cut the deficit to four by the buzzer. The Blazers would open the third strong and push the lead back up, with the margin bouncing around the 6-8 point range and Portland led by nine going into the fourth. But the Lakers clamped down in the fourth, keeping Portland off the board for the first three minutes as part of a 15-2 run that flipped the game upside-down. Portland would get as close as three points with just 18 seconds left, but by then too much time had elapsed and the Lakers did just enough to escape with the win.
Kobe Bryant ('02 LAL): 35 pts, 6 reb, 8 ast
Shaquille O'Neal ('02 LAL): 30 pts, 8 reb, 4 blk
Bill Walton ('77 POR): 18 pts, 19 reb, 5 ast, 3 blk
Game 6: @ '77 POR 121, '02 LAL 90
The Blazers used an early 12-2 run to take control of the game from the outset and would lead by nine after one. An extended 16-3 run early in the second quarter took this from roughly a ten point game to over 20 and the Blazers were able to more or less go on cruise control from here. LA would get back to within 13 midway through the third quarter, but Portland quickly pushed the margin back over 20 by the end of the third and the Lakers would not seriously threaten the rest of the way as Portland forced a Game 7 back in Los Angeles.
Maurice Lucas ('77 POR): 29 pts, 13 reb, 6 ast
Bill Walton ('77 POR): 22 pts, 16 reb, 5 ast, 4 blk
Shaquille O'Neal ('02 LAL): 26 pts, 12 reb
This game started slow, as the teams were tied at 16 after just one quarter. The second quarter early on was all Portland though, as they used a 14-2 run to build a nine point lead. They led by as many as 12 late in the half before the Lakers scored eight straight, though a Herm Gilliam tip at the buzzer put Portland up by six going to the locker room. The Blazers would get it back to double digits early in the third, but a 12-2 Laker run got them back in the game. Portland somehow managed to hang on, using a late tip in to go into the final quarter of the winner-take-all contest up one. Portland was able to hang on for the first few minutes of the fourth, turning the game into a back and forth and possibly getting some momentum on a third chance putback off a Shaquille O'Neal block by Dave Twardzik. Unfortunately for him and his team, Shaq immediately answered, and that basket with 5:29 left ended up giving the Lakers the lead for good. The Blazers missed four potential go-ahead shots after this moment and wouldn't get another chance to tie or take the lead after those until the closing seconds when Lionel Hollins opted to try for a quick layup and was blocked by O'Neal. Thanks to Kobe Bryant splitting a pair of free throws after this, Bob Gross' three at the buzzer was not enough and the Lakers survive and advance.
Shaquille O'Neal ('02 LAL): 27 pts, 13 reb, 4 ast, 3 blk
Kobe Bryant ('02 LAL): 19 pts, 9 reb, 5 ast
Bill Walton ('77 POR): 20 pts, 27 reb
The Bulls took command early in this series, jumping ahead by 10 by the end of the first quarter. They led by as many as a dozen before the Mavericks began mounting a comeback, using outside shooting to cut the deficit to as little as four before the Bulls got the lead back up to 10 by halftime. Dallas scored eight straight to open the second half, though it took them almost nine minutes to finally tie the score for the first time. Despite that, they couldn't overtake the Bulls and we went to the fourth tied at 71. The Bulls quickly retook the lead in the fourth and held it for most of the first six minutes of the frame until Ian Mahinmi converted a three point play to give the Mavs their first lead of the game. Chicago would stay within striking distance until Shawn Marion provided the dagger with 35 seconds to go.
Jason Kidd ('11 DAL): 12 pts, 4 reb, 9 ast, 4 stl
Dirk Nowitzki ('11 DAL): 19 pts, 8 reb
Scottie Pippen ('93 CHI): 17 pts, 12 reb, 9 ast, 3 stl
Chicago led by as many as five in the opening quarter, but only briefly as the teams traded blows for much of the frame. The Mavs used a 7-0 run early in the second to take control of the game and stay just ahead of the Bulls and other than a brief tie midway through, the second went mostly Dallas' way as they took a six point lead to the locker room. Chicago would open the third with seven straight points, turning the game back into a back and forth slog, with Dallas clinging to a one point lead with one quarter to play. The Mavs would push the lead to eight with seven minutes to go, and it ended up just being enough as the Bulls would pull within one numerous times in the closing minute, but after a pair of Jason Terry free throws with two seconds left, Michael Jordan's last ditch three from the corner wouldn't connect and the Mavs go to Chicago up two games to none.
Michael Jordan ('93 CHI): 31 pts, 9 reb, 14 ast; missed game-tying three at the buzzer
Dirk Nowitzki ('11 DAL): 24 pts, 6 reb
Shawn Marion ('11 DAL): 18 pts, 10 reb
The change of scenery ended up helping the Mavericks out, as they used a 9-1 run early in the game to build a sizable lead, then after the Bulls cut it to four, used a 10-0 run to push their lead back out. A couple late threes made it a 41-23 game after just one quarter. The bombardment continued, and just a minute and a half into the second the margin was already 20. Chicago would get no closer than 17 in the second quarter as Dallas took a commanding 24 point lead into halftime. Chicago held Dallas scoreless for the first three minutes of the third, but couldn't get anything going offensively and only managed to cut three points into the deficit by quarter's end. Chicago would get it down to 13 in the fourth, holding the Mavs scoreless for the first five minutes, but the early hole proved to be too much and Chicago would get no closer than 12 the rest of the way.
Jason Kidd ('11 DAL): 13 pts, 6 reb, 9 ast
Peja Stojackovic ('11 DAL): 14 pts, 6 reb
Horace Grant ('93 CHI): 19 pts, 16 reb
Eager to put the series away, Dallas got out to a good start and led 21-8 with 4:21 left in the opening quarter. But Chicago fought back and cut it to 6 by the end of the frame. Dallas kept the margin around there for most of the second, but a late Bulls surge again cut it to just a one point game at the intermission. An 8-0 run midway through the third quarter flipped the script and got the Bulls in front by seven, then used a 12-3 run to extend the lead even further, going up 16 after three. Dallas got no closer than 12 in the fourth, and the Bulls stave off elimination.
Michael Jordan ('93 CHI): 26 pts, 11 reb, 6 ast, 3stl
Scottie Pippen ('93 CHI): 25 pts, 6 reb, 10 ast
Dirk Nowitzki ('11 DAL): 22 pts, 10 reb
Dallas opened the game on an 11-4 run and that more or less set the tone in Game 5. Chicago tried to keep it close, but this was a double digit game nine minutes in. The Bulls cut it to five early in the second, but the Mavs got hot from beyond the arc and used a 13-2 run to retake firm control of the game. The margin got to 22 by halftime, and within the first couple minutes of the third Dallas had already pushed it to 30. They were able to call off the dogs early and close out this series in five.
Jason Kidd ('11 DAL): 23 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast, 4 stl
Shawn Marion ('11 DAL): 11 pts, 8 reb, 6 ast, 3 blk
Michael Jordan ('93 CHI): 22 pts, 13 reb, 6 ast
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