It’s a Good Friday (at press) indeed as the sports betting world actually has something to get excited about as the NBA 2K Players Tournament heads into the Semifinals this Saturday. That gives you a whole day to review expert picks and draw your own conclusions about who to wager on. The most anticipated match is the one between the Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker and LA Clippers Montrezl Harrell, which the sportsbook considers to be pretty lopsided in favor of Booker. Then there’s the game between Deandre Ayton and Patrick Beverley (another Suns vs Clippers matchup) which Vegas thinks will be a more closely contested meeting. With little else in the sports world to bet on, this is everything for Easter Weekend. View our predictions for each matchup below and get ready to make your picks.
There is one player that we ran a sole feature on prior to the start of the NBA 2K Players Tournament – Devin Booker. In that feature, we predicted not only success for the First Round, but for the entire tournament. He began as the odds on favorite to win the whole event, and maintains that status with -120 odds to do so. But has that prediction changed as we enter this Saturday’s game against Montrezl Harrell, the LA Clipper who has exceeded the expectations of his No.8 seeding? The sportsbook declares as much with a resounding -400 odds in favor of a Booker semifinal win, to Harrell’s +300. Booker’s winning scores so far have been 85-75 (defeating Michael Porter Jr.) and 71-55 (against Rui Hachimura). Harrell’s winning scores have been 73-51 (against Domantas Sabonis) and 71-66 (defeating Derrick Jones Jr.). Both have had lower scoring games (compared to many of their NBA 2K peers) and have similar win margins. Still, we have a feeling that Harrell’s run has run its course.
Writer’s Prediction
Devin Booker wins, 88-71. View full breakdown of this matchup here.
Phoenix Sun Deandre Ayton may have come in as a 10th seed but he was the third favorite to win the whole tournament days before it began, priced at +600 just behind Kevin Durant (didn’t work out so well) and Devin Booker (working out well). Why did Vegas like his odds even though he entered the NBA 2K Players Tournament as a relative underdog? Because Vegas (and this editorial team) does its homework, finding that Ayton has been a hardcore NBA 2K player since the summer of 2017. Ayton’s victories thus far include a 57-41 win over Zach Lavine and a 73-66 win over Trae Young. These are certainly not high-scoring victories by any means, but when you watch Ayton play you can see he knows what he’s doing. Meanwhile, Patrick Beverly is the favorite (-240) in this game after defeating the Cavaliers Andre Drummond 69-62 in the quarterfinals and taking down Hassan Whiteside 84-54 in the First Round.
Writer’s Prediction
Deandre Ayton raises the scoring stakes and wins, 101-82. View the complete Deandre Ayton vs Patrick Beverley breakdown here.
Looks like we’re going to have an all Phoenix Suns final. Stay tuned for our preview of the NBA 2K Players Tournament final this Saturday, and be sure to register to make your wagers.
