Tonight is the beginning of the 2024 NBA postseason with the Western Conference play-in games. The NBA first introduced the play-in tournament in 2020 in the bubble. The NBA created the play-in tournament to create more meaningful basketball towards the end of the regular season, and we saw that be a factor in the tight western conference race. Tonight we have two great matchups with a lot of star power, and we have some great value in the player prop market.
NBA Play-In Game 1: Los Angeles Lakers @ New Orleans Pelicans
7:30 pm EST; TNT
New Orleans Pelicans -1.5; Total 225
The 8-seed Los Angeles Lakers (47-35) will face off against the 7-seed New Orleans Pelicans (49-33) at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. The winner of this game will face the 2023 NBA Champion Denver Nuggets, the loser will have another chance to make the playoffs, playing the winner of the 9 seed vs 10 seed play-in game.
The Lakers enter this matchup with momentum and confidence as they have beaten the Pelicans in 3 out of 4 matchups this season. The most recent game resulted in a 124-108 Lakers victory. The Lakers offense has been firing on all cylinders against the Pelicans, led by LeBron James who is averaging 28 points and 11 assists in those matchups. The Pelicans will need to strengthen their defensive focus in this matchup, especially at the rim with LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the other side.
Due to the matchup, it will be important for the Pelicans to do everything they can to contain LeBron James. With the extra attention put on LeBron, that should open up the floor for other players to see increased usage and shot attempts. With this in mind I will be looking at the Laker playoff hero from a season ago, Rui Hachimura to step up and have himself a game.
Best Bet: Rui Hachimura over 13.5 points -108 at FanDuel
NBA Play-In Game 2: Golden State Warriors @ Sacramento Kings
10:00 pm EST; TNT
Golden State Warriors -2.5; Total 223.5
The 10-seed Golden State Warriors (46-36) will face off against the 9-seed Sacramento Kings (46-36) at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. The two teams will meet again in the postseason after the Warriors defeated the Kings in the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs. The winner of this game will face the loser of the Lakers vs Pelicans with a chance to advance to the post season to face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, the loser will be headed home.
Both teams enter this matchup with key injury concerns in their backcourt. The Golden State Warriors will be without one of their best role players Gary Payton II, who seemingly always shows up in big moments. The Sacramento Kings will be without their sixth man Malik Monk who provides key scoring contributions off the bench.
The Kings and Warriors split the regular season series and are familiar foes, being Pacific division rivals. The Warriors are red hot finishing the season 10-2 in their last 12 games. The Kings on the other hand are 4-6 in their last 10 games.
Stephen Curry’s props have pretty good value tonight with the depleted backcourts. A season ago Curry averaged 43.5 points + rebounds + assists in their playoff series against the Kings. His prop tonight is at 39.5, and that line should’ve been closer to 41.5.
Best Bet: Stephen Curry Over 39.5 points + rebounds + assists -115 at FanDuel
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