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The NBA Play-In Tournament is a great start to the playoffs and I’m a big fan of it. I am of the belief that there should absolutely be some sort of single elimination style tournament for the NBA and this is about as close as we are to going to get to seeing one.
There are some interesting match-ups here with the big one being Warriors/Lakers. It seems hard to imagine the playoffs without one of those two teams, but it is in play and that is exciting. Of course, if you want the play-in tournament to succeed you should absolutely be rooting for those teams. I can’t imagine the NBA being happy if one of those two (or the Celtics) ended up missing the playoffs.
Two nights of action start us off. Let’s get to those tips.
Here is how the play-in tournament works:
- #7 plays #8 seed: Winner is #7 seed
- #10 plays #9 seed: Winner plays loser of #7/#8 game
- Loser of #7 vs. #8 game plays winner of #9 vs. #10 game: Winner is the #8 seed.
#10 Charlotte Hornets at #9 Indiana Pacers Betting Tips:
I was really surprised with this line. The Hornets have been a very good team when they’ve been healthy and they should have the full squad good to go with this one. Devonte Graham and LaMelo Ball are an outstanding scoring duo that should be stars for a long time in this league. However, the team will be without their best player in Gordon Hayward. I was planning on taking the points here, but without him I just can’t do it.
The Pacers are probably the most dysfunctional team in these playoffs. Their coach is absolutely going to be fired after this season as the players are on the verge of a full-blown mutiny. I simply don’t trust this team to win a playoff game.
I see this game finishing under. It’s playoffs so you know the play will tighten up a bit and the Hayward injury takes a lot of firepower away. These two teams finished below this total in all three match-ups this season.
Pick: Hornets/Pacers Under 227.5
Canada: Best Odds: Under 227.5 (1.90) at Bovada – $750 Welcome Bonus
USA: Best Odds: Under 227.5 (-110) at Bovada – $750 Welcome Bonus
Everyone Else: Best Odds: Under 227.5 (1.90) at Bet365 – Get Bet Credits
(Odds correct as of 2021/05/18 9:00:02 AM EST but are subject to change.)
#8 Washington Wizards at #7 Boston Celtics Betting Tips:
The Celtics are going to be without Jaylen Brown and they’ll just be getting Marcus Smart back from a calf injury. I really don’t like where they at from an injury perspective and this is a really tough match-up. The Celtics are 6-8 on the season without Brown. They are limping into this one with just a 2-6 record over their final eight games.
I’d also knock them for the existence of Kemba Walker. He has not looked good this year and he is likely to get absolutely bowled over by Russell Westbrook here.
No team was hit as hard by COVID as the Wizards, but they have bounced back in an incredible way to grab the eighth seed. They started the season just 4-12 and have been 30-26 ever since. They finished the final two months of the season at 17-9.
I just really like the way the Wizards are playing right now and I think they are the better, healthier team.
Pick: Wizards Moneyline
Canada: Best Odds: 2.13 at Sports Interaction – $125 Bonus
USA: Best Odds: +110 at BetOnline - 50% to $1000 Welcome Bonus
Everyone Else: Best Odds: 2.10 at BetOnline - 50% to $1000 Welcome Bonus
(Odds correct as of 2021/05/18 9:00:02 AM EST but are subject to change.)
#10 San Antonio Spurs at #9 Memphis Grizzlies Betting Tips:
This game right here is an argument for and against the play-in tournament. The Grizzlies deserve to be here because of the way they have played this season, but the Spurs absolutely do not and I think this game is going to show that.
The Spurs are limping into this one with just a 2-8 record over their last ten and losers of four straight. Memphis is just a better team all around and I think they win this one easily. This is their playoffs.
Pick: Grizzlies -4
Canada: Best Odds: -3.5 (1.91) at Sports Interaction – $125 Bonus
USA: Best Odds: -3.5 (-115) at Bovada – $750 Welcome Bonus
Everyone Else: Best Odds: -3.5 (1.86) at Bet365 – Get Bet Credits
(Odds correct as of 2021/05/18 9:00:02 AM EST but are subject to change.)
#8 Golden State Warriors at #7 Los Angeles Lakers Betting Tips:
This is by far the best game of the first batch of play-in tournament games and I am really looking forward to it. I fully expect Steph Curry to go in this one while also expecting LeBron James to do whatever it takes to ensure his team moves on. This is why we watch basketball right here.
There has already been a huge line shift in this one as it opened with the Lakers as a -7 favorite and is already down to a -3.5. I might’ve went with the Warriors at that bigger number, but will stay away from the spread on this one instead.
My play for this one is the over. These two teams have played three times this season and two of them went over. These are two good defenses, but I think they will play at a high enough pace to get us the over.
Pick: Warriors/Lakers Over 221.5
Canada: Best Odds: Over 219.5 (1.90) at BetOnline - 50% to $1000 Welcome Bonus
USA: Best Odds: Over 219.5 (-110) at Bovada – $750 Welcome Bonus
Everyone Else: Best Odds: Over 219.5 (1.90) at Bet365 – Get Bet Credits
(Odds correct as of 2021/05/18 9:00:02 AM EST but are subject to change.)
