Nets-Cavs kicks off NBA's play-in tournament Tuesday on TSN

The NBA’s play-in tournament is back for a second straight season as four teams in both the Eastern and Western Conference will battle it out to capture the final spots for the playoffs.

It all kicks off on Tuesday night with the Brooklyn Nets hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers at 7pm ET on TSN 1/3, TSN Direct and the TSN App.

Let’s take a closer look at the matchups.

(No. 8) Cleveland Cavaliers at (No. 7) Brooklyn Nets - Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET on TSN 1/3, TSN Direct and the TSN App

Nets: 44-38Cavaliers: 44-38Head-to-Head: Nets have won three of four games this season against the CavaliersBetting: Nets (-410)/Cavs (+315)

Despite still having to qualify for the playoffs via the play-in tournament, the Brooklyn Nets may still be one of the favourites to come out of the Eastern Conference by some basketball pundits.

That’s what happens when you have Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in your lineup.

Irving has only played 28 games this season due to vaccine mandates that forced him to miss home games until restrictions were lifted in late March. When in the lineup, the 30-year-old guard has averaged 27.2 points and 5.8 assists alongside a 46 per cent field goal percentage.

Durant averaged 30.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.2 assists over 54 games in 2021-22.

There is also hope three-time All-Star Ben Simmons, who was acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers as part of James Harden blockbuster at the trade deadline, will make his Nets’ debut sometime in the first round.

First, Brooklyn needs to get there. That means getting by a young and hungry Cavaliers squad that has been one of the NBA’s biggest surprises in 2021-22 after posting a 22-50 record last season.

Cleveland is led by 22-year-old point guard Darius Garland, who averaged 21.7