NBA Play-In Tournament Predictions & Odds: Hawks, Grizzlies Favored to Clinch Playoff Spots
The NBA Play-In Tournament began with eight teams, but that field has been cut in half heading into Friday's finales. Just two postseason places remain, and our NBA Play-In Tournament odds and predictions break down the remaining field from a betting perspective.
The Atlanta Hawks and Memphis Grizzlies are early favorites to reach the NBA playoffs at our best sports betting sites. However, the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks will be comfortable in this spot after winning outright as underdogs in their opening games.
Who will advance to play the respective NBA championship odds favorites in the first round this weekend?
🗓️ NBA Play-In Tournament schedule
NBA Play-In Tournament odds via DraftKings as of Thursday, April 17.
- Miami Heat vs. Atlanta Hawks (-1), Friday at 7 p.m. ET (TNT)
- Dallas Mavericks vs. Memphis Grizzlies (-6.5), Friday at 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
📊 Odds to reach the NBA playoffs
The NBA Play-In Tournament is not considered the playoffs, so sportsbooks give each participant odds to advance to the first round. Seeing as the competition is down to just four teams, the moneyline odds act as de facto odds to reach the NBA playoffs. Odds via DraftKings as of Thursday, April 17.
- Atlanta Hawks: -118
- Dallas Mavericks: +220
- Memphis Grizzlies: -270
- Miami Heat: -102
🔢 NBA Play-In Tournament predictions
🏀 Heat vs. Hawks
📅 Date: Friday, April 18
🕗 Time: 7 p.m. ET
📍 Location: State Farm Arena (Atlanta)
📺 TV: TNT
💻 Streaming: Max
Chicago Bulls bettors learned an important lesson on Wednesday night: don't bet against Erik Spoelstra when his back is up against the wall. The league's second-longest tenured frontman put on a coaching clinic in Chicago, leading the Miami Heat to a dominant 19-point win.
Our best sports betting apps are showing a bit more respect to Miami in this matchup, although the Heat are still underdogs against Atlanta. The Hawks and Heat split the season series 2-2, with Miami currently riding a two-game winning streak.
Tyler Herro continues to fly under the radar this season as an elite No. 1 scoring option. Meanwhile, Bam Adebayo is a double-double machine that does all the dirty work down low. We'll side with Spoelstra's squad in a do-or-die NBA Play-In Tournament finale.
🔮 Prediction: Heat ML (-102 via DraftKings)
📊 Heat vs. Hawks live odds
🏀 Mavericks vs. Grizzlies
📅 Date: Friday, April 18
🕗 Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
📍 Location: FedExForum (Memphis, Tenn.)
📺 TV: ESPN
💻 Streaming: ESPN+
Nico Harrison spent the week trying to save face and convince everyone that defense wins championships. Even though the point is moot, with Dallas not sniffing the NBA Finals this year, the Mavericks moved one game closer to the postseason proper by shooting the lights out in Sacramento.
The visitors shot 49/50/92 as a team (49.4% field goal, 50% 3-point, 92.3% free-throw) as they picked up their first win over the Kings this season. Veterans Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson led the way, with three role players chipping in with double-digit points.
Memphis has won three in a row against Dallas, winning by an average of 20 points per game in those meetings. However, the Mavericks looked like a new team on Wednesday night, and we don't expect the seasoned stars to make it early on Ja Morant and Co., in this winner-take-all tournament game.
While we're not putting all of our chips on the Mavericks, we'll take a flier on them to cover a 6.5-point spread.
🔮 Prediction: Mavericks +6.5 (-110 via Caesars)
Caesars is a 21+ product
📊 Mavericks vs. Grizzlies live odds
❓ NBA Play-In Tournament FAQs
When is the 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament?
The 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament begins on Tuesday, April 15, and will run through Friday, April 18.
What is the NBA Play-In Tournament?
The NBA Play-In Tournament determines the final two seeds from each conference in the NBA playoffs, as only the top six seeds are guaranteed a spot in the dance. In the past, the top eight seeds were guaranteed a spot, but now the teams that rank ninth or 10th in the standings can play their way into the playoffs.
What is the NBA Play-In Tournament format?
The ninth and 10th seeds will face off, with the winner getting the opportunity to steal the eighth seed from the loser of the game featuring the seventh and eighth seeds.
You need to win only one game to make the playoffs if you finish the regular season as the seventh or eighth seed. For a team to qualify for the playoffs if it finishes ninth or 10th in its respective conference, two games must be won.
Who is in the NBA Play-In Tournament?
The Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat are left standing in the Eastern Conference. The Western Conference features the Memphis Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks.
The Orlando Magic and Golden State Warriors have already clinched playoff spots via the NBA Play-In Tournament, whereas the Chicago Bulls and Sacramento Kings were eliminated on Wednesday.
👑 Best NBA betting sites
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