NBA Play-In Tournament 2024–25: Best Bets, Odds and Predictions

The 2024–25 NBA regular season is done, but we aren’t quite ready for the postseason just yet. Before we can get there, the last four teams still in the running for the playoffs have to take part in the play-in tournament — which, of course, you can bet on.

Let’s talk about a few of the ways you can bet on the play-in tournament games. The following make our list of NBA play-in tournament best bets (odds via DraftKings).

Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament

No. 8 Atlanta Hawks (+180) vs. No. 7 Orlando Magic (-5), o/u 217
Date: Tuesday, April 15
Time: 7:30 p.m. EDT
Coverage: TNT

Yes, Atlanta just beat Orlando on Sunday. But don’t read anything into the outcome of that game (117–105, Hawks); neither team put their best foot forward. So, don’t draw any conclusions as to how the play-in could go based on it.

Atlanta has a solid offense and will likely try to outscore the Magic. But that will be easier said than done against Orlando’s defense.

Our pick: OVER 217

I think the Magic will win this game, but it’s hard to say with certainty if they’ll cover the spread. However, based on how the previous games between these two teams went, there’s a good chance we’ll see more than 217 points scored in this game.

No. 10 Miami Heat (+1) vs. No. 9 Chicago Bulls (-115), o/u 219.5
Date: Wednesday, April 16
Time: 7:30 p.m. EDT
Coverage: ESPN

Chicago has been playing well of late, with wins in six of their last seven games, including a 119–111 win over the Heat in Chicago. The Bulls have some talented guys who have been playing well, and the Heat have lost four of their last six.

But Eric Spoelstra knows a thing or two about winning clutch games like this one, and I like his talented trio of Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Andrew Wiggins more than Chicago’s talent base.

Our pick: Miami ML

Miami to make the playoffs at +320
A No. 10 seed has never made the playoffs in the short history of the play-in tournament. But if there ever was a team that could make history and pull it off, it’s this Miami Heat squad.

Western Conference Play-In Tournament

No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies (+230) vs. No. 7 Golden State Warriors (-7), o/u 229.5
Date: Tuesday, April 15
Time: 10 p.m. EDT
Coverage: TNT

These two teams just faced off in a barn burner a couple of weeks ago — one the Warriors won 135–125 in Memphis. I find it hard to believe a team that fired its head coach down the stretch and is not playing good, consistent basketball can beat Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green.

Oh — and Steve Kerr knows a thing or two about getting the most out of his team with the playoffs on the line.

Our pick: OVER 229.5

I think the Warriors will win this one, but seven points feels like a bit much with two teams that can score like they can. That’s why I’m betting on the OVER for this game.

No. 10 Dallas Mavericks vs. No. 9 Sacramento Kings
Date: Wednesday, April 16
Time: 10 p.m. EDT
Coverage: ESPN

Is anyone else surprised that the Dallas Mavericks even made it to the play-in tournament? It was bad enough that they traded Luka Doncic, but then losing Kyrie Irving on top of that was just painful. Anthony Davis is still a force when he plays, but enough of one to beat the Kings?

Eh — I don’t think so. Domantas Sabonis will take care of Davis, and Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan will get the job done on the offensive end of the court vs. a Dallas team that is likely eager for the season to end.