Dillon Brooks and Andrew Wiggins (left) are among the players from Canada positioned to be in the Play-In.
The SoFi Play-In Tournament does not start until April 14, but the pressure is already here.
As of this writing, the Suns are seventh in the West, the Clippers are eighth, the Trail Blazers are ninth and the Heat are 10th in the East, which means all four teams are sitting in the Play-In picture heading into the final weekend.
That also puts a spotlight on a handful of Canadian players who could end up deciding whether their teams are packing for a playoff series or packing for the summer.
Here’s a look at four players from Canada who look ready for the Play-In Tournament.
Dillon Brooks, Suns
Phoenix does not need Brooks to be the leading scorer every night. It needs him to be the guy who brings edge, takes the toughest wing matchup and knocks down enough shots to keep defenses honest around Devin Booker and Jalen Green. Brooks is averaging 20.4 points per game this season, and after recently returning from a broken hand, he gives the Suns another physical two-way option at exactly the right time. In a one-game setting, that kind of defense-plus-attitude combo can matter as much as raw scoring.
Highlights from Dillon Brook's 28-point performance.
Bennedict Mathurin, Clippers
Mathurin feels built for Play-In basketball. The Clippers already have star power and experience, but the Canadian guard can change the temperature of a game when the offense gets sticky. He is averaging 18.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, and lately he has looked like a real scoring jolt, including a recent 28-point performance against the Bucks and a 23-point outing against the Raptors. For LA, his job is pretty simple, attack second units, get downhill, draw fouls and make sure the Clippers are not too dependent on one or two creators late in the shot clock. If he gives them efficient shot-making with some juice off the bounce, he can be the extra punch that pushes them out of the play-in and into a real series.
Shaedon Sharpe, Trail Blazers
Shaedon Sharpe takes flight for a dunk against the Mavericks.
Sharpe is the biggest wildcard on this list because his health is still a story. Portland has already locked in at least one home Play-In game, but Sharpe was listed as doubtful Wednesday as he works back from a left fibula stress reaction. That matters because when he is available, he is exactly the kind of shot-maker who can swing a one-and-done environment. Sharpe is averaging 21.4 points per game this season, and his impact is less about structure and more about pressure. He can collapse a defense, create a tough bucket when a possession dies and turn momentum with one athletic finish. If he is healthy enough to contribute, he is the kind of X factor nobody wants to see in a play-in matchup.
Andrew Wiggins, Heat
Miami is sitting 10th, which means there is zero room for a slow start or a quiet night from its wings. That is where Wiggins comes in. He is averaging 15.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game, and even in Miami’s rough loss to Toronto on Tuesday, he still put up 24 points on efficient shooting. The Heat do not need him to be a volume guy every possession, but they do need his two-way game to travel. He has to defend bigger scorers, finish plays without needing the offense built around him and give Miami some easy points when Tyler Herro or others draw the defense. In the play-in, that sort of plug-and-play wing value is huge. Wiggins does not have to dominate the game. He just has to be the guy who quietly swings four or five possessions, because that is usually the difference in this format.
