Friday night's Best Bet features an undefeated NBA Play-In trend
Win-or-go home games are the pinnacle of sport. One team’s season will come to a screeching halt with a loss while the other gets to continue on a quest for a championship. Implemented in 2021, the NBA Play-In Tournament has become the perfect appetizer to the playoffs. Tonight’s matchup between the New Orleans Pelicans and […]
Win-or-go home games are the pinnacle of sport. One team’s season will come to a screeching halt with a loss while the other gets to continue on a quest for a championship. Implemented in 2021, the NBA Play-In Tournament has become the perfect appetizer to the playoffs. Tonight’s matchup between the New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Clippers provides one particular advantage for sports bettors who are looking to get some skin in the game.
Your first bet with BetMGM is RISK FREE up to $1,000 if you follow these simple steps:
– Download the BetMGM app
– Sign up using code ATOZSPORTS
– make your first deposit
And your first bet is RISK FREE! Meaning, if your first bet loses, you get that money back in free bets. It’s a great way to jump start your bank roll at BetMGM.
The game is listed at pick 'em with the total set at 215 on the heels of the news that Paul George will miss tonight's game after testing positive for COVID.
George is a catastrophic loss for a Clippers team who is already without Kawhi Leonard. The Clips have made the playoffs in nine of the last 10 seasons which wouldn't make for much of a surprise to see the betting public side with LA.
In fact, prior to the news on George, BetMGM reported that 94 percent of the money and 80 percent of the bets are on Los Angeles. While water will surely find its level as tickets continue to roll in today, it would be a wise idea to avoid taking a side in this one.
The Bet: Pelicans @ Clippers UNDER 216
The intensity of these play-in games creates an intense environment where half-court defense is prioritized. All four of this year’s play-in matchups have gone under the total as teams tend to value possessions with elimination looming.
The Pelicans and Clippers met four times this regular season with the under going 3-1 in those contests. After missing much of the regular season due to injury, Clippers stars Paul George (elbow) and Norman Powell (shoulder) appear to still be in the process of shaking off the rust. Powell has played in just three games after missing nearly two months while PG13 has seen action in just six games since December and will be out of the lineup for the team's most important game of the season.
Furthermore, both teams rank in the NBA’s top 13 scoring defenses. Having completed the regular season knowing that they won’t have much success in a shootout seems to have mentally conditioned each team to prepare for a defensive dogfight.
The winner of tonight’s game heads to Phoenix for a best-of-seven series against the Suns where impending doom surely awaits.
Featured image courtesy of Gary A. Vasquez – USA TODAY Sports
