The playoff race in the NBA is getting tight, and several teams in the Western Conference are wilting under the pressure. The fifth-place L.A. Clippers are just four games ahead of the 11th-place Dallas Mavericks, as most teams have three or four games remaining on their regular-season slate. The Mavericks have played pathetic basketball over the last month, dropping 10 of 13 to slide from fifth place all the way out of the play-in tournament at this point. Tenth-place Oklahoma City holds the tiebreaker over Dallas, so the Mavericks would need to gain two games on the Thunder over that stretch to leapfrog them and get into the play-in. In the Eastern Conference, things are a bit more set, although the four teams in the play-in could do some more shuffling over the last few games of the season. Let’s take a look at some playoff predictions that could influence your NBA Playoffs betting choices.
NBA News: Playoff Predictions
The Mavericks miss out on the playoffs
This would be a stunning outcome after Dallas advanced to the Western Conference Finals a season ago. However, their three-game losing streak, including a 132-130 overtime loss in Atlanta in their last action, has them on the wrong side of the Thunder. If Golden State can beat Oklahoma City on Tuesday, then Dallas would have more of a chance. The Mavericks finish at home against Sacramento, Chicago and San Antonio. The Kings already have a playoff berth clinched, and the Bulls have been a tough opponent for Dallas in recent seasons. The teams above Dallas (Minnesota, New Orleans and Oklahoma City) have also struggled lately, but rumors emerging about Dallas possibly shutting down Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving for the rest of the season, combined with the shoddy defense Dallas has played since the trade that brought Irving to town, should let the betting public know that the team is not in a place to turn things around and start playing respectable basketball.
The Lakers escape the play-in
The Lakers currently sit in seventh place but are just a half-game back of Golden State and the Clippers. The Lakers visit Utah on Tuesday and play the Clippers on Wednesday, and they finish with Phoenix and Utah at home. Winning all four of those games would give the Lakers a top-six seed and safety from the play-in tournament. The Clippers still don’t have Paul George, while the Lakers have both LeBron and AD back at full strength. It seems like we’ve been hearing about the demise of the Lakers all season, but they look to be peaking at the right time. Could they make a deep run?
The Celtics advance to the NBA Finals
Three teams have emerged as the elite contenders in the Eastern Conference – Milwaukee, Boston and Philadelphia. The 76ers are benefiting from strong play from both Joel Embiid and James Harden, and the Bucks have a healthy Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, as well as their supporting cast. The Celtics, though, look to be a level higher than the other two behind Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. They just beat Milwaukee by 41 points on the road without Robert Williams or Al Horford. The 76ers have a way of fading under the pressure of the playoffs, and it is possible to play the Bucks physically and see them back off and not play their usual level of defense. I see Boston coming through despite their 2-seed and clearing the field to face…Golden State? Denver? The Lakers?
NBA’s Top 20 Dunks of Week 24
Bet NBA Today
Xbet Betting Lines for the Game
NBA Betting Odds
Love betting NBA basketball? | Xbet Sportsbook offers up to date NBA lines
