NBA Tuesday In-Season Tournament quarterfinals best bets
NBA executives must be smiling from ear to ear in their New York headquarters knowing the In-Season Tournament has been a huge success. The games - particularly last night's quarterfinal bouts - have increased intensity and playoff-like atmospheres.
We can only hope Tuesday night's matchups follow a similar blueprint with a trip to Las Vegas on the line. We have a loaded card. Here are our best bets:
Donte DiVincenzo: Over 1.5 threes
Donte DiVincenzo is a 3-point specialist and plays a key part in New York's improving offense that ranks seventh in 3-point percentage.
DiVincenzo is shooting 43% from three and earning more playing time because of his hot hand. He made seven threes on 10 attempts in the Knicks' last game against the Raptors. He's averaging 2.3 3-point makes per game in 20 minutes of action a night. Just over 70% of DiVincenzo's field-goal attempts are 3-point shots. He rarely scores anywhere in front of the arc.
If DiVincenzo's going to contribute to the Knicks' effort Tuesday, it'll be with 3-pointers. It's also somewhat of a homecoming for the sharpshooter. He played his first three-and-a-half seasons in Milwaukee.
Odds: -130 (playable to -140)
Jalen Brunson: Over 25.5 points
Jalen Brunson will be the one carrying the Knicks if they advance to the semifinals, and I think New York has a good shot to win Tuesday as 4.5-point underdogs. Brunson dropped 45 points against the Bucks the first time the teams met on Nov. 3.
Milwaukee's defense is improving, but it's still in the bottom third of the league. It especially struggles to stop guards from penetrating, which Brunson excels at. The Bucks are allowing the sixth-most points to point guards this season.
He's scored at least 25 points in five of his last eight games. And last season's playoffs proved that Brunson's better under the bright lights. This is as big a regular-season moment as a team or player will find.
Odds: -120 (playable to -140)
Mitchell Robinson: Over 9.5 rebounds
Mitchell Robinson's rebounding numbers have slightly slipped since his historic start to the campaign. However, he's still averaging 10.7 boards per game.
The Bucks rank in the bottom half of the league in rebounding percentage. Robinson grabbed 15 boards when these teams met a month ago. He's also collected double-digit rebounds in four of the last seven contests.
Odds: -125 (playable to -140)
Suns @ Lakers (-1.5, O/U 228.5)
The Suns look like legitimate championship contenders when Devin Booker and Kevin Durant play together. Phoenix is 7-2 with both superstars in the lineup. Booker's shined in his new role as the primary ball handler and defacto point guard. He - and Durant - are still unstoppable scorers.
The Lakers are 12-9 and have been inconsistent all season despite currently being in the playoff picture. Los Angeles' supporting cast is lackluster and not talented enough for the Lakers to be considered contenders. They rely too much on an aging LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who's dominant when he feels like it.
The Lakers beat up on bad teams and lose to good ones. The Thunder and Sixers blew them out in the last couple of weeks. The Suns are the better team and are an easy call as underdogs.
Pick: Suns +1.5
Eric Gordon: Over 2.5 threes and under 2.5 assists
Eric Gordon is a knockdown 3-point shooter. He's shooting 41% from three on the season and 47% over his last 10 games. When Booker and Durant are playing, Gordon typically stands in the corners or wings in a spot-up position. Those two command so much attention that it frees up Gordon for open looks.
He's had to assume some playmaking responsibilities when Booker's been out of the lineup. However, that's not his role when Booker plays.
Gordon's hit at least three threes in eight of his last 10 games. He's averaging two assists in his previous four contests.
Odds: -125 (playable to -140) and -125 (playable to -130)
Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @soshtry for more betting coverage.