2023 NBA Apr 18 Betting Predictions
The NBA playoffs continue on Thursday with the East Play-In Tournament. It starts with a mouthwatering clash between the Joel Embiid and Jimmy Butler in Philadelphia.
Miami Heat (8th) at Philadelphia 76ers (7th)
The Heat closed out the regular season with impressive wins over the Raptors, clinching victories by 15 and 22 points respectively. They choose to rest their starters in those games. So they come into this crucial matchup against the 76ers with fresh legs, aiming to secure the 7th seed and take down the Knicks again. Jimmy Butler, a playoff powerhouse, is poised to lead the charge, especially as he faces off against his former team. The Heat have a solid track record on the road, winning 7 of their last 10 away games and holding a 3-2 edge in the season series against the 76ers. They'll be missing Terry Rozier and Duncan Robinson's availability remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, the 76ers are entering the playoffs on a high note with an impressive 9-game winning streak. This streak includes five consecutive wins since Joel Embiid returned from injury. The reigning MVP has been dominant, averaging 30 points and 9 rebounds per game in just over 30 minutes of play. In their last five games, the 76ers have been scoring an average of 120.2 points while allowing only 104.6 points against them. Tyrese Maxey has been a standout performer against the Heat, dropping 37 points in their last meeting and consistently scoring over 30 points in their recent matchups. Additionally, the 76ers have secured victories in their last three home games.
Tyrese Maxey has scored 26+ points in all of his last 6 home games and also has a good shooting record against the Heat.
Stadium Record
Philadelphia holds a 4-1 record in their last 5 home games. Miami has also won 4 of their last 5 in Philly.
Head to Head Record
The Heat hold a 6-4 advantage in the last 10 meetings.
Best Bet
Player points - T. Maxey 25+ = $1.82
Atlanta Hawks (10th) at Chicago Bulls (9th)
The Hawks head into the playoffs with a bit of a rough patch with a concerning six-game losing streak. However, they've got Trae Young back on the court after his absence throughout March due to injury. Defence seems to be a key area needing improvement as they've been allowing an average of 128 points per game in their last five outings. Despite their recent struggles, they did manage to clinch a victory in their previous meeting in Chicago two weeks ago, with a final score of 113-101. Their record on the road hasn't been stellar though, going 3-7 in their last ten away games and 1-4 in their last five. To make matters worse, they're dealing with significant injuries, including Saddiq Bey out for the season with a knee injury, Onyeka Okongwu with a toe injury and Jalen Johnson also out due to an ankle issue.
On the other hand, the Bulls have had a roller-coaster season, largely due to key injuries plaguing their lineup. They've managed a 2-3 record in their last five games, with standout performances from DeMar DeRozan, who dropped 30 points in their last game against the Knicks and Nikola Vucevic contributed 29 points as well. Their home record stands at 4-6 in their last ten matchups. In terms of scoring, they've been fairly consistent, averaging 118 points for and against in their last five games. However, they're facing their own injury concerns, with Andre Drummond listed as questionable, Zach LaVine out for the season with an ankle injury, Lonzo Ball also out for the season. Patrick Williams is sidelined for the season with a foot injury and Ayo Dosunmu is marked as questionable.
The Bulls are 4-1 against the Over and the Hawks love a high scoring game with little defence, the Over is 12-3 in their last 15.
Stadium Record
Chicago are 4-6 in their last 10 at home. Atlanta are 2-2 in their last 4.
Head to Head Record
In the last 10, the Bulls are 6-4.
Best Bet
