East and West play-in teams' odds to advance take hit with brutal injuries

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler. Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Eastern and Western Conference play-in teams' odds to advance take hit with brutal injuries

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 4/18/24

Injuries to Pelicans forward Zion Williamson and Heat forward Jimmy Butler have both teams on perilous ground as they get set to host play-in games on Friday night to determine the final playoff spots in the Eastern and Western Conferences.

The Lakers defeated the Pelicans 110-106 on Tuesday night, but New Orleans' biggest loss came when Williamson left the game due to a hamstring injury. On Wednesday, the team announced he'll be reevaluated in two weeks.

ESPN Sources: Pelicans F Zion Williamson’s (left hamstring) is out for Friday’s Play-In Tournament elimination game vs. Sacramento and will be evaluated again in coming weeks. Huge blow for New Orleans. pic.twitter.com/rMc1IC2RtY
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 17, 2024

Meanwhile, Butler and the Heat blew a 12-point halftime lead in Philadelphia on Wednesday in a 105-104 loss to the 76ers. Butler played the majority of the game with a strained MCL, and the knee injury will force him to miss "multiple weeks," according to Shams Charania.

The expectation is Miami's Jimmy Butler will be out multiple weeks, sources said. Butler remarkably played the final three quarters vs. 76ers last night with what is now feared to be an MCL injury. https://t.co/dEDMAuuXuN
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 18, 2024

Both teams entered Friday's play-in games for the No. 8 seed as favorites. New Orleans was installed as an initial two-point favorite over the Kings, but Williamson's injury has swung the odds in Sacramento's favor.

Per Action Network, the Kings are now a 1.5-point favorite.

In the East, the Heat are still favored over the Bulls, who finished the season 10 games under .500, but even their odds have shrunk.

When the betting line was published, Miami was a three-point favorite, but it has dipped to just a 1.5-point favorite now that Butler is out of the picture.

The task at hand just got much more difficult for New Orleans and Miami. With both teams' top stars sidelined, both could be going home much sooner than they planned.

More must-reads: