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The betting public is backing all of the favorites ahead of day one of the NBA Play-In Tournament on Tuesday evening.
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Top sportsbooks reported a majority of tickets and money supporting the favorites in the first four matchups on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Key Takeaways
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No favorite generated less than 59% of spread bets at BetMGM or DraftKings.
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There are several instances of the under being in the minority for tickets and the majority for handle.
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LaMelo Ball, Mark Williams, and Bam Adebayo were the most popular targets of player prop bets at DraftKings.
The Play-In Tournament was officially adopted ahead of the 2020-21 season. It’s meant to both whet the palate of NBA fans and give teams opportunities to play for their playoff futures, but in the world of sports wagering, it also represents another chance for fans to find a wide menu of betting odds.
Tuesday’s schedule will see the Charlotte Hornets face the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference’s 9/10 game, before the Phoenix Suns host the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference’s 7/8 showdown.
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Heat vs. Hornets predictions were practically an open-and-shut case for the public. The majority of bettors are backing the upstart Hornets in the early game. More than half, 59%, of bets and 74% of the money are on their spread, which rose from -4.5 to -5.5, according to BetMGM’s John Ewing.
As for Miami, 51% of bets but only 38% of money is on the Heat moneyline (+180). Scoring is not expected to be high, with 61% of bets and 77% of money on the under, which fluctuated between 227.5 and 228.5.
DraftKings insights shared with Covers revealed that the Hornets-Heat matchup was the most-bet NBA game to start the week.
Almost two-thirds, 64%, of tickets and 77% of the pot is on the Hornets’ spread, while 73% of wagers and 74% of the handle is on the Hornets’ moneyline. Nearly three-quarters, 74%, of bets and 60% of the money is also on the under, according to DraftKings Nation.
Trail Blazers vs. Suns predictions showed a similar breakdown. At BetMGM, 72% of bets and 70% of the handle were on the Suns’ spread (up from -3.5 to -4.5). Meanwhile, 55% of bets and 87% of the money in the moneyline market also went to the Suns (-165), while 52% of bets and 86% of the handle were on the under (up from 213.5 to 217.5).
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In what was DraftKings’ second most-bet game in the Association, 60% of tickets and 71% of money in the spread market, as well as 76% of bets and 55% of the handle in the moneyline market, were on the Suns. The only real divide occurred in the total market, which showed that 30% of bets and 74% of the handle were on the over.
Wednesday Play-In betting breakdown
Wednesday’s Play-In lineup will feature the Philadelphia 76ers against the Orlando Magic in the East’s 7/8 matchup, before the Golden State Warriors visit the Los Angeles Clippers for the West’s 9/10 battle.
BetMGM reported 70% of bets on the Sixers -1.5 and the Sixers moneyline (-125), even though Joel Embiid is expected to miss the contest with appendicitis. Bettors are anticipating a lower-scoring game, with 70% of wagers on under 220.5.
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DraftKings revealed that 61% of tickets and 78% of the money are on the Sixers’ spread, as well as 63% of bets and 82% of the handle on the Sixers’ moneyline. More than a quarter, 26%, of bets and 78% of the handle are on the under.
Turning to the late game, BetMGM shared that 64% of bets are on Clippers -5.5. However, 65% of wagers are also on the Warriors’ moneyline (+165). Points are expected in this contets, as 53% of tickets are on over 220.5.
DraftKings users like the Clippers in both major team markets, with 62% of bets and 93% of the handle backing them on the spread, as well as 70% of tickets and 75% of the money on the moneyline. A quarter of bets and 71% of the handle are on under 220.5.
Popular NBA Play-In player props
NBA betting sites aren’t limited to offering team markets during the Play-In Tournament, the first step in teams’ pursuit of reaching the NBA Finals.
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DraftKings shared with Covers that the three players receiving the most interest in the player prop betting market were LaMelo Ball (Hornets), Mark Williams (Suns), and Bam Adebayo (Heat).
Ball to score 15+ points, make 4+ three-pointers, and score 20+ points were the sportsbook’s three most-popular player props to begin the week. Williams to score 20+ points (+870 at the time of writing) was next, followed by Adebayo to score 20+ points.
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