The 2023-24 NBA regular season is over and we have turned the page to the NBA Playoffs. Throughout the postseason, Jonathan Von Tobel will continue to provide you with his exceptional coverage of the greatest league in the world. Just click here for all of his content. However, all of my picks will be featured in this daily column, which will combine my NBA best bets and NBA player props. So, keep reading to find out how I’m playing the playoff games on Tuesday, April 30th. Also, check out our NBA Playoffs Betting Hub for all of our series previews and additional postseason content.
We also put together an NBA Playoffs Betting Primer with in-depth analysis for everything you’ll see the next couple of weeks.
MORE: Check out our Pro Picks page for everything our experts have on April 30
NBA Best Bets Today – April 30
Orlando Magic at Cleveland Cavaliers – 8:00 pm ET
Indiana Pacers at Milwaukee Bucks – 9:30 pm ET
I haven’t been reading the lines the way I’d like in the postseason, and I don’t see anything that I absolutely love tonight. However, I do think Orlando will keep things respectable against Cleveland — and I honestly think there’s a chance the Magic win outright. I also like the Pacers to end the series against the Bucks, but I don’t want to lay anything more than three on the road. With that in mind, I’m turning to a 4.5-point two-team teaser this evening.
The Magic have clearly figured some things out in this series. I originally liked Cleveland to handle Orlando with relative ease, but the Magic are dominating the glass and defending the 3-point line at a high level. As long as they continue to do that, they should have a great chance of advancing. And the way Orlando won Games 3 and 4 can’t be ignored. The Cavaliers have allowed the Magic to pick up some steam. They now enter Game 5 with real confidence. And Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner just look unstoppable on the wing, which is where Cleveland is a little weak. Meanwhile, Jalen Suggs is good for shutting down one of the two Cavaliers guards. Overall, the tide is turning here and I feel better about Orlando avoiding a double-digit loss than Cleveland winning. And it helps that Jamahl Mosley is the better head coach in this series, by far.
As far as the Pacers go, I just can’t see the Bucks winning without Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Indiana has two blowout victories in the last three games in this series, and the one close game was an overtime loss in which Lillard was out there. Without him, there’s a little too much falling on Khris Middleton, and the veteran wing doesn’t have much help. Meanwhile, the Pacers are buzzing and likely want to get this done so they can rest up before their next series. So, it might be a little harder in a road environment, but Indiana should end this tonight.
TEASER: Magic +9.5 & Pacers +0.5 (-120 – 2 units)
NBA Player Props Today – April 30
Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks – 7:00 pm ET
Josh Hart has had at least 13 rebounds in three of the four games in this series, and I don’t see any reason he won’t hit that mark here. Since the start of the postseason, Hart is averaging 21.5 rebound chances per game. So, even though he’s a perimeter player, he’s getting in the paint and rebounding like he’s a center. He’s just relentless in his pursuit of the basketball, and I think he’ll show up with some serious energy with the Knicks on the brink of eliminating the Sixers. Hart also averaged 1.1 more rebounds per game at home than he did on the road during the regular season, so he likes the added adrenaline that the Madison Square Garden crowd gives him. And it doesn’t hurt that Hart will flirt with 48 minutes in this game. Tom Thibodeau refuses to take this man off the basketball court.
Bet: Hart Over 12.5 Rebounds (+104 – 1.5 units)
Orlando Magic at Cleveland Cavaliers – 8:00 pm ET
I went to Gary Harris’ 3-point total in Game 2 and the 29-year-old drilled four triples. Well, I’m going back to it in a pivotal Game 5. Harris has only made one triple over the last two games, and he averaged only 22.5 minutes per game in those contests. But those were also two home blowouts, so the Magic were able to get some bench guys big minutes. But this game should be a lot closer than the last two, so Harris should see his usual 30-minute workload. And if he does, I love him to hit multiple 3s at plus-money odds. Harris is out there for his ability to space the floor. So, he’ll get some opportunities to launch away. And he can handle the electric atmosphere in Cleveland.
Bet: Harris Over 1.5 Made 3s (+108 – 1.5 units)
2023-24 Record: 346-361-3 (-5.11 units)
