NBA Play-in Tournament Predictions Favor Lakers to Qualify

The regular season of the 2020-21 NBA season ended this weekend. Which also means the start of the new Play-in tournament for teams finishing between the 7th and 10th places. Surprisingly we can find the defending champions, Los Angeles Lakers in these teams fighting for a play-off place. They should win though against GS Warriors according to the NBA Play-in tournament predictions. Let’s see the favorites for all games. 

The Play-in tournament will take place for the first time in the sport’s history between the 18th and 21st of May. Teams finishing between the 7th and 10th place in each conference at the end of the regular season will take part in the tournament. And fight for the remaining last two play-off places. The 7th and 8th-place finishers play against each other first, with the winner automatically qualifying. The loser of this tie has another chance though. Against the winner of the other tie where the 9th and 10th-place teams play. To many fans’ surprise we can find a really big team among the participating teams. The defending champions Los Angeles Lakers who only finished 7th in the Western Conference. Just like the Boston Celtics in he Eastern Conference who will meet the Washington Wizards on Tuesday.

NBA Play-in tournament predictions slightly favor Celtics overs Wizards

Boston Celtics finished 7th in the Eastern Conference with a 36-36 record which is a poor result from the 2020 Conference finalists. This season Brad Stevens’ team wasn’t convincing and has been struggling with injuries. Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker can lead the team now which will have the home advantage. But they will face a very tough opponent in the Washington Wizards. Who started the season in a rubbish form but picked up good results in the second half. Thanks to great performances from Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook. Online sportsbooks in the US, like Intertops predict a tight game between them with similar odds for both teams’ victory.

In the other game on Tuesday the 10th-place Charlotte Hornets will face the Indiana Pacers. With the loser being eliminated from the further part of the season. While the winner will meet the loser of the Celtics vs Wizards game. Both teams miss key players from their squads, like Gordon Hayward, the second best scorer of Hornets. Defensive center Myles Turner won’t be playing for Pacers either. But they have Domantas Sabonis, who averaged at least 20 points all season. And can play a key part in a win over the home team as suggested by the NBA Play-in tournament predictions.

Lakers should win against Warriors

The Los Angeles Lakers only finished 7th in the regular season with a 42-30 record. LeBron James got injured in the last game and might miss the play-in game. With Anthony Davis, Andre Drummond and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope being also in the team, the Lakers still have a great line. But Stephen Curry can also lead his team, Golden State Warriors to victory. The 33-year-old point guard won the 2020-21 NBA scoring title and became the oldest player to do so since Michael Jordan’s win. Along with his younger teammates, Curry might surprise the champions. Online gambling sites in the US favor the Lakers though to win this tie.

While in the San Antonio Spurs vs Memphis Grizzlies game the guests have the smaller odds for the victory. The Grizzlies are full of young players who can be NBA’s future superstars. Like Ja Morant or Jaren Jackson Jr, who had to miss last season due to a knee injury. Now his team can reach the playoff again following their latest appearance in the 2016-17 season. But they will need two consecutive wins to achieve it. And even the first one won’t be easy against Spurs. Who didn’t qualify for the playoffs last season for the first time in over two decades. So now Gregg Popovich’s team will surely aim to return there. And their center, Jakob Poeltl can help to achieve it with a good play.

You can discover more about Intertops Sportsbook here.