The 2016 NBA playoffs rage on tonight, as three more games hit the hardwood as we inch closer to round two. Stephen Curry got hurt again and the Cavs and Spurs both advanced, but we still have a lot to worry about in round one. Tonight the Thunder can join the Spurs and Thunder in round two, while both Miami and Los Angeles have a shot at taking commanding 3-1 leads in their respective first round series.

The question, of course, is will they? Let’s take a look at each of tonight’s NBA playoff matchups to find out:

Clippers (4) @ Blazers (5)

Line: Clippers -3.5 Total: 205.5

Portland looked like a different team at home in game three, while we can’t dismiss the fact that Blake Griffin went from dominant to dormant in this series. It will likely take an awakening to have L.A. hold onto control of this series, and Griffin has to know that. The Blazers aren’t even favorites at home after stealing game three, and the big reason why is the Clippers are the better team. More importantly, it’s hard to say Griffin being grounded for the third straight game.

Portland has countered Griffin’s strength and explosiveness with the quicker Mo Harkless, but that matchup can’t prove effective forever. Mason Plumlee has also held his own down low the past two games, but he isn’t the defender or scorer the Blazers need him to be for an entire series. Portland has hung tight and very well could steal another game, but if the Clippers want to avoid a disaster, they know putting away tonight’s game in Portland is crucial.

Pick: Clippers 107, Blazers 102

Heat (3) @ Hornets (6)

Line: Hornets -2 Total: 195.5

Charlotte surprised many by claiming game three despite Nicolas Batum being on the shelf, and a big reason why was a spirited performance from Jeremy Lin and both Frank Kaminsky and Al Jefferson getting starting nods. That size advantage was key, as was a very focused and effective Lin. The Hornets are great at home, but they looked over-matched through the first two games and them winning two straight without Batum feels like a reach. They’ll need another big game out of Lin or Kemba Walker to go nuts, but against a strong Miami defense, neither are locks.

The one caveat for Miami here is the potential absence of center Hassan Whiteside. He’s iffy with a thigh injury and if he sits, Charlotte would suddenly have a huge size advantage, as well as less resistance around the rim. Whiteside is likely to play and has dominated in the first three games, however, so it’s unlikely an edge the Hornets get to try to exploit.

Pick: Heat 101, Hornets 97

Mavericks (6) @ Thunder (3)

Line: Thunder -14.5 Total: 205.5

Dallas is severely banged up and truth be told, they did all they could to steal game two in this series. This should have been a sweep, if not for a late tip-in and some solid effort from Dirk Nowitzki. The Mavs need to re-tool for next year and it was nice to avoid the broom, but this one ends tonight.

Pick: Thunder 111, Mavs 92

The NBA playoffs didn’t lack drama on Thursday night, as the Stephen Curry-less Warriors weren’t at their best and a James Harden clutch shot late kept the Rockets from going into a 3-0 hole. The rest of the night’s slate was fairly predictable, though, with the Thunder steamrolling the Mavericks and Toronto taking over their series with the Pacers.

When it comes to the NBA playoffs, though, especially in the first round, we’ll take all of the surprises we can get. The real question is if we can get more on Friday night when three more games hit the hardwood. With series shifting, can Detroit, Boston and/or Memphis get a win, or will all three inch closer to a 3-0 hole? Let’s preview tonight’s slate to see if we can bank on another upset:

Cavaliers (1) @ Pistons (8)

Line: Cavs -4.5 Total: 200

The Pistons owned the Cavs during the regular season, taking three of four games. That hasn’t been the case in their first round playoff series. Despite a right game one, the Pistons fell apart in game two and are now in a 2-0 hole that many would expect of the 8th seed. Of course, they still can be a matchup problem for the Cavaliers and with the series shifting to Detroit on Friday night, many are curious if the Pistons can flex their muscle and make this series interesting.

One big problem is Detroit forward Stanley Johnson suggesting he is “in LeBron James’ head”. There isn’t much evidence to support that, however, and stating that publicly should only fuel King James and the Cavs. Detroit should be tougher at home (26-15 on their home floor during the regular season), but Cleveland looks like a team on a mission. It could be tough for the Pistons to get a win at all this series if Cleveland is allowed to do as they please offensively.

On top of that, Detroit has flashed their youth and inexperience after fading down the stretch in both games to start this series. It’s possible they play a complete game with game three being at home, but it’s arguable that it still won’t be enough against the best team in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland also has 10 straight playoff wins over Detroit heading into Friday, and that’s a run that figures to continue.

Pick: Cavs 104, Pistons 99

Hawks (4) @ Celtics (5)

Line: Celtics -2.5 Total: 200.5

It’s actually a little strange that Boston is the favorite yet again, especially after we saw them lose a defensive battle in game two. We also realized just how badly they miss Avery Bradley’s two-way impact, as well as the spark Kelly Olynyk can provide off the bench. Those absences hurt and very well could sink the Celtics before they ever really get going, but Boston has as much heart and grit as anyone.

One thing we know for sure is the Boston defense was still there in game two. The Hawks hit a ton of three’s (11, to be exact), but otherwise were held in check with under 90 points and just 39% shooting from the floor. Had Boston not buried themselves early with a playoff low 7 points in the first quarter, they may have actually stood a chance. At their best, they were one point shy of the Hawks in game one and when their offense left, their defense was still there.

There is reason to believe, now that game three is at TD Garden, the Celtics can get their wind back and make this a series again. If not, this series is over.

Pick: Celtics 102, Hawks 98

Spurs (2) @ Grizzlies (7)

Line: Spurs -11.5 Total: 181.5

This is the dream opening series for the Spurs, who are dominating Memphis so badly that they don’t even need 30 minutes out of their main stars. The Grizzlies, completely banged up and without studs like Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, have no real flow and look lost on both sides of the court against a team as disciplined and balanced as the Spurs.

That was all in San Antonio, of course, where the Spurs lost just one game all season. Still, Memphis is a defensive, grind it out type of team, yet they don’t have the resources to inflict their will defensively anymore and even at full strength they never had an offense that would threaten a team like the Spurs. The series does shift back to Memphis, so there is a glimmer of hope for a closer game. But a Grizzlies win? No, the Spurs are better than that. They’re shooting for a sweep so they can rest up for round two, and barring pure, random luck, they’re going to get it.

Pick: Spurs 107, Grizzlies 90

NBA fans get three more playoff games to bet on this Thursday night, as the Warriors shoot for a 3-0 edge over the Rockets and series between the Raptors/Pacers and Thunder/Mavs look to break 1-1 ties. It could be a very interesting night for pro basketball, so let’s dive into all three matchups and see where we should be leaning:

Thunder (3) @ Mavs (6)

Line: Thunder -8.5 Total: 196.5

Dallas magically stole game two thanks to Kevin Durant missing an amazing 26 shots and a tip-in game-winner by Steve Adams coming after the horn. That doesn’t take away from a gritty game two performance, but it’s still very possible we just witnessed the Mavs’ only win in this series. KD is unlikely to be that bad again in game three – or ever again at any point in this series. We can also bank on another big game from Russell Westbrook, while Dallas is just not very healthy right now. Deron Williams, J.J. Barea and Dirk Nowitzki are all banged up and even though they’re at home, it’s very tough to see them going up 2-1 on the Thunder.

Dirk on the bone bruise in his right knee: “I could barely walk off the plane. I had some pain, but it was a lot better already yesterday.”

— Dwain Price (@DwainPrice) April 20, 2016

A healthy Dallas squad could be a problem at home, but they’re not in great shape and OKC will be out for blood after dropping one on their home floor. Look for this one to be a little closer to the game one result.

Pick: Thunder 108, Mavs 96

Raptors (2) @ Pacers (7)

Line: Raptors -1.5 Total: 193

Toronto evaded disaster with a big game two win and now they’re on the road to try to turn the series back in their favor. That could prove difficult, as the Raptors aren’t amazing on the road and Indy understandably tends to play their best ball at home. Toronto is the better team and if they can just defend like they did in game two and spread their offense out, they should come out on top. That being said, Vegas has this as a virtual pick’em and it’s in Indy. The Pacers play well at home and already proved they’re a worthy opponent with a game one win. If the Raptors don’t take over early, Paul George could shoot the Pacers to a 2-1 series lead.

Pick: Pacers 101, Raptors 98

Warriors (1) @ Rockets (8)

Line: Warriors -5.5 Total: 214.5

It’s somewhat surprising that the spread is available so early today, as we still can’t be sure if Stephen Curry will even play. Golden State took care of Houston without him in game two, though, so it’s entirely plausible to expect them to do the same in game three if he’s out.

Curry: Probably not ready to play yet: https://t.co/pbxrrWhhRM

— Diamond Leung (@diamond83) April 21, 2016

The Rockets have enough talent to win a game in this series, and if they’re going to do it, it’s got to be at home. James Harden is bound to explode, too, so considering Curry’s potential absence, we have to give the Rockets a chance here. I still like the Dubs to take the 3-0 series lead, but if Curry sits, I expect a second straight close game.

Pick: Warriors 107, Rockets 104

The 2016 NBA playoffs continue on with a light three-game slate on Monday, following two four-pack slates this past weekend. The playoffs have officially started with a road team already snagging a win, too, as the Pacers up-ended the Raptors in Toronto to get things going on Saturday.

Will Indiana take an unprecedented 2-0 lead over the 2-seed in the Eastern Conference, or will the Raptors fight back? Let’s take a look at that game and the rest of tonight’s slate to see how things could play out:

Pacers (7) @ Raptors (2)

Line: Raptors -7 Total: 195

After blowing it in round one last year, it really seemed like the Raptors had improved and were ready to take the next step. That’s why their game one loss on Saturday was extremely troubling, as the Pacers felt like the aggressor and no Toronto player really showed up offensively. Jonas Valanciunas was by far their best producer, and if that’s going to be the case, another first round exit could very well be on the horizon.

Indiana proved immediately that they aren’t to be taken lightly and with a 1-0 hole, the Raptors have to be enduring nightmares of last season’s first round sweep by the hands of the Wizards. The East’s 2-seed is suddenly in a must-win situation, as a 2-0 hole mathematically would be bad for the Raptors, but it could also destroy their psyche and confidence.

A second straight loss is obviously possible here, but we have to give the Raptors the benefit of the doubt. They were the better team all year, they handled the Pacers well enough during the regular season and they get another crack at them at home, where they were a strong 32-9 during the regular season. If Toronto loses here the series is probably over, so we’ll bank on them being highly motivated as they even the series.

Pick: Raptors 104, Pacers 96

Mavericks (6) @ Thunder (3)

Line: Thunder -14 Total: 201

Dallas did not get off to the start they needed in this series, and a 38-point drubbing in game one likely spells a quick 4-0 sweep. The Thunder have two megastars and don’t lose at home, but on top of that they proved from the tip in game one that they’re the vastly superior squad.

The Mavs already had their backs against the wall going in, but now they’re in a 1-0 hole and probably won’t have either Deron Williams or J.J. Barea heading into game two. That puts too much pressure on a worn down Dirk Nowitzki, who already has to deal with a rough matchup with Serge Ibaka. Game two might be a little better in terms of the score gap, but there is little reason to hope for an upset or even the Mavs to beat the spread.

Pick: Thunder 116, Mavs 100

Rockets (8) @ Warriors (1)

Line: n/a Total: n/a

The line and total weren’t made available at the time of this writing, largely due to Stephen Curry’s pending status (ankle). Golden State made quick work of the visiting Rockets in game one, and provided Curry is good to go, we can probably expect more of the same in game two.

It’s pretty clear the Dubs are a totally different team on their home floor, but they’re also facing a fairly one-dimensional Rockets team. Although Houston can explode on offense and certainly does have a lot of talent, it’s pretty much James Harden or bust still. The Warriors did a good job containing him in game one, which may have set a precedent for the rest of the series. That, or they can allow Harden to do all the hard work and keep his teammates from being involved on a positive level.

Curry being out would shift the odds greatly and give the Rockets a great chance, but they also don’t defend and we’ve seen the Warriors win games without their star before. We still like the Warriors to take a commanding 2-0 lead here, but monitor Curry’s status up until the tip. If he’s out, give Houston a shot at beating the spread.

Pick: Warriors 106, Rockets 99

The 2015-16 NBA Playoffs officially tip off on Saturday, with the Indiana Pacers and Toronto Raptors starting the action at 12:30 pm ET at Air Canada Centre. That’s an early start if we’ve ever seen one, giving us a jam-packed weekend of post-season basketball action. We get four games on Saturday and four more on Sunday as we open round one.

Playoff NBA betting is a bit different than regular season betting, as it can be quite tough to gauge on a per-game basis. Picking the winner of a first round series shouldn’t be nearly as difficult, but often in game one of an early round series, you will want to be on the lookout for a random upset or someone unexpectedly beating the spread. Let’s keep that into consideration as we take a look at Saturday’s four-game slate and see which way you might want to lean with your bets:

Pacers (7) @ Raptors (2)

Line: Raptors -6.5 Total: 194.5

Toronto hosts game one at home, where they were a startling 32-9 during the regular season. They have the better offense, the better defense, won three of four regular season meetings and just might have a defensive stopper (DeMarre Carroll) to sick on Paul George. The only real argument against the Raptors here is Paul George having a huge game and the horror of last year’s first round sweep to the Wizards comes back to haunt Toronto to get this series started.

The Raptors are rested and healthy, and should be more than focused at home. Getting the monkey off their back and getting that first win is huge for them, so it’s likely they get it. Look for the Raptors to continue playing their best ball at home as they win/cover to open up the 2015-16 NBA playoffs.

Pick: Raptors 105, Pacers 97

Rockets (8) @ Warriors (1)

Line: Warriors -13 Total: 225

Vegas obviously isn’t giving Houston a chance here, and why should they? The Rockets probably shouldn’t have made the Western Conference Finals last year, and once they got there they could only beat the Warriors once. Fast forward to this year, and they’ve been pedestrian (41-41) throughout, have a new (inexperienced) head coach and a star center in Dwight Howard that appears to have mentally checked out. Oh, and the Warriors swept them (3-0) during the regular season this year.

Golden State doesn’t need an argument in their favor. They’ve last two games at the Oracle Arena in the past year and have claimed 12 of the last 13 meetings. Houston has James Harden and some nice offense, but they can’t defend and aren’t really equipped to stop the Warriors. That being said, Houston will come out with a chip on their shoulder and did give the Rockets two very hard games on the road to start last year’s series. I think Houston beats the spread tonight.

Pick: Warriors 108, Rockets 102

Celtics (5) @ Hawks (4)

Line: Hawks -5 Total: 204

This is my favorite series for a full blown upset, simply because the Hawks can be rather uninspiring sometimes. They defend well, can get hot offensively and have actually (by record) been one of the best teams in the last month or so. They also lost two in a row as they backed into the playoffs, including a real bummer of a loss in D.C. to a Wizards team sans John Wall, Brad Beal or anything to play for.

Boston, on the other hand, beat a Heat squad in the finale that was looking for a division title (they still got it thanks to the Hawks) and come in with the ability to explode offensively and batten down the hatches on defense. Of course, none of that mattered during the regular season, where Atlanta stole three of four meetings. None of Boston’s defeats to Atlanta were by less than 8 points, either, so on the surface this looks like a discouraging matchup – especially with game on in ATL, where the Hawks are a stout 27-14.

An upset still looms large. It’s worth debating if the Celtics can outlast the Hawks for the entire series, but they have a certain mojo and balance to them. Isaiah Thomas gives them 20+ points nightly, while the likes of Avery Bradley, Marcus Smart and Jae Crowder are pesky, defensive fiends. Brad Stevens supplies the strategy and general smarts, while we can’t discount heart and drive here. After all, this Boston team was the first team to go into the Oracle Arena and hand the mighty Warriors a home loss this season.

Atlanta is also good for disappointment. They completely caved in a 4-0 sweep in the Eastern Conference Finals last year (although the games were tight) and it’d be quite fitting for them to get off to a slow start to open up this series. The real bet may be giving Boston a shot to beat the spread, but I’m going full upset and picking them to take game one on Saturday night.

Pick: Celtics 104, Hawks 101

Mavericks (6) @ Thunder (3)

Line: Thunder -12 Total: 208.5

It’s hard not to pull for an aging Dirk Nowitzki, but he’s been regressing hard over the last few weeks and appears too worn down to carry Dallas past round one. That’d be the case no matter the matchup, but pit them against a dynamite OKC team that swept them (4-0) this year, and you’re looking at a Mavs team in serious trouble.

OKC does not scare teams defensively and don’t have a lot to get excited about beyond their two main stars, but Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook together is about as nasty as it gets. The real issue isn’t defense or depth here. It’s star power. The Thunder have two superstars that both can kill Dallas all day, yet the Mavs lack even one at this point and don’t have a single player that can stop either KD or Westbrook. Dallas does have enough offensive fire power to make things interesting and Dirk could be good for a vintage performance or two, but a sweep is a very realistic (if not likely) possibility. If the Mavs do steal a win, it’ll need heroics and it will be on their home floor – not in game one on the road.

Pick: Thunder 106, Mavs 98

The 2015-16 NBA regular season is over. Just like that, a brilliant 20-year run is in the rear view mirror for Kobe Bryant, the Warriors are off to defend their title and a bunch of bad teams have to figure out how to get better. Before the playoffs hit, let’s reflect on what just went down on Wednesday night and what’s to come in one of our favorite leagues.

Mamba Out

The Black Mamba more than delivered in his final game, as he overcame an ugly 0-5 start to finish with 22 makes on 50 shots, totaling an insane 60 points and at one point late in the game scoring 17 straight points to lead the Lakers to a win at home over the Utah Jazz. Utah was playing for nothing and it’s debatable if they were even trying at times, but there’s nothing anyone can do to take away from this awesome performance from one of the greatest NBA players ever.

The game meant very little in the end, as the Jazz had been eliminated from playoff contention less than an hour earlier (Rockets beat the Kings to nab the 8th seed), while Los Angeles was out of the playoff equation arguably months ago. Still, Kobe exceeded expectations as he drove his tired body to the limits and then some. He looked old and done for much of the past few seasons, but it was fairly remarkable how he made it all the way through one last season. The payoff was worth it, as we got one last truly vintage performance from The Black Mamba, who goes down as the third-leading scorer in league history, just behind Kareem and Karl Malone.

Where does the Mamba go from here? Acting, game analysis, franchise management or even coaching are all possibilities. All we know for sure is he retires a five-time NBA champ and as one of the more thrilling and potent scorers the league has ever seen. Here’s a nice video montage to leave Mamba properly:

Mr. 400 and 73

Two huge accomplishments for the Warriors on Wednesday, as Stephen Curry eclipsed 400 three-pointers (402, to be exact) en route to 46 points as Golden State won their 73rd game of the year. Curry’s individual accomplishment obviously set a new single-season record (no one else other than Curry has ever even hit 300 three’s in a season), while the team broke the Chicago Bulls’ record for wins during the regular season. It’s all in a year’s work for the defending champs, who had a truly remarkable run.

Golden State broke tons of records this year and in the process never lost to the same team twice or dropped back to back games. They also tied for the second best home record in league history (39-2) and went in showdowns with the Thunder, Spurs, Cavs, Heat and Clippers, only lost one game (to the Spurs in San Antonio). Golden State will look to repeat as NBA champions starting in round one, where they’ll take on the team they beat in the Western Conference Finals last year, the Houston Rockets.

NBA Finals Odds

Speaking of the Finals, Vegas points to Golden State as the obvious favorite to run away with the title. Teams who beat just about everyone like they did tend to have little difficult in the playoffs, and the rate of success for teams winning even 62 games is pretty alarming.

Of the top-50 NBA regular season records ever (62-20 or better), 23 of those teams went on to win the NBA Finals. Of the teams that won 65+ games, just the 1973 Celtics and 2009 Cavaliers failed to finish the job. Of course, the San Antonio Spurs join that list this year (67 wins), so something has to break a bit. Golden State joins an elite class of teams that have won 69+ games, however, and while the list is short, those teams have all won titles.

Naturally, the Warriors open with strong 1/2 odds to win it all. Here is the rest of the field and their odds to win the 2016 NBA Finals:

• Spurs (19/5)
• Cavaliers (4/1)
• Thunder (15/1)
• Clippers (40/1)
• Raptors (50/1)
• Heat (75/1)
• Celtics (80/1)
• Hawks (100/1)
• Hornets (125/1)
• Blazers (175/1)
• Pacers (200/1)
• Pistons (250/1)
• Rockets (250/1)
• Mavericks (500/1)
• Grizzlies (1000/1)

Draft Preview

If your team isn’t in the race for the league title or you don’t like their odds, now may be a good time to shift your focus to next year by looking at the top draft prospects. Ben Simmons is still likely the favorite to be the #1 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, but Duke swing man Brandon Ingram has gained steam in the past month. Buddy Hield also inflated his draft stock considerably with an awesome 2015 season, one that was especially impressive during Oklahoma’s run to the Final Four. One of the top international prospects to track, of course, will be none other than Dragan Bender.

The Philadelphia 76ers likely lead the way to earn the top pick when the draft lottery rolls around, but the Lakers, Suns, Timberwolves and Pelicans also could have a good shot at landing the first pick in the draft.

Overall, it’s been an amazing 2015-16 NBA season and a ton of fun. There is a lot to reflect on and look forward to, but with the playoffs just getting started this weekend, we’ll not turn our attention that way. Have a though on Kobe, the Warriors or something else? Feel free to hit up the comments section below!

Wednesday, April 13th is one that will live long in NBA lore. Not only could the Golden State Warriors make league history by winning a single-season record 73rd game, but The Black Mamba will also be playing his final game.

Neither event should be overly climactic. The Warriors at worst have tied the Chicago Bulls with 72 wins, they have the #1 seed locked up in the Western Conference and they get to go for the record in front of their home crowd at the Oracle Arena. Oh, and they’re facing a Memphis Grizzlies team that is severely depleted due to injuries and is limping into the playoffs.

More than likely, we get to see Kobe Bryant play his final game at the Staples Center and an impressive record be broken. Both will be televised on two different ESPN channels at exactly the same time. Pick your viewing wisely, but for all of your NBA picks tonight, stop by our matchup breakdowns below:

76ers @ Bulls

Line: Bulls -11 Total: 208

The Bulls are out of the playoff picture, but they’re at home at the United Center against a very bad opponent. This one is about pure pride, even though Pau Gasol and Derrick Rose have already been shut down for the season. We will want to keep tabs on Jimmy Butler, but he played in Chicago’s last game and it sounds like he wants to end the year on a positive note. That might happen in a sense, but the Bulls haven’t been good at dominating anyone all year. Under-manned and overall disappointing, we can see the Bulls letting Philly hang around.

Pick: Bulls 101, Sixers 96

Pacers @ Bucks

Line: Bucks -4 Total: 203

Indiana has already suggested that Paul George will rest in their final regular season game in order to be 100% for the playoffs, so we can assume he won’t be on hand in Milwaukee tonight. Indiana holds the regular season tiebreaker with the Pistons and won last night, though, so it is no longer crucial that they win this game. That should shift the focus on Milwaukee, who have played very well at the Bradley Center (23-17 at home) and will certainly want to cap the year on a high note. Taking down the rival Pacers would qualify, while a win tonight for the Bucks would also even the season series. If George indeed sits, the advantage goes to Milwaukee.

Pick: Bucks 103, Pacers 99

Magic @ Hornets

Line: Hornets -9 Total: 208.5

Orlando is in a tough spot tonight, as they finish their season out on the road against a very good Hornets team that may opt to close the year out strong. Charlotte can no longer win the Southeast Division or top the Hawks, but a Charlotte win and Boston loss would give them a bump in seeding. That should be enough to force the main Hornets stars out onto the floor, which is bad news for the visiting Magic. Orlando has struggled immensely on the road this year (12-28), while the Hornets are especially tough to deal with on their home court (29-11). Provided Charlotte doesn’t randomly rest their key players, they look like the safe bet in this matchup.

Pick: Hornets 107, Magic 102

Clippers @ Suns

Line: Suns -6 Total: 203.5

Los Angeles has nothing to play for, as they can’t move up or down in the playoff standings. They know they can beat the Suns potentially without their stars anyways, and it’s already been made known that Blake Griffin will be held out for this contest. In addition, Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan, Jamal Crawford and J.J. Redick will all stay in L.A. tonight.

No Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, Chris Paul, J.J. Redick or Jamal Crawford in Phoenix for Clippers. All staying home.

— Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) April 13, 2016

The dismantled starting unit gives Phoenix a shot at home tonight, but even the Suns are down numerous bodies. The Clippers’ bench has shown well in recent games, and there is little reason to think it can’t step up again.

Pick: Clippers 106, Suns 101

Nuggets @ Blazers

Line: Blazers -10 Total: 215

Portland could opt to rest their guys tonight, but that may be unlikely considering the Blazers still need a win to ensure they finish above the Dallas Mavericks in the West. That should push Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum into action in Portland’s regular season finale, which is understandably bad news for the Nuggets. Denver has nothing to lose here and does pack a solid offensive punch, but they are atrocious on the road (15-25) and the Blazers will surely want to end the regular season on a high note. Expect a high-scoring and probably even close contest, but the Blazers should secure the win.

Pick: Blazers 105, Nuggets 101

Heat @ Celtics

Line: Celtics -5 Total: 209

Both Miami and Boston are playing for something when the two clash at TD Garden tonight, which means we should have all the stars hitting the court for a pretty big game. Miami needs to win tonight to secure the Southeast Division title, while a loss could hand it to the Atlanta Hawks. Dwyane Wade and co. will be more than motivated to pull a tough road win out, especially since a loss to the Celtics could lose them the division title and drop them below Boston in playoff seeding. That could be the difference of a #3 seed and a #5 seed, so there’s little doubt Miami will want to snag this game. Boston has gone up 2-0 in the season series, but logic suggests Miami will finally get the best of them tonight – especially with so much on the line.

Pick: Heat 101, Celtics 97

Pistons @ Cavs

Line: Cavs -3 Total: 195.5

Neither the Pistons or Cavs have anything to play for tonight, as Cleveland has secured the #1 seed in the East and Detroit is locked into the 8th spot. That means we get this exact matchup in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, and it’s pretty unlikely either side will want to show their hand. Bank on a lot of key players sitting this one out, and give a minor edge to the home team (Cavs are 33-7 at Quicken Loans Arena).

Pick: Cavs 104, Pistons 96

Spurs @ Mavs

Line: Mavs -9 Total: 187.5

More rest is to come in this one, as the Spurs have nowhere to go in their seeding and just won their 40th home game last night. They will surely be resting a lot of their key players as they anticipate taking on the 7th seed in the first round of the playoffs. There has been talk of Dallas resting Dirk Nowitzki and others now that they’ve clinched a playoff spot, but with the #5 seed within reach, it’s possible Dallas goes hard at home to close out the regular season. The combination of a higher seed and the Spurs resting players should give Dallas enough to get the win.

Pick: Mavs 99, Spurs 96

Kings @ Rockets

Line: Rockets -15 Total: 222.5

This should be the easiest call of the night, as the Rockets know they are in the playoffs if they can just take down the Kings. That doesn’t look like a tall order considering DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo are done for the year. Sacramento isn’t always scary even when healthy, while their road woes (15-25) are well documented. Houston has been infamous this year for being extremely inconsistent, though, so it’s very likely they don’t put the Kings away until late. Because of that, we give Sacramento a real chance to beat the spread and keep this one interesting until the end.

Pick: Rockets 106, Kings 102

Pelicans @ Timberwolves

Line: Wolves -9 Total: 213.5

The Pelicans are extremely banged up and both teams are very young, so this one actually could be a bit of a toss-up, despite Minnesota entering with a strong -9 spread advantage. Minnesota has more of an edge, too, as they’re at home, are healthy and have more talent across the board. New Orleans has also been awful (9-31) away from home this year, and there’s probably not a whole lot that Tim Frazier and Luke Babbitt can do to change that. New Orleans built a 2-1 season series lead when they were healthier, but in their current state, they’re likely to drop another one on the road to close out the year.

Pick: Wolves 107, Pelicans 101

Raptors @ Nets

Line: Raptors -5 Total: 206

Toronto is locked into the two-seed in the East and will surely be sitting their key players tonight, while the Nets host one more home game at the Barclays Center, trying to nix a 9-game losing streak. Brooklyn is down to spare parts and hasn’t even found much solace at home (14-26), so it’s easy to roll with Toronto here, regardless of who suits up. Toronto’s bench is actually solid, too, with Norman Powell and Jason Thompson giving them two guys to lean on if guys like Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan in fact sit out.

Pick: Raptors 106, Nets 89

Hawks @ Wizards

Line: Hawks -8 Total: 207

Washington is out of the playoff conversation and has already ended the seasons of John Wall and Brad Beal prematurely, so they can’t be expected to put up much of a fight against the Hawks tonight. Atlanta’s only real concern is that they’re on the road, but they’ve got a chance at winning a division title if Miami loses tonight, as well. Atlanta leads this series 2-1 and with the Wiz playing for nothing at less than full strength, the Hawks look like the easy pick.

Pick: Hawks 104, Wizards 94

Grizzlies @ Warriors

Line: Warriors -18.5 Total: 212

It was the Grizzlies who almost kept this potential record-setting night from happenings just a few days ago, and they’ll once again get a crack at taking the Dubs down. Giving Golden State that big of a fight twice in a row doesn’t feel overly likely, though, especially with the finish line so close. The Warriors know they are one complete game away from making league history, so we can fully expect big games out of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson. Memphis can be feisty and probably won’t be keen on letting the Dubs walk all over them en route to history, so an 18.5 point spread seems a bit high.

Pick: Warriors 111, Grizz 102

Jazz @ Lakers

Line: Jazz -5.5 Total: 193

Kobe Bryant’s last game comes in front of the Lake Show faithful, and while it won’t be a meaningful playoff game, everyone on hand will certainly find some meaning in it. The Jazz might, too, since they could be playing for a trip to the playoffs. They’ll know their fate ahead of the game, but if Houston loses, Utah will be put everything it has into making The Black Mamba’s swan song an ugly one. What happens in that Rockets game could dramatically shift this outcome, so pay attention to see if Utah is playing for anything once this game rolls around. For now, we see Utah being focused and taking down a lesser opponent. Does that mean Bryant can’t drop a cool 35 points in his career finale? We hope not.

Pick: Jazz 104, Lakers 97

Monday night was very interesting for pro basketball, as the Utah Jazz took a step back in their pursuit of a NBA playoff spot, the Houston Rockets seized control of their playoff destiny and the Dallas Mavericks officially clinched a spot.

Utah and Houston will sort things out on Wednesday night, but tonight we still have some intense matchups, as the Miami Heat look to take on step closer to securing the Southeast Division crown and both the Pacers and Pistons try to avoid the Eastern Conference’s 8th seed.

It’s a pretty light five-game slate and we can probably expect the Spurs, Thunder and Raptors to rest some star players, but it should still be an interesting night for some NBA betting. Let’s dive into each matchup and see where you should be leaning on Tuesday night:

Knicks @ Pacers

Line: n/a Total: n/a

Indiana is in the playoffs, but they’ll surely want to avoid a date with the Cleveland Cavaliers right away in the first round. A win tonight would go a long way in making sure that won’t happen, and being at home against an inferior opponent certainly aids their cause. Indy wants to make sure Paul George is healthy for a playoff run, however, so he’s iffy for tonight and any other Pacers stars could also potentially be rested. That may not matter, however, as New York is already ruling out big man Kristaps Porzingis and Carmelo Anthony is also in doubt for tonight.

Coach Rambis says Porzingis is out tonight. #NYKvsIND

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) April 12, 2016

All things considered, Indy has a little motivation to win and are at home, so they’re going to be tough to bet against.

Update: Paul George is expected to play, further enhancing Indy’s odds to win tonight.

Pick: Pacers 104, Knicks 97

Grizzlies @ Clippers

Line: Clippers -7.5 Total: 197

Blake Griffin will start tonight and sit on Wednesday, as he continues to work his way back to regular minutes and touches. The Clippers gain nothing from winning tonight, but they’ll want to win at home and should hold a distinct advantage with their key players playing at least moderate minutes tonight. Memphis limps into post-season play completely banged up, but could get sparked by a Matt Barnes revenge game. Los Angeles remains the obvious favorite here, however.

Pick: Clippers 105, Grizz 94

Heat @ Pistons

Line: Pistons -2.5 Total: 200.5

Miami is still in play for a division title, while the Pistons should be going hard at home to avoid the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference. That means no rest for either side, but with Miami having more to play for, they look like the better pick on the surface. Detroit is a mild favorite per Vegas because they are tough (26-14) on their home floor, while the Heat are very pedestrian (19-20) on the road. Miami needs this game, though, and will also want to tie up the season series (Pistons lead, 2-1).

Pick: Heat 101, Pistons 98

76ers @ Raptors

Line: Raptors -10 Total: 203.5

Philly is one of the worst teams in the league, but this spread would be much worse if Toronto had anything to play for. Cleveland locked down the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference on Monday, giving the Raptors nothing to play for as they close out the regular season. Pure pride could be worth something at home against the awful Sixers, but if Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan sit this one out, all bets are off. Toronto is still a good straight up pick, but due to likely rest, Philly is going to be an enticing ATS play.

Pick: Raptors 103, Sixers 97

Thunder @ Spurs

Line: Spurs -9.5 Total: 204

We can’t bank on star players suiting up for either side, as OKC and San Antonio have no incentive to send their best players out on the court for what otherwise would be a marquee matchup. The Spurs already lost their lone home game of the year last week and OKC can’t move up or down in the playoff standings. This game is truly meaningless for both sides and Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are already unlikely to hit the court. The same can probably be said for Kawhi Leonard and most of the Spurs’ key starters. That being said, San Antonio is still at home and is far deeper than the Thunder. OKC could beat the spread, but we’ll still take the Spurs to win, straight up.

Pick: Spurs 104, Thunder 101