NBA Best Bets for Sunday, April 7th
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NBA Best Bets
Record: 113-109-3 | Units: -4.3 | ROI: -1.8%
*Cleveland Cavaliers at Los Angeles Clippers (-4, 220.5)
The Clippers are slowly but surely turning things around at the right time. After a win and cover over Utah on Friday night, Los Angeles is 7-3 SU/4-6 ATS in its last 10 games. In their last six games – in which they are 5-1 SU – the Clippers have limited opponents to 110.6 points per 100 possessions. Perhaps it is foolish to buy into this turnaround for Los Angeles, but I am a stubborn man.
Cleveland is not in a good spot right now. It’s playing its fifth game in eight days with no rest. The team is 3-7 SU/2-8 ATS in its last eight games, and over that span it has been outscored by 8.6 points every 100 possessions of non-garbage time. Donovan Mitchell – who is questionable at best after playing 38 minutes yesterday – has averaged just 14.8 points on 35.2% shooting from the floor since returning from knee and nose injuries.
This play is a massive risk. Los Angeles is perfectly capable of no-showing this contest, much like it did against Sacramento last week. The Clippers have also played somewhat poorly at home over a larger sample size, but they never trailed in a wire-to-wire win and cover over the Jazz on Friday night. I’m a believer in Los Angeles, so let’s put that belief on the line today.
Best Bet: Clippers (-3.5) – Playable to (-4)
Washington Wizards at Toronto Raptors (-4.5, 225.5)
Washington’s interim coach Brian Keefe has the Wizards fighting late in the season, and that could be a massive edge tonight against another eliminated opponent. Washington is 5-3-1 ATS in its last nine games, and it has big wins over Milwaukee, Chicago and Sacramento over that span. That competitive play could be a massive edge for them here against Toronto.
Like everyone else these days, the Raptors have a win over the Milwaukee Bucks. However, that win snapped an 0-5 ATS slide for Toronto. Since Feb. 28, the Raptors are 2-17 SU/4-15 ATS. Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett are back on the floor, but those two won’t do much for a defense which is 29th in non-garbage time defensive efficiency (121.3) over that span.
These two are not that far off from one another from a power rating standpoint. They are both facing identical rest situations as well. My hope is that Kyle Kuzma plays after sitting out the Wizards’ loss to the Trail Blazers. Regardless, there’s some value in playing the underdog here.
Best Bet: Wizards (+4) – Playable to (+3.5)
New York Knicks at Milwaukee Bucks (-2.5, 219.5)
This play comes with a massive risk, as Giannis Antetokounmpo is questionable with a hamstring injury. Antetokounmpo missed the Bucks’ loss to the Raptors on Friday night, so I would assume he makes an appearance today. Especially given the situation Milwaukee finds itself in.
The Bucks have lost three straight; all of them as favorites of 12 points or more. Damian Lillard did not play in the first two losses, and Antetokounmpo missed the third. With both on the floor bettors should get a much better effort, especially against a team like the Knicks, which they matchup well with.
New York got OG Anunoby back on Friday night, but this team is still in desperate need of shot creators. Milwaukee has a size advantage at almost every position. The Knicks start three guards, and Deuce McBride is playing nearly 40 minutes a game. If there was a bounce-back spot for a team after three straight losses, this would be it.
Best Bet: Bucks (-3.5) – Playable at (-3.5) or better
NBA Best Bets
Clippers (-3)
Wizards (+4)
Bucks (-3.5)
