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NBA Play-In Tournament odds are heating up, with the seventh seed claimed in both conferences — congrats to Philly and Portland — but the No. 8 spot on both sides still to be determined.
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We’re now set up with two win-or-go-home games on Friday, with Charlotte vs. Orlando in the East and Golden State vs. Phoenix in the West, as we wait to see what will be the final teams to fill out the NBA playoff bracket.
Here are the latest NBA odds for both of tomorrow’s elimination matchups.
Current NBA Play-In Tournament odds
Charlotte Hornets vs. Orlando Magic odds
Friday, April 17, 7:30 p.m., Prime Video
Also see: Our Hornets vs. Magic predictions, coming soon with a best bet + SGP.
Golden State Warriors vs. Phoenix Suns odds
Friday, April 17, 10:00 p.m., Prime Video
Also see: Our Warriors vs. Suns predictions, coming soon with a best bet + SGP.
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NBA Play-In Tournament schedule
The schedule for the SoFI NBA Play-In Tournament, which runs from Tuesday, April 14, to Friday, April 17, is as follows:
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Tuesday, April 14
Heat (126) vs. Hornets (127) – 7:30 p.m ET | Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NCCharlotte to face PHI for No. 8 seed, Heat are eliminated.
Trail Blazers (114) vs. Suns (110) – 10:00 p.m ET | Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, AZPortland claims West No. 7 seed, Phoenix to face GSW for No. 8 seed.
Wednesday, April 15
Magic (97) vs. 76ers (109) – 7:30 p.m ET | Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA76ers claim East No. 7 seed, Magic to face CHA for No. 8 seed
Warriors (126) vs. Clippers (121) – 10:00 p.m ET | Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CAGSW to face PHO for No. 8 seed, LAC is eliminated.
Friday, April 17
Hornets (9) vs. Magic (7) – 7:30 p.m ET | Kia Center, Orlando, FLWinner claims East No. 8 seed, loser is eliminated
Warriors (10) vs. Suns (7) – 10:00 p.m ET | Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, AZWinner claims West No. 8 seed, loser is eliminated
Popular NBA futures odds
What is the NBA Play-In Tournament?
The NBA Play-In Tournament is a relatively new wrinkle in the league’s playoff format. Instead of the Top 8 teams all being guaranteed playoff spots, the 7-through-10 seeds in each conference are entered into a mini-tournament, taking place shortly after the regular season’s conclusion, determining the East and West’s final two playoff spots.
NBA Play-In Tournament format
Here’s how the Play-In Tournament works:
For each conference, the 7 and 8 seeds earn double-elimination status and play each other, while the 9 and 10 seeds play in a single-elimination game. The winner of the 7-8 game earns the No. 7 seed, while the loser of the 7-8 game then plays the winner of the 9-10 game for the No. 8 seed.
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From there, the playoffs begin in earnest, following the traditional bracket format.
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When was the NBA Play-In Tournament introduced?
The Play-In Tournament was introduced, in a beta concept form, for the 2020 season as part of the league’s plans for a bubble re-launch during the heights of the COVID-19 pandemic — originally just with the 8 and 9 seeds playing.
After positive initial impressions from both fans and media, the Play-In Tournament was expanded to its current format and introduced, however unideal the timing, for a 2020-21 season that was already marred by pandemic absences and injuries.
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NBA Play-In Tournament trends
2023 marked the first upsets in the opening round of games, with the lower seed taking three of the four games.
2023 was fruitful for the eventual success of play-in teams, with the 7-seed Los Angeles Lakers going on a run to the Western Conference Finals, and the 8-seed Miami Heat making it all the way to the NBA Finals.
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