NBA Playoffs Round 1: Free NBA Picks Today for Saturday, April 15th, 2023

Our free NBA picks are out for Saturday, April 15th, 2023! Make sure you check our NBA picks before the action kicks off.

Look below to find our free NBA picks for the five best games on today’s schedule!

Brooklyn Nets @ Philadelphia 76ers – 1pm ET

Tony Battalio

The Brooklyn Nets had a lot higher hopes for this season, but by the time the trade deadline came around it was clear that their experiment with the big three had failed. They traded away Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, and still managed to sneak into the playoffs, despite a rough ending to the season. Now they get set to face the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round series, and they didn’t beat them once during the regular season in four opportunities. That’s not to say it’s impossible, as this Brooklyn team has a solid amount of talent even without the two superstars, but they will have to work hard if they want to win the series against Phila.

The Philadelphia 76ers may have their best opportunity to date to make a run to the NBA championship. Joel Embiid is playing the best basketball of his career and is likely going to win the most valuable player award in a short amount of time. James Harden, staying healthy and playing solid basketball as well and their key role pieces like Tyrese Maxey and others are playing well this season. But first they will have to get past the Brooklyn Nets, and if the regular season tells us anything there’s a good shot that will happen. They defeated Brooklyn all four times these two teams met throughout the regular season and I expect them to grab the victory in game number one as well

Atlanta Hawks @ Boston Celtics – 3:30pm ET

Tony Battalio

The Atlanta Hawks and I had a gutsy performance in their play-in round victory over the Miami Heat, and their reward is getting to face the Boston Celtics. Atlanta will have to give their best effort of the season and play their best basketball of the season if they want to win four games and advance against a team as tough as Boston. Trae Young will be a deciding factor in this series, and if he plays well Atlanta has a fighting chance. The Atlanta Hawks finished the regular season dead even with 41 victories and 41 losses after they failed to get more than two games above 500 throughout the back half of the season.

The Boston Celtics come into this one with perhaps the best shot to win an NBA championship in a long time. Guys like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are staying healthy and playing great basketball, and if their role pieces contribute throughout the playoffs, they will likely be in the Eastern Conference Finals with relative ease. Boston finished as one of the best teams in the league this season, and now they are getting ready to make a championship run in this first round series against the Hawks. Boston was one of the best home teams in the NBA this season as well so I think they will get a comfortable victory in this one over Atlanta.

New York Knicks @ Cleveland Cavaliers – 6pm ET

Tony Battalio

The New York Knicks have spent a lot of money over the last couple of seasons to improve their team, and it is starting to pay off as they come into this game as the fifth seed in the Eastern conference. Julius Randle is likely to be back for this game, and Jalen Brunson is healthy and playing great basketball, which gives the Knicks a huge chance against the Cleveland Cavaliers in this series. New York and Cleveland played some solid games between each other during the regular season, but it means more in the playoffs and the Knicks will have to put on a solid performance to get the victory in game one.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been incredible on their own home floor this season. Their newest acquisition, Donovan Mitchell is also one of the best playoff performers in the entire league. Mitchell has instantly elevated this Cavaliers team to NBA championship contenders, and anything less than an Eastern conference finals appearance would probably be considered a disappointment of a season. Cleveland comes into this game, healthy and rested after making their first playoff appearance in half a decade. I have them picking up the victory here in game number one led by an incredible performance from Donovan Mitchell.

Golden State Warriors @ Sacramento Kings – 8:30pm ET

Tony Battalio

The Golden State Warriors look nothing like they did last season when they rolled their way to an NBA championship. However, their entire roster is back and they are healthy and despite the fact that they are a lower seed in the Western Conference, there is a very real chance they could make another finals run if they stay healthy throughout the playoffs. They have struggled mightily on the road this season and that will be the first big hurdle for them to overcome on their path to defend their title. Now they come into this one playing a Kings team that hasn’t made a playoff appearance in over two decades until this season. They will certainly have to give it their all if they want to grab a victory in game number one.

The Sacramento Kings have played well this season, and the production from guys like De’Aaron Fox, Keegan, Murray, and Domantas Sabonis has led them to be a top three seed in the Western Conference. If they remain healthy, they have a legitimate shot to make a run in the Western Conference, and could potentially find themselves making a Western Conference Finals appearance. They’ve been a very tough team to beat at home this season, and I expect them to come out in this game and play well against the defending NBA champions. As I have the Sacramento Kings grabbing the victory in game number one of the series.

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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.