Our free NBA picks are out for Sunday, April 3rd, 2022! Make sure you check our NBA picks before the action kicks off.
Look below to find our free NBA picks for the best five games on today’s schedule!
Washington Wizards @ Boston Celtics – 1pm ET
The Washington Wizards kick off a three game road trip on Sunday afternoon when they travel to Boston and face off against the Celtics. The Wizards have won four of their last five games, and this takes their record on the season to 34-43. The Celtics are hopefully back on track now, after dropping two games in a row, they won last time out, against the Pacers, 128-123.
Jeffery Thomas
The Washington Wizards will travel to Boston to take on the Celtics in search of another win over a top team. In the Wizards’ last time out they took down the Dallas Mavericks, who are the 4 seed in the West, 135-103. Kristaps Porzingis wanted to have a big night against the team that sent him away at the trade deadline and he did just that, scoring 24 points and adding 9 rebounds. They’ll now take on a Boston team that got back in the win column after a couple losses, taking down the Indiana Pacers 128-123. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown both went over 30 points and it was the eighth time this season they did that in the same game.
Tatum also tied Antoine Walker for the second-most threes in a season in franchise history when he recorded his 222nd of the year. The Wizards’ effort against the Mavericks was something that we hadn’t seen from them since early in the year when they had their full allotment of players. That’s why I’m inclined to believe it was an outlier and we’ll see them get back to their regular level of play. This also is a road game and winning in Boston has been a tough task for road teams, so I like the Celtics here to take care of business here pretty easily.
Jeffery’s NBA Pick: Boston Celtics -13 (-110)
.@Grant2Will’s got his team’s back pic.twitter.com/daaENgwtDr
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 2, 2022
Noah Dunlap
After an atrocious year all the way around, it looks as if the Washington Wizards were just in need of their season to be mathematically over in terms of postseason chances for them to turn things around and start playing well again. They have officially been eliminated from even the play-in in the Eastern Conference, but despite that they’ve still won four of their last five, and are playing some of the best ball we’ve seen from them all year long. Even with them playing well, they are going to have their hands full in this one though, as they’re taking on one of the hottest teams in the NBA, despite some struggles, in the Boston Celtics.
The Celtics come into this game having been one of the hottest teams in the NBA over the past two months, even though they have fallen just a bit lately, since it was announced that they were going to be without Robert Williams, their premiere defender, for an extended stretch. They’re still in the third spot in the East, even with Williams missing time, and I don’t think that changes now, as there’s only roughly six games left in the regular season. As for this matchup though, I like Washington, as I think Kristaps Porzingis can have a big day going up against a Boston squad that doesn’t have Williams down low. Wizards in a close one, but just to be safe, take Washington to simply cover the high spread, as it currently sits at 13.
Noah’s NBA Pick: Washington Wizards +13 (-110)
Dallas Mavericks @ Milwaukee Bucks – 1pm ET
The road trip continues on for the Dallas Mavericks who will travel to Milwaukee and take on the Bucks on Sunday afternoon. The Mavericks have won five of their last seven, but last time out they did go down to the Wizards, 103-135. The Bucks have only lost four games since early March, but like the Mavericks, they also lost their game last time out, against the Clippers, 119-153.
Jeffery Thomas
The Dallas Mavericks were flat out embarrassed in their last game on Friday night, losing by over 30 to the Washington Wizards. The loss moved Dallas back to the 4 seed in the West, a half game behind the Golden State Warriors. The Mavericks surprisingly never led in the game but will hope for better results when they travel to take on the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks. Milwaukee is coming off a 119-153 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in a game where they rested all of their starters in preparation for this one.
The Clippers game was leg two of a back-to-back after a hard fought overtime victory over the Brooklyn Nets, so in today’s NBA it was understandable why the starters were rested in that look ahead spot. Will the Bucks be rewarded for preparing for this game by sitting everyone? I think so. The effort that was shown by Dallas in their loss to Washington was pathetic and it’s hard to see them just flipping a switch and playing good enough to beat this Bucks team at home.
Jeffery’s NBA Pick: Milwaukee Bucks (-210)
On the second night of a back-to-back, the Bucks can’t keep up with the Clippers.
⚡️ @we_energies ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/VEDDRZSRGp
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 2, 2022
Noah Dunlap
The Dallas Mavericks forgot to show up for their last game, as they were throttled by the Washington Wizards, but that’s not something we’ve grown accustomed to seeing over the past month or so, as they’ve been playing really good basketball. They’ve climbed up the Western Conference standings, and now they won’t finish any worse than fourth, but could climb up to the three spot depending on what happens the rest of the way. I’m a bit hesitant about their chances at a real playoff run, as I don’t know that they have a true second option, but with Luka Doncic leading the way, they certainly have the ability to be in every game.
They get the Milwaukee Bucks in this one, and it’s a Bucks team that is finally starting to look more like the Bucks team that we saw last year and expected to see this year as well. They’re still the two seed in the East, but looked a bit off for much of the season, before turning it on during the second half of the year. Giannis is still squarely in the MVP conversation, and assuming they get decent play from Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton, this is a very dangerous Milwaukee team. For this matchup, I’m taking Giannis and the Bucks at home, as I think the paint presence proves to be a bit too much for Dallas. Doncic has a big day, but it’s not enough to get the win. Milwaukee in a close one.
Noah’s NBA Pick: Milwaukee Bucks (-210)
Philadelphia 76ers @ Cleveland Cavaliers – 6pm ET
The Philadelphia 76ers start a three game road trip on Sunday when they take on the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 76ers managed to snap their three game losing streak last time out, as they proved too good for the Hornets, 144-114. The Cavaliers have split their last four games, and their record currently stands at 43-35.
Jeffery Thomas
Both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers had early matinee games on Saturday and will be in action against each other on Sunday night in Cleveland. Saturday’s game worked out pretty well for Philly, who were able to get a blowout win over the Charlotte Hornets and rest their starters during the 4th quarter to prepare for this game against Cleveland. Even in the limited action, Joel Embiid was able to get 29 points and 14 rebounds to help his team snap a three-game losing streak. For the Cleveland Cavaliers, it was a 119-101 win over the New York Knicks in the Garden. Darius Garland recorded his seventh double-double in the last nine games with 24 points and 13 assists to help snap Cleveland’s two-game losing streak.
Speaking of double-doubles Moses Brown recorded his second of the season and is doing an admirable job filling in for the injured Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. Philadelphia tried to remind everyone that they can still put together dominant performances and Cleveland will have their work cut out for them in this one. It’s encouraging to see Caris LeVert finally getting in a groove with his new team and it will do wonders for the Cavs in these final few games as they get ready for the play-in tournament. However, with key guys still out against this dangerous Sixers team, it’s hard to back the Cavs even at home.
Jeffery’s NBA Pick: Philadelphia 76ers (-198)
Pretty passing 😍@betwayusa | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/31A9DIDSZu
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) April 2, 2022
Noah Dunlap
The Philadelphia 76ers finally got back on the right track in their last game, as they took down Charlotte with ease, after losing three straight before that. They’re likely going to end up as the three or four seed in the East, depending on how things go the rest of the way, They have the guy who is probably going to win the MVP, in Joel Embiid, and with James Harden in the lineup, if he’d play a bit better, they have the potential to be one of the more dangerous teams come the postseason, though they haven’t been playing like it lately.
They take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in this one, and it’s a game that has both teams coming into this one on the second night of a back-to-back. Cleveland got the win yesterday, as they took down the New York Knicks, in a reasonably close one, though I’m not sure they see the same result here. The Cavs are a team that has played extremely well this year, despite a slew of injuries making things difficult on them, but with the injuries comes a depth problem, which could be problematic in a back-to-back. Because of this, I’m taking Philly, and probably with ease, even with them having to travel to Cleveland for this one.
Noah’s NBA Pick: Philadelphia 76ers -4.5 (-110)
Miami Heat @ Toronto Raptors – 7pm ET
The Miami Heat hit the road for their Sunday night clash, and they will be playing against the Toronto Raptors at the Scotiabank Arena. The Heat are playing on back-to-back nights, and last time out they beat the Bulls, 127-109. The Raptors are on a roll at the moment, and they are currently on a five game winning streak, including wins over the Cavaliers, Pacers, Celtics, Timberwolves and Magic.
Jeffery Thomas
The Miami Heat will be on the back-to-back after beating the Chicago Bulls 127-109 on Saturday night. Jimmy Butler led the way with 22 points against his old team and the win was Miami’s 50th of the season, a mark they hadn’t reached since the 2013-14 season. The win also increased Miami’s lead over the rest of the East to 1.5 games and ensured they will lock up the top seed if they just go 3-1 the rest of the way. The Toronto Raptors will hope to keep them getting one of those three wins when they host them on Sunday and should feel pretty confident since they are on a five-game winning streak. Toronto’s last game was a 102-89 win over the Orlando Magic on Friday.
After Miami’s win over the Bulls on Saturday the Raptors moved into sole possession of the 5 seed. If things stay how they currently are in the East standings this could be a possible 2nd round matchup in the playoffs. It’s going to be an emotional game as Kyle Lowry makes his return to Toronto to play his former team that he spent much of his prime with, and I think he will be up for this game and will also have his teammates up for it as well. It’s hard to not take the better team as an underdog here even on the back-to-back against a hot Raptors team. I just think this is too many points for such a streaky Toronto squad that hasn’t totally earned our trust.
Jeffery’s NBA Pick: Miami Heat +4 (-108)
Just a week of straight W’s @LGCanada | #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/9gRElNXp0G
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) April 2, 2022
Noah Dunlap
This game gives us a matchup of two teams that are both playing well at the moment, after they both struggled not too long ago. The Miami Heat come in having won two in a row, which is certainly a modest winning streak, but coming on the heels of a four-game losing streak, in which they looked atrocious, has to be a good feeling. They also look to be fully healthy once again, which is big for this team, as they’re primarily a core driven team, with Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Tyler Herro leading the way.
They are, however, taking on one of the hottest teams in the NBA right now, as the Toronto Raptors have won five straight, and are showing why they’re not a team anyone wants to see in the first round. This Raptors team is one that has had an up and down year, as they started hot, struggled for much of the middle of the year, and now look like they have turned the corner once again, with Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam leading the way. This is a game that I could see coming down to a bit of home-court advantage, and with it taking place north of the border, I’m taking Toronto in a really close one. Take the Raptors, but it’s going to come down to the wire.
Noah’s NBA Pick: Toronto Raptors (-166)
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Houston Rockets – 7pm ET
The Minnesota Timberwolves wrap up their four game road trip with a game against the Houston Rockets. The Timberwolves have lost four of their last six games, but last time out they did manage to get the win over the Nuggets, 136-130. The Rockets are currently on a three game losing streak, after going down to the Spurs and Kings (twice).
Jeffery Thomas
The Minnesota Timberwolves got a statement victory on Friday in Denver against the Nuggets who are directly above them in the Western Conference standings. The win closed the gap a bit but still being two games back, with only 4 games left leaves a lot of work to do for Minnesota to try and climb out of the play-in tournament. Good news is they get a Houston Rockets team that they have fared well against all year going 2-0 so far this season. It may not be so easy this time though, as the Rockets are starting to put some competitive efforts together even though the wins are still not coming.
They’ve lost three straight but only by a combined eleven points so will Sunday finally be the time they put it all together? The Minnesota Timberwolves showed what kind of performance they can produce when their backs are against the wall and I think this game will be no problem for them. The Rockets won’t have the defensive capability to stop Minnesota from scoring at least 120 in this contest and I just don’t see a way they keep up with that much offense. Give me Karl-Anthony Towns and company to win this one comfortably.
Jeffery’s NBA Pick: Minnesota Timberwolves -12.5 (-110)
32 FOR 32 😈 pic.twitter.com/BXoOvkxAzH
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) April 2, 2022
Noah Dunlap
Given everything that we have in this game, this should end up being a blowout, as I just don’t know how Houston could, or why they should, want to stick around in this one. The Rockets enter this matchup being one of the worst teams in the NBA, and with the fact that they’re in contention for the best lottery chances, they have absolutely no reason to actually continue to try to win basketball games, as they’re down to their final four games. Adding to that, they’re taking on a Minnesota team that, while not much to play for, as they’re almost certainly locked into the seven seed in the West, they should want to head into the play-in with as much momentum as they can muster.
With Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, and D’Angelo Russell all healthy, and assuming they all play pretty well, I don’t know that this is a game Houston could stick around in in the first place, much less at this stage of the season with nothing going for them. Even with this one being in Houston, I don’t see anything that would cause me to think that the Rockets can keep it close, so give me the T’Wolves with ease here, as I like them to cruise in this one.
Noah’s NBA Pick: Minnesota Timberwolves -12.5 (-110)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
