Another 4-1 night from our free NBA picks last night and we keep bringing in profits for our followers! We have another five games for you tonight, so you won’t want to miss out on our action.
The Nuggets and Clippers both face easy opponents this evening in what is must-win contests in their race for third place in the West. Meanwhile the Wizards host the Cavs in a game where a win would see them potentially jump from tenth to eighth!
Who do we have coming out on top? Who are the best bets of the night? We have all of the answers for you below in our free NBA picks to tonight.
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Washington Wizards – 7PM ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers surprised everyone on Wednesday night with their home victory over the Celtics, snapping their 11 game losing streak in the process. Can they back it up tonight though? The Cavs are now on the road against a desperate Washington Wizards side that has dropped two straight games.
Bradley Beal missed both of those with a hamstring complaint and has already been ruled out of this clash, meaning it all comes down to Russell Westbrook yet again. In Wednesday’s 116-120 loss in Atlanta, Westbrook put up 34 points and 15 assists but didn’t have enough consistent help to get over the line.
The team shot just 44.6% from the field with only one player shooting over 50%, but they should be able to turn that around against a Cleveland side that ranks 27th for defensive rating this season. Before their victory over the Celtics, a team that beat twice at home this season, Cleveland’s 11 straight losses included going down to the Wizards and saw them lose by less than 10 points on just four occasions.
Kevin Love tonight:
30 points
14 rebounds
3 assists
2 steals
10/16 FG
6/9 3PT
4/4 FT pic.twitter.com/zxPVkV7YHw— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) May 13, 2021
This out-of-turn victory was made possible by a throwback performance from Kevin Love. The often-injured, champion power forward had 30 points and 14 rebounds, both game highs, in a game that reminded us of his Minnesota days. He wasn’t alone, with Collin Sexton playing a great second fiddle to put up 28 points and eight assists, helping guide the Cavs to victory.
Unfortunately for Cleveland, the win has worked against them and pushed them a game clear of a coveted bottom three spot in the league. That makes us think that they will be inclined to perform worse through their last two games and gives Washington, who should win anyway, a perfect opportunity to bounce back. While they haven’t locked in their play-in spot they are just a game behind Charlotte up in eighth and every win is important, including this one.
NBA Pick – Washington Wizards (-310)
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Denver Nuggets @ Detroit Pistons – 8PM ET
While this game means nothing to the Detroit Pistons, who will be without most of their good players, everything is on the line for the Denver Nuggets. Detroit has the second worst record in the league and is trying to lose to keep a bottom three record for lottery purposes, however Denver is just a game behind the Clippers and is desperately trying to jump them for third in the West.
The worry for Denver is that they played in Minnesota last night but their 114-103 win allowed them to keep minutes relatively low for their main stars. Six different Nuggets scored in double figures, led by none other than Nikola Jokic’s 31 points and 14 rebounds, with the big man continuing to push further ahead in MVP favoritism.
Denver is an even 6-6 on the second night of back to back games this season, but against this Detroit team, they should have no problems. Detroit hosted the same Minnesota team that Denver just beat and lost 100-119. With the likes of Jerami Grant and Mason Plumlee sitting out games despite being healthy, Detroit is relying on rookies and journeymen to keep them competitive, something that isn’t working.
The Nuggets beat a full strength Detroit side by 15 points when they met earlier in the season and we are worried about what the margin could be against the depleted version tonight. Given Denver finishes the season in Portland, a tough game given their form, this is a must win and then they will hope for an LA slip up.
NBA Pick – Denver Nuggets (-460)
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Los Angeles Clippers @ Houston Rockets – 9PM ET
In a very similar battle to the previous, we have a team on the bottom of their conference hosting a team fighting for third place in the West. This game sees the Houston Rockets host the Los Angeles Clippers in a game that clearly means more to one team than the other.
The Clippers come into the game with great form, beating the Raptors by 19 on Tuesday before smashing the Hornets by 23 points last night. LA got it done on both ends of the floor, having four different players score 15+ while keeping the Hornets to just 90 points for the game.
Reggie Vision.
🎯@Kia Performance of the Game pic.twitter.com/mbajEGpfEO
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) May 14, 2021
Houston on the other hand have lost seven straight games and don’t look like snapping that streak before the end of the season. With John Wall, Christian Wood and Kevin Porter Jr on the sidelines, the Rockets have no players that can help them win games and will be outmatched in this one. While they only lost to the Lakers by two points on Wednesday, they faced a side without their three best players and still couldn’t take advantage.
Los Angeles is playing incredibly well right now and could even get Serge Ibaka back into the rotation for this clash, which will only help their chances. The Clippers have won both of the previous matchups and given how both teams are playing at the moment, we see no reason why they won’t win the third.
NBA Pick – Los Angeles Clippers (-600)
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Toronto Raptors @ Dallas Mavericks – 9PM ET
With Portland losing in Phoenix last night, the door has opened up for the Dallas Mavericks to stake a claim on the fifth seed out West. In order to do so, they must overcome the Toronto Raptors. A team that is resting all of their starters and attempting to tank in any way possible.
The Raptors had just eight available players last night, lining up without Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam, just to name a few. Without their regular rotation available, the Raptors lost 102-114 in Chicago last night and now have to back it up again tonight against a very good Dallas team.
After a small hiccup in Memphis on Tuesday night, the Mavs returned to the winners list on Wednesday, beating the Pelicans by 18 points. Luka Doncic led the way with 33, eight and eight but the most important factor for Dallas was that Kristaps Porzingis, after missing seven straight and 10 of the last 11, successfully returned to the floor.
With the Mavericks seemingly back to full health, they could be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs. A very big step up from the level of the Raptors in this one. Toronto are trying to lose while Dallas are doing everything they can to win, and that will show in this contest tonight.
NBA Pick – Dallas Mavericks (-1100)
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New Orleans Pelicans @ Golden State Warriors – 9:30PM ET
For the third time in two weeks, the Golden State Warriors and New Orleans Pelicans face off. Only this time, just one of the two sides have something to play for. New Orleans have now been eliminated from play-in contention while the Warriors are tied with the Grizzlies for eighth in the West, with the double chance play-in game on the line.
Golden State have given themselves every chance to secure the eighth seed, beating Utah and Phoenix on consecutive nights to start the week. Andrew Wiggins stepped up In their 122-116 win over the Suns on Tuesday, with his 38 points offsetting Steph Curry’s terrible shooting night.
BACK TO BACK WINS ON #WarriorsGround pic.twitter.com/YDv8KWAiHw
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) May 12, 2021
Since the two sides last met, with Golden State winning then New Orleans winning on the very next night, there has been a massive differential in performance. The Warriors have gone a perfect 4-0 since then while the Pelicans have gone just 1-3, playing without Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Steven Adams.
While Williamson is out for the season, both Ingram and Adams have been upgraded to questionable for tonight’s game. Their inclusion would obviously give the Pelicans a massive lift but it is hard to see how they can overcome the red-hot Warriors tonight.
New Orleans have nothing to play for through the last three days of the regular season. Meanwhile the Warriors play the Grizzlies on Sunday in what could be a win-and-you’re-in scenario for the eighth seed, but they have to win tonight in order to get there.
NBA Pick – Golden State Warriors (-255)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
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