And then there were four. The final playoff spots in both conferences are up for grabs in a couple of win-and-you’re-in contests, the first of which features the Atlanta Hawks and the Miami Heat. The nightcap is significantly more entertaining, as the Memphis Grizzlies face off with the Dallas Mavericks with a chance to get swept by the Thunder on the line.

Here’s what we've got today:

• Heat vs. Hawks Pick

• Mavericks vs. Grizzlies Pick

Make sure you’re all set up with our special offers.

• Ballers VIP Subscription ($200 $99 a month)

• BetUS - Get 125% Bonus on Your First Deposits

• Bovada - Get a $750 welcome bonus

Share with your friends and get entered to win free cash.

Heat vs. Hawks Pick

It’s yet another battle of Eastern Conference teams with records below .500, just as every single play-in game has been. The Heat put their foot down and dominated a far inferior Bulls team the last time out, while the Hawks looked like they belonged in categories with the Hornets and Wizards in their blowout loss to the Magic.

The Heat will have the same edges that they had over the Bulls in this game against Atlanta. Head coach Erik Spoelstra provides a significant coaching advantage, and the defensive intensity that he inspires proved to be the deciding factor against Chicago, as the Bulls were held to their lowest point total on the season.

Defensively, Miami matches up fairly well with the Hawks. Point guard Davion Mitchell played a heavy minutes load against Chicago thanks to his ability to essentially lock down opposing guards, making it likely that he’s Trae Young’s primary matchup here. Really stopping Young is impossible, but Mitchell will make every possession a grind, slowing Atlanta’s pace and impeding one of the Hawks’ best weapons.

Elsewhere, the advantage continues to swing in favor of Miami. Andrew Wiggins will be the best wing player on the floor, and even Dyson Daniels will have a tough time slowing down a red-hot Tyler Herro. The Hawks allowed 120 points to one of the worst offensive teams in the NBA in Orlando, and the Heat sport surprisingly good offensive metrics across the board. Miami should have no trouble putting up the same number or more.

Overall, there isn’t any reason to like the Hawks here. The Heat play with far more intensity and effort, are more versatile, and have a track record of improving their performances in the postseason. Atlanta just has Trae Young. We’re comfortable betting Miami all the way up to -2.5.

Mavericks vs. Grizzlies Pick

Alright, alright, it’s time to give credit where credit is due. We picked against Dallas again last time, and they absolutely smashed the Kings, leading by 23 points at the half and finally coasting to a 14-point victory. Anthony Davis looked like the best big man in basketball, and the defensive mindset we mocked in the last newsletter came through time and time again, forcing 18 Sacramento turnovers. Repeating that performance against the Grizzlies will be a far more difficult task.

It helps that the Mavs have a solution to the Ja Morant problem. While they don’t have a point guard capable of sticking with him on the perimeter, head coach Jason Kidd should be happy to force Morant into the help defense of Davis and the excellent Dallas centers, minimizing his ability to finish at the rim and forcing more pull-ups and floaters. As for drive-and-kick looks, the Grizzlies are not a great team from beyond the arc. Forcing them to take threes that will be contested by energetic closeouts instead of better looks at the rim should be a big part of Dallas’s game plan.

In order to counter that game plan, Grizzlies power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. will need to put on a huge performance. Aside from guarding Davis when Memphis is on defense, his shooting ability must space the floor for his guards, especially since Zach Edey will probably play a big minutes load. Jackson shot well from deep against the Warriors, but he can’t afford to regress into a performance like the one he put up against the Nuggets at the end of the regular season, when he went 2/7 from three.

While Jackson must shoot well for the Grizzlies to even win this game, he’ll need support from the rest of the Memphis lineup as well, namely shooting guard Desmond Bane. Bane’s stat line from the Warriors game was pretty, but he didn’t come alive until the second half. His no-show through the first two quarters cost the Grizzlies, and would cost them again here if it happens again. Bane will need to be a big part of this game if Memphis is to win or cover.

Strangely, we feel less confident about the Grizzlies than we did about the Kings. Dallas matches up with them better than they do with Sacramento, despite the fact that the Grizzlies are an objectively more talented team than the Kings. We’ll take the Mavericks to cover in what should be a gritty, grimy, competitive matchup.

That's our rundown. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more hot tips and even hotter memes. We’re always having give aways and special promotions. Don't miss out on the fun!

🐦 @bettorsecrets

📸 @bettorsecrets

Disclaimer: We solely provide information about sports betting for entertainment purposes. We do not take bets, place bets, or receive affiliate revenues from companies that do. We have no financial interest in our readers or subscribers placing wagers.