If you are thinking more about how you are going to bet on the Elite 8, I understand. Both games should be great today with plenty of intriguing markets for your betting pleasure. However, the second game will be over around 7ish, and we have NBA games starting at 7:00, 7:30, and 10 p.m. EST.
So, let’s take a look at the NBA Best Bets for those games.
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Sunday’s NBA Best Bets & Picks
(Odds courtesy of BetMGM)
Houston Rockets vs. New Orleans Pelicans (7 p.m. EST)
Houston should win this game. The Rockets are by far the better team between the two and are headed to the postseason, while the Pelicans will be done playing soon. But you wouldn’t know it from the way the two are playing.
The Rockets have gone 5-5 over their last 10 games and 2-8 ATS. Some nights, it is their defense that lets you down, but on other nights, it is their offense. You just don’t know what you are getting with this team. New Orleans has lost four in a row, but they are also 5-5 in their last 10 and 7-2-1 ATS.
So, the Rockets may be playing the Pelicans at the right time with their offense chipping in 118.5 points per game over their last four and New Orleans giving up 120 ppg over their last four. There is no value in taking the Houston ML, so the spread is the better bet.
Pick: Houston -5.5 (-118)
New York Knicks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (7:30 p.m. EST)
This is a tough one. Oklahoma City is arguably the best team in the NBA with a top-notch defense to go with its explosive offense. But the Knicks are considered a solid contender coming out of the East and only lost by three to the Thunder a couple of weeks ago. Both teams have been 3-7 ATS in their last 10. OKC has not been good ATS at home, but the Knicks have not been good ATS on the road.
The total is at that sweet spot where it could easily go either way. So, how do you bet?
Neither team seems to want to cover the spread lately. So, I am going to bet on the most explosive player in the NBA, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, getting the job done at home.
Pick: Thunder -8.5 (-105)
Golden State Warriors vs. Denver Nuggets (10 p.m. EST)
Denver has not been a great team ATS when favored by double digits, but they are playing at home, where they are 23-13, against a Warriors team that is 15-23 on the road. However, the Warriors are actually 2-1 vs. Denver this season, with the most recent win (Feb. 22) without Steph or Kristaps Porzingis.
Denver has won five in a row, but four were by single digits. But they let their last three opponents score 123+. With Steph Curry not playing, it is unlikely Golden State pulls off an upset, but they can score enough against a lax Denver defense to stay within 10.
Pick: Warriors +12.5 (-110)
