The NBA Play-In Tournament is halfway through, with the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks set to clash on Friday night in their Eastern and Western Conference matchups. FanDuel has Miami as a slight favorite against Atlanta Hawks, while Dallas is a 6.5-point favorite against the Kings.
A comparison of fan poll results from earlier in the week reveals that fans are more optimistic about certain teams’ chances than bookmakers. In the Eastern Conference, the Magic are favored to emerge from the Play-In, but not as strongly as expected. Meanwhile, in the Western Conference, Dallas is a surprise favorite heading into its game against Memphis.
Other matchups also show mixed results between fan polls and betting odds. The Pacers are favored over the Bucks despite being tied in fan votes, while the Knicks are heavily favored against the Pistons, with many fans underestimating the latter team.
The Clippers’ series against Kawhi Leonard’s Clippers and Nikola Jokic’s Lakers is expected to be competitive, with the two teams currently at odds of -118 and -194 respectively. Ultimately, the outcome will depend on game-by-game performances.
Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2025/4/17/24410329/sb-reacts-who-will-advance-in-the-nba-play-in-and-beyond