NBA Expert Picks and Best Bets | April 4

With the playoffs drawing ever closer, the NBA games are arriving fast. The NBA fans will have an opportunity to watch ten teams face off on the hardwood on Thursday evening and to wager on interesting NBA sports betting opportunities. Philadelphia 76ers vs. Miami Heat is one of the matchups to follow. The home team will face their upcoming guests for the fourth time this campaign. Bam Adebayo and the 76ers will want to go 3-1 with a victory, while the 76ers will want to keep things level and get a third consecutive win.

This, too, might be an end-to-end contest, with the Heat currently a -2.5 favorite. Sacramento Kings and New York Knicks will face off at the famous Madison Square Garden, and the game will not be a lack of competitive odds. The hosts will be eager to end their three-match skid and get back on track. The Knicks have a -3.5 spread for this match, but few gamblers will be swayed by their recent form.

We would also recommend keeping an eye on the proceedings at the Toyota Center, where Houston Rockets will lock horns with a visiting Golden State Warriors side. The Warriors bagged the bragging rights in both of these two team’s previous meetings this season. Can they make it 3-0? They have a -4 spread ahead of the trip to Downtown Houston. 

Heat -2.5 | -112 at FanDuel

Injuries have taken a severe toll on the 76ers’ NBA campaign. The return of Joel Embiid could have been the much-needed boost the 76ers needed before they hopped on to the flight to the Magic City.  Embiid featured in Philly’s win against Thunders at home, but the center is fighting against time to recover from a knee problem ahead of the Heat clash.

Nick Nurse would hope to see his star man recover in time to stop a Miami Heat side that are looking for their fourth win in a row. Terry Rozier, the Heat’s latest acquisition,stole the show in Miami’s last outing when they beat the New York Knicks. Miami have now seen off the Blazers, Wizards and Knicks in their last three games and are breathing down Indiana’s neck for the crucial sixth spot. If they can keep on the momentum, it could steer them clear off the Play-In stage.

Sports betting fans would be keenly looking at this seemingly even match-up. Both teams appear to be on a resurgent run. Fanduel Sportsbook has given the hosts a -2.5 spread and we believe they will be the side who will leave the court with the win.

Miami Heat have covered the spread in four of their last seven games. That’s a solid 64% success rate.  The 76ers’ two match winning streak narrowed the margins, but Miami should pack enough heat to put the injury-ridden visitors down tonight.

Kings +3.5 | -110 at BetMGM

The spoils went to the underdogs the last time these two had met. The New York Knicks defied the odds to pick up an away win the last time their paths crossed with the Sacramento Kings. They would hope to replicate that feat in their own backyard when they challenge the Kings to play in front of a jam-packed Garden crowd.

BetMGM sportsbook favors the home side with a -3.5 spread, but the records of both teams heading into this battle are identical (44-31). The Knicks would be drawing inspiration from their seven-point win in the reverse fixture that came just a few weeks back. However, it might not be enough to settle the nerves in the New York camp as the Eastern Conference side seeks their first win in four attempts.

The Kings, on the other hand, have been on a roll lately. They could not start the season with guns blazing, but they have picked up the pace in recent weeks. The Kings have won six out of their nine matches, and two of their last three away games.

The visitors have their own injury woes to deal with, but the hosts seem to be the most affected by absentees. This will be a tricky trip for Mike Brown’s men, but they have the pace in their frontline to trouble the Knicks' defense. The Kings have shown incredible resilience when labeled as underdogs this season. They have a 15-9 ATS record when they are not the bookie’s favorite. Only two more teams can beat that stat in the ongoing NBA season. For this reason, we are backing the Kings here.

Warriors -4 | -108 at DraftKings

The Warriors will be looking to make it three wins in a row against their Western Conference rivals. This is a tie that promises fireworks as we will get to see the 10th-placed Warriors trying to move further away from the 11th-placed Rockets. With only seven more games to come, both teams will be desperate for a win to keep their fading playoff hopes alive.

Warriors’ late surge makes them the ultimate favorite in this tie. That’s why it doesn’t come as a surprise that DraftKings sportsbook has slapped a -4 spread on them. They have won five matches on the bounce and will be confident of continuing the push.

Houston Rockets, on the contrary, will look to claw back from back-to-back defeats. The latest results have thrown a spanner in their rejuvenated playoff hopes. Earlier they were on a 11-match winning streak, but they can barely afford to lose another game if they are to avoid another spending another season outside the playoff spots.

This game seems to be perfectly set for another Warriors win. They are 4-1 ATS in their last five outings. We expect another stellar display from F Draymond Green and another Warriors victory that will keep their playoff prospects bright and burning.