The wait is over. NBA’s first-ever play-in tournament has arrived, and that means the betting action is just heating up. With plenty of star-studded matchups on deck and the all-new Play-In Tournament on tap, there’s plenty of wagers to be placed. That’s where I come in with two futures markets on PointsBet that offer great returns on investment.
Hornets to Make the Playoffs (+450)
The Charlotte Hornets have limped into the play-in tournament, losers of five straight as they prepare to take on the Pacers. However, four of the five losses have come to four playoff teams, the Nuggets, Clippers, Knicks and Wizards.
The Hornets are +3 underdogs to the Pacers, a team they have beaten two or three times this season. The loss to Indiana was also by three points, making siding with Charlotte even more straightforward, in my opinion.
The Hornets lost three of those games by five or fewer point and another in OT to the Knicks. They have played tough and till the buzzer, even during the losing streak. Terry Rozier is playing so well lately, averaging 21.0 points per game over the last 10 contests. That is only second to “Money” Miles Bridges’ 22.3 per outing.
The two of them have proved to be tremendous role players alongside guards LaMelo Ball and Devonte’ Graham. The Hornets, even without Gordon Hayward, have been able to hang onto their season by a thread.
Indiana is not a formidable opponent with how they have played defense. In May, the Pacers allowed 118.6 points per game in the last 10 outings and averaged 106 in the three meetings.
Not to mention they may be without most of there lineup and ball-handlers. Malcolm Brogdon, Edmond Sumner, T.J. McConnell, Domantas Sabonis and Caris LeVert are all questionable or unlikely to play.
The Hornets are 2-1 against the Wizards this season, losing the regular season finale by five. Charlotte is 1-2 versus Boston this season and none of the outcomes were close. The Hornets lost by nine and 30 points, plus won by 21.
I believe the Hornets have a much more legitimate shot at being the No. 8 seed than +450. The Pacers are -450 not to make the postseason, while the Wizards are -500 for yes and the Celtics at -650.
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Celtics NOT to Make the Playoffs (+400)
Who would have thought this was a possibility this season? The Celtics missing the playoffs would not be shocking to me, as Boston has proved over and over to be a mediocre team this year.
Boston is 30-28 with Jaylen Brown in the lineup and 6-8 without him. The rest of the Celtics role players will be available, leaving only Brown the lone Celtic out for the season. Kemba Walker, Marcus Smart, Evan Fournier, Tristan Thompson, Robert Williams and Tatum will all be active.
Boston will take on Washington, a team they went 2-1 versus this season. Boston won by one and nine and Washington by 13. All three games could have swung either way and with how well Russell Westbrook is playing lately, we could see back-and-forth between a few players.
Beal is working himself back after going 8-of-27 from the field in his previous start. Westbrook may take over more of the offense with Beal’s hamstring injury apparently slowing him down Sunday. Walker, Smart and Fournier will have the toughest defensive duties of all.
Look for Beal or Westbrook to dominate Walker and Fournier any chance they get. Westbrook is my player prop of the day on NBC Sports EDGE Betting. I believe he is going to have another monster day, this time versus the Celtics.
If Boston loses this game, they will more than likely take on Charlotte, who they are 2-1 against. Jaylen Brown played in all three games versus Charlotte, all three versus Indiana and two of three against the Wizards.
It sounds like the Celtics will be missing Brown more than they know it. I think there is reasons for the Celtics to pack in beyond not being a contender this year, but how much do they really want to play four-plus playoff games before getting bounced in the first-round? Not so much, I would guess. If the Celtics lose Tuesday, I could see a tank situation rather than getting the No. 8 seed and risking injury in the postseason that they are going nowhere in.
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