2023 NBA In-Season Tournament Semifinals Odds: The Final Four
Not Quite the Final Four You Expected But You Love To See It
NBA In-Season Tourney Odds Could Lead to More Upsets
We said to take the NBA In-Season Tournament odds with a grain of salt. And the first round exposed a pair of upsets. We have a“Final Four” without the Boston Celtics, one of the favorites to win. That’s thanks to the Indiana Pacers, who are promising underdogs given how they’ve played. They are, once again, sizable dogs when we look at the NBA In-Season Tournament semifinals odds. But it’s better this way.
NBA In-Season Tournament: Quarterfinals Review
The Pacers took those NBA scores and odds and crammed them down the Celtics’ throats. Indiana upset Boston as a 4.5-point underdog, beating them 122-12 to become the first to advance to the semifinals. On the same day, Monday, the New Orleans Pelicans upset the Sacramento Kings. The Pels were three-point underdogs but won by a similar margin.
Meeting them are the Milwaukee Bucks, the co-favorites with Boston on the outright odds, and the Los Angeles Lakers, respectively. Unlike Monday, the Bucks and Lakers won and covered their NBA spreads as favorites. Now, the semifinals are set:
Semifinals
- Thu., Dec. 7:
Indiana Pacers vs. Milwaukee Bucks 
(5 p.m. ET) (on ESPN) - Thu., Dec. 7:
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Los Angeles Lakers 
(9 p.m. ET) (on TNT)
The Final Four: The NBA In-Season Tournament Semifinals Preview
With the In-Season Tournament down to four teams, the updated NBA In-Season Tournament semifinals odds keep Milwaukee with the shortest line to win it all. The Pelicans are third and the Pacers now have the longest odds:
- Milwaukee Bucks: +175
- Los Angeles Lakers: +225
- New Orleans Pelicans: +375
- Indiana Pacers: +450
The Bucks are favored by 4.5 points against the Pacers with a whopping total of 254.5 points. The Pacers beat Boston with a total of 234, 11 under their total. This team is averaging the most points (128.4) and giving up the most (125.2). That’s why 14 of its last 16 games have exceeded the total.
Likewise, five of the Bucks’ last six games have gone over the total. This team is also putting up 121.1 points per game (third overall). It is now hitting a stride and is 8-3 against the spread (ATS) in its last 11 games.
The Lakers are ever-so-slight favorites against the Pelicans. Los Angeles opened as a 2.5-point favorite but this has been cut down to just a point. The total is at 230. Six of the Lakers’ last seven conference games have gone under the total. This team is giving up just 106.9 points at home (sixth) but 114 on the road (17th). It plays in a neutral court this Thursday.
New Orleans has taken action due to its sterling record as an underdog: 9-3-1 ATS as one. It hardly is one now on the NBA In-Season Tournament semifinals odds. With just a one-point spread, it will need to win to cover.
Tournament MVPs: A Free-For-All
Good luck making NBA predictions on who the In-Season Tournament’s MVP is going to be. Most likely, the player will come from the champion. As such, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard have the shortest odds at +450. The Lakers’ LeBron James joins them. And a bit behind is James’s sidekick, Anthony Davis at +800.
But you can kiss these bets goodbye if their teams are eliminated. That’s why Tyrese Haliburton of Indiana and Brandon Ingram of New Orleans have taken action and have lines reduced to +450. Haliburton may even win the award if he puts up another ridiculous line: a 26-point triple-double with zero turnovers. He’s far and away the best player on his team.
As for Ingram, he led the Pelicans with 30 points over Sacramento. Zion Williamson, the team’s superstar, was relatively quiet. But a big game from him could swing the odds. Thus, at 14-1, he’s not the worst bet.
For NBA betting news, analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
