NBA Play-In Continues

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Zach Beier & Chubbs Scheffler
April 14, 2023

Good morning,

Let’s dive in…

Developing Stories 📰

Game 1: Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat 7:00 PM E.T.

The Chicago Bulls travel to South Beach to play the Miami Heat in the Play-In Tournament at Kaseya Center on Friday. This is the final Play-In game in the Eastern Conference. The loser will go home, and the winner will be the eight-seed in the east. They'll play the Milwaukee Bucks in the opening round of the playoffs. The Bulls pulled off a huge upset in their first Play-In game, grabbing a road win against the Toronto Raptors. Zach Lavine was the hero in that victory, scoring 35 points in the second half to cap off a 39-point gem. They also trailed by nearly 20 points at times in that comeback, with the Raptors missing numerous critical free-throws in the fourth quarter of that game. The Heat had a rough showing in their opening Play-In game, losing at home to the Atlanta Hawks. They trailed by 25 points in the first half and simply dug too deep of a hole to get out of. It was nice to see Kyle Lowry play so well, though, providing 33 points, four rebounds and five assists off the bench. They've been waiting to see Lowry play like that for months, and it's bizarre it happened in their most critical defeat of the season. Jimmy Butler really let them down, shooting 6-of-19 from the field. If he does that again, Miami might not last much longer. Chicago dominated the season series, winning all three matchups with Miami.

Game 2 : Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Minnesota Timberwolves 9:30 PM E.T.

The Minnesota Timberwolves play host to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Play-In Tournament at Target Center on Friday evening. The Timberwolves won the season series against the Thunder, 3-1, with one win at home and two on the road. The Timberwolves finished the regular season with the eighth spot in the West but lost their first Play-In Game and now must fight to retain possession of the final playoff spot. They continue to manage injury trouble, as Jaylen Nowell (knee), Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) and Rudy Gobert (back) are listed as questionable for action, while Jaden McDaniels (hand) and Naz Reid (wrist) will remain out. Towns led the team with 24 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three blocks in the last game, while Mike Conley totaled 23 points, four rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block. Anthony Edwards had just nine points but added eight rebounds, five assists, three blocks and a steal, in the loss. Meanwhile, the Thunder finished 10th place in the West and came up with a hard-fought win over the Pelicans in their first Play-In Game, earning themselves a shot at stealing the eighth seed. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued his dominant play, with 32 points, five rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block, in 41 minutes of action in the win. Josh Giddey added 31 points, nine rebounds, 10 assists and a block, while Luguentz Dort delivered 27 points, five rebounds and a block. The Thunder have momentum in their favor, coming off three consecutive wins, and they will be looking to make a statement in Minnesota.

Headlines 🚨

On this day in Sports History: 2002 66th US Masters Champion Tiger Woods becomes the 3rd player to claim back-to-back Masters, 3 strokes ahead of Retief Goosen.

Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins has been cleared to play in Game 1 of the team's first-round series against the Sacramento Kings.

Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant has filed a countersuit against the teenager suing the two-time All-Star, accusing the teen of slander, battery and assault over a pickup basketball game at Morant's home last July.

Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown has been voted the National Basketball Coaches Association's Coach of the Year; the organization announced Thursday.

The Tampa Bay Rays tied the MLB record with a perfect 13-0 start.

Philadelphia’s Bryce Harper is working out at first base in an attempt to speed his recovery from Tommy John surgery.

Washington Commanders Owners Dan and Tanya Snyder have reached a preliminary nonexclusive agreement to sell the NFL franchise for a record $6.05 billion.

Saqoun Barkley does not plan to sign his franchise tender before the team's offseason program begins Monday.

UConn star Adama Sanogo plans to enter the NBA draft, he announced on social media Thursday.

After missing the playoffs for the first time in their short franchise history last year, the Vegas Golden Knights wanted to savor this Pacific Division title.

Trends 📈📉 via Oddsshark

🏀 Bulls at Heat

  • Chicago is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games on the road

  • Chicago is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games on the road

  • The total has gone OVER in 7 of Miami's last 8 games at home

  • The total has gone OVER in 5 of Miami's last 6 games

🏀 Thunder at Timberwolves

  • Oklahoma City is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Minnesota

  • The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Oklahoma City's last 6 games when playing on the road against Minnesota

  • Minnesota is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing Oklahoma City

⚾️ Phillies at Reds

  • The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Philadelphia's last 5 games when playing Cincinnati

  • The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Philadelphia's last 5 games on the road

  • Cincinnati is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games

  • Cincinnati is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home

⚾️ Giants at Tigers

  • The total has gone UNDER in 5 of San Francisco's last 5 games when playing on the road against Detroit

  • The total has gone UNDER in 7 of San Francisco's last 8 games when playing Detroit

⚾️ Diamondbacks at Marlins

  • Arizona is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Miami

  • The total has gone OVER in 5 of Arizona's last 6 games when playing Miami

  • The total has gone OVER in 5 of Miami's last 6 games when playing Arizona

  • The total has gone OVER in 5 of Miami's last 7 games when playing at home against Arizona

⚾️ Twins at Yankees

  • Minnesota is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games on the road

  • The total has gone OVER in 5 of Minnesota's last 6 games when playing on the road against NY Yankees

  • NY Yankees is 19-3 SU in its last 22 games when playing at home against Minnesota

⚾️ Guardians at Nationals

  • Cleveland is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road

  • The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland's last 5 games when playing on the road against Washington

  • Washington is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games

  • Washington is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Cleveland

⚾️ Rays at Blue Jays

  • Tampa Bay is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road

  • Tampa Bay is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games

  • The total has gone OVER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games when playing Tampa Bay

  • Toronto is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games

⚾️ Angels at Red Sox

  • LA Angels is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Boston

  • LA Angels is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road

  • The total has gone OVER in 5 of Boston's last 7 games at home

  • The total has gone OVER in 5 of Boston's last 7 games

⚾️ Orioles at White Sox

  • The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Baltimore's last 5 games when playing on the road against Chi White Sox

  • Baltimore is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Chi White Sox

  • The total has gone OVER in 5 of Chi White Sox's last 5 games at home

⚾️ Rangers at Astros

  • The total has gone OVER in 5 of Texas's last 5 games

  • Texas is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Houston

  • The total has gone OVER in 5 of Houston's last 5 games at home

  • Houston is 17-3 SU in its last 20 games when playing at home against Texas

⚾️ Braves at Royals

  • Atlanta is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road

  • Atlanta is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road

  • Kansas City is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Atlanta

  • Kansas City is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Atlanta

⚾️ Pirates at Cardinals

  • Pittsburgh is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing St. Louis

  • The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Pittsburgh's last 6 games on the road

  • The total has gone UNDER in 8 of St. Louis's last 9 games

  • The total has gone OVER in 4 of St. Louis's last 6 games when playing Pittsburgh

⚾️ Mets at Athletics

  • The total has gone OVER in 5 of NY Mets's last 5 games when playing on the road against Oakland

  • The total has gone OVER in 9 of NY Mets's last 10 games when playing Oakland

⚾️ Brewers at Padres

  • Milwaukee is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against San Diego

  • The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Milwaukee's last 5 games when playing on the road against San Diego

  • The total has gone UNDER in 6 of San Diego's last 7 games

⚾️ Cubs at Dodgers

  • Chi Cubs is 11-4 ATS in its last 15 games on the road

  • Chi Cubs is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games

  • LA Dodgers is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Chi Cubs

  • LA Dodgers is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Chi Cubs

⚾️ Rockies at Mariners

  • Colorado is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Seattle

  • The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Seattle's last 6 games when playing Colorado

  • The total has gone OVER in 4 of Seattle's last 6 games at home

Public Money 🤑 via VSiN at 9AMCT

⚾️ MLB

56% of bets and 78% of money is on PHI -1.5 +110

49% of bets and 75% of money is on OVER 9 ATL at KC

38% of bets and 62% of money is on LAA -1.5 +135

36% of bets and 57% of money is on BAL -1.5 +145

46% of bets and 75% of money is on STL -1.5 +120

51% of bets and 86% of money is on OVER 9 PIT at STL

46% of bets and 75% of money is on SD -1.5 +125

Future Odds 🔮 via Bovada Sportsbook

Injury Report 🏥 via ESPN

MIA (SG) Jimmy Butler | Probable - Personal

MIA (F) Nikola Jovic | Out - Back

MIA (PG) Kyle Lowry | Questionable - Knee

MIA (PG) Gabe Vincent | Probable - Back

MIN (C) Rudy Gobert | Questionable - Back

MIN (SG) Jaylen Nowell | Questionable - Knee

MIN (C) Karl-Anthony Towns | Questionable - Calf

OKC (F) Aleksej Pokusevski | Out - Knee

Weekend Picks 🔒

Chicago Bulls +5.5 | Bulls also finished the season fifth in defensive rating, while Miami was 25th in offensive rating and the lowest scoring team in the NBA. The Heat are 31-49-2 against the spread and the books keep overvaluing them.

Thunder +5.5 | OKC is now 20-11-3 against the spread as a road dog this season. Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Josh Giddey and Lu Dort all played terrific basketball against the Pelicans, with Giddey and SGA both scoring over 30 points. With McDaniels out, the team is going to rely on Edwards and Taurean Prince for wing defense. Gobert may keep the Thunder out of the paint at times, but OKC may also go small to try and play him off the floor.