The final play-in games are set, with four teams getting one more shot to play in the 2023 NBA playoffs. We’ve got all the best NBA Play-in Tournament bettings odds for April 14 for fans and sports bettors watching Friday’s games.
The Atlanta Hawks and LA Lakers pulled through earlier this week to clinch the No. 7 seeds, while the Toronto Raptors and New Orleans Pelicans are officially out. Left to live another day: The Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, OKC Thunder, and Minnesota Timberwolves.
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The remaining teams clash Friday night, with the losers sent home to try again next season and the winners claiming the No. 8 and final seed in their respective conferences. They’ll go on to play the No. 1 seed in the East and West — the Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks. Game 1 of those Round 1 playoff series starts on Sunday, April 16.
After securing victories on the road, both Chicago and Oklahoma City remain in contention for the #8 playoff seed in their respective conference.
The AT&T NBA Play-In Tournament continues Friday, April 14.
Schedule ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/OvwzDjQsiF
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 13, 2023
Here are the odds for Friday’s single-elimination play-in matchups from the country’s best online sports betting apps.
NBA Play-in Tournament Odds for April 14
Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat, 7 p.m. ET (TNT)
Here are the odds for the matchup from Caesars Sportsbook.
- Point Spread: Heat -5.5
- Moneyline: Heat -225 | Bulls +185
- Total (over/under): 208.5 points
The Bulls travel to Miami to take on the Heat in FTX Arena at 7 p.m. ET, broadcasting on TNT.
The Bulls defeated the Raptors on the road as the underdog in both the league standings and the betting odds. The Raptors were five-point favorites and had a 2-1 record against the Bulls, but Chicago pulled out some spectacular hooping to win against Toronto 109-105. Zach LaVine scored a whopping 39 points, while Nikola Vucevic got 13 rebounds, and Coby White led in assists with five.
But in Miami, they’ll be taking on a tougher opponent — a team that nearly everyone expected to make out of their first play-in game against the Hawks. At one point, Miami was knocking on Brooklyn’s door for the No. 6 seed in the East. But some tough losses near the end of the season sent them to the dreaded play-in round. Then, their 116-105 loss to Atlanta stunned the betting world.
Wager on the Bulls or the Heat with a $1,250 from Caesars Sportsbook
Miami was 44-38 in the regular season compared to the Bulls’ 40-42 record. At home, they’re 27-14. Head Coach Erik Spoelstra says he’s considering lineup changes ahead of Friday’s game. Kyle Lowry may start over Gabe Vincent after scoring a season-high 33 points on 11-of-16 shooting in their loss to the Hawks. Vincent is questionable with a right hip pointer.
Our money is on the Heat to pull this one through, but their collapse against the Hawks — while the Bulls unexpectedly surged in their own matchup — is something to weigh in your bets.
Best Prop Bets for Bulls vs. Heat
- DeMar DeRozan to get at least 22 points: -119
- Jimmy Butler to get at least 27 points: -115
- Nikola Vucevic to score first +390
- Will there be overtime? Yes +1200 | No -3000
Oklahoma City Thunder at Minnesota Timberwolves, 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Here are the odds for the matchup from BetMGM Sportsbook.
- Point Spread: Timberwolves -5.5
- Moneyline: Timberwolves -225 | Thunder +180
- Total (over/under): 227.5 points
The Thunder travel to Minnesota to play the Timberwolves at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The Thunder were the cause of yet another upset in the first round of play-ins when they beat the Pelicans in New Orleans. The Thunder were 40-42 in the regular season and qualified for the play-ins in the 10th and final spot in the West. They were five-point underdogs to the Pelicans going into Wednesday’s game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points, while Josh Giddey got nine rebounds and 10 assists.
The question is can they keep it up against the Timberwolves, who were a better team in the regular season? The Thunder had a 1-3 record against both the Pelicans and the Wolves, so yes, it’s definitely possible.
The Timberwolves are in a more predictable spot right now. In fact, although they lost to the Lakers in Tuesday’s play-in, they took the game to overtime and covered the 6.5-point spread. Now they’ll have the home-court advantage, where they have a slightly improved record than on the road.
Bet OKC to pull another upset with a $1,000 offer from BetMGM Sportsbook
Of course, the Wolves have the Rudy Gobert problem. Gobert is uncertain for Friday’s game due to back issues, but he wasn’t in the first play-in game due to a team-imposed suspension for punching teammate Kyle Anderson on Sunday. In Tuesday’s game, Anderson posted 13 assists, while Karl Anthony Towns got a double-double with 24 points and 11 assists.
Best Prop Bets for Thunder vs. Timberwolves
- 3/3/3 (3+ three-pointers made in first 3 minutes): +380
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to score 50+ points: +1100
- First point of the game in under 17.5 seconds: +200
- Will there be overtime? Yes +1250 | No -5000
