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Top NBA Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (3/28)

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The National Basketball Association has just two games scheduled on Thursday night, as they make way for the NCAA Tournament and the Sweet Sixteen to be front and center. However, you can still get your NBA fix with the Boston Celtics taking on the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday night, while NBA TV will televise the battle between the Milwaukee Bucks and New Orleans Pelicans at 8 p.m. ET.

We’ll be looking to add bankroll to use for the weekend in the NBA, as well as the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, and beyond. Let’s get started!

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Thursday’s Best NBA Bets

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook | All wagers are for 1 unit

Boston Celtics (-1200) at Atlanta Hawks (+750) | O/U 226 (-110/-110)

The Celtics (57-15) are going to be hopping mad facing the Hawks (33-39) on Thursday night after an embarrassing loss Monday night in Atlanta. Boston was on the short end of a 120-118 loss as 10.5-point favorites despite the heroic of Jayson Tatum, who dropped a game-high 37 points. Atlanta had surprisingly balanced scoring, with six players going for a baker’s dozen or more points, including DeAndre Hunter, who had a team-best 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting.

I’m not saying to back Atlanta on the moneyline, for the chance to multiply up by 7 1/2 times. However, in a scheduling quirk, the Hawks did face the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night at home, winning 120-106, so this team has some confidence right now. They’ve won three in a row, covered three in a row, and the offense is working, going for 120 points in each of the three victories.

The play here is to take the huge amount of points, as it’s difficult for teams to cover double digits on the road, and smash the Over in a Same-Game Parlay, as Atlanta is scoring and giving up plenty as of late. The Celtics have also gone for at least 117 points in 10 consecutive outings, cashing the Over in four in a row, and six of the past seven outings, while conceding at least 113 points in three of the past four.

Bet: Hawks +16 (-110) & Over 226 (-110)

Milwaukee Bucks (-116) at New Orleans Pelicans (-102) | O/U 224 (-110/-110)

The Bucks (46-26) travel from Cream City to the Big Easy to tangle with the Pelicans (44-28) in what should be a fairly entertaining matchup on a light night.

Milwaukee is still smarting after blowing a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter against the LeBron James-less Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night. Milwaukee was up 94-77 with 7:45 to go, and then Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves took over. The Bucks still hung in there into double-overtime, but they ended up losing 128-124 in a truly incredible collapse.

The Bucks are still 4-2 straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS) in the past six games, and this offense has amassed at least 114 points in six in a row, cashing the Over in four of the past five outings.

The Pelicans also had their wings clipped, suffering a 119-112 loss at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder in NOLA on Tuesday at the same time the Bucks were folding. The Pellies haven’t been as strong lately, going 5-3 SU in the past eight outings and managing just a 1-3 ATS mark in the past four games. They have hoisted up 111 or more points in three in a row, and five of the past seven games, including three straight at home. The play here is to back Milwaukee and pair that with an Over play in another Same-Game Parlay opportunity.

Bet: Bucks -1 (-110) & Over 224 (-110)

Make sure to check out our other best bets for Thursday:

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Daniel E. Dobish is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Daniel, check out his archive and follow him @danieledobish.

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