On Thursday, April 24, we have three more NBA postseason games. This time, there's one series with a team up 2-0, and the others are tied at 1-1 each.
- Detroit Pistons vs New York Knicks (1-1)
- Memphis Grizzlies vs Oklahoma City Thunder (OKC up 2-0)
- Los Angeles Clippers vs Denver Nuggets
(Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)
The most recent game played among these was between Oklahoma City and Memphis. In Game 1, the Thunder won by more than 50. In Game 2, the Thunder won by 19 (118-99).
Below, I'll provide my best bets tonight for these NBA games.
See them below.
NBA Best Bets Today:
- Thunder -9 (-110) at DraftKings Sportsbook
- Pistons +1 (-108) at FanDuel Sportsbook
- Nuggets +5.5 (-108) at DraftKings Sportsbook
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Thunder -9
Kicking off my best bets today is the Thunder at -9.
Aside from the fact that this game is on the road and these teams are shooting relatively similarly in Game 2, I can't figure out why the point spread is single digits.
As a road favorite this season, the Thunder are 23-12-2 (65.7%) against the spread.
Memphis is 3-6 (33.3%) against the spread as a home underdog.
I mean, not for nothing, but as I mentioned earlier, the Thunder beat them by 51 points in Game 1 and 19 points in Game 2.
The Thunder's injury report features Ousmane Dieng and Nikola Topic.
They're both out, but their absences are not substantial enough to be concerning from a betting perspective.
As for the Grizzlies, they're without Brandon Clarke and Jaylen Wells.
In Game 2, the Thunder got 24 points from Jalen Williams, 20 points and 11 rebounds from Chet Holmgren, and 27 points, five assists, and eight rebounds from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Shoot, in just seven minutes, Aaron Wiggins added eight points.
This team is deep, has star power, and has players coming off the bench who could handle a good chunk of NBA squads if they were forced to start games.
Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant combined for 49 points for the Grizzlies. Desmond Bane also added 19 points and 12 rebounds.
Both teams also shot similarly, but Oklahoma City put up more shots.
In that game, the Thunder shot 43.3% from the floor (45 of 104), including 15 of 45 from 3-point range (33.3%).
The Grizzlies shot 39 of 91 from the floor (42.9%) and 10 of 31 from 3-point land (32.3%).
Over their last three games, the Thunder are averaging 121.3 points per game (second) and are shooting 59.0% from 2-point range.
The Thunder are averaging 121.3 points per game despite shooting just 29.3% from 3-point range over their last three games, which is the second-lowest mark in the NBA during that stretch.
Pistons +1
Heading into Game 3, we have a 1-1 series between the Knicks and Pistons.
I was skeptical of the Pistons after they collapsed late, losing 123-112 in Game 1.
However, in Game 2, they bounced back nicely, winning 100-94 despite shooting just 22.2% from 3-point range (6 of 27).
Looking at the box score from Game 2 on the Knicks' side, Jalen Brunson was fantastic with 37 points. Mikal Bridges also added 19.
But Karl-Anthony Towns didn't show up. He had 10 points and six rebounds in 33 minutes.
In Game 1, he had 23 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists.
That's the Towns the Knicks need in this series against a feisty Pistons squad.
The Pistons have some legitimate scorers, led by Cade Cunningham. He had 21 points and 12 assists in Game 1 and 33 of the Pistons' 100 points in Game 2. He also had 12 rebounds.
Not only that, but Tobias Harris contributed a 15-point, 13-rebound double-double.
Now, in Detroit, the Pistons are slight underdogs (+1).
As a home underdog this season, the Pistons are 11-8-1 against the spread (57.9%).
Meanwhile, the Knicks are 14-14 as a road favorite (50%).
The only thing that gives me pause is the Pistons' defense, specifically in terms of points allowed and shooting percentage.
Over their last three games, they're giving up 119.0 points per game (7th) and shooting percentages of 51.2% from the floor (second), 41.0% from 3-point range (third), and 58.1% on 2-point shots (5th).
I'll lean toward the Pistons at +1 at home, even with Isaiah Stewart likely out again due to a knee injury. This is going to be a fantastic rest of the series.
Nuggets +5.5
In another 1-1 series, the Nuggets head into Los Angeles after beating the Clippers in Game 1 in overtime, while the Clippers won Game 2 105-102.
In that game, Kawhi Leonard went insane. He had 39 points, five assists, and three rebounds.
Three other players, Norman Powell, Ivica Zubac, and James Harden, added double-digit points.
Now, in Los Angeles, the Clippers are favored by 5.5 in some spots.
The Clippers are 20-8 against the spread at home as a favorite (71.4%).
That's the best mark in the NBA.
As a road underdog, the Nuggets are 9-7 against the spread (56.3%).
Over their last three games, these teams have averaged nearly identical points, with the Nuggets averaging 113.3 and the Clippers averaging 113.
The Clippers have led the NBA in shooting percentage over the past three games, at 51.4%. That said, the Nuggets aren't far behind, at 47.1%.
In that span, the Clippers are shooting 40.2% from 3-point range, while the Nuggets are at 37.5%.
I think the Nuggets will have a tough time overcoming this series after dropping Game 2, but 5.5 points is too much to lay against Nikola Jokic.
I think the Nuggets cover but lose.
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