The 8 seeds in each conference remain up for grabs following the first round of Play-In tournament fixtures – with Heat vs Bulls and Pelicans vs Kings taking centre stage.
In the Eastern Conference, the Miami Heat will host the Chicago Bulls to decide who slots into the 8 seed and is treated to a first-round match-up with the Boston Celtics.
In the Western Conference, the New Orleans Pelicans will host the Sacramento Kings to battle it out for the final spot before a series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
2024 NBA Play-In Tournament Tips
Miami Heat (8) vs Chicago Bulls (9)
Best Bet: Chicago Bulls Money Line (+105)
After letting a 14-point lead slip against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Miami Heat probably felt disheartened – but the news of Jimmy Butler’s latest knee injury could spell heartbreak for the reigning Eastern Conference champions.
Miami looked poor down the stretch in Philly and Chicago are coming in with plenty of momentum following an emphatic home win over the Atlanta Hawks to keep their playoff dreams alive.
The Bulls might be without Alex Caruso for this one, but the big three of Coby White, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic looked in a good rhythm throughout the 9 vs 10 showdown.
The Heat have not looked like the same team who toppled the Celtics last year and an early exit could be exactly what the franchise needs to re-evaluate the direction of the team and let their key players get healthy.
New Orleans Pelicans (7) vs Sacramento Kings (9)
Best Bet: Sacramento Kings -1.5 (-110)
The Sacramento Kings are battle tested in the postseason and they should have no problem in seeing out the New Orleans Pelicans on the road to claim the Western Conference’s 8 seed.
New Orleans are without their star man Zion Williamson due to injury and this news has completely flipped the tie on its head – it would be difficult to see the hosts pulling this one off now.
Domantas Sabonis remains one of the most underrated players in the NBA whilst the Kings are led by an elite scorer in De’Aaron Fox, alongside impressive young pieces such as Keegan Murray
Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum probably don’t have what it takes to match the firepower of Sacramento and for that reason they are opposed.
