An exciting first round of the NBA Playoffs continues today with four games, starting with Game Four between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors at 1 p.m. EST and wrapping up with the Houston Rockets hosting the Los Angeles Lakers.
Playoff games can obviously add a layer of uncertainty to game predictions. Will the team facing elimination finally step up? What kind of impact will a player's potential return have? I took these considerations and more into account before identifying the following as my NBA Best Bets for the day.
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NBA Odds, Picks & Predictions: Sunday (4/26)
San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers
There was certainly some concern for the Spurs entering Game Three in Portland with Victor Wembanyama in the concussion protocol. Down 65-59 at the half, it appeared as if there may have been a good reason for concern. Then, the Spurs took control in the second half, erasing the deficit and taking the lead heading into the fourth quarter.
San Antonio is a great team with Wemby on the court, but even without him, they remain a good team. Portland has shown they can win, but needed Wemby going down just to win Game Two by three points. If Wemby comes back today as expected, Portland could be in trouble.
I'm a little hesitant to go with the spread since we do not know for certain if Wemby will play. The team could decide to see whether they can win without him again, giving him a few more days to recover. The Spurs can still cover this spread, as they showed in Game Three, but I'd feel more confident in the pick knowing Wemby's status.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets
This has been an odd series. Houston should be the one up 3-0 with the Lakers down Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. However, Kevin Durant has been available for only one of the three games, and it remains to be seen if he will play Sunday (officially a GTD; questionable with a left ankle sprain). Even without Durant, the Rockets should be the better team, especially playing at home.
They were not the better team in Game Three, and it is hard to have faith in them now. Austin Reaves is listed as questionable, but at this point, the smarter move for the Lakers may be to see if they seal the sweep without him and give him additional time to heal.
- Pick: Lakers +5 at -110 (bet365)
I want to think this would be the one game that plays out like we expected this series to go: Houston dominates and plays a great game while the Lakers play a woeful one with two of the team's best players injured. The Rockets had that chance for three games; why should we believe they'll take it now? To avoid the sweep? I'm not buying it.
With or without Durant, Houston will play a better game today, but they won’t blow the Lakers out if they do manage to win. If the Lakers do lose, I doubt it will be by more than a couple of baskets.
