Top NBA Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (4/11)
The National Basketball Association has a total of five games on tap for Thursday, including a doubleheader for your viewing pleasure on TNT. The New York Knicks and Boston Celtics lock horns at 7:30 p.m. on TNT, while the New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings meet at 10 p.m. in the nationally televised nightcap.
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Thursday’s Best NBA Bets
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook | All wagers are for 1 unit
New York Knicks (-122) at Boston Celtics (+104) | O/U 214 (-112/-108)
The Knicks (47-32) and Celtics (62-17) meet at TD Garden in the front end of the TNT doubleheader on Thursday night.
At first glance, the line might raise some eyebrows. Why are the No. 1 seeded Boston Celtics home ‘dogs against the Knicks? Well, it’s all about the injury report. SG Jaylen Brown (hand), PG Jrue Holiday (knee), PF Kristaps Porzingis (hamstring), and SF Jayson Tatum (knee) are all listed as questionable, as is C Al Horford (toe).
Boston has won all four meetings this season, while going 3-0-1 against the spread (ATS), including covers in the past three. The Under is 3-1 in the past four outings, too.
You’ll have to circle back after in the late afternoon to double-check who is in and who is out. If Brown and Tatum are cleared to play, backing the Celtics is a good idea, especially if you can get them on the moneyline at plus-money. If Brown and Tatum are each ruled out, shy away. However, regardless of the health situation, backing the Under is a quality play.
Bet: Celtics Moneyline (+104) & Under 214 (-108)
Houston Rockets (-480) at Utah Jazz (+370) | O/U 226.5 (-108/-112)
The Rockets (39-40) and the Jazz (29-50) hook up in Salt Lake City, the potential future home of the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes. Hmm.
Anyway, the Rockets are coming off a 118-106 victory over the visiting Orlando Magic on Tuesday, cashing as a 2.5-point underdog as the Over (216.5) cashed as well. The win halted a five-game losing streak, and the cover was rare, as Houston is just 2-5 ATS in the past seven games after a successful seven-game cover streak from March 14-27.
It’s all about the Over for the Rockets lately, cashing in six in a row, and 12 of the past 14 games. Houston has been lax on defense, allowing 113 or more points in five of the past six outings.
These teams just faced each other in H-Town on March 23, with the Rockets tuning out the Jazz 147-119 to cover as a 10.5-point favorite as the Over (227.5) easily connected. The Jazz have dropped 13 in a row, while they’re just 1-4 ATS in the past five games and 2-8 ATS in the past 10 outings. The Over is 4-1 in the past five games for Utah, too.
The lean would be to the Rockets laying the points, but they have struggled against the number lately. The Over is the best play on the board, and what you should focus upon primarily.
Bet: Over 226.5 Total Points (-108)
New Orleans Pelicans (-104) at Sacramento Kings (-112) | O/U 218.5 (-110/-110)
The Pelicans (47-32) and the Kings (45-34) square off at the Golden 1 Center in California’s capital city.
New Orleans has dominated this series, winning seven of the past nine meetings, including all four battles this season, including the In-Season Tournament. New Orleans has covered all four of the meetings, too, each as an underdog. The Under is 3-1 in the four battles this season while going 5-1 in the past six, and 7-3 in the past 10 battles since Nov. 3, 2021.
Sacramento was on the short end of a 112-105 score at Oklahoma City, and it has dropped three of the past four games while splitting against the number. We’re more focused on the Under, however. The Under has hit in three in a row for the Kings while going 10-2 in the past 12 games, and the total has gone low in 14 of the past 17 contests. The Kings have scored 109 or fewer points in five straight games, and 10 of their past 11 outings, slowing it down. The Kings have allowed 112 or fewer points in three in a row, and 15 of the past 17 games.
Bet: Under 218.5 Total Points (-110)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Thursday:
- NHL Prop Betting Cheat Sheet
- Top MLB Odds, Picks & Predictions
- Top NBA Odds, Picks & Predictions
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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.