NBA Play-In Game Preview: West games on Tuesday. East games on Wednesday. Eliminations on Friday

By Tim Reynolds | The Associated Press Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown gives a thumbs-up during the second half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings) (AP) – LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are back in the play-in tournament. So is Stephen Curry, as he and Golden State will be fighting for their season. And Jimmy Butler returns as well, after this round last year was the first step on Miami’s way to the NBA Finals. The postseason — not technically the playoffs, yet — gets underway Tuesday with a pair of Western Conference matchups. The Lakers visit New Orleans with the winner securing the No. 7 seed and a series with defending champion Denver in Round 1. And then the Warriors go to Sacramento, an elimination game for both teams. The Eastern Conference takes the stage Wednesday: Philadelphia plays host to Miami in a game to decide the No. 7 seed, and Atlanta visits Chicago with the season on the line for those clubs. The Lakers forced a rematch of Sunday’s regular-season finale with a 128-104 victory in New Orleans that knocked the...