NBA Playoffs Round 1: Free NBA Picks Today for Sunday, April 23rd, 2023

Our free NBA picks are out for Sunday, April 23rd, 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!

Cleveland Cavaliers @ New York Knicks – 1PM ET

Tony Battalio

The Cleveland Cavaliers will be looking to bounce back after their rough performance in game number three of this series. This game four almost feels like a must win game for the Cleveland Cavaliers as they would like to avoid going down three games to one before. Heading back home to Cleveland for game five. They will have to be a lot better on the defensive end, and the offensive end as they became the first NBA team to score under 80 points this season with their pitiful, shooting performance in game number three of the series. Donovan Mitchell will have to step up once again and Darius Garland will have to play a lot better than he did in game number three if the Cavs want to get the victory. 

The New York Knicks are currently in a fantastic spot as they leave the series heading into game number four and their second game at home as well. Now they will be looking to pick up their third victory of the series and protect their home court which is something the cavaliers couldn’t do as they dropped one game to the Knicks at home in Cleveland. Jalen Brunson will have to be the catalyst once again for this offense, and Julius Randle will have to replicate his performance from game three as well. I look for that to happen, as I expect the New York Knicks to pick up the victory here in game number four of the series against Cleveland.

Sacramento Kings @ Golden State Warriors – 3:30PM ET

Tony Battalio

The Sacramento Kings played well, but they were unable to take a three games to zero lead over the defending NBA champions, in game number three. Now they will be looking to bounce back here in game number four and steal a game in the bay area to take a three games to one lead and put Golden State on the brink of elimination. De’Aaron Fox will have to play well once again, as they will look to find an answer for Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson’s hot shooting. The Kings are a very solid team and if they get hot at the right time, they are a team that is very capable of making a deep run during this postseason. 

The Golden State Warriors got a much needed victory in game number three of the series against Sacramento. It was made better by the fact that they were able to do it without Draymond Green in the line up after his suspension for stomping on Domantas Sabonis chest in game number two. Now Golden State will look to grab a second consecutive victory over Sacramento here in game number four on Sunday afternoon at home. They will have to replicate their performance from game number three of this series and that is exactly what I expect here on Sunday afternoon. As I look for the Golden State Warriors to pick up a close whenever Sacramento to even up the series before heading in the game five.

Boston Celtics @ Atlanta Hawks – 7PM ET

Tony Battalio

The Boston Celtics regressed in game number three of the series against the Atlanta Hawks. Now they will be looking to bounce back in game number four and take a three games to one lead before heading back to Boston for game five. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will have to replicate their play from game three of the series, and they will have to find a way to stop Trae Young here in game four as well. If the Celtics team can remain healthy, they should be able to bounce back here in game four against the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night.

The Atlanta Hawks played their best basketball game of the season in game number three and it got them a hard earned and much-needed victory over the Boston Celtics. Now they will be looking to replicate that performance and even up this series at two games a piece before heading back to Boston for game five. Trae Young and Dejounte Murray were instrumental in the Hawks victory, and they will have to play a similar type of game here in game number four on Sunday night if the Hawks want to get another victory over Boston. However, I just can’t see that happening as I think the Boston Celtics get it together and pick up the victory in this game.

Denver Nuggets @ Minnesota Timberwolves – 9:30PM ET

Tony Battalio

The Denver Nuggets come into this game, looking to sweep the Minnesota Timberwolves here on Sunday night on the road in Minnesota. Nikola Jokić has been the catalyst behind three consecutive solid performances from Denver, and they will be looking for a fourth consecutive solid performance here in this one. He is one of the most consistent players in the league and you can always expect him to put up decent numbers no matter who the opponent is or what the situation is. As long as Nikola Jokić and the key role players for the Denver Nuggets remain healthy this is a team that is capable of making a deep run in the postseason.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have their backs against the wall, and they will be desperate for a victory in this one to keep their season alive. They will have to play the best basketball game of the season and Anthony Edwards will have to replicate his game three performance where he dropped over 30 points on Denver. If the stars don’t align perfectly for the Minnesota Timberwolves, then they will be facing a first round exit and a disappointing end to a frustrating season. Unfortunately for Minnesota that is exactly what I expected. I think Denver picks up the victory in this one.

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