The highly anticipated NBA play-in tournament is set to kick off on Tuesday, featuring some of the league's biggest stars battling it out for a spot in the first round. Experts have weighed in on the matchups, sharing their predictions on who will come out on top.

In the Western Conference, all eyes will be on LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers as they square off against the New Orleans Pelicans. According to expert Marc J. Spears, the Lakers are favored to win, with a final tally of 11 votes in favor of the Lakers and 3 for the Pelicans. With LeBron's playoff experience and the team's championship pedigree, it's no surprise that they are the preferred choice.

Another marquee matchup in the West features Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors taking on the Sacramento Kings. The experts believe that Curry's incredible scoring prowess will lead the Warriors to victory, with a unanimous prediction of 14 votes in favor of the Warriors and 1 for the Kings. With Curry's ability to light up the scoreboard and the Warriors' playoff experience, they are seen as the clear favorites.

Shifting focus to the Eastern Conference, the Miami Heat are set to face the Philadelphia 76ers in a clash that experts believe will see the 76ers emerge victorious. With a final tally of 12 votes in favor of the 76ers and 3 for the Heat, the experts see Philadelphia's depth and dominant play as the deciding factor in this matchup.

Lastly, the Chicago Bulls will square off against the Atlanta Hawks in what looks to be a highly competitive showdown. The experts are unanimously backing the Bulls, with a final tally of 15 votes in favor of the Bulls and none for the Hawks. The Bulls' strong performance in the regular season and their star-studded roster seem to have convinced the experts that they will secure a spot in the first round.

As the NBA play-in tournament kicks off, fans eagerly await to see if the experts' predictions will hold true. The matchups are stacked with talent and each team will be giving their all to secure their spot in the first round. Only time will tell which teams will come out on top and continue their journey towards the NBA championship.