NBA Odds, Picks & Predictions: Sunday (4/12)
It is the last day of the NBA regular season, and probably the trickiest of the season when it comes to betting. Why? Because most of the playoff-bound teams will look nothing like the squads they've put on the court all season long. But it just feels wrong to bet on Orlando covering a 13.5-point spread against Boston, right? Make sure to check injury reports and the standings before making any NBA picks today. If a team is locked into its current seed, exercise caution if you decide to bet on it.
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Sunday’s NBA Best Picks & Predictions
Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics
You would expect the spread to be the other way around and a little smaller for this matchup. But we have a Celtics team locked into the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference with nothing to gain, and an Orlando team currently tied with the Toronto Raptors for sixth in the Eastern Conference, looking to avoid the NBA Play-In Tournament.
Toronto won the season series 2-1, so they have to win and hope Brooklyn pulls off an upset.
Boston has ruled out its entire starting lineup for today's game. Orlando has been on a roll the last couple of weeks, winning five in a row coming into this must-win contest. Against Boston's B team, with their A team, the Magic should have no trouble winning (and covering).
Pick: Magic -13.5 (-110 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
Toronto Raptors vs. Brooklyn Nets
With a loss to the New York Knicks on Friday, the Raptors put themselves into a must-win scenario for their regular-season finale. The loss, coupled with an Orlando win, will put them in a tie with the Magic for the No. 6 seed in the playoffs. Toronto holds the tiebreaker, having won the season series versus the Magic, but a loss and an Orlando win in their game today will relegate them to the NBA Play-In Tournament.
The Raptors have won three of their last five, with the losses coming against Boston and New York, when both still needed a win to secure their respective postseason positions. Brooklyn has won four of its last six games and can end a seven-game road slide with a win.
However, at full strength, the Nets would struggle to compete with the Raptors. Today, the Nets have 11 players listed on the injury report, with nine already ruled out. Toronto has four, with only Chucky Hepburn listed as out. Yeah, it doesn't look like the Nets are too concerned with winning.
Toronto should crush whatever team the Nets put on the court. But the question becomes whether they'll keep their A team in long enough to cover the spread or if the Raptors’ B team can maintain the lead. However, with the makeshift squad we are going to see from the Nets, the Raptors’ B team can cover.
Pick: Raptors -23 (-110 at FanDuel Sportsbook)