The NBA regular season has concluded, which means it’s time for the Play-In Tournament! Action will take place from Tuesday through to Saturday as we lock in the final few spots in the playoffs. Below, we’ll be taking you through our best bets for each game of the Play-In Tournament as the odds become available.
NBA Play-In Tournament Betting Tips
Miami Heat at Charlotte Hornets (Wednesday 9:40am AEST)
The Eastern Conference play-in gets rolling with a straight elimination game at Spectrum Center. The 9th-seeded Charlotte Hornets welcome the 10th-seeded Miami Heat, and only one of these teams will still be alive for a crack at the 7/8 winner. Miami shows up with the same old playoff DNA - tough, experienced, and built for these moments under Erik Spoelstra. Charlotte, though, has earned the home spot with fresher legs and a ton of confidence after a dominant back half of the regular season.
LaMelo Ball and rookie sharpshooter Kon Knueppel have been the Hornets' engine, finishing the season as the first teammates since the Splash Brothers to rank 1-2 in the league for three-pointers made. While Ball slices up defences with his vision, Knueppel’s record-breaking shooting from deep has given Charlotte a completely new dimension. Miami answers with the usual suspects: Bam Adebayo patrolling the paint and Tyler Herro knocking down shots.
This one feels like a pace battle. Miami wants to slow things down and grind, but Charlotte's spacing and relentless transition game could turn it into a track meet. The Hornets have been one of the league's most dangerous teams over the back half of the season, finding a rhythm that has made them incredibly tough to stop. Combined with a hostile home crowd and a 229 total that suggests plenty of points, Charlotte's momentum gives them the clear edge in what should be an entertaining early-morning scrap.
Charlotte Hornets -5.5
$1.90 (1 Unit)
Portland Trail Blazers at Phoenix Suns (Wednesday 12:10pm AEST)
Footprint Center hosts the Western Conference's 7-vs-8 showdown, where the winner grabs the No. 7 seed and a first-round date with a top seed. The 8th-seeded Portland Trail Blazers roll in after a gritty season that saw them exceed expectations behind a young, hungry group. The 7th-seeded Phoenix Suns, meanwhile, secured home court through steady veteran play and star power, and they'll be desperate to avoid dropping into the 9/10 game.
Devin Booker is still the Suns' go-to guy, though they're monitoring a few injury concerns around the supporting cast. Portland counters with Shaedon Sharpe's scoring pop, Deni Avdija's all-around game, and rookie Donovan Clingan anchoring the middle. The Blazers closed the year on a solid 7-3 run and have shown they can scrap on the road, but Phoenix took the season series 2-1 and looked sharp in their most recent win.
Portland's defence and rebounding will try to clog things up and limit Phoenix's perimeter game, but the Suns' experience in these high-pressure spots and Booker's ability to take over give them the nod. Expect a bit more of a half-court feel with the total at 217.5 - the kind of game where home execution usually wins out.
Phoenix Suns -3.5
$1.86 (2 Units)
Orlando Magic at Philadelphia 76ers (Thursday 9:40am AEST)
Xfinity Mobile Arena is the spot for a heavyweight Eastern 7-vs-8 play-in battle between two 45-37 teams. The winner gets the No. 7 seed and an easier path; the loser has to suit up again in a sudden death clash. Orlando brings the size, length, and defensive attitude that have defined them all year. Philadelphia counters with guard speed, perimeter creation, and the kind of home energy that can flip a game in a hurry.
Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner give the Magic a bruising frontcourt that can put any defence under pressure. Meanwhile, the 76ers lean heavily on Tyrese Maxey's explosive scoring and Paul George's veteran savvy, but they're without Joel Embiid after his recent appendectomy. The teams split their recent matchups, including a blowout Orlando win in Philly earlier this season.
Orlando's length can frustrate Philly's guards and keep them right in this contest late into the fourth quarter, but the Sixers' home urgency and Maxey's ability to create something out of nothing should carry them through in a one-and-done environment.
Philadelphia 76ers -2.0
$1.90 (1 Unit)
Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers (Thursday 12:10pm AEST)
Intuit Dome plays host to the Western 9-vs-10 elimination game, with the 9th-seeded Los Angeles Clippers facing the 10th-seeded Golden State Warriors. Win and you keep your season alive; lose and it's straight to the golf course. Golden State still has that championship pedigree and Stephen Curry's gravity, even if the regular season didn't go to plan. The Clippers have built a solid case with defence, balance, and strong home form.
Curry and the veteran core will try to manufacture magic, but the Warriors have been inconsistent and thin on depth all year. LA features Kawhi Leonard's two-way impact, Darius Garland's elite playmaking following his recent trade arrival, Bennedict Mathurin's versatility, and a group that simply matches up well. The Clippers took the season series 3-1, including both home wins and a recent 115-110 victory over Golden State.
This one should stay competitive for the most part thanks to Golden State's experience, but LA's defensive structure and recent form at Intuit Dome feel like too much to overcome. Expect the hosts to dictate the tempo and get the job done here.
LA Clippers -5.0
$1.90 (2 Units)
