Opening NBA Play-In Tournament Odds for All Four Games
- The NBA Play-in Tournament features eight teams chasing four playoff spots
- Loser of the 7-8 game will play winner of 9-10 game to determine 8-seed in each conference
- Read below to learn more about each matchup and betting trends
We played 82 games in the NBA regular season to determine the top six in each conference.
All that’s left is the play-in tournament, with eight teams playing down to nab four spots, which will represent the seventh and eight seeds in the East and West.
There are plenty of intriguing stories and should be some dynamite games. There are the upstarts, like the Timberwolves, Cavaliers and Hornets and surprises, such as the Pelicans and Clippers.
Legit starpower is on the schedule as well, including the Brooklyn Nets, a favorite in the 2022 NBA Championship odds, and the Atlanta Hawks, who were playing in the East Final a year ago.
NBA Play-In Tournament Odds
| April 12 @ 7pm ET | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +8 (-110) | +285 | OFF |
| Brooklyn Nets | -8 (-110) | -360 | OFF |
| April 12 @ 9:30pm ET | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| Los Angeles Clippers | +2.5 (-110) | +120 | OFF |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | -2.5 (-110) | -140 | OFF |
| April 13 @ 7pm ET | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| Charlotte Hornets | +4.5 (-110) | +170 | OFF |
| Atlanta Hawks | -4.5 (-112) | -200 | OFF |
| April 13 @ 9:30pm ET | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| San Antonio Spurs | +5 (-110) | +180 | OFF |
| New Orleans Pelicans | -5 (-110) | -220 | OFF |
Odds as of April 10 at Caesars Sportsbook
A quick primer for format: the first set of games pit the 7-8 and 9-10 seeds of each conference. The winner of the 7-8 game locks in as the seventh seed, while the eighth seed gets a second chance, hosting the winner of 9-10 game to earn the eighth seed and final playoff spot.
Cavaliers vs Nets Betting Outlook
- Barclays Center, 7pm ET (TNT)
- Nets record: 44-38
- Cavs record: 44-38
- Season series: Nets won 3-1
We’re about to find out just how valuable BK’s win in Game 81 of the season will be on Tuesday. That 118-107 win — which covered an 8.5-point spread, but fell short of the 232.5 total — vaulted the Nets past the Cavaliers for the right to host this game.
Kevin Durant went for 20 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high 16 assists as the Nets (-1600 ML) beat the Pacers 134-126 to clinch the 7th seed in the East! 👀
Durant triple-double +900 💰
(🎥 @NBA)
— TSN EDGE (@TSN_Edge) April 10, 2022
Two teams at 44-38 have very different outlooks here: the Nets have had a turbulent year, from Kyrie Irving’s vaccine stance, to Kevin Durant’s knee injury and the James Harden trade. The key return piece to that deal, Ben Simmons, has not yet suited up for the Nets, and has already been ruled out for this one.
The Cavaliers had endured a 60-159 mark in the three previous seasons before this breakthrough campaign. They’re one of the few great stories this season, and may have finally turned the corner with franchise blocks Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, a contender in the 2022 NBA Rookie of the Year odds.
Darius Garland, what a finish!
(via @cavs)pic.twitter.com/bFJkueO9Fj
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) April 9, 2022
Allen should be back from a finger injury, and the Cavs are a more-than-respectable 20-19-1 against the spread as a road team. The Nets are a brutal 9-31-1 ATS mark at home this year, by far the worst mark in the NBA. How much can you put into that though? Kyrie played just 30 games all year and Kevin Durant missed 21 games with that knee injury.
Cleveland is the 5th-best scoring defense in the league. How they contend with the Nets’ 9th-best scoring output will go a long way in determining a winner here.
The pick: Cavaliers +8 (-110)
Clippers vs Timberwolves Betting Outlook
- Target Center, 9:30pm ET (TNT)
- Timberwolves record: 46-35
- Clippers record: 41-40
- Season series: Clippers won 3-1
These teams last played January 3, and Minnesota snapped a three-game head-to-head skid with a 122-104 win. LA had been pegged as 3.5-point favorites, in a game that was set at a 215.5 total.
Karl-Anthony Towns thunderous lob dunk, wow pic.twitter.com/CwunoY6lqM
— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) April 8, 2022
The previous three games were all played in a stretch from Nov 3-13, all Clippers wins, with LA covering all three games, while the total went under twice. But so much has gone on since then, that it’s hard to glean much insight.
Here’s what we do know: Minny can put up points. They led the NBA in scoring this year, averaging 115.9 points per game. Surprisingly, they’re outside the top 10 in 3-point shooting, and outside the top 20 in field goal shooting. They make up for it as the league leader in points off turnovers (19.7) and top-five in fast break and second-chance scoring.
"I definitely see a team that is confident. I see a team that has believed and they play with heart. I told Karl-Anthony Towns when they got Pat Bev that he's gonna change a lot of stuff, whether it was good or bad. He was gonna make an impact."
– Paul George on the Wolves pic.twitter.com/aYCi2lwf3m
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) April 10, 2022
The Clippers were the little engine that could in the West. They still haven’t had Kawhi Leonard suit up once, and Paul George was down with a bad elbow since December 22. He’s played five games so far in his return.
The Clips are 20-20-1 ATS on the road this season. They are just 23rd in scoring, but rank third in 3-point shooting at a 37.2% clip. Minnesota was 21-17-2 ATS at home, the eighth-best success rate in the NBA.
The pick: Timberwolves -2.5 (-110)
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Having worked in and around sports since 1997, Eric is truly a knowledgeable expert. The two-time journalism grad specializes in all things NBA and NFL. From TSN.ca to CTV's Olympic Broadcast Consortium, Eric's work has appeared in local and national publications alike.
