In the N.B.A. Playoffs, the Scariest Teams Aren’t at the Top

Injuries and illness dragged down the records of several teams, including the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. That could mean early postseason exits for the season’s best.

The N.B.A.’s play-in tournament nearly fell flat with a series of blowout games until LeBron James and Stephen Curry rescued the postseason appetizer experiment with a dynamic one-off between the Los Angeles Lakers and Curry’s Golden State. Now, the real games are here, with the Knicks and the Nets both earning a seat at the table. The championship is up for grabs after a truncated off-season and a somewhat sluggish and injury-filled regular season.