Sign In $
NBA

NBA Playoff Picture Update

Jonathan Willis Sports Betting Expert
3 minute read

There is less than one week left in the NBA regular season. The Eastern Conference is pretty much set with Cleveland, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Brooklyn likely squaring off in the play-in tournament. However, the Western Conference is a little more up in the air. The Los Angeles Lakers could still play their way into the playoffs despite losing six straight games, and the Minnesota Timberwolves are desperately trying to chase down the No. 6 seed in order to avoid the play-in tournament entirely. That will make for an exciting last several days of the season.

Betting On The NBA

Best NBA Betting Sites:

bet365 | BetMGM | Caesars Sportsbook | DraftKings | FanDuel | FOX Bet | PointsBet | Unibet | Best US Sportsbooks

Where to bet on the NBA:

Arizona | Colorado | Illinois | Indiana | Louisiana | Michigan | New Jersey | New York | Pennsylvania | Tennessee | Virginia | West Virginia

Updated on 04/26/2024
FanDuel FanDuel Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets - Guaranteed!
Bonus Code No Code Needed Claim Now
Must be 21+. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER

EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF ODDS

Although Brooklyn is currently the No. 10 seed, the Nets have the best chance to make the playoffs of the four teams that will take part in the play-in tournament. However, it seems a little silly that the Nets making the playoffs is being considered a fait accompli given what we have seen from them this season. They have the third lowest odds to win the NBA title, but they will probably need to win two games to make it to the postseason.

The best bet to make the postseason in the Eastern Conference is Atlanta. The Hawks are currently +115 underdogs to make the playoffs although they are in line to be the No. 8 seed. Atlanta has won five straight games and the Hawks knocked off Cleveland and Brooklyn last week. They shouldn’t fall below the No. 8 line with remaining games against Washington and Houston, so the Hawks will likely have two chances to make the playoffs.

WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF ODDS

The Los Angeles Lakers were the favorites to win the Western Conference at the start of the season. They have been the most disappointing team in recent memory though, as they might miss out on the expanded postseason entirely. Los Angeles has lost six straight games and only has one easy game left (home vs. Oklahoma City). The Lakers’ other three games are on the road against Phoenix, Golden State, and Denver, so they are long shots to make the playoffs at 16-1.

Minnesota and the LA Clippers are currently the heavy favorites to make the playoffs. The Timberwolves are 25-13 at home this season, and they are -750 to make the postseason at this point considering they are just 1.5 games behind Utah for the No. 6 seed.

As for the Clippers, they are getting healthy at the right time. They are locked into the No. 8 seed, and Paul George just returned to the team. Norman Powell might be cleared by next week too, and that would give the Clips a significant edge.

Nba News

Jonathan Willis

Jonathan Willis has been working as a contributor for VegasInsider since 2017, providing in-depth sports betting content that provides a unique perspective. Jonathan has a passion for College Sports, in particular Football and Basketball. If you need to know more about the Pac-12 or Mountain West, he’s your guy being a local from the Great Northwest. Along with team sports, Willis has the ability to focus on golf, auto racing and mixed martial arts. More from Jonathan Willis
•