The last two play-in games take place on Friday night to determine the eighth seed in both conferences. The NBA Playoffs will officially start on Saturday, April 16. First, the Hawks and Cavaliers tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. The winner will take on the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs. This game is followed up by a Western conference showdown between the Clippers and Pelicans in Los Angeles. The winner of this matchup will have a chance to take on the Phoenix Suns in Round 1. Let’s dive into the best NBA bets today, picks and NBA betting tips for Friday, April 15.
Best NBA Bets Today: Game Tips & Betting Predictions
Pelicans vs. Clippers Best Bet
The New Orleans Pelicans are coming off a big win at home against the Spurs to get one step closer to securing a playoff spot. C.J. McCollum balled out with 32 points on 12 for 23 shooting in their win. The Clippers will try to fight off elimination after getting defeated by the Timberwolves 109-104 in their play-in game for the No. 7 seed. The Pelicans are 3-1 on the season vs. the Clippers, but Los Angeles won their most recent battle 119-100 on April 3 with Paul George in the lineup. However, George has been ruled out tonight. Can Los Angeles defend their home court to clinch the last spot in the West anyway?
Brandon Ingram and McCollum continue to win games for the Pelicans. The duo is 9-2 in their last 11 games on the court together and are coming off a combined 59 points in their win against the Timberwolves on Wednesday. Jonas Valanciunas had a quality game finishing with 22 points and 14 rebounds. McCollum is averaging 25.2 points since arriving in New Orleans. The Pelicans are playing well since the All-Star break, ranking top 10 in offensive and defensive rating. McCollum should help relieve some of the pressure off Ingram and continue to put up high scoring numbers. The Pelicans are averaging 109.3 points per game on 45.8% shooting and allowing 110.2 points to opponents.
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The Clippers made it hard for themselves in their latest outing vs. Minnesota where they committed 17 turnovers. Their season could be over if they repeat the same mistakes against the Pelicans in tonight’s matchup. New Orleans ranks top 10 in opponent turnovers and steals per game, so they will be looking for every turnover opportunity to force mistakes and create fast break opportunities. The Pelicans also rank sixth in the league in fast break points per game with 14.2. Luke Kennard is questionable to play on Friday night due to a hamstring injury. He was held out of their game against Minnesota in hopes that he could play in this win-or-go home scenario. Los Angeles is averaging 108.4 points per game on 45.8% shooting and allowing 108.4 points to opponents.
This game features high quality scorers on both sides of the ball. The Clippers and Pelicans both rank top 10 in offensive rating over the last 10 games. . The Clippers were able to take advantage of the Pelicans’ weak perimeter defense in their last outing, draining 21 3-pointers with the game total finishing at 219 points. While it will be tough for the Clippers to drain 20-plus 3-pointers against the Pelicans once again, Los Angeles has proven to step up their offensive production. The Clippers total is averaging 232.5 since the return of George, with every game but one finishing over 215 points. However, George’s absence may have significant impact on their production tonight. New Orleans’ offensive production will be important in contributing to this over, but this is one of the lowest totals a Pelicans game has been in a while. Anticipate both teams scoring near 110 points in what should be a close finish. Bet the over with confidence in Friday night’s do-or-die affair.
Best NBA Bet for Today’s Game: Total Over 215 Points
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