NBA In-Season Tournament Final picks: Best bets and more

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The NBA’s inaugural in-season tournament final tips off Saturday night between the Pacers and Lakers after they prevailed in Thursday’s semifinal tilts.

Keep reading to see our Pacers vs. Lakers NBA in-season tournament final odds, picks and predictions. Plus, check out the best NBA promo codes and bonuses:

NBA in-season tournament final picks: Lakers moneyline (-180 or better)

LeBron James and Anthony Davis form, in theory, a championship-caliber duo, and they’re familiar with winning it all as they did in the 2020 NBA Finals. Earning another Larry O’Brien Trophy will be a tall task considering the amount of regular season still to be played leading into the playoffs.

They do, however, have what it takes to fire on all cylinders for Saturday’s final and earn the game’s first ever in-season tournament hardware.

Saturday’s final is perhaps more significant to a team like the Pacers compared to the league’s heavier hitters who are eyeing the NBA Finals in June. It’s still a feather in the cap of the team that wins plus physical hardware to add to its coffers.

For the Pacers, in particular, a team not offered much respect as a true title contender, winning Saturday carries weight and serves as an organizational stepping stone.

The Lakers won each of their last three, including Thursday against the New Orleans Pelicans. Saturday’s task will be tall, but we’re bullish on James’ level of play heading into the contest. The Lakers want to keep a minutes restriction on him, but that will be out of the window with the opportunity to win a trophy.

We’ll also bank on Davis, notoriously inconsistent, to show up in what may stand as the Lakers best chance to walk away from the season with something to show for it.

NBA in-season tournament final totals props: Over 239.5 total points scored (-110 or better)

Saturday’s in-season tournament finale is essentially a juiced-up regular season affair, but with hardware at stake. It’s one thing to eschew the “hype” of the in-season tournament at the beginning of the competition. But it’s another thing to brush it off when it’s the final.

The combination of what’s at stake and the Las Vegas backdrop creates a setting where showmanship and high-level competition will co-exist.

Even though it’s a “title-winning” contest, the impartial Vegas crowd will create an atmosphere that encourages a free-flowing, uptempo style of play. Not like an NBA All-Star game necessarily, but we certainly expect a bit more of a “pick-up game” atmosphere than your everyday regular-season matchup.

Tangibly, that suggests a bit more pace and a heavier lean into the offensive side of things. The latter of those points isn’t difficult to anticipate given the mostly mediocre defensive production these teams boast.

Best NBA sportsbook apps for the In-Season Tournament Final and beyond

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Craig Williams is a Charlotte-based content creator for Catena Media, who focuses on betting content and analysis. He draws from his professional experience that spans the gaming, fantasy, and sports business industries. Craig is an avid fan of basketball, baseball, football, and soccer, though don’t try to pin him down on a favorite — the No. 1 spot is rented, not owned.