The Western Conference seeds are set following the end of regular season on Sunday. The first round begins on Saturday, April 20th.

First Round Matchups

• No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 8 (Pelicans, Lakers, Kings or Warriors)

• No. 2 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 7 (Pelicans or Lakers)

• No. 3 Minnesota Timberwolves vs. No. 6 Phoenix Suns

• No. 4 LA Clippers vs. No. 5 Dallas Mavericks

Play-In

• No. 7 New Orleans Pelicans vs. No. 8 Los Angeles Lakers

• No. 9 Sacramento Kings vs. No. 10 Golden State Warriors

The New Orleans Pelicans have converted forward Matt Ryan to a standard NBA contract. Ryan had been playing for the Pelicans on a two-way deal.

This season, Ryan has appeared in 27 NBA games for New Orleans. The 6-foot-6 forward has averaged 5.6 points and shot 45.1% on three-pointers.

The New Orleans Pelicans are expected to give the Los Angeles Lakers their first-round pick this year and take the Lakers' first-round pick in 2025, according to Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer.

The Pelicans have the option to take one of the Lakers' picks as a result of the Anthony Davis trade.

"People around the league expect that the Pelicans will give the Lakers their pick this year and take the 2025 pick.

"If that’s the case, it’s hard to fathom that Los Angeles would use the pick on Bronny [James]. Rob Pelinka is far more likely to use it to chase Trae Young or another star in a trade," wrote O'Connor.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram has ramped up his activity, but there is still no timetable for when he may return. Ingram has been out since March 21, after suffering a bone bruise in his left knee.

Ingram has progressed to on-court workouts and has begun taking contact again. The Pelicans have already ruled him out for the team's game on Tuesday at the Portland Trail Blazers. That leaves three games for Ingram to potentially return before the end of the regular season.

New Orleans is in a battle for playoff positioning. After beating the Phoenix Suns on Sunday, the Pelicans pulled into a tie with the Suns for the sixth seed, and final assured playoff spot.

Zion Williamson sat out the New Orleans Pelicans' 111-109 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night due to a bruised finger.

Williamson suffered the injury on Wednesday.

The Pelicans, still without Brandon Ingram, have lost four straight games at home.

Zion Williamson is day-to-day with a sore finger, according to Willie Green.

An X-ray on Williamson's finger returned negative.

"Everything structurally was fine, just some soreness in his finger," said Green.

Williamson is questionable for the Pelicans' game on Friday against the Spurs.

Brandon Ingram and Jose Alvarado are both listed as out for the game.

Zion Williamson was unavailable down the stretch of his team's home loss to the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. Williamson injured the middle finger on his left hand late in the first half. The injury forced Williamson to leave the game early.

Postgame, New Orleans head coach Willie Green confirmed the injury for Williamson. For his part, Williamson said he'd have the injury looked at on Thursday.

"Earlier in the game, it got hit a few times. When I went for the block on (Jalen) Suggs, I kind of went with force and banged it against the backboard really hard," Williamson said.

The Pelicans, who are still without Brandon Ingram, have lost three consecutive games to slip into seventh place in the Western Conference. That has New Orleans facing the potential of being a part of the Play-In Tournament for a spot in the NBA Playoffs.

The New Orleans Pelicans are "hopeful" that Brandon Ingram will return before the end of the regular season, according to Willie Green.

Ingram jogged on the treadmill at shootaround on Monday.

Ingram has been out with a left knee contusion.

Brandon Ingram has been diagnosed with a left knee bone contusion following an MRI.

Ingram hyperextended his left knee during Thursday's loss to the Orlando Magic.

Ingram will be reevaluated in two weeks.

Brandon Ingram left the New Orleans Pelicans' matchup against the Orlando Magic in the third quarter with a knee injury.

Willie Green had no updates on Ingram's condition, adding that he underwent an MRI on his left knee.

The Pelicans are currently in 5th place in the West.