Category Archives: Sportsbook

Conference Tournaments are in full swing, and we are just three days away from Selection Sunday. We are into the thick of this great week and some of the major conferences have just four teams left fighting for the championship. The Big East Tournament is one of those conferences beginning their semifinals and it is a stacked lineup with all four of the top seeds still standing.

DraftKings Sportsbook is one of the biggest names in the sports wagering market and they are offering all new users a chance at 40/1 odds thats Bet $5 Win $200. All new users at DraftKings need to do is wager $5 on any college basketball teams money line and if that team wins regardless of the odds, you win $200. Watch some of the biggest games of the day and head to DraftKings Sportsbook for your wagering needs.

Bet $5 To $200 on March Madness

The first semifinal begins at 6:30 p.m. with the Creighton Bluejays, the fourth seed, battle the top seed Providence Friars for a spot in the championship game. Creighton advanced to the semis with a 74-63 win over Marquette. The Bluejays shot 41.2% (7-17) from three and allowed Marquette to make nine of their 28 free throws, a 32.1% clip. Providence just snuck by Butler and advanced with a 65-61 win. The Friars shot just 24.0% (6-25) from beyond the arc and held Butler to 15.8% (3-19). I like Creighton to pull off the upset.

The game of the day, in any conference tournament, is the second Big East semifinal when the UConn Huskies battle the Villanova Wildcats. UConn beat Seton Hall 62-52 to advance to the semis. The Huskies shot 36.8% (7-19) from three and allowed Seton Hall to shoot 30.0% (6-20). Villanova needed a last second free throw to beat St. Johns 66-65. The Wildcats shot 31.0% (9-29) from beyond the arc and held St. Johns to 21.1% (4-19). UConn gets it done Friday night.

Bet $5+ On College Basketball Pre-game Moneyline And Win $200 In Free Bets If Your Team Wins

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DraftKings Sportsbook Promo Code Gets You Bet $5 Win $200 On The Madness! - ATS.io

Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, and PointsBet all announced by last Thursday that they would not take bets on sports leagues or events in Russia or Belarus.

Last Updated: Mar 8, 2022 10:51 AM ET Read Time: 2 min

The sports-betting worlds response to Russias February 24 invasion of Ukraine now includes several bookmakers and at least one state slapping a wagering ban on markets connected to the attacker.

Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, and PointsBet all announced by last Thursday that they would not take bets on sports leagues or events in Russia or Belarus.

DraftKings was the first, with the Boston-based company posting word of their betting ban on Twitter Thursday afternoon. The bookmaker said the prohibition not only applied to its business-to-consumer operations but to its business-to-business companies as well. One of those is SBTech, which DraftKings acquired two years ago and which has an office in Kyiv, Ukraine.

FanDuel followed suit with a similar ban shortly after DraftKings announcement. PointsBet announced its decision late Thursday afternoon and Caesars confirmed its decision to ban wagers on leagues and events in Russia and Belarus by Thursday evening.

Though no other legal sportsbook operator in the United States formally announced a Russian ban, BetMGM, BetRivers, FOX Bet, Tipico, and Unibet did not have any type of Russian markets available as of Monday afternoon.

The sportsbooks were joined by the state of Colorado, whose Division of Gaming put out a news release late Friday stating they had instructed licensed sports betting operators in the state that no wagers are to be accepted on sporting events involving the Russian and Belarussian governing bodies, leagues, teams, or players from those countries until further notice.

On Monday morning, Genius Sports joined the other entities. Genius, which provides sports betting data and technology, posted on its Twitter account that it was ceasing all commercial operations in Russia and Belarus.

Belarus has been accused of being an accomplice in the conflict by providing staging areas for Russias military to invade Ukraine.

One sport likely to be affected by the ban could be table tennis. The sport has increased in popularity the last two years, which has been attributed to it being one of the few that wasnt canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Colorado recently announced its handle for January and reported table tennis was eighth in money bet with $7.6 million wagered.

The biggest loser, however, could be the Kontinental Hockey League. The KHL is Russias biggest sports league and its hockey games are routinely posted on U.S. sportsbook sites.

Several athletes from Russia and Belarus have also been affected by the ban. The Winter Paralympics in Beijing announced last week it would not allow participants from the two countries to compete.

Other sports facing fallout from the blockade by online sportsbooks in the U.S. include curling, gymnastics, badminton, field hockey, and track and field.

Whats more, Formula 1 announced it was suspending the Russian Grand Prix, which was scheduled for September 27. The Haas racing team also announced they had terminated the contract of Russian Formula 1 driver Nikita Mazepin.

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Russian Betting Ban Spreads to Multiple Sportsbooks and One Whole State - Covers

Oct 21, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) skates on the ice after defeating the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

When Connor McDavid was the first player chosen in the 2015 NHL entry draft, he was viewed as someone who could change the game, and hes doing just that by joining BetMGM as a brand ambassador.

The Edmonton Oilers captain is the first active athlete to sign to represent a North American sports betting site.

I am very excited to partner with BetMGM as they continue to shape the future of sports betting, McDavid said in a release announcing the move. Its also a real honor to be on the same BetMGM team with star athletes like Wayne GretzkyandKevin Garnett, both of whom I admire very much.

Gretzky joined BetMGM last year as a brand ambassador. The Great One captained the Oilers to four Stanley Cups. He is the NHLs all-time scoring leader.

Like former NBA star Garnett, Gretzkys playing days are long ago but their presence as sporting icons is ongoing. BetMGM also has gone Beast Mode, adding former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch to its list of brand ambassadors.

In fact, the vast majority of athletes doing promotional work in the sports betting industry are past performers. Theres ex-NFL quarterback Drew Brees with PointsBet. Caesars has gone three-deep in former NFL QBs. Their hirings include Peyton and Eli Manning, as well as their dad Archie. NBA legend Shaquille ONeal has taken on starring roles in ads for both PointsBet and WynnBET.

The online sports betting market is heating up in Canada. BetMGMs addition of the star power that McDavid brings could help set them apart from what figures to be a crowded field.

Privately-owned Ontario sports betting sites are set to launch in the province as of April 4. Other provinces on the Canada sports betting landscape will be watching events in Ontario unfold. They could be making their own entry into the area of the marketplace of private operators before long.

Certainly, McDavid will provide BetMGM with plenty of brand recognition. The NHL All-Star center will be featured in BetMGMs upcoming marketing campaigns, promotions, social media content and fan events.

While the Oilers may be slipping in the Stanley Cup odds, McDavids status as the leagues best player remains unquestioned. By pairing him with Gretzky on their team, BetMGM are now suiting up the greatest player ever to play the game of hockey and the greatest player in hockey today.

McDavid burst onto the NHL scene in 2016, becoming the Leagues youngest-ever captain at 19 years old. That same season he won the Art Ross Trophy as the Leagues leading scorer, the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHLs MVP and the Ted Lindsay Award as the Leagues best player. Only six seasons into his career, McDavid has won each of these awards multiple times. He is already is considered one of the sports greats.

Currently, the Oilers center shares the NHL scoring lead with his Edmonton teammate Leon Draistaitl. Each has collected 79 points so far this season. BetMGM is listing McDavid as the +250 betting favorite in the 2021-22 Hart Trophy odds.

The accomplishments that Connor already has earned on the ice is astonishing and we are excited to welcome him to the BetMGM family, BetMGMs Chief Revenue OfficerMatt Prevost said in a statement . We look forward to working together to engage BetMGM players across North America.

NFL NBA MLB NHL NCAAF NCAAB Tennis Sports Writer

An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.

NFL NBA MLB NHL NCAAF NCAAB Tennis

An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.

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Connor McDavid Signs Endorsement Contract With BetMGM Sportsbook, First Active Player to Rep Betting Site - Sports Betting Dime

CLEVELAND, OH and LAS VEGAS (February 24, 2022) --- Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: CZR) today announced a multi-year partnership with the Cleveland Cavaliers to make Caesars Sportsbook an Official Sports Betting Partner and Caesars Entertainment the Official Casino Partner of the team. This partnership includes plans to open a best-in-class retail sportsbook on the street level inside the northwest atrium area of the teams home venue, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

Were ready to welcome Ohio sports fans into the Caesars Sportsbook Empire, while also making history with our second sportsbook at an NBA arena, said Chris Holdren, Co- President of Caesars Digital. Building upon our already established roots with Scioto Downs in Columbus, were excited to announce our partnership with the Cavaliers at an exciting time in their franchises history. As we prepare to launch sports betting in Ohio later this year, this wide-ranging partnership enables us to connect with the Cavs passionate and highly engaged fanbase. Caesars Sportsbook at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse will be a first-class venue providing an exciting atmosphere for sports betting and more.

Caesars Sportsbook at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse will have betting windows for cash wagering and combine custom VIP and hospitality experiences for Caesars Rewards members, along with on-site activations throughout the year. The approximately 10,355 square foot venue will feature a full-service bar and VIP lounge, an extensive menu, and wall-to-wall TVs. The costs of these improvements will be paid for entirely by the Cavaliers and Caesars.

With construction starting soon, Caesars Sportsbook will be located on the street level inside the northwest atrium of the venue near the intersection of Huron Road and Ontario Street. The Sportsbook will be open year-round on both event and non-event days for both eligible fans with tickets to events and those without tickets who want to place wagers. Caesars Sportsbook at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse is expected to be open by the end of 2022, subject to regulatory and other necessary approvals and further details and renderings will be announced at a later time.

In addition, Caesars Sportsbook gains access to the use of official Cleveland Cavaliers logos and marks, broadcast and digital content across Cavs properties, as well as TV-visible in-game signage.

Caesars Sportsbook made sports history with the first-ever sportsbook at a professional sports venue in May of 2021 at Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. and will soon be opening its doors to another Caesars Sportsbook at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona through a partnership with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

WWhen mobile sports betting goes live in Ohio, sports fans will be able to download the Caesars Sportsbook app to make a bet anywhere in the Buckeye State. Caesars Sportsbook will have mobile market access via the Caesars Entertainment-owned Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs Casino in Columbus. Caesars Sportsbook players can also earn Tier Credits and Reward Credits through the industry-leading customer loyalty program, Caesars Rewards, to unlock emperor-worthy experiences within the Caesars portfolio of properties and partnerships, including access to a wide range of hospitality assets and VIP experiences with the Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

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Caesars Sportsbook Teams Up with the Cleveland Cavaliers Ahead of Sports Bettings Launch in Ohio - NBA.com

As more states continue to legalize sports betting, professional teams across every league continue to find ways to capitalize on the opportunity for new revenue created by the industry.

One way theyre doing that is by opening sportsbooks on or near the grounds of their home stadiums, hoping to make customers of the fans who wager on sports and potentially convert a few who dont.

Last May, the opening of the William Hill Sportsbook at Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. took another step in that direction as the first sportsbook to operate inside of an arena in the U.S. But while it was the first, its not the last. And there will be more to come.

Heres a look at stadiums in the United States with a sportsbook in or near them.

This list will be updated.

Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (Cleveland Cavaliers)

Caesars Entertainment announced Feb. 24 a multi-year partnership with the Cavs to make Caesars Sportsbook their official betting partner, which includes plans to open a sportsbook inside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The sportsbook is expected to be open by the end of 2022.

United Center (Chicago Bulls & Blackhawks)

The Bulls and Blackhawks announced plans in January to open a FanDuel Sportsbook lounge inside the United Center.

State Farm Stadium (Arizona Cardinals)

In January, the Arizona Cardinals and BetMGM released images of the upcoming BetMGM Sportsbook scheduled to open on the State Farm Stadium campus in time for the start of the 2022 NFL season.

Nationals Park (Washington Nationals)

The BetMGM Sportsbook at Nationals Park opened in January, becoming the first retail sportsbook connected to a Major League Baseball stadium.

BetFTW previously took a trip there to get a sense of the day-to-day operation.

Footprint Center (Phoenix Suns & Mercury)

In September 2021, the FanDuel Sportsbook lounge inside Footprint Center opened.

Chase Field (Arizona Diamondbacks)

Caesars Entertainment released renderings in September 2021 of the Caesars Sportsbook set to open at the former Game 7 Grill space outside Chase Field in early 2022.

Wrigley Field (Chicago Cubs)

The Cubs received approval in August 2021 from the Commission on Chicago Landmarks to build a two-story DraftKings sportsbook adjacent to Wrigley Field. The proposal still needed approval from other city and state groups.

Caesars Sportsbook at Capital One Arena (Washington Wizards & Capitals)

William Hill, now a part of Caesars Entertainment, opened its sportsbook at Capital One Arena in May 2021, becoming the first sportsbook in a U.S. professional sports facility.

Audi Field (D.C. United)

FanDuel and D.C. United announced plans in October 2020 to open a sportsbook at Audi Field in 2021, pending licensing and regulatory approvals.

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Which stadiums have sportsbooks in US, updated - For The Win

Feb 19, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman TJ Brodie (78) is greeted by forward Ondrej Kase (25) after scoring against the St. Louis Blues in the second period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

The Toronto Star is launching a Canadian sportsbook. In what is believed to be an industry first, Canadas largest daily newspaper will be partnering with an online sports betting site known as NorthStar Bets.

NorthStar Bets is a made-in-Ontario casino and sportsbook gaming platform. It is owned by NordStar Capital, which also owns Torstar, the Toronto Stars parent company.

While fighting for space in what figures to be a crowded Ontario online sports betting landscape, partnering with an established brand such as the Toronto Star, which has been around since 1892, should provide immediate credibility to this newcomer to the sports betting industry.

The stated objective of NorthStar Bets is to deliver to Ontario sports bettors a first-rate sportsbook experience. It will be a site featuring insightful content from industry experts and will prove to be engaging, entertaining, and informative.

The Toronto Star is covering some of Canadas most popular sports teams today. These include the NHLs Toronto Maple Leafs, NBAs Toronto Raptors, and MLBs Toronto Blue Jays. This Torstar connection will be lending instant juice to NorthStar Bets as the site launches in the Ontario marketplace.

They figure to be going up against powerhouse American-based sportsbooks such as DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM. Ontario is opening up sports betting to private companies on April 4, 2022. However, there can be no question that this media partnership will prove beneficial to NorthStar Bets. They will be able to provide a unique perspective on the provinces sporting landscape.

The Toronto Star is making the utmost effort at putting NorthStar Bets at the forefront of the minds of Ontario sports bettors.

Part and parcel of the advertising and marketing services agreement with Torstar will be seeing the launch of a dedicated sports betting vertical that will become a regular feature of the Toronto Star sports section.

Lorenzo DeMarchi, Interim CEO of Torstar, believes the pairing of sports writing and sports betting is a natural marriage.

With Ontarios regulated online gaming and sports betting market set to open this spring, were sure there will be strong interest from our Toronto Star readers, particularly our sports readers, in the growing popularity of wagering content, DeMarchi said in a statement.

Firstly, this area of the papers sports coverage will serve as an educational tool. It will be a primer for newcomers to online sports betting. There will be the creation of plenty of contact relating to how to bet. Expect there to be stories explaining types of bets, betting strategies and sports wagering terminology.

Ultimately, the section will grow to include articles that will be offering hyper-local daily selections. There will also be columns about industry news and betting-specific features, as well as other multimedia content.

Following the launch of the NorthStar Bets gaming platform, thestar.com will continue to feature additional betting content. This will be including daily picks and videos of the events, teams and players that matter most to Ontario sports bettors.

Last month, NorthStar Bets made a major move that will add further professionalism to their site. They announced a partnership with Playtech, the worlds leading gambling technology company.

This partnership will provide NorthStar Gaming with the technology platform to deliver what will be one of Canadas premier online casino and sports betting experiences. NorthStar Gaming will be ready to launch Playtechs IMS Platform, Casino, Live Casino, Poker, and Bingo software to Canadian audiences. This launch will come following the completion of regulatory approvals and the licensing process,

Michael Moskowitz is the Chief Executive Officer and founding partner of NorthStar Bets. Hes the formerChairman and CEO of Panasonic North America.

It is an exciting time to launch an iGaming venture in Ontario, Moskowitz said in a statement.

NFL NBA MLB NHL NCAAF NCAAB Tennis Sports Writer

An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.

NFL NBA MLB NHL NCAAF NCAAB Tennis

An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.

Continue reading here:

Meet NorthStar Bets, The Toronto Stars New Sportsbook Partner - Sports Betting Dime

DraftKings contributor Geoff Urich and RotoWires Paul Bruno join Jessie Coffield and Emerson Lotzia to share their favorite NHL game totals to go over on DraftKings Sportsbook.

Watch the entire video here on the DraftKings YouTube channel!

Set your DraftKings fantasy hockey lineups here: NHL $50K Kick Save [$10K to 1st]

Jessie Coffield: On the DraftKings Sportsbook, which game total are you going to be targeting, Geoff?

Geoff Ulrich: Okay, so Im going to cheat just a little bit here. Im not going to go with the game total, Im going to go with a team total. Im going to say go over on the Vegas Golden Knights 3.5. You have to go to the team totals over 3.5 goals for the Vegas Golden Knights. Its -115 and again I mean, you could take the over six goals but do we want to trust the Coyotes to get us more than one goal? I dont. I think going to the team total on the Vegas Golden Knights is a better play tonight. Jack Eichel humming, their offense is starting to click and theyre playing Arizona. I think Vegas just loads up here. Maybe they do hit the overall total on their own, but Id rather just bet the Vegas Golden Knights over 3.5 goals today.

Jessie Coffield: Paul, where you going, man?

Paul Bruno: I like to take the over on the Carolina Columbus game. I think its going to be a very high-scoring game, so go to the alternate line at over 7.5 +185 winning bet, that should be attainable. I also like for offense to come out on top over defense in the Chicago Jersey game tonight. Both offenses firing and the defense is not doing as much, so again go over the over 7.5 to get a big payoff at +215.

Place your NHL bets at DraftKings Sportsbook or by downloading the DraftKings Sportsbook app.

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DraftKings promoters may sometimes play on personal accounts in the games that advice is offered on. Personal views on the games and strategies above do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. DraftKings promoters may also deploy different players and strategies than what is recommended above. DraftKings promoters do not have access to any non-public information.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/MI/NJ/PA/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-877-770-STOP (7867) (LA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), call/text TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/LA/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for full terms and conditions.

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NHL Picks: Hockey Best Bets, Game Totals on DraftKings Sportsbook for February 25 - DraftKings Nation

David Gandler, Co-Founder and CEO of fuboTV, has stated that Fubo Sportsbook is in the very early innings of a massive opportunity following its launch in 2021.

Commenting on fuboTVs full-year 2021 financial results, Gandler noted he was pleased with the progress its sportsbook was making following market entry in Iowa and Arizona.

Gandler commented: fuboTV delivered a record fourth quarter and full-year across a number of our key financial and operational metrics. Engagement continues to be strong as we add differentiated content to our offering and focus on innovating our product to meet consumer preferences and drive a premium experience.

Our expansion into real-money wagering is underway with the launch of Fubo Sportsbook across two states with additional states expected to follow this year. This launch represents a differentiated and industry-first integration of streaming and a sports wagering product and we see ourselves in the very early innings of a massive opportunity.

fuboTV has reported record revenues in 2021 of $638m, including a $1m impact of the December 2021 acquisition of French live streaming TV company Molotov. Excluding Molotov, its total annual revenue was $637m, a 144% improvement over 2020.

The firm also announced its 2022 guidance, as it expects over $1bn in total revenue. However, this guidance does not include any projected revenues from online sports wagering.

Within North America, fuboTV forecasts Q1 2022 revenue of $232m-$237m and full-year 2022 revenue of $1.08bn-$1.09bn. The firm expects its subscriber numbers to reach 1.028 million-1.033 million in Q1 2022 and 1.500 million-1.510 million for the full year in the region.

Earlier this year, Fubo Gaming, a subsidiary of streaming platform fuboTV, announced a long-term partnership with Houston Dynamo FC, becoming the official sports betting partner of the club.

Read more from the original source:

David Gandler: Fubo Sportsbook in very early innings of a massive opportunity - SBC Americas

DraftKings contributors Garion Thorne, Matt Meiselman, and RotoWires Nick Whalen, join Emerson Lotzia and Jessie Coffield to discuss some NBA Futures bets you can make on the DraftKings Sportsbook.

Watch the entire video here on the DraftKings YouTube channel!

Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Return From Break Special [$25K to 1st]

Jessie Coffield: Anthony Davis is going to be out for at least a month with a foot injury, Russell Westbrook is continuously riding the bench and LeBron is doing everything he can, averaging a career-high 29 points per game. But this team is in danger of missing the playoffs, and you can bet on that right now on the DK Sportsbook at -135 to miss +105 to make it; which one would you bet on right now, Garion?

Garion Thorne: Im going to bet on them to make it. Its simply because the Lakers are going to get to the play-in. Theyre on an island right now, theyre six games back in the sixth seed but theyve got a pretty comfy cushion on the 10th seed considering the team currently in the 10th spot doesnt want to be there and told their best player yesterday, Hey, youre hurt, trust us, youre hurt. So, theyre probably going to end up having like the two one-game playoffs. The first ones going to be against Sacramento and the second one, yeah, maybe its against like Minnesota whos frisky. Perhaps it is against the Clippers who have got one of their two-star players back, but at the end of the day, if youre telling me one side has Lebron James and a healthy Anthony Davis by that point, Im just going to take that team in a one-game playoff regardless of where that game is taking place, so I think they end up making the playoffs. They dont make much noise once they get into it, but they do win the play-in.

Jessie Coffield: Nick, which side are you on?

Nick Whalen: Im out on this Lakers team. I cant do it anymore. I dont think they make it. Who knows which of the big three is even going to be available at that point. Anthony Davis is basically 50-50 to make it through any game that he starts at this point. I dont see some sort of miraculous turnaround chemistry-wise happening over these last 24 games. You know by that point the Clippers will likely have Paul George back; maybe they would have Kawhi Leonard back so if thats the case and thats the matchup to get in, I think the Clippers win that and even Minnesota. Right now, you look at that Minnesota roster top to bottom yeah, the Lakers maybe have the two best players when Davis and LeBron are healthy in that series, but Minnesota are much deeper. One thing that I think has flown under the radar with the Lakers is not only has Davis been injured, Westbrook has struggled, but pretty much every single role player for them has been terrible. Other teams are just so much deeper when you look at the three through 10 positions, so maybe LeBron and Davis could carry the Lakers in a one-game playoff, but man, right now its tough to put faith in this team, so Ill say they miss.

Jessie Coffield: Matt, in or out on the Lakers?

Matt Meiselman: Oh yeah, I mean, you have to know at this point Im going out on the Lakers. Still, this has been my favorite question to answer for basically the entire season. I think its just too narrow of a path for them to get in, they need everything to go right, they need to win, most likely two play-in games in a row. The first of the two may be against an inferior opponent like the Pelicans, or the Spurs, or the Kings, or maybe the Blazers. But they have to win two of those and the second one is likely Minnesota or the Clippers with Paul George. Both of those are better teams than the healthy Lakers, but then the other concern is Anthony Davis is hurt; LeBron James has been dealing with injuries all season. The idea that we can guarantee that both of them will be healthy at that point just seems crazy to me. It may even be more likely than not that one of them is still out at that point and also with how many more minutes and how much more usage LeBron will have while Davis is out. If theres something that can increase LeBrons injury risk in the near future, it does not have Anthony Davis there to take off some of that burden. If LeBron sees Russell Westbrook start to take on more of the offense and do poorly, LeBrons just not going to give him the ball as much and try to do more himself. Yeah, the chances of LeBron and Davis staying healthy to me are nowhere near 100 percent for all of those reasons; something probably goes wrong for this team. I think even at -130, -135, whatever it is now, I still would bet them not to make the playoffs.

Place your NBA bets at DraftKings Sportsbook or by downloading the DraftKings Sportsbook app.

Put your knowledge to the test. Sign up for DraftKings and experience the game inside the game.

DraftKings promoters may sometimes play on personal accounts in the games that advice is offered on. Personal views on the games and strategies above do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. DraftKings promoters may also deploy different players and strategies than what is recommended above. DraftKings promoters do not have access to any non-public information.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/MI/NJ/PA/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-877-770-STOP (7867) (LA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), call/text TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/LA/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for full terms and conditions.

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Will The Lakers Make the Playoffs? DraftKings Sportsbook NBA Futures Betting - DraftKings Nation

The Miami Heat (38-21) visit Madison Square Garden Friday to take on the New York Knicks (25-34). Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Heat vs. Knicks odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.

The Heat are 2nd in the Eastern Conference after a Chicago Bulls victory Thursday. Their first action since the All-Star break will be this lone road outing before a two-game homestand begins Saturday.

Miami is 33-25-1 against the spread (ATS) this season and is 4-5-1 ATS over its last 10. The Heat are 19-14 straight up on the road this season which compares favorably to the Knicks 13-17 home record.

New York is 26-33 ATS this season and is led by its 17th ranked defensive rating (110.3), while its offensive rating is 25th (108.4). The Knicks are just 3-5 ATS this season as home underdogs.

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:08 a.m. ET.

Heat

Knicks

Exclusive USA TODAY Network offer: Deposit $10 or more, get $200 in instant bet credits at Tipico Sportsbook! New customer offer in CO and NJ. 21+, see Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. Place your legal, online sports bets at Tipico. Lets make this interesting. Bet now!

Heat 107, Knicks 100

PASS.

Tossing the Heat in a parlay wouldnt be a bettors worst idea, but playing them outright on their own at -230 doesnt have a ton of value. The Knicks are just 2-6 straight up as home underdogs.

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LEAN to MIAMI -5.5 (-110).

Simply put, Miami is the better team and New York hasnt played well at home this season. The Knicks are 12-17 straight up on the road and 13-17 at home, basically showing no homecourt advantage.

The Heat rank eighth in offensive rating and sixth in defensive rating. The Suns are the only other team to be ranked top eight in both areas.

One thing the Knicks are actually decent at is the offensive glass as theyrank seventh in offensive rebounding rate. However, the Heat counter that nicely with their ninth in defensive rebounding rate.

Theyll take away the Knicks edge and likely be able to pull away.

BET on the UNDER 210.5 (-107).

While the Heat have a top-10 offense, they play at one of the slowest paces in the NBA. Miami sits 28th in pace while New York is just below it at 29th.

The Heat are 35-24 O/U this season yet have had the Under hit in five of their last seven games.

The Knicks offensive woes against a good defense should loom large. They rank 27th in points per game at 105.1. New York is 16-20 O/U in conference games as well.

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Miami Heat at New York Knicks odds, picks and predictions - USA TODAY Sportsbook Wire