The Los Angeles Lakers and Atlanta Hawks both clinched respective seventh-seed berths in the NBA playoffs with victories in Tuesday's opening play-in matches.
The Lakers progressed through the Western path with a 108-102 overtime win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, while the Hawks beat the Miami Heat 116-105 in the Eastern matchup.
Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, the Lakers found themselves facing an 11-point deficit at the end of the second quarter, but Darvin Ham's side pulled off a remarkable comeback.
Tied at 98-98 at the end of the fourth quarter, the Lakers' defence stood tall to restrict the Timberwolves to just four points in overtime, and LeBron James unsurprisingly led the way with 30 points and 10 rebounds.
The Lakers can now look forward to a playoff date with second seed Memphis Grizzlies, while the Timberwolves - who achieved 24 points and 11 rebounds through Karl-Anthony Towns - will face either the New Orleans Pelicans or Oklahoma City Thunder in the eighth-seed play-in showdown.
"Once you get to the end of things, to have everyone healthy, to be playing in the type of rhythm we're playing in, to defend at the level that we're defending at, going into the most important time of the year, you can't ask for a better situation," Lam told the media, having led the Lakers to the playoffs after their worst start to an NBA season in 65 years.
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In contrast, the Heat's late fightback against the Hawks was in vain as Quin Snyder's side booked their spot in the post-season thanks to a quickfire start.
Racking up 65 points by the end of the second quarter, the Hawks failed to maintain that intensity during the second half, as their Miami counterparts edged the final two quarters.
However, a 15-point chasm was too steep for the Heat to reverse, and the Hawks now gear up for a playoff encounter with 17-time NBA champions Boston Celtics.
Trae Young ended the night with 25 points for the Atlanta outfit, while Clint Capela posted an eye-catching 21 rebounds. Kyle Lowry (33) and Tyler Herro's (26) superior points totals were ultimately in vain for the Heat.
Snyder - who only took over as Hawks head coach in February - told the media after the match: "Our guys are trying to be the best version of ourselves at the end of the year," as quoted by ESPN.
"The year's not over. So hopefully, we can take this and continue to build on it. It's one game - but it was our game."
The Heat will have another chance to progress to the playoffs as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference when they face the Toronto Raptors or Chicago Bulls in their upcoming play-in battle.
Ben Knapton
