All 82 games of the NBA’s regular season are now behind us and the highly anticipated postseason awaits – but first, teams in the play-in must determine their respective seeds.
The play-in tournament, which features single-elimination showdowns, was introduced during the 2020-21 season involving the teams that finished 7th through 10th in each conference.
7th hosts 8th to determine which side enters the playoffs as the 7 seed, whilst the loser of that game is afforded a second chance to qualify as the 8 seed by hosting the winner of 9th vs 10th.
2024 NBA Play-In Tournament Tips
New Orleans Pelicans (7) vs Los Angeles Lakers (8)
Best Bet: New Orleans Pelicans -1.0 (-110)
The importance of home advantage in the play-in tournament cannot be underestimated. Also, the Lakers might be keen to avoid the 7 seed so they can swerve a first-round match-up with Denver.
New Orleans were a considerably better unit throughout the season than Los Angeles, finishing with a much greater point differential and net rating.
The Pelicans are battle tested in the postseason despite being a fairly young squad and with weapons such as Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum on side – they can punish an ageing Lakers side who seem to have reached their peak.
Sacramento Kings (9) vs Golden State Warriors (10)
Best Bet: Golden State Warriors -2.5 (-110)
The second play-in clash in the Western Conference sees the Kings and Warriors go head-to-head in a repeat of last year’s thrilling playoff series where Golden State edged the affair in 7 games.
Steph Curry tallied a then-Game 7 record of 50 points (later broken by Boston’s Jayson Tatum with 51 two weeks later) on the road in Sacramento to shut off the beam.
Golden State are entering this match-up in considerably better form than their opponents, but it’s expected to be a close one as the two sides won a pair of games each in the regular season.
Untimely injuries to Malik Monk and Kevin Huerter are a huge blow to the Kings’ bid and the Warriors look in slightly better shape to take the win and play the loser of 7 vs 8 for a spot in the postseason.
Philadelphia 76ers (7) vs Miami Heat (8)
Best Bet: Philadelphia 76ers -4.5 (-110)
The first Eastern Conference play-in game features two juggernauts who probably didn’t expect to find themselves in this position – leaving a gruelling task ahead to secure the 7 seed and successfully avoid the Boston Celtics.
Philadelphia have a favourable match-up against the New York Knicks ahead of them if they can beat the Heat – and with Joel Embiid back in the line-up, they can’t be dismissed as an Eastern Conference contender.
The Miami Heat have been generally quite bad against the best teams in the East this season and their magic dust looks to have ran out already. The 76ers are a worthy favourite.
Chicago Bulls (9) vs Atlanta Hawks (10)
Best Bet: Atlanta Hawks Money Line (+130)
Atlanta look solid value in this road match-up with the Chicago Bulls at a price of +130. This Hawks core have been to the Eastern Conference Finals before and they stretched a first-round series with the Celtics to six games last year.
Trae Young is a proven playoff performer and he’s fresh after returning from injury whilst his sidekick Dejounte Murray has enjoyed a number of impressive individual performances in his teammate’s absence.
The Hawks won the last time the pair played – which was without Young. The Bulls have a few good playoff pieces but they came up short in this tournament last season and we can see it happening again.
Once this season ends, Chicago will probably look to blow up their entire project and start over. There is no real motivation for playoff success and they might even prefer a better draft pick.
NBA Play-In Tournament Odds
Pelicans vs Lakers Odds and Line
- Moneyline: New Orleans Pelicans: -115 | Los Angeles Lakers: -105
- Point Spread: Pelicans (-1.0) -110 | Lakers (+1.0) -110
- Total Points: Over 224.0 -110 | Under 244.0 -110
Kings vs Warriors Odds and Line
- Moneyline: Sacramento Kings: +125 | Golden State Warriors: -150
- Point Spread: Kings (+2.5) -110 | Warriors (-2.5) -110
- Total Points: Over 223.5 -110 | Under 223.5 -110
76ers vs Heat Odds and Line
- Moneyline: Philadelphia 76ers: -190 | Miami Heat: +160
- Point Spread: 76ers (-4.5) -110 | Heat (+4.5) -110
- Total Points: Over 207.5 -110 | Under 207.5 -110
Bulls vs Hawks Odds and Line
- Moneyline: Chicago Bulls: -155 | Atlanta Hawks: +130
- Point Spread: Bulls (-3.0) -110 | Hawks (+3.0) -110
- Total Points: Over 218.5 -110 | Under 218.5 -110
