While the 2021-22 NBA season finished up Sunday, some of the playoff matchups are yet to be decided.
The 2022 NBA Play-In tournament tips off Tuesday night to decide which teams will get the No. 7 and 8 seeds in each conference.
The Brooklyn Nets will battle the Cleveland Cavaliers for the chance to face the No. 2 seeded Boston Celtics, while the LA Clippers take on the Minnesota Timberwolves with the winner advancing to meet the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round.
So which teams have the best chance at advancing and what are some of the best daily fantasy plays and bets for Tuesday night’s games?
Our fantasy and betting analysts give you the best intel and data to help you make smart fantasy and wagering decisions.
Odds are provided by Caesars Sportsbook
Jump ahead: Games of the night | Analytics edge
What you need to know for the Tuesday’s play-in games
by Jim McCormick
Dominant Darius: The Cavaliers might be sizable dogs in Brooklyn, but Darius Garland has all of the ingredients for a dominant statistical performance. He sports a reasonable 3-point prop of 2.5 at Caesars Sportsbook, a number he hit in the first quarter this past Sunday. Garland is also in a good spot to deliver on his assists prop at 8.5. He averaged 15.1 potential assists over his past 10 games, which ranks eighth in the NBA. Garland should see plenty of shooting and creation opportunities against an up-tempo Nets team that lacks a proven point-of-attack defender. After all, Brooklyn has allowed point guards to put up 52.1 DraftKings points per game over the past 15 games, the sixth-highest during this span.
Stock Watch: While Jarrett Allen remains sidelined, Evan Mobley should see increased rim protection and rebounding opportunities. He has a block prop of 1.5 at reasonable odds and ranks fifth in shots defended per game within six feet of the basket. Mobley has averaged a steal and three blocks over his past two games since returning from an ankle injury. Robert Covington‘s steal and stock props are also worth keeping an eye on as he ranks seventh in the league in both steal and block percentage. Covington could be an important off-ball factor on defense for the Clippers.
Anthony 3dwards: There might be a good deal of juice on Anthony Edwards‘ 3-point prop tonight (2.5), but he ranks 11th in the entire league in 3-pointers lofted this season and has hit this number from deep in 11 of his past 14 games (excluding his brief appearance in the season finale). Speaking of shooting volume, Kevin Love drained an incredible eight 3-pointers in under 15 minutes of playing time this past Sunday. Love’s 3-point props have regularly opened at 1.5 this season, a clip he’s surpassed in 15 of his past 16 games.
Games of the Night
No. 8 Cleveland Cavaliers at No. 7 Brooklyn Nets
7 p.m. ET, Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
Line: Nets (-8.5)
Moneyline: Nets (-420), Cavaliers (+320)
Total: 228.5
BPI Projected Total: 217.6
BPI Win%: Nets (71.4%)
Key players ruled out: Jarrett Allen,Ben Simmons
Tyler Fulghum breaks down why he doesn’t trust the Nets to cover the spread at home against the Cavaliers in Tuesday’s play-in game.
Notable: The Nets have failed to cover the spread in 24 of their last 26 games as home favorites.
Best bet: Kevin Durant over 47.5 points + assists + rebounds. Durant has been superb over April and has averaged 32.2 PPG, 8.4 APG, and 8.2 RPG. He should thrive against a Cleveland team that is on a late-season slide. — Eric Moody
Best bet: Darius Garland over 25.5 points. Garland had his way with the Nets this season, even as his role changed. Early in the season, when the Cavaliers were healthy and the team was built around their defensive interior, Garland averaged 23 PPG in two meetings and averaged 19.7 PPG against everyone else. After Jarrett Allen went down in March, Garland averaged 25.5 PPG but dropped 31 points in his meeting with the Nets. The Cavs will need him to score on Tuesday, and I expect him to deliver. — Andre Snellings
Best bet: Andre Drummond over 22.5 points + rebounds. Drummond has finished with a double-double in three of his past four games. He has averaged 12.3 PPG and 11.3 RPG over that span. Cleveland allows opponents to accumulate a lot of offensive rebounds. — Moody
No. 8 LA Clippers at No. 7 Minnesota Timberwolves
9:30 p.m. ET, Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Line: Timberwolves (-3.0)
Moneyline: Timberwolves (-150), Clippers (+130)
Total: 230.5
BPI Projected Total: 221.4
BPI Win%: Timberwolves (72.5%)
Key players ruled out: none
Notable: Each of the Timberwolves’ past five games has gone over the points total.
Slowing down Karl-Anthony Towns will be a big ask for the Clippers. AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King
Best bet: Karl-Anthony Towns under 27.5 points. KAT has taken a small step back as a scorer of late, in part to allow Anthony Edwards to shine. Towns has averaged 22.4 PPG over his past 10 games, going over 27.5 points only twice in that span. In his three games against the Clippers during the regular season, Towns only averaged 15.3 PPG on 42.1 FG%. — Snellings
Best bet: Karl-Anthony Towns over 42.5 points + assists + rebounds. Towns will punish the Clippers both inside and outside. L.A. allows opponents to get plenty of offensive rebounds and Towns has averaged 24.6 PPG, 3.6 APG, and 10 RPG this season. He will be well-rested and ready to play against a Clippers team that ranks seventh in PPG allowed to centers. — Moody
Best bet: Paul George over 40.5 points + assists + rebounds. George has been solid the past three games since returning from an elbow injury. He has averaged 19 PPG, 7.7 APG, and 7.3 RPG in 30.3 MPG. The Timberwolves have allowed small forwards to accumulate 22.4 PPG, 4.2 APG, and 8.15 RPG this season. Minnesota also allows opponents to shoot a high effective field goal percentage and collect plenty of offensive rebounds. — Moody
Analytics Edge
BPI highest projected totals
1. Brooklyn Nets (112.1 points)
2. Minnesota Timberwolves (111.8 points)
3. LA Clippers (109.4 points)
BPI lowest projected totals
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (105.5 points)
2. LA Clippers (109.4 points)
3. Minnesota Timberwolves (111.8 points)
BPI top probability to win (straight up)
1. Brooklyn Nets (71.4%)
2. Minnesota Timberwolves (72.5%)
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (28.6%)
