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NBA Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Sunday (4/9)

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It’s the final day of the NBA regular season for 2022-23. All 30 teams are in action as much of the playoff picture has been determined, but there are still some teams that need wins or losses to move around the standings. All 15 games on the schedule are matinees so keep an eye early for lines changing drastically due to lineups being announced. Based on what we know now about who is playing, here are my best bets for the final Sunday of the NBA season.

Season to Date: 28-23-2, +2.35 units

Sunday’s Best NBA Bets

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.

New Orleans Pelicans at Minnesota Timberwolves

This is the one game that has the most at stake for Sunday. Whichever team wins will wrap up the 8-seed and likely play the Lakers on Tuesday for a chance at the 7-seed. The loser will host the Thunder on Wednesday in a do-or-die game.

Given the stakes, I’m assuming the regular starters are playing for both teams, even with Minnesota on a back-to-back, they should play everyone. Both of these teams have dealt with a multitude of injuries but are healthier now than they’ve been all year. Even though Minnesota is the home team, I like the Pelicans on the spread in this spot.

The Pelicans have finished the regular season on fire. They’re 8-2 SU in their last ten and 7-2-1 ATS. This is a team that finished last year strong and impressed in a short playoff stint. They’ve been a really solid rebounding team this year which has led them to a sixth-ranked adjusted defensive rating. That success on the boards is something Minnesota has struggled with as they rank 27th and 26th in offensive and defensive rebounding, respectively.

New Orleans is the better team and when the playoffs come around that is all that matters. Of course, this isn’t the end for either team, but in a game that will significantly affect both these teams’ chances, I’m going to back the better team with the Pelicans.

Pick: 1.1u on Pelicans +3.5 (-110)

Detroit Pistons at Chicago Bulls

Both of these teams have set their standings in stone. The Pistons have locked up the worst record in the league while the Bulls will travel to Toronto on Wednesday to keep their season alive in the Play-In Tournament. 

A strong finish to the Bulls’ season has put them in a great opportunity as they play their best ball of the season. However, I don’t expect any of their normal starters to play. This will be a short bench for Chicago with guys playing more minutes than they’re used to playing.

Detroit has been in this position for weeks as they’ve been missing many key pieces and given big minutes to the end of the bench. Over the last few games, they’ve actually been fairly competitive, going 5-5 ATS including an impressive win over Indiana on Friday. 

With Detroit’s lineup, we have a better idea of what we’re going to get. Key players like Jaden Ivey and James Wiseman have had impressive showings and should have success against Chicago’s second and third units. Not knowing exactly what to expect with Chicago, this is way too many points to lay. I’m going to back the Pistons in this matchup.

Pick: 1.1u on Pistons +6 (-110)

Houston Rockets at Washington Wizards

Both of these teams have the incentive to lose to improve their lottery position on Sunday. Houston, however, has already cemented a bottom-three record and top lottery odds for a top-three pick. 

Much like Detroit, Houston has been playing their normal core players to gain some experience and as the season has progressed, they’ve played a little better. Over the last week, Houston has gone 3-1 SU with impressive showings against teams that had nothing to play for. Washington fits the bill of a team with nothing to play for, leading me to back Houston.

There will be a lot of young talent on the floor for both teams, but Washington will be giving heavy minutes to players that haven’t seen them. Meanwhile, Houston is used to this. I expect the comfortability on the court for Houston to be the difference here. Neither team has anything to play for, but Houston can benefit much more from winning in this situation. 

If Houston wants to move forward from the rebuild stage, a strong finish to the season can build momentum into next season. The last game of the season can be tough to cap, but the motivation factor for the Rockets is too much to ignore. I’ll back them for one of my last best bets.

Pick: 1.1u on Rockets -3 (-110)

Check out our other top picks for Sunday:


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