NBA Betting Lines You can’t Miss: Knicks vs Celtics and Pelicans vs Kings

The Philadelphia 76ers have slid from third place in the Eastern Conference to the very edge of the playoff race since January 30, when defending MVP Joel Embiid had surgery on his left meniscus. He has been working on his conditioning and could return as soon as Tuesday, when the 76ers welcome the Oklahoma City Thunder, one of the top teams in the Western Conference. The 76ers are 40-35 and sit in eighth place in the East with seven games left in the regular season, so Embiid’s return can’t come too quickly. He is averaging 35.3 points per game but will not play in enough games to qualify for the league scoring title. Let’s look at your best NBA betting options for the Sixers-Thunder game and the L.A. Clippers’ trip up the West Coast to take on the Sacramento Kings in a matchup with playoff seeding implications.

2024 NBA Week 24 Top Betting Games, April 2

Oklahoma City Thunder at Philadelphia 76ers

When: 7:30 pm ET, TNT
NBA Odds: Heat (-3) vs Hawks (O/U 207)

The Thunder (52-22) hold first place in the West and head down Interstate 95 to Philadelphia after beating the New York Knicks, 113-112, at Madison Garden. The 76ers also have the momentum of a win in their last game out as they beat Toronto, 135-120, on the road, covering as 9 ½-point favorites. The 76ers beat the Thunder in Oklahoma City (with Embiid) on the road in November. Oklahoma City has won three of four and, along with the Denver Nuggets, are one of just two teams in the West to have clinched a spot in the postseason. In their win over the Knicks, the Thunder erased a 10-point deficit during the fourth period and got the game-winning shot from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He leads the Thunder with 30.3 points per game and also has 6.3 assists and 5.5 boards per game. Jalen Williams scores 19.5 points per game and dropped 33 on the Knicks. Inside, the Thunder rely on Chet Holmgren, who protects the rim on defense and posts 16.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.

Even if Embiid is ready to return against the Thunder, expect his game to show some rust. Kelly Oubre Jr led the 76ers with 32 points against the Raptors, and I expect him to have impact against Holmgren in the post this time around. Tyrese Maxey is the second-leading scorer for th e76ers, putting up 25.6 points per night and leading the team in assists (6.2 per game). He is questionable with a hip injury, so you will definitely want to read the latest injury report before locking in your wagers on this game. Tobias Harris adds 17.2 points and 6.4 boards per game. Kyle Lowry doesn’t score a lot of points these days, but he did have 10 assists against the Raptors.

NBA Pick: Thunder to win

L.A. Clippers at Sacramento Kings

When: 10:00 pm ET
NBA Odds: Clippers (-2.5) vs Kings (O/U 222.5)

The Kings (43-31) find themselves in eighth place in the stacked Western Conference, but they are just four games behind the Clippers (47-27) who sit in fifth. The Clippers are 2-1 against the Kings this season, but the Kings beat the Clippers the last time out, winning by 16 down in Hollywood. The Clippers had an inconsistent middle of March, but they finished the month with three road wins, and they’ve already beaten the Kings in Sacramento by 14 this season. They have the third-best offensive rating in the NBA, thanks to the third-best three-point percentage and the third-best true shooting percentage. They rank just 18th in defensive rating even though they held two of their last three opponents below 110 points. They are only 24th in defensive rebounding percentage and 21st in three-point field goal percentage allowed.

The Kings have seen their scoring average drop to 117.3 points per game as they haven’t even hit 110 in five of their last six contests. They are the worst free-throw shooting team in the NBA, but when their offense is clicking, it can be tough to stop. Their defense is right in the middle of the pack – 18th in points permitted per game and 17th in defensive rating. They lead the league in defensive rebounding percentage, but they don’t force enough misses. They won’t have Kevin Huerter or Malik Monk for this game, and those are two of their key offensive contributors.

NBA Pick: Clippers to win

The Portland Trail Blazers have fully embraced their youth movement as we saw when they started five rookies in Saturday’s matchup against the Denver Nuggets. The strategy almost worked as the Nuggets had to fight hard to win by three. Scoot Henderson, the third overall pick in the most recent NBA draft, started along with Rayan Rupert, Toumani Camara, Kris Murray, and Duop Reath. The last team to start all rookies was Golden State back on April 26, 2012. Those two are the only games to see a team start five rookies since the 1971-72 season, when the league first began tracking starters on league box scores. Portland has the Western Conference’s second-worst record, and key players Deandre Ayton, Malcolm Brogdon, and Deandre Ayton are all on the shelf. As we enter a new week, don’t miss our top sports betting NBA picks for Monday night.

2024 NBA Week 23 Top Betting Games, March 25

Boston Celtics +500 at Atlanta Hawks +375

When: 7:30 pm ET, NBA TV
NBA Odds: Celtics (-10.5) vs Hawks (O/U 225.5)

The Celtics (57-14) head south to take on the Hawks (31-39) in their third meeting of the 2023-24 campaign. Boston has won the first two, both up at TD Garden, by eight or more points. They roll into Atlanta riding a nine-game winning streak, and the only key name on the injury report is Jrue Holiday. The Celtics lead the league in net rating, true shooting percentage, and three-point attempts per game. They are second in three-point shooting percentage and turnover percentage – as well as defensive rating.

On the defensive side of the ball, they are second in the NBA in field goal shooting percentage allowed and lead the league in fewest free throw attempts permitted. They are also second in rim defense and third in lowest three-point field goal percentage allowed. They are dead last in turnovers permitted per game, but they are seventh in defensive rebounding percentage. This is a sizable road line, though, but Atlanta has only hit 115 points three times in their last nine, and the issues that the Hawks have on defense will make offensive efficiency important. However, without Trae Young, who is on the shelf for this game, it will be hard for the Hawks to generate enough offense to stay close. Celtics to win and cover.

Philadelphia 76ers +310 at Sacramento Kings -400

When: 10:00 pm ET, NBA TV
NBA Odds: 76ers (+9.5) vs Kings (O/U 221.5)

Both the Kings (41-29) and the 76ers (39-32) have postseason dreams; the Kings are in seventh in the West but just a half-game out of sixth, which would keep them safe from the play-in tournament. The 76ers are in eighth place but just a half-game out of sixth as well. The 76ers beat Sacramento by 19 in Philadelphia back in January, but the team still had Joel Embiid in the lineup then. Without the NBA’s defending MVP on the court, the 76ers have slid down the standings. They have won three of their last four, though, and ten in a row over Sacramento. Tyrese Maxey has emerged as a key scorer, putting up 25.8 points per game, and Tobias Harris (17.1) and Kelly Oubre Jr (14.9) have also chipped in a lot of points, but the scoring depth beyond them has been iffy at best. The defense is still top-ten, but that offense needs more options.

The Kings have won three of four and seven of ten to re-enter the playoff conversation, and they have a 20-13 home record. The 76ers and the Mavericks will test the Kings over the next two days in a back-to-back, and they won’t have Kevin Huerter or Trey Lyles in either game. Their offense has risen to 11th in field goal percentage and 14th in three-point percentage. De’Aaron Fox is the top scorer with 26.7 points per game, but Damontas Sabonis (20.0 points, 13.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists per game) might be the real hub of the offense, and he could end up dominating the paint sinc eEmbiid won’t be playing. 76ers to cover.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are down three of the regular starters with injuries, and so the team added Marcus Morris Sr to a 10-day deal on Monday to add some depth. He appeared in 37 games for Philadelphia earlier this season before the 76ers shipped him to San Antonio on February 8. The Spurs agreed to buy him out and waived him on February 29, so he can still appear in the postseason. The Cavs have dropped three of four and six of ten due in large part to their lengthy injury report. Donotan Mitchell (left knee bruise) will not play on Monday in Indiana and may miss the rest of the week. Evan Mobley (ankle) and guard Max Strus (knee) will also miss the Indiana game. Morris has averaged 12.1 points and 4.5 rebounds over 26.7 minutes per game throughout his career. Let’s look at the Cavs’ Monday night date in Indiana as well as the Knicks’ encounter with the Warriors out by the Bay as you consider your NBA betting choices for the week.

2024 NBA Week 21 Top Betting Games, March 18

Cleveland Cavaliers at Indiana Pacers

When: 7:00 pm ET
NBA Odds: Cavaliers (+6.5) vs Pacers (O/U 224.5)

The Cavaliers (42-25) took a frustrating 117-103 loss at the hands of the Houston Rockets in their last game despite entering as 4 ½-point favorites. They look to bounce back with a trip to Indiana, where the Pacers (38-30) have the momentum of a 121-100 thumping of the Brooklyn Nets, a game that they covered as 8 ½-point favorites. The Cavs have won seven of their last ten against the Pacers. Against Houston, Caris LeVert led Cleveland with 21 points and seven assists. Georges Nian finished with 14 points and five boards. Donovan Mitchell chipped in 13 points and three boards but has decided to take more rest for his knee. The Cavs’ defense permits just 109.6 points per game, but that average has crept upward over this disappointing ten-game stretch.

The Pacers have won three of four and are now in sixth in the East, but they only lead Philadelphia and Miami by a half-game. Their offense has been prolific, putting up u122.9 points per game. Against Brooklyn, the Pacers shot 47.6% overall and got away with clanking 80% of their three-point attempts. Pascal Siakam was the top scorer with 28 points, and he also added 11 boards, four assists and three steals. Aaron Nesmith kicked in 16 points, four boards and three assists, and Tyrese Haliburton put up 14 points and seven boards. Their defense has been the issue as they allow 121.2 points per game. They held the Nets to 100, so the Cavs will need to work on ball distribution and timely shooting to get this win. Cavaliers to cover.

N.Y. Knicks at Golden State Warriors

When: 10:00 pm ET
NBA Odds: Knicks (+6.5) vs Warriors (O/U 211.5)

The New York Knicks (40-27) look to avenge an earlier home loss when they take on the Golden State Warriors (35-31) in California on Monday night. The Knicks bring an impressive old-school streak into this game – holding opponents under 100 points for five straight games. They rank seventh in defensive rating and sixth in rim defense. They also permit the third-fewest free throw attempts per contest, indicating that they move well on defense instead of being lured into bad contact fouls. They are fourth in defensive rebounding percentage as well. On offense, the key has been Jalen Brunson (27.5 points and 6.4 assists per game), who has his team ranked 14th in offensive rating. The Knicks also lead the NBA in offensive rebounding percentage, which helps cover up an iffy shooting percentage that ranks 20th. Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson are the only Knicks on the injury list for this game.

The Warriors return home from a 2-1 road trip and are now 11th in offensive rating. Thanks to the sharpshooting Stephen Curry, the Warriors rank third in the NBA in three-point attempts per game. They are 14th in shooting percentage and third in offensive rebounding percentage. Overall, they rank seventh in scoring despite ranking just 22nd in turnover percentage. Their defense is serviceable, ranking 15th in defensive rating, in large part due to the fac that they permit the lowest percentage of shots at the rim and are eighth in forcing misses from downtown. They are tenth in defensive rebounding percentage. Can they follow up that win over the Lakers with a takedown of the Knicks? Knicks to cover.

2024 NBA Week 19 Top Betting Games, March 4

It’s only the first week of March, but the Boston Celtics have already set an NBA record for most wins by at least 50 points in a season. On Sunday, they routed the Golden State Warriors, 140-88, to notch the franchise’s third-largest margin of victory ever. That gave the Celtics 11 straight wins. The average margin of victory in this streak is 22.1 – the highest differential in any winning streak of 10 or more games in one season in the history of the league. Over the last six games, the Celtics have outscored the opposition by 29.8 points per game, including two wins by at least 50. This is the best six-game point differential ever, topping the +28.3 margin that the 1971-72 Lakers managed in a season that would feature a then-record 69 wins. As we head into this week, let’s look at a pair of NBA betting picks from the Association.

L.A. Clippers at Milwaukee Bucks

When: 8:00 pm ET
TV / Streaming: NBA TV

The Clippers will face the Bucks on the second night of a back-to-back without Russell Westbrook, as the one-time MVP is on the shelf with a fractured hand. The Clippers have gotten contributions all year long from Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, and the duo helped the Clippers get through the West-leading Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday, riding a salty defense to an 89-88 road win. Leonard led the Clippers with 32 points. In the second game of back-to-backs, the Clippers have a 6-3 record so far this season and currently have a four-game winning streak in that scenario. Their scoring offense is ninth, and their ball security ranks ninth in fewest turnovers per game.

The Bucks had struggled out of the gate under new head coach Doc Rivers, but now they have a five-game winning streak going after a 113-97 win at Chicago on Saturday. Giannis Antetokounmpo was the top scorer with 46 points, and he also pulled down 16 boards. He is now the winningest Buck ever with 489 victories (including the postseason). Rivers now has an 8-7 record in Milwaukee; the Bucks’ scoring offense ranks second, but they are just 19th in scoring defense, an area in which the team still needs to improve. Bucks to win and cover.

Oklahoma City Thunder at L.A. Lakers

When: 10:30 pm ET
TV / Streaming: NBA TV

The Thunder visit the Lakers for their fourth and final matchup in the 2023-24 regular season. The Thunder won the first game, but the Lakers have picked up the last two wins. The Thunder bounced back from an ugly loss in San Antonio, which ended a six-game winning streak, with an eight-point win in Phoenix on Sunday night. Now they head to Los Angeles to finish up a back-to-back. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 35 points on a night when Oklahoma City built up a 24-point lead, squandered it, and then fought back for the win. Despite 31 rebounds from Phoenix center Jusuf Nurkic, the Thunder recovered to control the fourth quarter, and all five starters hit double figures.

The Lakers lost to the Denver Nuggets, 124-114, on Saturday night, ending a two-game winning streak. They had built up an 11-point lead in the first half, but that evaporated, and the Nuggets won the fourth quarter by 10. The Lakers ultimately had no answer for Nikola Jokic, who dropped 35 points on the Lakers and also pulled down 10 boards. LeBron James put up 26 points and nine assists and became the first 40,000-point scorer in NBA history, but the Nuggets ruined his special night as the Lakers cling tenuously to the tenth and final potential playoff spot in the Western Conference. Because this makes four games in six days for the Thunder (in addition to this game finishing a back-to-back for them), the Lakers should have enough to take this spread. Lakers to cover.

2024 NBA Week 18 Top Betting Games, February 26

NBA Week 18: On Saturday night, the Boston Celtics won their eighth straight game, setting a season-high winning streak, when they stopped the New York Knicks, 116-102, at Madison Square Garden. The Celtics now have an eight-game lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers at the top of the Eastern Conference standings. Even so, the Celtics believe they can still play better. In a post-game interview Saturday, Boston center Al Horford said, “We’re really trying to play the right way…[t]his is the stretch of the season where we can really take it to another level, and that’s what we’re trying to do.” Heading into this week, don’t miss our top two online NBA betting picks from pro hoops.

Toronto Raptors at Indiana Pacers

When: 7:00 pm ET
TV / Streaming: NBA TV

Toronto (21-36) meets Indiana (32-25) for the third time in 2023-24. Both teams have beaten each other on the road this season; Toronto beat Atlanta down in Georgia on Friday, while the Pacers beat Detroit on Thursday and Dallas on Sunday. The Raptors have won three out of four, including a 24-point home rout of Brooklyn on Thursday, followed by that two-point win over the Hawks on Friday. They beat the Hawks without R.J. Barrett (knee), and he remains questionable. Since coming over from the Knicks in December, he has put up 19 points and 5.4 boards per game. Scottie Barnes scored 20 points on Friday and has made at least half of his shots in four of his last five games. In two games against the Pacers, he has scored a combined 49 points. The road has been a tricky place for the Raptors, though, as they have dropped three of five outside Canada.

The Pacers ended a seven-game winning streak for the Mavericks, rolling 133-111. The Pacers continue to feature the league’s best offense. Tyrese Haliburton had 12 points and seven assists in the first half alone, and Myles Turner was the leader at the break with 15 points and five rebounds. He made it to 30 with five minutes left in the third quarter as the Pacers had little difficulty against what should be a revamped Dallas defense; Turner was 10 of 15 on the day and finished with 33 points, his best game since February 23, when he hit 40. Ben Sheppard came off the bench to go five of five from downtown. Can the Pacers keep this scoring up? Pacers to win and cover.

Miami Heat at Sacramento Kings

When: 10:00 pm ET
TV / Streaming: NBA TV

The Miami Heat (31-25) look to complete the season sweep of the Sacramento Kings (32-23) when they face off in northern California on Monday night. The Heat would make it three wins in a row over the Kings if they can pull off the victory. They have won five of their last six, with the only setback coming at home to Boston on February 11. They have won three straight on the road, including Milwaukee by 26, Philadelphia by five and New Orleans by 11, with the last game coming last Friday when the Heat limited the Pelicans to 37.5% shooting from the floor. The HEat shot 46.3% and went 13 of 29 from downtown. Bam Adebayo was the leading scorer with 24, adding seven boards, and Jimmy Butler contributed 23 points, nine boards and six assists – and only played 27 minutes before earning an ejection. Miami has moved to the eighth seed in the East, five games ahead of the 9-seed Chicago Bulls. Their defense is eighth in the NBA, permitting just 113.4 points per 100 possessions, a number that has dropped to 106.2 per 100 in their last ten games. Butler will miss this game with a suspension, though, and Tyler Herro (knee) is questionable.

The Sacramento Kings walloped the L.A. Clippers, 123-109, and now welcome the Heat on the second night of a back-to-back. The Kings have won three straight after also beating Denver by four and the Spurs by five. De’Aaron Fox dropped 33 on the Clippers, and Domantas Sabonis had his 20th triple-double of the season, a league high. Harrison Barnes chipped in 22, and Sabonis had 17 points, 12 boards and 12 assists. The Clippers did get within five early in the fourth quarter but the Kings responded and got the lead back up to double digits. Can that offense keep going against the Heat one night later? Kings to cover.

Must-Bet Games in NBA Week 17: Thunder at Magic and Kings at Knicks

If you’re still wondering why the Milwaukee Bucks brought in Doc Rivers in January to take over as head coach, the improvements the team has shown on defense show that, at least for now, the move paid off. Rivers has become notorious for having his teams bow out early in the playoffs, but he did lead Boston to a title in 2006, and the way the Bucks were (and were not) playing defense, a long playoff run was looking doubtful. On Monday, the Bucks routed the defending champion Denver Nuggets, 112-95, the second straight game in which the Bucks held a team under 100 points. They hadn’t done that in back-to-back regular-season games since November 2021. Going into Tuesday night’s action, don’t miss these NBA Week 17 betting picks.

Oklahoma City Thunder at Orlando Magic

NBA Lines: Oklahoma City (-2.5) at Orlando (O/U 223.5)
When: 7:30 pm ET
TV / Streaming: TNT

The Thunder (36-17) followed up a 35-point loss in Dallas on Saturday with a 127-113 thumping of the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 38 points, and Jalen Williams had a big day of his own with 32. They combined for 38 in the first half as the Thunder went into the locker room at the break up by ten. Lu Dort added 17 points and nine rebounds, and Chet Holmgren chipped in 14 points. The Thunder swiped 18 turnovers. The Thunder rank in the NBA’s top five in defensive and offensive ratings, thanks in large part to Williams’ resurgence.

The Magic (29-24) blew a fourth-quarter lead but managed to figure things out in overtime and beat the Chicago Bulls, 114-108. Franz Wagner dropped 36 on the Bulls, and Cole Anthony came off the bench to score 14 points and pull down 11 boards. Paolo Banchero added 19 points, eight assists and seven rebounds, and he is now averaging 20.2 points, 6.8 assists and 5.6 boards per game in five February games. Jonathan Isaac led all rebounders with a dozen, to go along with seven points and three blocks. Wagner has at least 30 points in three of his last four games. But will all this be enough against one of the West’s elite teams? Thunder to win and cover.

Sacramento Kings at Phoenix Suns

NBA Lines: Sacramento (+4.5) at Phoenix (O/U 244.5)
When: 10:00 pm ET
TV / Streaming: TNT

The Kings (30-22) are just a half-game behind Phoenix in the West, but they’ve beaten the Suns in two of their three meetings. Sacramento is just 2-3 over their last five. Their offense is still ninth in the league, scoring 118.6 points per game, thanks in large part to their strong three-point shooting. They are third in the league in three-point attempts and shots made. Their defense still needs to improve as they allow 118.1 points per game, just 22nd in the league. They allow opponents to make 39.8% of their three-point shots, the worst defensive showing in the NBA.

The Suns (31-22) bounced back from a 113-112 loss to Golden State on Saturday, which ended a three-game winning streak, by beating Detroit at home, 120-106, on Monday, making tonight’s game the second in a back-to-back. Their offense ranks 12th overall with 117.4 points per game. They rank fifth in three-point shot percentage and third in overall field goal shooting percentage. Their defense permits 114.4 points per game. It won’t surprise me to see the Suns slow things down a bit and bring the pace where they like it. They have the defense to slow down the Kings enough to get this win. Suns to win and cover.