A massive start to the week by our NBA picks, bringing in a massive $456.97 profit across our Free and Premium Picks, for a $100 bettor.
We went 5/5 across our spread picks, including the Warriors, Suns and Grizzlies with the points as road underdogs! Find out who we like across each of the five games scheduled for tonight in our free analysis and moneyline picks below!
Brooklyn Nets @ New Orleans Pelicans – 7:30PM ET
The injuries woes continue for the Brooklyn Nets, this time losing Kevin Durant just four minutes into their loss in Miami. They continue their road trip against the New Orleans Pelicans, a side they beat by 28 points just two weeks ago.
The Pelicans won their next three games after that loss but have now lost the next three, coming in on a losing streak that they will want to end. New Orleans leads the league in blown double digit leads, losing a massive 14 games after holding a lead of 10+ at some stage. While they didn’t lead by 10 at any stage, they did lead by seven with under three minutes to play before eventually losing 112-122 in overtime.
Defense continues to be an issue for the Pelicans, ranking in the bottom four in the league for both points allowed and defensive rating. That is clearly an issue against the Nets, even without Durant or Harden suiting up due to injury. When these sides met previously, Brooklyn scored a massive 139 points!
.@landryshamet showed out in a tough one, dropping a career-high 30 points with a franchise record-tying 7 threes off the bench 📼 pic.twitter.com/oy2nS3a7SV
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) April 19, 2021
Brooklyn’s offense was almost non-existent against the Heat on Sunday, scoring just 107 in their two point loss. If it wasn’t for Landry Shamet’s 30 points on 7/12 shooting from deep off the bench, the Nets would have been in a lot more misery than they were.
Kyrie Irving is clearly the third fiddle of the Brooklyn Big 3, and that might be found out in this clash. While the Pelicans have lost three in a row, they have two All Stars on their lineup and perform much better offensively at home, things that should work in their favour here. With Brooklyn missing their two best players, New Orleans’ lacklustre defense won’t get found out as much as it normally does and should allow them to pick up a much needed win.
NBA Pick – New Orleans Pelicans (-138)
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Charlotte Hornets @ New York Knicks – 7:30PM ET
An Eastern Conference showdown between the #6 Knicks and the #8 Hornets. New York has been playing incredibly, winning six straight games and beating multiple playoff bound teams. Charlotte on the other hand has more regular rotation players out due to injury than actually able to suit up.
In their 109-101 over the Lillard-less Blazers, five different players that average at least 20 minutes per game were sidelined due to injury. Terry Rozier has remained the constant for the Hornets though, putting up massive numbers with 34 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds and two steals, all while shooting 7/13 from deep.
Devonte’ Graham is the only injured player that could potentially come back, listed as questionable for this clash. Even his return might not be enough against the Knicks and their pesky defense. New York still allows the fewest points per game whilst ranking third for defensive rating while Charlotte ranks 21st for points per game and 18th for offensive rating.
Sunday’s win over the Pelicans saw the Knicks blow a 13 point halftime lead and trailed by as many as seven with under three minutes to go but some clutch plays down the stretch from Derrick Rose and Julius Randle sent the game to overtime. New York dominated the extra five minutes, eventually winning 122-112 behind 33 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and five steals from Randle.
With the Hornets being so shorthanded and the Knicks playing the way they are right now, it is hard to see how New York could lose this one at home. We like the Knicks to win and win comfortably in this one.
NBA Pick – New York Knicks (-245)
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Orlando Magic @ Atlanta Hawks – 7:30PM ET
The Atlanta Hawks returned to their winning ways on Sunday and will look to continue on when they host an Orlando Magic side that has just one win from its last eight games. The Magic are playing their kids, getting experience into their young players as they embrace the rebuild.
The only thing with that is that wins don’t come around often and it may be tough for them to get one here. A 110-114 home loss to the lowly Rockets is an indication of how this team is going, throwing away their six point halftime lead with an 18-32 third quarter. Six different players scored in double figures by just one, Dwayne Bacon, reached over 16.
Over that eight game stretch, the Magic have averaged just 105.25 points per night. That isn’t enough points against an Atlanta side that scores the 13th most per game and has the eighth best offensive rating.
.@CapelaClint with an exceptional performance scoring 25 PTS, 24 REB & 3 BLK. 🙌 Continue to make history!
🎥 Presented by @KumhoTireUSA pic.twitter.com/ZizGl23Z6s
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) April 19, 2021
In their Sunday afternoon clash with the Pacers, four different players scored at least 23 points to help Atlanta get the 129-117 win. Trae Young top scored with 34 points and 11 assists but the game ball went to Clint Capela. The dominant big man finished with 25 points, 24 rebounds, three blocks and two steals to help guide his side to victory and help them remain fourth in the East.
We pick the moneyline here and it clearly should be the Hawks, but can they cover the 12 point spread? Find out if we think they can by subscribing to our Premium Picks.
NBA Pick – Atlanta Hawks (-770)
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Los Angeles Clippers @ Portland Trail Blazers – 10PM ET
The big Western Conference clash of the night as the #6 Portland Trail Blazers host the #3 Los Angeles Clippers. This is the third and final time these sides will meet for the season with the Clippers taking the first two by an average of 20 points.
Given the Blazers’ current injury problems, it is hard to see how they will be able to turn the tables on LA. Damian Lillard has missed the last two with a hamstring complaint and has already been ruled out for this clash, along with Jusuf Nurkic. Without Lillard on Sunday, Portland couldn’t find enough offense to overcome a depleted Charlotte side, losing 101-109.
That sort of performance won’t be anywhere near good enough against the Clippers who are coming in off the back of a 124-105 pounding of the Timberwolves. Kawhi Leonard returned from a four game absence with 15 points, 11 boards and eight assists while Paul George continued to lead the team in scoring with 23 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Given that the Clippers have gotten the better of the Blazers twice this season already, with Lillard playing both times, Portland will be up against it without him in this one. The Clippers are continuing a push to get higher than third in the West and a win over a shorthanded Blazers team should be a given.
NBA Pick – Los Angeles Clippers (-340)
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Minnesota Timberwolves @ Sacramento Kings – 10PM ET
We close out the night with the Sacramento Kings hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves. The teams are 5.5 and 14 games, respectively, out of the last play-in spot in the West, let alone 17.5 and 28 games behind the Jazz in top spot.
Sacramento ended last week with a 121-107 win in Dallas, snapping their nine game losing streak that had gone on for three weeks. De’Aaron Fox continues to be the catalyst for the Kings, putting up 30 points and a game high 12 assists while Harrison Barnes and Terence Davis combined for 47 points on 69% shooting.
De’Aaron Fox’s playmaking was on full display in the @SacramentoKings win! 🔥@swipathefox: 30 PTS, 12 AST pic.twitter.com/R37MPYp5xN
— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2021
Minnesota on the other hand lost three of four games last week, beating the Heat by eight on Friday with losses to the Nets, Bucks and Clippers surrounding that. All three losses were by an average of 25 points but all four of those teams are of a much higher quality than the Kings.
The combination of Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns with D’Angelo Russell coming off the bench has been working wonders for the Timberwolves offensively but against three of the top six teams in the league, it may not pan out the way they want. Sacramento is owner of the worst defensive rating, giving up the most points per game and may find it difficult to slow the Timberwolves down.
NBA Pick – Minnesota Timberwolves (+150)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
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