NBA Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (4/2)
The calendar has turned to April, and we're in the final two weeks of the NBA regular season. Playoff seeding and lottery spot jockeying plays a big role in motivation in these last few games. Let's sift through some of these matchups to find the best edges on the night for our NBA picks & predictions.
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Thursday’s Best NBA Picks & Predictions
(Odds courtesy of Fanduel Sportsbook)
Los Angeles Lakers at Oklahoma City Thunder
The biggest game of the night is a potential Western Conference Finals preview between the Lakers and the Thunder. Not only are these two of the best teams in the Western Conference, but they've also been two of the hottest teams in the league. Both are winners in nine of their last 10 games, and both teams have elite offenses. This should be an exciting game with a postseason feel.
The 15-2 record the Lakers posted in March was mainly a result of their offense. They averaged 120.6 points per game (PPG in the month and have been able to score even against some of the league's best defenses. A big reason for this is their elite shotmaking. Their 57.3% effective field-goal rate (eFG%) is second-best in the NBA, and they also get to the foul line more than any team.
However, they'll see the league’s best defense against Oklahoma City on Thursday night. The Thunder are an elite team at forcing turnovers. That can give the Lakers, with their 13.8% turnover rate, a lot of trouble and lead to transition opportunities for the Thunder. But Los Angeles can go punch for punch with this offense. I like this game to play out with higher scoring than the Spotsbooks anticipate. The Lakers are live to cover and even outright win.
Picks: Over 227 Points (-120) & Lakers +9 (+106)
San Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles Clippers
This game is a potential first-round NBA playoff matchup as the Clippers host the Spurs on Thursday night. Much like the Lakers and Thunder, the Spurs are also on a hot streak. This will be the second night of a back-to-back for the Spurs, who are already 0-2 against the spread (ATS) against the Clippers this season.
The first two games of this season series have been incredibly close. San Antonio understands that if they do see the Clippers in the playoffs, it won't be a comfortable series. Because of this, I don't think the Spurs will show much, and the line indicates that as well. Regardless, the Spurs have been a phenomenal defensive team that matches up well with the Clippers.
Los Angeles is a team that loves to slow down the pace. They average 97.1 possessions per game, which ranks 28th in the league. They make up for this with a top-five eFG% and a top-five free-throw rate. But that lines up defensively with what the Spurs do best.
San Antonio’s 52.2% eFG% is fourth-best in the league, and they allow the second-lowest free-throw rate. The Clippers could have a tough time scoring on top of their slow pace. Throw in that San Antonio could sit some key pieces offensively, and this game looks to play to an under.
Pick: Under 231.5 Points (-110)