The Nos. 9 and 10 seeds square off Wednesday, April 12, in the NBA’s postseason Play-in tournament. The losers of these games will be eliminated from playoff contention, so the stakes are high. The winners move on to play the losers from Tuesday’s contests for a berth in the full playoff field.
The New Orleans Pelicans currently sit ninth in the West, exactly where they stood this time last year when they punched their ticket to the playoffs through the NBA Play-in Tournament. Could they stun the league again?
Check the game previews and betting odds from the nation’s top online sportsbooks below for insight on tonight’s matchups.
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NBA Play-in Tournament Betting Odds for Wednesday, April 12
Chicago Bulls vs. Toronto Raptors, 6 p.m. ET (ESPN)
| SPORTSBOOK | DraftKings | Caesars | FanDuel |
|---|---|---|---|
| POINT SPREAD | Toronto -5 (-110) Chicago +5 (-110) | Toronto -5 (-115) Chicago +5 (-105) | Toronto -5 (-110) Chicago +5 (-110) |
| MONEYLINES | Toronto -200 Chicago +170 | Toronto -210 Chicago +175 | Toronto -210 Chicago +176 |
| TOTAL | Over 214.5 (-110) Under 214.5 (-110) | Over 214.5 (-110) Under 214.5 (-110) | Over 214.5 (-110) Under 214.5 (-110) |
The Raptors are one of the most well-balanced teams in basketball. Six players average double digits in points and two more are within one point of that. They have the best assist-to-turnover ratio in the league and are one of the best defensive teams. However, the Bulls have two of the most dynamic scorers in all of the NBA with Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, both of whom are averaging just under 25 points per game.
The Raptors are favorites in tonight’s game, but the Bulls’ shot-making abilities set them up well for an upset. Star power shines bright come playoff time as the defensive tenacity levels up. Although the Bulls aren’t as stout as Toronto defensively, the Raptors’ best players aren’t as capable shot-creators. If the game is tight, DeRozan and LaVine are more than capable of closing.
The Raptors won the season series 3-1, although LaVine missed one of the Bulls’ losses. The Raptors are five-point favorites at the major sportsbooks, which seems high. If you’re looking for a wager, this may be the one to take. Although they finished with a losing record, the Bulls were one of the better teams on the road this season.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. New Orleans Pelicans, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)
| SPORTSBOOK | DraftKings | Caesars | FanDuel |
|---|---|---|---|
| POINT SPREAD | New Orleans -5.5 (-110) Oklahoma City +5.5 (-110) | New Orleans -5 (-110) Oklahoma City +5 (-110) | New Orleans -5.5 (-110) Oklahoma City +5.5 (-110) |
| MONEYLINES | New Orleans -215 Oklahoma City +185 | New Orleans -225 Oklahoma City +185 | New Orleans -220 Oklahoma City +184 |
| TOTAL | Over 228 (-110) Under 228 (-110) | Over 228 (-110) Under 228 (-110) | Over 228 (-110) Under 228 (-110) |
This game has the potential to be the most exciting of any game in the play-in tournament. The Pelicans have been here before and are poised to make another surprising play-in tournament run. Not to the surprise of many, they are without their young star Zion Williamson. However, they can rely on the services of Brandon Ingram, who has absolutely dominated as of late.
From scoring the ball to getting others involved, Ingram has picked up the slack in Williamson’s absence. He led the Pelicans to eight wins in their last 11 to close out the regular season and prevent them from missing the postseason altogether. In March, he averaged 27 points on 52% from the field, and in April, he averaged 28 points on 49% shooting.
As great as Ingram has been for the Pelicans, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been just as good for Oklahoma City all season long. He concluded the season averaging 31 points on 51% from the field and has a convincing case for the Most Improved Player of the Year Award. When it comes to explosive scoring threats, that’s about all there is for the Thunder.
The Pelicans, however, also have C.J. McCollum, who is another 20-point-per-game scorer and the differentiator in this matchup. McCollum is just as capable of taking over a game as Ingram and Gilgeous-Alexander and should be more than enough help to put the Pelicans over the top.
Article contributed by David Fletcher.
