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The NBA playoffs will be set by the end of this week following the results of the league’s play-in tournament. Of the eight teams competing, who has the best shot at making a run deep into the playoffs? We’ll go through a few teams from each conference below using odds to advance to the postseason from DraftKings Sportsbook.
The Los Angeles Lakers are among the favorites to win the NBA Finals and way ahead of the rest of the play-in teams the odds market, so we’ll leave them out of this discussion.
Eastern Conference
Washington Wizards
Odds to make playoffs: -500
The Wizards are clearly among the top two teams in the East, and they would most likely face the Philadelphia 76ers in Round 1 of the NBA playoffs. Washington has a duo of offensive playmakers with Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook and if they take over, they could give whoever they play a tough test in the early rounds.
Boston Celtics
Odds to make playoffs: -625
The Celtics have been bit by the injury bug late in the regular season especially with the loss of Jayson Tatum for the rest of the year. Still, Boston has a very good chance at advancing to the NBA playoffs, though a potential matchup with the No. 2 seed Brooklyn Nets will be incredibly difficult.
Western Conference
Golden State Warriors
Odds to make playoffs: -500
Despite being in the same conference as the Lakers, Golden State has a very good chance at making it out of the play-in tournament. Even if they enter as the No. 8 seed, they could give the Utah Jazz a tough time in the opening round with the way Stephen Curry has been playing. He has led the Warriors to win six consecutive games to close out the regular season.