NBA In-Season Tournament Quarter-Final Preview
by Joseph King | by Joseph King
Knockout stage overview
The group stages are complete and only the top-placed teams plus the second-best teams in each conference remain. From here on out, all games are single-elimination, a big change from the format of the NBA Playoffs which sees each series contested as a best-of-seven.
It’s important to remember that all of the knockout stage games (with the exception of the final) count towards teams’ regular season records. With the added incentive of progressing in the In-Season Tournament, expect teams to place an added emphasis on these games. That means we are unlikely to see any star players rested at this stage.
Below are the quarter-final matchups. The higher-seeded team earns home court advantage for the first round. The semi-finals and final are then played at a neutral court in Las Vegas starting 7 December. You can follow all the action on our NBA Livescore page!
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QF #1: Indiana Pacers vs Boston Celtics
Spread: Celtics -4.5 1.91 / Moneyline: Celtics 1.50 / Total: 239.5 points
The Indiana Pacers come in as the surprise second seed in the East after finishing the group stage with a perfect 4-0 record and +39 points differential. It’s been an excellent season so far for the Pacers who are exceeding expectations as they sit seventh in the Eastern Conference standings with a 9-8 record. They’ll face a massive challenge however if they are to progress to the semi-finals as they meet up with the tournament favorite Boston Celtics in the first round.
The Celtics qualified for knockout rounds in dramatic fashion, needing a blowout win on the final day to better the Orlando Magic’s +22 point differential. Boston scored a 124-97 victory over the Bulls to edge out Orlando by five points. The Celtics are understandably the favorites to win this game as they currently hold the best record in the NBA at 14-4. These two teams met once earlier this season with Boston registering their third-biggest ever win in franchise history in a 155-104 demolition job.
QF #2: Sacramento Kings vs New Orleans Pelicans
Spread: Kings -4.5 1.91 / Moneyline: Kings 1.48 / Total: 232.5
The second quarter-final matchup sees the second-seeded Kings hosting the third-seed Pelicans. Sacramento topped their group with a perfect 4-0 record and a +30 points differential while New Orleans won group B with a 3-1 record. These two teams find themselves close in the Western Conference standings. The Kings are currently sixth with a 10-7 record while the Pels are eighth at 10-9.
Despite Sacramento coming in as significant favorites to get the win, New Orleans will be confident given the recent results between these two teams. The Pelicans have two wins in two games against SacTown this season, although both of those victories came on home soil. The Kings are 5-2 in their home gym so far this campaign and are starting to pick up steam with seven wins in their last 10 overall. Remember, you can head over to SportyTrader's NBA betting tips page to see the latest analysis from our experts!
QF #3: Milwaukee Bucks vs New York Knicks
Spread: Bucks -6 / Moneyline: Bucks 1.40 / Total: 222.5
The first-seed Milwaukee Bucks take on the fourth-seeded Knicks for the third quarter-final game. The Bucks topped group B with a perfect 4-0 record while accumulating the second-highest points differential total in the tournament at +46. They come into this contest as the biggest favorites of all four quarter-final matchups. Milwaukee has recovered after shaky start to the season to move up to third in the Eastern Conference with a 13-6 record.
The Knicks will have to cause a significant upset if they are to progress to the semi-finals. However, Tom Thibodeau’s hard-nosed, defense-oriented coaching style means the Knicks will always be within a shout. New York is fifth in the East standings with a 12-7 record. They faced off against the Bucks earlier in the season, losing a close 110-105 game at the Fiserv Forum.
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QF #4: LA Lakers vs Phoenix Suns
Spread: Lakers -2 / Moneyline Lakers 1.80 / Total: 223
Likely the most intriguing of the quarter-finals matchups is saved for last with the Lakers taking on the Suns at the Crypto.com Arena. The Lakers have been the most dominant team in this tournament, finishing with a 4-0 group stage record and a league high +70 points differential. That grants them home court advantage where they have been excellent so far in the regular season. Los Angeles is seventh in the West with a 11-9 record but has a stellar 7-2 mark in their home gym.
The Suns needed the Wild Card to progress after finishing second behind the Lakers with a 3-1 record and a +34 points differential. Phoenix are one of the highest potential teams in the league but injury problems may rob them of a chance at being crowned champions of the inaugural In-Season Tournament. Bradley Beat is out for at least another three weeks while Booker is listed as day-to-day as he battles niggling injuries.
Which team will lift the NBA Cup?
It’s hard to bet against either the Celtics or the Bucks as the team to come out of the East is likely going to be crowned champion. With that being said, if you’re looking for a nice value pick there does appear to be a good amount of potential in backing the Pelicans at the current price. They’ve recently got CJ McCollum back, who is vital to their success. With Zion Williamson healthy and putting up solid numbers in consistent minutes, this team has the pieces to beat most teams on their day. Keep on top of the latest odds by checking out our NBA betting odds page.
Odds to win the In-Season Tournament
- Boston Celtics - 4.00
- Milwaukee Bucks - 4.30
- Sacramento Kings - 6.00
- LA Lakers - 6.50
- Phoenix Suns - 7.00
- New Orleans Pelicans - 13.00
- Indiana Pacers - 13.00
- New York Knicks - 15.00
Odds found on bet365
