NBA Play-In Tournament Odds & Picks: Tuesday (4/16)
The postseason has arrived!
Tonight, we’ve got two Play-In Tournament games in the Western Conference.
The Lakers will take on the Pelicans in the 7-8 matchup, while the Warriors will compete against the Kings in the 9-10 game.
The winner of the 7-8 game between the Lakers and Pelicans will earn the No. 7 seed and make the playoffs. However, the loser would play the winner of the Warriors-Kings game for that final seed in the Western Conference.
I’ve added a best bet for each game on the slate. Let’s start the postseason off strong!
Tuesday’s Best NBA Bets
Odds courtesy of ESPN BET | All wagers are for 1 unit
Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Unfortunately, the winner of this game will have to play the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. That won’t be easy, knowing the Nuggets are the defending and reigning NBA Champions.
That said, I don’t think either team actually tries to lose this game for the No. 8 seed for a chance to play the Thunder instead.
The Pelicans just lost to the Lakers on Sunday, 124-108. In that game, New Orleans shot a 56.8% effective field goal percentage. However, they were beaten in all other areas. The Pelicans turned the ball over 17.9% of the time and grabbed 21.4% of offensive rebounds.
New Orleans also didn’t get to the foul line at a high rate in the loss.
Meanwhile, the defense wasn’t up to par either. The Pelicans allowed the Lakers to score 128.4 points per 100 possessions and gave up a much higher effective field goal percentage of 64.5%. The Lakers didn’t do well on the offensive glass and typically also turn the ball over at a higher rate. However, the difference for the Lakers is the foul line attempts. The Lakers should win the battle at the foul line against the Pelicans, even on the road.
In the regular season, the Lakers beat the Pelicans three of four times. After watching Sunday, the Lakers will likely be more prepared. Let’s take the Lakers at -110 on the moneyline.
Bet: Lakers (-110)
Golden State Warriors vs. Sacramento Kings
The Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings have played four games this season. Each team has won twice, and three of the four games ended with a one-point deficit.
However, the Warriors are 3.5-point favorites while also being on the road. The line has even shifted from -1.5 (+100) to -3.5 (-110).
But that doesn’t necessarily mean the Warriors will win this game. Golden State narrowly defeated the Jazz on Sunday and lost to the Pelicans in the game prior. Meanwhile, the Kings got back on track with a win over Portland on Sunday, 121-82.
The Kings struggled to shoot a good percentage to begin April. However, in two of their last three games, the Kings have scored 125.5 points per 100 possessions. They’ve also been good on the offensive glass and will usually limit turnovers.
Meanwhile, the defense could certainly use some help. Sacramento is good on the defensive glass and will force turnovers. However, for example, the Pelicans shot a 70.6% effective field goal percentage on the Kings on April 11. The Kings have the pieces to win this game.
With the line at 3.5, I think it’s time to bet this line back and take the Kings at home with the points.
Bet: Kings +3.5 (-110)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Tuesday: