NBA Play-In Tournament betting tips: Magic, Kings show identity in playoff race

The NBA Play-In Tournament begins on Tuesday, April 15, and Sports News Blitz’s George Dempsey is here to provide you with the best betting tips and picks that money can’t buy.

That’s right, it’s play-in time - the time of the year when all the teams who weren’t quite good enough to make the cut crash the postseason party like a bunch of extended family at a wedding.

After snatching hope from the jaws of mediocrity and throwing it against the wall to see if it sticks, the tournament tips off with a doubleheader, where the Orlando Magic host the Atlanta Hawks, followed by the Golden State Warriors welcoming the Memphis Grizzlies.

The fun continues on Wednesday night as the Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat clash in a pick-em’ contest, with the Sacramento Kings hosting the Dallas Mavericks to cap off the first round.

Atlanta Hawks vs Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic boasted a 41-41 record at the end of the regular season, which is a pretty fitting reflection of their struggles on offence.

They rank 27th in offensive rating and dead last in three-point shooting percentage. Oddsmarkers favour the Magic by five points.

The Magic may know how to put their foot on the throat and see games out, but their offence has been about as useful as a layup in a three-point contest.

On the other hand, Trae Young, averaging 24.2 points and 11.6 assists per game, has been running the show for the Hawks.

He’s contributed to an uptick in offensive output since the All-Star Break.

De’Andre Hunter and Jalen Johnson have played an excellent supporting role, averaging 19 and 18.9 points, respectively, while Dyson Daniels and Onyeka Okongwu also scored in double digits.

On the other side of the court, Paolo Banchero, who has enjoyed a good outing versus the Hawks already this season, is dropping 25.9ppg, 9.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists.

Franz Wagner is chipping in with 22 points and 4 assists per game, but the rest of the offence falls a little short of the production we’re seeing from Atlanta.

This has been a back-and-forth series in the regular season, with both teams taking two wins apiece - each by margins of six points or more.

In the playoffs, sometimes it’s just about finding a way to win. And if Orlando is relying solely on its defence, it’s tough to see them pulling away with a comfortable margin.

That said, if they can turn the game into a half-court slog, slow the pace, and keep the ball out of Trae Young’s hands, their elite defence could be enough to edge out Atlanta.

In the end, it’s a simple question. Defence or offence? We’re going to trust the number two ranked offence in the NBA to find a way to cover the spread.

Betting tip: Orlando Magic -5

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Dallas Mavericks vs Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings (40-42) and the Dallas Mavericks (39-43) will class in the early hours of Thursday morning.

While the winner will move one step closer towards securing the eighth seed in the playoffs, the loser is done for the season.

Oddsmakers favour the Kings by 5 points, and the projected total score for the game is 217.5 points.

The Kings have dominated this series against the Mavericks, sweeping all three meetings - including a 122-98 blowout on March 3.

Sacramento finished the regular season with a 4-2 run, highlighted by a 109-98 win over the Phoenix Suns that clinched home-court advantage for tonight’s game.

Domantas Sabonis was once again central to their success, recording his 62nd double-double of the season with 20 points and 12 rebounds.

The Mavericks have had a turbulent second half of the season, especially following the blockbuster trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis.

Since Davis joined the roster, Dallas has struggled to gel, going 4-6 in their last 10 games and just 3-7 against the spread (ATS) during that stretch.

Davis has put up solid numbers, averaging 24 points in four games against the Kings this season - albeit while still with the Lakers - but Dallas haven’t found much rhythm overall.

Despite Sacramento’s favourable matchup history, they haven’t exactly been reliable against the spread either.

The Kings are just 2-6 ATS in their last eight home games. However, Sacramento’s ability to dominate this head-to-head matchup is what interests us.

This is another matchup where we have to consider contrasting styles and decide which team will do a better job of imposing their will.

The evidence is clear to see, as the Kings dictated the tempo in all three of their regular-season wins.

Sacramento’s physical frontcourt has consistently bullied teams like Dallas, and there’s no reason to expect anything different from this game.

Sabonis has been a terrible matchup, particularly for a Dallas team that is still trying to find an interior presence in the absence of Davis.

Home-court advantage and chemistry are also factors.

While the Mavs traded away their identity midseason, the Kings have quietly become a well-rounded, if unspectacular, unit that knows exactly who they are on both sides of the ball. That should be enough to win this match.

Betting tip: Kings -5

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