NBA Odds, Picks & Predictions: Friday (4/10)
It's the final Friday of the NBA season. Every team is in action with postseason season hanging in the balance in both conferences. Let's find some good spots on the slate for best bets to round out the NBA season.
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Friday’s Best NBA Picks & Predictions
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Detroit Pistons at Charlotte Hornets
Detroit is one of the few playoff bound teams that has nothing to play for. They're locked into the one seed and will have a whole week off after Sunday's season finale. Charlotte is right in the middle of the things when it comes to Eastern Conference seeding. Just two games separate the five-seed from the nine-seed and with only the first six seeds guaranteeing a spot in the Playoffs, these last two days will be interesting.
Given Charlotte is the team with everything to play for you'd think they're an easy bet with this short line, but I'll be a contrarian. Detroit has shown no desire to rest their stars or heavy batches of their rotation. They're facing a whole week off with a young lineup and a star who is trying to work himself into game shape in Cade Cunningham. The current injury report looks pretty clean for the Pistons.
Detroit has played hard all season which is a big reason they're headed into the playoffs as the one-seed. At the same time, they probably don't want to see a Charlotte team that has been one of the best in the NBA in the second half. A win over the Hornets helps relegate them to the nine-seed which would require them winning two games to make the playoffs. Detroit holds all the cards and will play this game looser and freer. They're a good bet to upset the Hornets.
Pick: Pistons +4.5 (-110)
Toronto Raptors at New York Knicks
The Raptors are another team that is looking to clinch a playoff berth and avoid the Play-In Tournament. On Friday they'll take on the Knicks who have had their number for the better part of the last two seasons. This season the Knicks already are 4-0 SU and 4-0 ATS against Toronto and none of the games have been particularly close. New York has averaged a 20.3 point winning margin in those matchups.
Despite a matchup with the Nets looming on Sunday, Toronto would be wise to take this game seriously. The East is so close in that five to nine range and Toronto still has not clinched a spot in the playoffs. It will be an uphill battle against a Knicks team that has been elite at home this year. They've been 29-9 SU and 25-13 ATS which included a win and cover in a win over Boston on Thursday.
Sure the Knicks are coming off of a back-to-back, but they're fighting with Cleveland and Boston for the two through four seeds so a win would go along way in helping their postseason seeding. Their success against Toronto has not been a fluke. New York is one of the best rebounding teams on both sides of the court. Toronto, who is below league average on both OReb and DReb rates, has been unable to compete with the Knicks on the boards and I don't see that changing here.
Pick: Knicks -6.5 (-110)
Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Lakers
When it comes to matchups between two teams with very little to play for, typically the younger team with something to prove has the advantage. In this particular matchup I like the Suns for a couple reasons. Phoenix has been really good on the road against the spread this season. The Suns boast an impressive 23-16 ATS record on the road this season.
Phoenix will be without Devin Booker who is missing the game due to injury management. However, the injury report for the Lakers is a bit more extensive. With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves out with injury, the Lakers already thin rotation takes a big hit. This is advantage Phoenix who is relatively healthy outside of Booker.
When it comes to the standings, this game won't mean much to either team but the line indicates that this should be a close game. The Lakers have their sights set on making noise in the playoffs and getting healthy for that run. Although the Suns are poised to host the seven-seed vs eight-seed game on Tuesday, this is a relatively young team with a lot to prove so I'll be backing them on Friday night.
Pick: Suns -1.5 (-110)