Postseason Basketball

After one of the weirdest regular season finales in recent memory, it's officially win or go home time in the NBA 😤

The addition of a Play-In Tournament in 2021 created much more intrigue, as four teams in each conference will battle for the two final playoff spots. The tourney opens tonight with 7 vs. 8 seed matchups, as each squad fights to escape the Play-In and secure a coveted playoff bid 👇

• The losers of Lakers-Timberwolves and Hawks-Heat will have to battle the winners of each conference's 9 vs. 10 seed matchup for the final playoff spots

• The Heat look like the best of the four out East, as Jimmy Butler and co. have proven their playoff chops over the past few years

• The Lakers are the equally clear pick out West, after the Wolves all but collapsed in their season finale 😳

Gobert was sent home following this bench melee and has been suspended for tonight's pivotal contest, followed by defensive stud Jaden McDaniels fracturing his hand due to punching a wall in frustration 😬

While the Wolves still won and secured the 8 seed, it's hard for Minnesota to feel too positive heading into a matchup vs. the rejuvenated Lakers. Still, we can't count the reigning Western Conference Play-In champs out yet 🥵

• Meanwhile, Trae Young and the Hawks will be out for blood after being quickly dispatched by Miami in last year's first round series. The Hawks swung for the fences with last summer's Dejounte Murray trade, but the results have been middling at best

Here's how the lines are shaping up for tonight's high octane Play-In matchups 🍿

Hawks vs. Heat Betting Preview (subject to change)

• Spread: Heat -5

• Moneyline: Heat -198, Hawks +166

• Over/Under: 226.5

Wolves vs. Lakers Betting Preview

• Spread: Lakers -7.5

• Moneyline: Lakers -335, Wolves +270

• Over/Under: 231

Details

The Heat mirror the Lakers in the East as the Play-In team that every contender is seeking to avoid. Jimmy Butler has shown he has another gear reserved for playoff competition, and was inches away from single-handedly eliminating a much more talented Celtics squad last year 👇

Boston is the 2 seed, and it's safe to say that the Celtics are hoping that Atlanta can pull this one out and nab the 7 seed 👀

• Butler's co-star Bam Adebayo has enjoyed a stellar season, reaching a career high in scoring while yet again emerging as a DPOY contender

• Miami has looked like Trae Young's kryptonite of late — the Hawks' star is shooting an ice cold 34% from the field and 19% from three in his last nine matchups vs the Heat

Looking toward the West, the biggest story is the missing mammoth in the middle. At this point in the Gobert saga, I don't think it's even a hot take to say that the Timberwolves made one of the worst trades in NBA history. They unloaded plentiful draft capital for the big man, as well as a number of high level role players — two of whom will be suiting up against them in this matchup 👇

• The Lakers' trio of former Wolves in D'Angelo Russell, Jared Vanderbilt and Malik Beasley have been a revelation in LA ever since being acquired at the trade deadline. LA's retooled roster amassed a 16-7 record following the All-Star break

With LeBron and AD finally healthy and surrounded by a legion of competent shooters and stout defenders, things are certainly looking up in Los Angeles 📈

For My Parlay Gurus

It's far from a controversial pick, but I'm extremely confident that the Lakers will win this one and advance to take on Memphis in the first round. On the opposite coast, I like the law of averages to play out and Trae Young to finally exorcise his Miami demons and lead the Hawks to a tightly contested win on the road. Take a look 👇

• Lakers -7.5 vs. Wolves: -114

• Hawks +5 @ Heat: -110

$100 on this bet would win you $258 — if we hit, make sure you email [email protected] for a chance to win up to $100*. Many will enter, only some will win 😉

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