2024 NBA Play-In Tournament Odds & Schedule: Lakers, Warriors, 76ers Among Teams in Play-In

The NBA Play-In Tournament lineup is finalized and includes notable teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors, both of which were favored in the NBA odds leading up to the play-in games.

The NBA Play-In Tournament will start the postseason for the fifth consecutive season and third time in the current format on April 16. Several teams, including the Golden State Warriors (46-36), Chicago Bulls (39-43), and Atlanta Hawks (36-46), are expected to participate in the play-in games after solid performances in the second half of the regular season.

The Hawks are scheduled to face the Bulls in the Eastern Conference play-in, where they will be joined by two of the most successful franchises in recent NBA history. The Miami Heat (46-36) and Philadelphia 76ers (47-35) will compete in a highly anticipated play-in game filled with star players.

In the Western Conference, star players like LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers (47-35) will face off against Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans (49-33). At the same time, Steph Curry will lead the Warriors in a game against De’Aaron Fox and the Sacramento Kings (46-36).

The top sports betting sites are anticipating competitive play-in games featuring star players, with all four games having spreads of no more than 4.5 points. The No. 7 to No. 10 seeds in each conference will battle it out for a chance to make it to the playoffs.

Check out our analysis of the leading NBA Play-In Tournament odds for 2024, as featured on our top NBA betting platforms.

2024 NBA play-in tournament odds

Updated odds as of April 9th.

Eastern Conference odds

Western Conference odds

On April 15, 2024, the Bulls appeared to be a sure bet for the play-in tournament after losing Zach LaVine for the season. Despite DeMar DeRozan’s efforts to keep Chicago competitive, it was unlikely they would secure the No. 6 seed. Injuries also affected Atlanta and Philadelphia’s chances as well.

The absence of Trey Young for 23 games seemed to spell doom for the Hawks’ chances in the Eastern Conference. However, his return for the final three regular season games has given Atlanta fans hope as they prepare for the play-in tournament. Philadelphia faced a similar setback when Joel Embiid, a top contender for NBA MVP, was sidelined and the 76ers struggled. But with Embiid back in action towards the end of the season, Philly has become a formidable force. As demonstrated by the Heat last year, a team that starts in the NBA Play-In Tournament has the potential to make a deep playoff run, and Miami is aiming to replicate that success this season.

Throughout the season, the Warriors and Lakers in the Western Conference were considered strong contenders for the play-in tournament due to their inconsistent performances. Although they had a small possibility of securing the No. 6 seed, their chances of making it to the play-in tournament seemed secure in the tough competition of the West, particularly after the Houston Rockets’ winning streak was broken.

New Orleans and Sacramento had a glimmer of hope for securing the coveted No. 6 seed, but the Dallas Mavericks’ late-season surge and the Phoenix Suns’ strong performance dashed those hopes. With Brandon Ingram back in the lineup, the Pelicans are shaping up to be a formidable force in the Western Conference play-in tournament.

NBA Play-In Tournament betting analysis

Towards the end of the season in the Eastern Conference, it was evident which teams would be participating in the NBA Play-In Tournament. The Bulls had been leading in the odds for weeks until they were removed, leaving teams like Atlanta, Miami, and Philadelphia at the top. The Indiana Pacers were the only other team in contention during the final week of the season.

The Western Conference had a familiar path, with the Warriors losing their edge and the Lakers emerging as top contenders for the play-in tournament. The Kings’ struggles solidified their spot, leaving the race for the No. 6 seed between the Pelicans and Phoenix Suns. Phoenix secured the spot with three consecutive wins to close out the season, clinching the final playoff berth in the West.

NBA Play-In Tournament schedule

What is the NBA Play-In Tournament?

The NBA play-in tournament now determines the final two playoff seeds from each conference, with only the top six seeds guaranteed a spot. Previously, the top eight seeds were guaranteed a spot, but now teams ranked ninth or 10th can compete for a chance to make the playoffs.

NBA Play-In Tournament format

The teams seeded ninth and tenth will compete against each other, and the victor will have a chance to claim the eighth seed from the loser of the matchup between the seventh and eighth seeded teams.

If you finish the regular season as the seventh or eighth seed, you only need to win one game to make the playoffs. However, if your team finishes ninth or 10th in its respective conference, two games must be won to qualify for the playoffs.

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