The NBA regular season has concluded and it’s now time for the Play-In tournament! We bring you previews and our best betting tips for the first of three days of Play-In action right here!
Also, be sure to check out our NBA Tips page regularly to find our best betting tips for the key slates each and every week. On top of that, we provide NBL betting tips for every round of the season for those who love a good punt on the basketball as much as we do!
NBA Betting Tips: Play-In Tournament Day 1
(8) Cleveland Cavaliers at (7) Brooklyn Nets
Barclays Center, 9am AEST
Scenario: the first game of the 2021-22 Play-In Tournament in the Eastern Conference will see the current 8thseed Cavaliers take on the current 7th seed Nets at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The winner will secure the #7 seed and take on the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs, while the loser will face the winner of Thursday’s do-or-die clash between the Hornets and Hawks. The winner of that game will secure the #8 seed and take on the Heat in the first round of the playoffs.
Injuries: The Cavaliers will be without All-Star Centre and former Nets big-man Jarrett Allen who continues to nurse a finger injury. For the Nets, Ben Simmons is still unavailable but is apparently nearing a return should the Nets make the playoffs, while Seth Curry is listed as likely to suit up.
Season H2H: Nets 3-1. The Nets won the first two meetings between these teams before the Cavaliers hit back with a win of their own on their home deck. However, the Nets proved too strong in their fourth and final clash just under a week ago, which ultimately assured them of home court advantage in Wednesday’s Play-In game.
Prediction: The Nets will start as the huge 8.5-point favourites on their home deck in this important game and rightfully so in my opinion. They have two proven winners in big games in Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving and come up against a Cavaliers outfit that stumbled to the end of the regular season. For all the good work they’ve done this season, I just can’t see how they get near the talented Nets in a must-win game.
(8) Los Angeles Clippers at (7) Minnesota Timberwolves
Target Center, 11:30am AEST
Scenario: the first game of the 2021-22 Play-In Tournament in the Western Conference will see the current 8thseed Clippers take on the current 7th seed Timberwolves at the Target Center in Minnesota. The winner will secure the #7 seed and take on the Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs, while the loser will face the winner of Thursday’s do-or-die clash between the Spurs and Pelicans. The winner of that game will secure the #8 seed and take on the Suns in the first round of the playoffs.
Injuries: Paul George returned just in time for some important games for the Clippers, but unfortunately Kawhi Leonard continues to be sidelined by the knee injury he suffered last season. Luke Kennard is also listed as a 50/50 chance to be available for the away side. The Timberwolves have a clean bill of health and should have a full roster of players available if need be.
Season H2H: Clippers 3-1. The Clippers absolutely dominated this matchup for the each of their first three meetings this season, defeating the Timberwolves by an average margin of 19.3 points. However, the Timberwolves managed to solve the Clippers in their fourth and final meeting, defeating them by 18 points in Los Angeles.
Prediction: The Timberwolves had the slightly better regular season of the two, but the main reason for that was Paul George missed more than half of the Clippers games. He’s now back fit and firing and also helped his team record wins in each of their last five regular season games. That form coupled with their impressive performances against the Timberwolves this season makes them the value pick in this crucial game.
Los Angeles Clippers H2H
$2.30
