The NBA season has come to an end and the top six finishers in each conference have been determined. Now, the NBA Play-In Tournament, which will take place between Tuesday and Thursday, will determine the final four teams in the 2024 NBA playoff bracket. We will review the NBA Odds for each Play-In game and reveals our best bets moving forward.
The star power is real at the Play-In, with many familiar faces trying to win and get in. The loaded Western Conference has LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Lakers taking on Zion Williamson’s Pelicans and Steph Curry and the Warriors. facing De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis and the Kings.
The Eastern Conference, which has had more injuries and less parity than the West this season, also has some fantastic matchups. Reigning MVP Joel Embiid and the 76ers will take on former Sixer and current Eastern Conference Finals MVP Jimmy Butler, and the Hawks and Bulls will meet in a tough matchup of banged-up franchises.
We can’t wait for the NBA Play-In tournament to begin and we’re ready to secure some of the best bets on BetMGM right now. Let’s go to the NBA play-in tournament odds including spread, moneyline and total over/under for each matchup, and reveals the bets we are placing before the action.
NBA Play-in Tournament Odds, Betting Tips: Spread, Best Bets for Each Game
Lakers vs Pelicans (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
- Spread: Pelicans -1.5 (-105) | Lakers +1.5 (-115)
- Money line: Pelicans -115 | Lakers -105
- Total: Over 224.5 (-115) | LESS THAN 224.5 (-105)
The Lakers will only lose this game if they want to lose it, as many believe they should avoid entering the playoffs as the second seed so they can stay away from the same Nuggets that knocked them out of the playoffs last year. We’re not going to take that, as LeBron and company won’t play with fire and force themselves into a potential single-elimination matchup with Steph Curry and the Warriors.
The Lakers have defeated the Pelicans in three of their four meetings since December and in six of the last eight dating back to last season. That includes two 15-plus wins in New Orleans, one in March of last season and another on Sunday to close out the 2023-24 regular season. With the chips in place and everyone healthy, Bron and Anthony Davis are not going to lose to AD’s old team.
We also like the OVER, since it has been correct in three consecutive meetings between LA and NOLA. The Pels have Brandon Ingram back, Zion Williamson has been playing very assertive basketball over the last month and CJ McCollum is firing on all cylinders right now. New Orleans may not win, but it will compete for four quarters. Expect a high-scoring Lakers victory Tuesday night in Bayou.
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION: Lakers 121Pelicans 118: the Lakers win directly (-105) and the game advances to OVER (224.5).
Warriors at Kings (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
- Spread: Warriors -2.5 (-110) | Kings +2.5 (-110)
- Money line: Warriors -145 | Kings +120
- Total: Over 224.5 (-115) | LESS THAN 224.5 (-105)
Many will look at the Warriors’ last two games against Sacramento, the losses in late November and late January, and assume the higher-ranked Kings are the better bet here. However, dig deeper into those games, not to mention both teams’ recent play, and you’ll see that Golden State should be the best bet to get this dub.
For starters, former Warrior Harrison Barnes hit seven 3-pointers in the Kings’ last win over Golden State. He averages 1.8 three-pointers per game. In Sac-town’s other win over its in-state rivals, Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk combined to score 42 points. Both sharpshooters are now injured and will not be able to play on Tuesday.
The Warriors have won eight of their last 10 games, clearly stuck in playoff mode. The Kings have lost seven of their last 11, including an ugly 121-82 loss to the lowly Blazers on the final day of the regular season. Sacramento has gone 1-5 against teams with winning records since Monk went down. Curry and the upset Warriors win this one and face the loser of the Lakers-Pelicans game.
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION: Warriors 123Kings 114 – Warriors win (-145) and cover (-2.5), with a total navigation HIGHER than (224.5).
