The NBA playoffs are on the brink of commencing, with the play-in games, recently introduced, set to kick off on Tuesday night.
Under the extended postseason format, a mini tournament decides the final two spots in each conference. The teams ranked No. 7 and No. 8 compete to secure the higher seed, while the defeated team proceeds to face the winner of the match between the No. 9 and No. 10 teams.
While it may cause some confusion among casual fans, the abundance of excellent basketball being played is indisputable. With a championship at stake, these franchises are determined to give it their all and leave nothing behind.
In West Virginia, sportsbooks offer odds for the play-ins and various other markets for the 2022 playoffs. Once the opening-round matchups are finalized, they will also offer series and player props for all participating teams.
NBA play-in odds at WV sportsbooks
On Tuesday, the seventh place in both conferences is officially determined. While winning this game is of utmost importance, the losing team still has another opportunity to succeed and is not immediately eliminated.
The two contests scheduled for Wednesday evening are an exception, as they will mark the end of the season for two teams.
Nets vs. Cavs
According to WV books, the opening play-in match between the Nets and Cavaliers is expected to be the most one-sided out of the four games.
Brooklyn is widely regarded as having one of the NBA’s most perilous lineups, yet there is a strong belief that they can make it to the finals starting from this position. A significant factor contributing to this optimism is the presence of both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, who are currently in good health and actively playing.
Currently at DraftKings WV Sportsbook, the point spread favors the Nets at -9.5. Meanwhile, the moneyline shows the Nets at -400, with Cleveland listed at +300.
Although the Cavs possess an abundance of young talent, it may take them another year or so to become genuine contenders in the East. However, point guard Darius Garland’s occasional displays of brilliance suggest that he could present challenges for the Nets.
Sportsbooks are showing considerable regard for Brooklyn, with DraftKings giving them +600 odds to win the title this season, ranking them third-best in the league. In contrast, Cleveland is being offered at +25000 odds.
Timberwolves vs. Clippers
Minnesota will be hosting the Clippers in the West’s battle for seventh place.
As of now, FanDuel WV predicts the Wolves to be the slight favorites with a -3 point spread on their home court. The moneyline for the Wolves stands at -162, while the visiting Clippers have been listed at +136 for tonight’s game.
For the most part, Minnesota had the superior team during the regular season; however, Los Angeles recently acquired some additional support.
After his return from injury in late March, Paul George, the forward, has showcased a solid performance in his initial five games. Although the Clippers may not have the potential to secure the championship, they possess the ability to pose challenges for opposing teams.
If the team were to advance, it would still face a very challenging path without Kawhi Leonard.
Tuesday’s game seems poised to be a close match, thanks to the presence of Karl-Anthony Towns, an exceptional player for the Wolves. Towns has consistently delivered impressive performances, leading his team in both points and rebounds with an average of nearly 25 and 10 respectively.
The Clippers are available at +3500, while the Wolves have odds of +6500 to win it all on FanDuel.
Hawks vs. Hornets
The action kicks off on Wednesday as the Hornets hit the road to face Atlanta. Once again, the home team is predicted to advance, with the Hawks having a spread of -4.5.
This is the perfect game to watch for unbiased fans who crave high scoring action. Additionally, it’s worth noting that two of the NBA’s most remarkable young point guards are also part of this matchup.
To secure this opportunity, Trae Young of Atlanta scored an impressive average of over 28 points per game. Meanwhile, LaMelo Ball consistently contributes to his team by notching more than 20 points and distributing around eight assists per game throughout the year.
Currently on DraftKings, the game total for this play-in match is set at an impressive 236 points, which is the highest among the four games.
All of these teams’ championship prospects are very slim as they are unlikely to surpass the No. 8 position. The Miami Heat awaits as their first-round opponent.
Charlotte is trailing behind with odds of +50000, while Atlanta has better chances at +18000.
Pelicans vs. Spurs
The final match of the opening play-in games occurs in New Orleans, featuring an intense showdown between the Pelicans and the Spurs.
Even without their potential future star, Zion Williamson, the Pelicans showed great determination and secured the No. 9 spot with a strong performance towards the end.
Despite having a reduced roster, San Antonio still outperformed the Los Angeles Lakers and secured their spot.
By playing and winning this game, there is an opportunity to secure a spot in the playoffs. As per FanDuel, the Pelicans are favored with a -5 spread, and their moneyline stands at -215. On the other hand, the Spurs can be chosen to win directly with a +180 moneyline.
The arrival of guard CJ McCollum has made a significant impact on New Orleans, as he has seamlessly integrated with players such as Brandon Ingram and Jonas Valanciunas.
San Antonio heavily relies on Dejounte Murray, who excels in multiple aspects for the team. Murray not only topped his teammates in points, but also led in assists and steals.
At FanDuel, bettors have the opportunity to wager on either team’s extraordinary postseason journey with highly favorable odds. The New Orleans team holds a slight advantage with odds of +37000, while the Spurs are listed at +49000.
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