After a massive 4-1 Wednesday, our NBA picks is ready to go again with five massive contests this evening!
Can the Nets snap their three game losing streak or with the Mavs add some more misery? Who will win the third and final battle of LA? We have all of the answers and the best free NBA picks for you below, so don’t miss out!
Chicago Bulls @ Charlotte Hornets – 7PM ET
A pair of struggling Eastern Conference teams face off in an attempt to find some form heading into the end of the season. The seventh placed Charlotte Hornets have gone just 2-3 over their last five games, beating the lowly Pistons twice. Meanwhile the 12th placed Chicago Bulls have lost four straight but are getting a key piece back that could turn things around for them.
After missing the last 11 games, with Chicago going just 4-7 over that span, Zach LaVine is set to return to the lineup in an attempt to thrust the Bulls into the 10th seed. He is definitely needed as their four straight losses have all been by 10+ points, with Monday’s home loss to Philadelphia being 94-106.
Nikola Vucevic has also missed the last two, which hasn’t helped their chances of winning, but he is also set to return in this clash and the Hornets are coming in lacking the form of a side that is still playing for their postseason lives.
Returning soon… pic.twitter.com/FYNUn1p2h4
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) May 5, 2021
Tuesday night saw them just get over the line in Detroit, winning 102-99. LaMelo Ball, in his third game back from injury, posted 24 points, seven boards and six assists to lead the team while Terry Rozier made multiple clutch shots to help seal the win.
These sides played just two weeks ago, in Chicago, and the Bulls picked up a massive 17 point win. That has to give them a tonne of confidence heading into this clash, especially with LaVine back in the lineup. However, we expect there may be some teething issues with integrating him back into the rotation and Charlotte has more to play for right now.
The Bulls have slipped to 3.5 games back from the 10th seed, effectively being unable to overcome that gap. Meanwhile the Hornets are currently in eighth, 2.5 games back from sixth and two games clear of ninth. They need to keep winning to give themselves every chance of moving up in the standings, but also holding off the Pacers and Wizards to ensure they get the double chance play-in seed. Especially at home, the Hornets have more on the line and should come out with more intent.
NBA Pick – Charlotte Hornets (+116)
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Brooklyn Nets @ Dallas Mavericks – 7:30PM ET
The in-form Dallas Mavericks host the out-of-form Brooklyn Nets in what is a must win clash for both sides. The Mavs have gone 7-2 in their last nine games and find themselves fifth in the West, tied with the Lakers and just 0.5 games ahead of the Blazers. Meanwhile the Nets have dropped three straight, falling two games behind the Sixers for top of the East while sitting just one game ahead of Milwaukee.
The Bucks are the team that most recently conquered the Nets, beating them in two straight games. After a 114-117 loss on Sunday, Brooklyn saw themselves holding a two point lead heading into the fourth quarter on Tuesday night but couldn’t hold on, losing 118-124. Brooklyn gave up an 18-1 run in the decisive last period with Kevin Durant falling off a cliff offensively. He and Kyrie Irving combined for 70 points but had minimal help from the rest of the roster and, once again, defense was a big issue.
Dallas, with the eighth best offense in the league, will be looking to take advantage of the Nets’ poor defense and pick up a second straight win. On Tuesday, Dallas went down to Miami, a top 10 defense, and put up 127 points in a massive 14 point win. Luka Doncic had another great game with 23 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists but the game ball went to Tim Hardaway Jr. After stepping into the starting lineup, a rarity for Hardaway Jr, he went nuts from behind the arc, shooting 10/18 from deep to finish with 36 points for the game.
While they have the better form heading into this clash, Dallas faces the problem of facing a top flight team with Kristaps Porzingis on the sidelines yet again. After missing six of their last seven games, Porzingis has already been ruled out of this clash, which isn’t a good sign. Without him, the Mavs are actually a better defensive side and all of the pressure goes onto Dorian Finney-Smith to guard Durant for the entire night, something he is capable of doing but that is also a very tough assignment.
These sides met 10 weeks ago in Brooklyn and the Mavs picked up the 17 point win. The Nets played that with Harden in the lineup without Durant or Irving, the opposite of what tonight’s situation will be for them. Two is always better than one, and that should be the case tonight. Dallas with just one of their stars while Brooklyn has two and they should pick up this must-win game.
NBA Pick – Brooklyn Nets (-176)
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Washington Wizards @ Toronto Raptors – 7:30PM ET
The Toronto Raptors return to Tampa Bay for a season defining clash with the Washington Wizards tonight. With just three games separating the sides with only six games remaining, Toronto needs to claim this win if they are to have any chance of catching the tenth placed Wizards by the end of the regular season.
A shorthanded Toronto side almost stole one from the Clippers on Tuesday night, playing without Kyle Lowry, OG Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr but losing by only five points, 100-105. Fred VanVleet dominated play for the Raptors, finishing with 27 points and 13 assists while Pascal Siakam had 24 points but ultimately they didn’t have enough polish down the stretch.
Lowry is already confirmed to be back in the lineup while Anunoby and Trent Jr are less likely to get a run in this one due to their injuries. That is a massive blow for Toronto in this must win matchups, especially with Washington having played last night and having to travel all the way down south from Milwaukee.
With 42 PTS tonight, Bradley Beal tallied his 29th career 40+ point game, passing Gilbert Arenas for the most in Washington franchise history. pic.twitter.com/ZvT3mkXcct
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) May 6, 2021
Despite some incredible from their two stars, Washington’s defense let them down again. Bradley Beal finished with 42 points on 58.3% shooting while Russell Westbrook had a monster 29 point, 17 assists and 12 rebound triple double, but they gave up 135 points to the Bucks and couldn’t keep up, just. Despite winning the fourth quarter by seven points, the Wizards still fell one point short of the upset.
Toronto have claimed both of the previous matchups between the two sides, but both of those games came before Washington’s second half tear. Since the last time they played Toronto, the Wizards have gone 13-4, thrusting themselves into the play-in behind some incredible offensive outputs. They haven’t scored under 115 points in their last 14 games and that sort of offensive firepower will be too much for the Raptors to handle and keep up with in this one.
NBA Pick – Washington Wizards (+102)
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Atlanta Hawks @ Indiana Pacers – 8PM ET
One night after knocking off the Suns, who have the best road record in the league, the Atlanta Hawks get on the plane to face the Indiana Pacers tonight. That win was the Hawks third straight while their opponents have dropped four of their last five, including to the lowly Kings last night.
While they are still missing Malcolm Brogdon, who is likely out again tonight, the Pacers managed just 93 points against the worst rated defense in the league. Domantas Sabonis scored 17 points on 77.8% shooting, along with 12 boards and eight assists, but Caris LeVert managed just 14 points on only 27.8% shooting. The issue for the Pacers, alongside their poor shooting, was committing 22 turnovers for the game. This resulted in them taking 12 less shots than the Kings and they simply weren’t able to put a winning score on the board.
Atlanta on the other hand, against the sixth best defense in the league, put up a massive 135 points. Seven different players scored 13+, led by Clint Capela’s 18 point, 10 rebound and two block night. No one who played over 10 minutes shot worse than 50% from the field as the Hawks shot an incredible 63.1% for the game and seem to be in a groove on both ends of the floor with their set rotation at the moment.
The Pacers don’t look like stopping anybody, giving up 130+ on three occasions over this five game stretch and the Hawks, with their ninth ranked offense, should be looking to take advantage of this. The big query is that both sides played last night, with the Hawks being just 5-8 when playing with no rest compared to Indiana’s 9-5. That is a massive difference and, especially given they haven’t had to travel, it is a big advantage to the Pacers. Atlanta, albeit it with Trae Young sidelined, recently beat the Bucks and then lost in Detroit the next night, which isn’t a good sign for this clash.
In saying that, their most recent back to back set saw them lose to the Sixers and then come out and take care of the Bulls. On top of that, last time these sides met the Hawks picked up a comfortable 12 point win and given how both sides are playing right now, we see no reason why that should change. Atlanta is the form team while the Pacers are struggling towards the end of the season, so we are taking the Hawks as road favorites in this one.
NBA Pick – Atlanta Hawks (-196)
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Los Angeles Lakers @ Los Angeles Clippers – 10PM ET
We get the third and final battle of Los Angeles tonight as the Clippers ‘host’ the Lakers and will attempt to sweep the season series. Both the Clippers and Lakers have played the Nuggets and Raptors in their last two games with the two sides losing to and beating opposing sides.
The Lakers lost to the Raptors on Sunday night before backing up on Monday and beating the in-form Nuggets. The purple and gold, who had lost six of their previous seven games, held Denver, who had won nine of their last 10, to just 89 points in a four point win. With LeBron James on the sidelines, like he will be tonight, Anthony Davis unleashed for a dominant performance with 25 points, seven rebounds and three blocks.
The issue for the Lakers is not only James, but also Dennis Schroder, won’t be out there on the floor and while they picked up the shock upset over Denver, the Clippers are a much different side and will be hungry in this one. It isn’t often the Clippers get to sweep the season series with their upstairs neighbours, so you better believe they will come out hard in this one.
.@MookMorris2 was money.
🎯 @Kia Performance of the Game pic.twitter.com/TwogLIoozo
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) May 5, 2021
In Tuesday’s win over the Raptors, Paul George and Marcus Morris Sr both top scored for the Clips with 22 points while Reggie Jackson chipped in with 18, five and five. A big positive for the Clippers is they picked up the win despite Kawhi Leonard having an extremely quiet night, 13 points and five assists, whilst also welcoming back Patrick Beverley. The combination of him and Rajon Rondo give the Clips a tenacious point guard duo that will put fear into most opposing guards.
Given Rondo played for and won a championship with the Lakers last season, he will clearly know their schemes and how to get under their skin, something he is good at already. While they may not have necessarily needed it in this matchup, it gives the Clippers an extra edge that should see them get over the line against their weakened opponents.
NBA Pick – Los Angeles Clippers (-330)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
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