NBA Play-In Tournament Odds and Schedule: Butler, Williamson Out Friday

The Philadelphia 76ers joined the Los Angeles Lakers, punching their ticket to the 2024 playoffs with a nail-biting rock fight victory Wednesday night. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks can book Cancun charters now, being sent packing by the Chicago Bulls. NBA Play-In Tournament odds are now down to just four teams playing for the No. 8 seed in each conference.

The Bulls face the Miami Heat in tonight's early game, followed by the Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans in another sudden-death scrap.  Injury news is already beginning to shake things up, with Shams Charania reporting the Heat star Jimmy Butler suffered an MCL injury after falling awkwardly in Wednesday's loss to Philadelphia:

The expectation is Miami's Jimmy Butler will be out multiple weeks, sources said. Butler remarkably played the final three quarters vs. 76ers last night with what is now feared to be an MCL injury. https://t.co/dEDMAuuXuN

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 18, 2024

As if that weren't enough star power sapped from tonight, the Pelicans will also be without Zion Williamson, the victim of a hamstring injury. As the Heat and Pels try and rally for tonight, let's check in on NBA odds for the 2024 Play-In Tournament. 

2024 NBA Play-In Tournament odds

NBA Play-In Tournament schedule

The 2024 Play-In Tournament began April 16, with the initial 7 vs. 8 and 9 vs. 10 matchups for the Western Conference, with an arena availability conflict forcing both East matchups to Wednesday. The ensuing games (see below for format) will take place tonight, April 19, with matchups now set following the opening round.

Date	Matchup (time ET)
April 16	Los Angeles Lakers defeat New Orleans Pelicans (7:30 p.m.)
April 16	Sacramento Kings defeat Golden State Warriors  (10:00 p.m.)
April 17	Philadelphia 76ers defeat Miami Heat (7 p.m.)
April 17	Chicago Bulls defeat Atlanta Hawks (9:30 p.m.)
April 19	Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat (7 p.m.)
April 19	Sacramento Kings vs. New Orleans Pelicans (9:30 p.m.)

What is the NBA Play-In Tournament?

The NBA Play-In Tournament is a relatively new wrinkle in the league's playoff format. Instead of the Top 8 teams all being guaranteed playoff spots, the 7-through-10 seeds in each conference are entered into a mini-tournament, taking place shortly after the regular season's conclusion, determining the East and West's final two playoff spots. 

NBA Play-In Tournament format

Here's how the Play-In Tournament works:

For each conference, the 7 and 8-seeds earn double-elimination status and play each other, while the 9 and 10-seeds play in a single-elimination game. The winner of the 7-8 game earns the No. 7 seed, while the loser of the 7-8 game then plays the winner of the 9-10 games for the No. 8 seed.

From there, the playoffs begin in earnest, following the traditional bracket format. 

When was the NBA Play-In Tournament introduced?

The Play-In Tournament was introduced, in a beta concept form, for the 2020 season as part of the league's plans for a bubble re-launch during the heights of the COVID-19 pandemic — originally just with the 8 and 9-seeds playing. 

After positive initial impressions from both fans and media, the Play-In Tournament was expanded to its current format and introduced, however unideal the timing, for a 2020-21 season that was already marred by pandemic absences and injuries.

NBA Play-In Tournament trends

• 2023 marked the first upsets in the opening round of games, with the lower seed taking three of the four games.
  
  
• 2023 was fruitful for the eventual success of play-in teams, with the 7-seed Los Angeles Lakers going on a run to the Western Conference Finals, and the 8-seed Miami Heat making it all the way to the NBA Finals. 

NBA Play-In Tournament Odds FAQ

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