Nascar makes it next stop at the Food City 500 this weekend, as the top drivers will try to own the track at the Bristol Motor Speedway. A track known for drivers having run-ins regularly, we may be in for a hectic (though entertaining) race on Sunday (especially with 80% chance of rain). Of course, with any track that offers up extra chances at crashes or spin-outs, it should temper our expectations a bit for some of the favorites dominating the field.

That being said, there are definitely some drivers to follow leading into the weekend, so let’s break down the favorites, as well as our pick to win the Food City 500:

Favorites: Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch

These are easily the top favorites to win this weekend, and for a variety of reasons. If you’re looking for the guy who has had the recent success who could make it happen it might be Keselowski, who has claimed first in two of the last six races at Bristol. Harvick is another guy who has had a ton of success here, though, as he’s finished inside the top 10 12 times in 28 races, while he’s also driven well so far in 2015. He’d be looking for his third win of 2015 to add to his first place spot in the Sprint Cup Series.

Kenseth is the laps king, as he dominated the track last year and also has finished inside the top 10 at Bristol a staggering 10 times. Johnson is routinely one of the fastest drivers and won the race back in 2010, so he should be in contention again, while Busch has earned the King of Bristol nickname thanks to a ridiculous five wins in this event.

Dark Horses: Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Justin Allgaier

Gordon is wrapping up a brilliant career in 2015 so it wouldn’t be surprising to see him go out on top in a number of races. He enjoyed a great 2014 and has been driving well again this year, so he could easily turn up with his sixth career win at Bristol. Stewart is another veteran driver who could see his luck turn around this weekend. He’s found himself inside the top five twice in his last eight runs at Bristol and he really could use a big win. This race could do the trick. Allgaier is a super sleeper that seems to be getting closer and closer, as he has cracked the top 20 at Bristol in each of the past two years. This could finally be the year he takes the crown.

Drivers to Avoid: Danica Patrick and Ryan Newman

Patrick has actually been really good lately but she has a rough history at Bristol, specifically. She has the talent to make a run, but her battles with the track probably keep her from being a serious candidate this year. Newman is a solid driver, but inconsistency kills him. He’s been pretty erratic at Bristol in particular, which is why he’s a top racer to avoid.

Our Pick: Kurt Busch

He’s not the King of Bristol for nothing. Busch is as fine a driver as they come and he’s enjoyed terrific success at this track. We like Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon a lot, as well, but Busch has the resume to push himself over the top.

The 2014-15 NBA regular season wrapped up last night, with a ridiculous 14-game schedule signing us off. While one massive part of the year has concluded, the meat and potatoes gets served this coming weekend, when all of the truly important games tip off on Saturday (well, not all of them). We made it through a roller coaster year with a sick 734-363 record (good for nearly 67%)  after closing out the night with a nice 11-3 run. It’s going to be awfully hard to keep that up with a fairly up in the air Western Conference tourney coming our way, but if you stick with us the odds are in your favor to continue making some nice coin via NBA betting.

The action gets going with four series getting started on Saturday, which will give us plenty to think about over the next two days of no basketball. For now, let’s think long-term and gauge which teams have the best shots of making deep runs or even winning it all. To do that, we’ll list the odds for each team to win this year’s NBA Finals and quickly break down why they can or can’t make a serious go of it:

Cleveland Cavaliers (Odds to win it all: 11/5)

If you want to pile your money on the bet that the Cavs will make it to the Finals, I’m all in with you. Winning against a stacked Western Conference, though, not so much. They’re almost certainly going to land either the Warriors or Spurs if they get there, and if that happens they’re toast. Cleveland has a terrific starting five and can run with anyone offensively. Unfortunately, their depth isn’t great, their coaching is inconsistent and their defense probably isn’t good enough. They just might be the cream of the crop in their conference, but that doesn’t mean a whole lot.

Golden State Warriors (11/5)

Who doesn’t like watching the Warriors? Anyone who is a fan of a different Western Conference team, probably. The big issue with Golden State is a lack of experience, and that knock goes from top to bottom. Their head coach is a rookie and their entire team has never made a deep run. I think they will do that this year, but even reaching the Conference Finals has to be a win. They are a virtually unstoppable offense, they play excellent team defense and they have numerous clutch performers who can kill you from outside. That, and they lost two games at the Oracle Arena all year. Home court advantage is a real thing for this group, so I can’t see them falling within the first two rounds.

While I love the Warriors to get to within striking distance of the Finals, I’m not sure they’re a lock to get all the way in their first try. One lingering issue may be their ability to win road playoff games. The Spurs are a team we know can do that. I’m not sold the Warriors can or will just yet. That being said, their record and talent speaks for itself, while a healthy Andrew Bogut could very well be the difference. Betting on the Warriors is not a silly idea.

San Antonio Spurs (4/1)

The defending champs looked to be dead in the water earlier in the year, but that was largely due to a litany of injuries. Now healthy, San Antonio almost won the Southwest division on the heels of an 11-game winning streak. They bowed out to a desperate Pelicans squad last night, but they still enter the playoffs as dangerous of a threat as ever. Only the Warriors are playing as well as they are and I think it will come down to those two squads (apparently so does Vegas) to see who gets to the Finals. San Antonio may be in it’s final ride with both Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan, so I think there’s a solid chance they get back to the Finals one more time.

Atlanta Hawks (15/1)

Atlanta does a fantastic Spurs impersonation and we shouldn’t discount them entirely, but it’s not crazy to suggest they’re been inflated a bit because of that huge winning streak they had in the middle of the year. They’re well-coached, extremely balanced and pretty deep, but they lack that one big star that can take over at any moment. That can work in their favor, too, as they also have a plethora of guys that can kill you, so you can’t focus on stopping just one of them. I like their odds to meet up with the Cavs for a shot at the Finals, but they also are vulnerable enough to get ousted in round one. They have the goods to make the run, but they’re volatile as it gets for a #1 seed. I just can’t bring myself to fully trust them.

Chicago Bulls (15/1)

Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson are all healthy and the Bulls have the East’s #3 seed, so it remains entirely possible that this team can shock everyone and make a title run. The Cavs still don’t play elite defense and we can’t be sure the Hawks are all the way for real, so the door is at least cracked open for D-Rose to exercise his demons and make it happen. The possibility is there, but the odds probably aren’t. Chicago probably won’t ever be in sync in time to put all of the pieces together, while one more injury could be the death of them. They’re a fun team to make a small bet on and cheer for, but I’m not sure I’d take them over the Cavs or Hawks.

Los Angeles Clippers (18/1)

Lob City is my favorite sleeper squad. They are a little inconsistent on boths ends and have some of the worst depth you’ll find, but it’s hard to knock their coaching, starting five and offensive ability. When they’re in a groove they’re easily one of the best teams in the league and they’re entering the playoffs white hot. The West is truly the best, though, and they’ll have a tough path right away from round one, on. If they were in the East I’d love their chances of getting to the Finals, but in such a cloudy West they’re going to be tough to trust.

Houston Rockets (25/1)

James Harden is a man possessed and a healthy Dwight Howard makes anything possible. So does this team stealing the Southwest division title, as they’ll enter the chaos with the West’s #2 seed. As we see them, the Rockets can score in bunches and can also defend at a high level. They’ve lost some key depth but still have the likes of Jason Terry, Josh Smith and Corey Brewer off the bench. If Patrick Beverley can return to full strength, they just might be sleeper worth betting on.

Memphis Grizzlies (30/1)

Memphis is far from healthy and has an offense that is too much touch and go. I love their starting unit and their physicality on defense, but when their defense isn’t there they can look terrible. They’re going to be a tough out for anyone and absolutely have the foundation for a deep run, but stagnance on offense will inevitably be the death of them.

Dallas Mavericks (50/1)

Dallas has been very up and down all year and it has a lot to do with injuries and poor defense. I’m not a believer than adding Rajon Rondo to the mix helped them, while their only truly elite defender is Tyson Chandler. They have the offense and depth to make some noise, but a run past round two is probably impossible.

Portland Trail Blazers (75/1)

Earlier in the year the Blazers were looking like legit title contenders. Now they’re without lock down defender Wes Matthews and have a less than 100% LaMarcus Aldridge. Ridge and Damian Lillard are true gamers that can get them through round one if everything goes according to plan, but even that’s not a lock. Portland has the balance to make some noise, but the defense has dipped and the depth is gone. They’re not going to be fun to pick to win it all this year.

Toronto Raptors (75/1)

Toronto can turn it on offensively, but they’ve dealt with a lot of injuries and have a very shaky defense that runs hot and cold. They can get away with that in the first round in the East potentially, but they’re just not built to make a title run yet.

Washington Wizards (85/1)

Washington is on the same track as Toronto, which is only fitting considering they face each other in round one. Both teams have the size and depth to give anyone a good fight, but both are also awfully inconsistent. The Wizards are a solid defensive team usually, but they continue to be held back by odd coaching decisions. Randy Wittman is probably why they don’t make it past round two.

New Orleans Pelicans (150/1)

Anthony Davis won’t enjoy his first ever playoff appearance for long. The Pellies are definitely getting healthy at the right time and have a decent bench, but they’re no match for the Warriors right now. Getting even one win will be an accomplishment.

Boston Celtics (250/1)

Boston probably didn’t belong in the playoffs this year, but they’re well-coached and they fight. Their offense is what gives them a shot most games, while their defense is beyond shaky. They have no chance at making a deep run and probably will lose in round one.

Milwaukee Bucks (300/1)

The Bucks play solid defense usually and Jason Kidd has obviously shown he’s a top flight coach already. That being said, they’ve trended downward ever since the All-Star break and they just don’t have the consistency on offense to make a good run.

Brooklyn Nets (300/1)

Brooklyn is an interesting team, as they ended up being quite strong once they finally ran their offense through Brook Lopez. I’m sure Al Horford messes with him in round one and their dream ends there, but the matchup with the Hawks is something I wouldn’t be too shocked if they figured out. Still, the odds heavily support a first round exit, if not a total sweep.

Our Pick: San Antonio Spurs

They’re the defending champs until they’re not, right? I know Atlanta and Golden State are the trendy picks (and for good reason) and there’s always the Cavs, but to me the Spurs have looked as good as ever over the last month and seem to be at the top of their game at the right time. They could easily fall to any of these teams in a loaded Western Conference, but they still have the system, coaching, depth and star talent to make a title run.

Sneaky Sleepers: Los Angeles Clippers

It’s between the Clips and Rockets and I slightly like the Clippers because they’re healthier. They also have something intangible that we haven’t seen out of them before, an authentic swagger as if they want to prove to everyone that their style can get it done. A lot of people are counting them out, but Chris Paul has been playing at a phenomenal level and Blake Griffin’s continued evolving game is always exciting. Picking them out of the stacked West is risky, but they’re going to be fun to watch and follow.

Favorite to Avoid: Memphis Grizzlies

I just think Memphis is too broken down to last through a title run. They have the defense and depth to do it, but the offense is just too shaky. I’m sure any series they in makes it to seven games and maybe they even get to the Western Finals, but I doubt they can get all the way to the NBA Finals.

The end has finally come. The 2014-15 NBA regular season officially wraps up tonight, but not before we find out who is officially in this year’s playoffs and what all of the seeding will be. We got a little closer to seeing how things might shape out last night, as we went 2-1 with our daily NBA picks despite the Toronto Raptors coming up lame in Boston in their bid to secure the East’s #3 seed. The Pacers and Clippers took care of business, though, helping us tack the two wins onto our 723-360 season record and send us into a chaotic Wednesday night.

Tonight is a dream for basketball betting pros, as just two of the league’s teams won’t be hitting the hardwood. A whopping 14 games are at our disposal, and a lot of them have major playoff implications. With that being said, be sure to stay on top of all the latest news, know who is resting or will be limited and pay a little mind to some quick insight as we hand out our final NBA picks of the regular season:

Hornets @ Raptors

Toronto lost a shot at the #3 seed so they’ll likely rest most of their guys, but they’re at home and the Hornets are both bad and have nothing to play for. Look for Toronto to get win number 49 to close out the regular season strong.

Pick: Raps 106, Hornets 94

Spurs @ Pelicans

Both of these teams have a ton to play for, as New Orleans as a shot at making the playoffs for the first time in the Anthony Davis era, while the Spurs can steal their division title. It’s taken an insane 11-game winning streak to get the Spurs here, and as badly as the Pellies may want the playoffs, betting against San Antonio seems silly.

Pick: Spurs 108, Pelicans 104

Hawks @ Bulls

Atlanta and Chicago should both limit a lot of their guys, but the Bulls should keep Derrick Rose in for much of the game to get him ready for the playoffs. Nikola Mirotic and Taj Gibson should get extra run with Joakim Noah sitting out, too, which should give Chicago enough to notch their 50th win of the year.

Pick: Bulls 102, Hawks 101

Wizards @ Cavaliers

Neither Washington or Cleveland have anything to play for so it should be a battle of the bench between these two squads. The Cavs might let their starters take the floor to build an early lead, while everyone from the Wiz should be worn down from last night’s 2OT game. Cleveland has a slight edge at home in a meaningless affair.

Pick: Cavs 106, Wiz 101

Trail Blazers @ Mavericks

Another game that means very little, as Dallas is locked into the 7th seed and the Blazers are locked into the 4th seed. We should expect to see the starters for both sides early on to get a groove going heading into the playoffs, but Chandler Parsons won’t be around. Portland will be without C.J. McCollum, too, so the depth in Dallas might take the cake here.

Pick: Mavs 107, Blazers 104

Jazz @ Rockets

The Jazz are going to be a tough out in Houston’s plight to take the Southwest division, but ultimately all that matters is they’re at home and their eye is on the prize. James Harden can’t be denied and Dwight Howard will be in the lineup to help the Rockets inch closer to possibly snagging the #2 overall seed out West.

Pick: Rockets 105, Jazz 97

Celtics @ Bucks

Boston and Milwaukee enter tonight’s showdown with nothing to gain in terms of playoff seeding, but both teams have winning streaks (five and three in a row) and neither will want to end the year with a loss in their regular season finale. Milwaukee plays host and actually plays some defense, though, so they’re the safer pick.

Pick: Bucks 102, Celtics 98

Thunder @ Timberwolves

Russell Westbrook is trying to will his Thunder into the West’s final playoff spot and all he needs to do is get a win and hope the Spurs take down the Pellies. OKC should take care of their half, as Minnesota is banged up and is easily the inferior squad.

Pick: Thunder 109, T’Wolves 102

Magic @ Nets

Orlando can play spoiler tonight, as the Nets try to secure the East’s final playoff spot by taking care of business on their home floor. Brooklyn hasn’t been doing a great job of that of late, but the Magic are pretty weak (lost seven of their last 10) and this is a huge game. Brooklyn still needs the Pacers to lose to get in, but they know they have to do their part first.

Pick: Nets 104, Magic 99

Pistons @ Knicks

This one is beyond meaningless, as the Knicks could actually get a third win in a row at home to end the year. That isn’t probable at all for a team that has won just 17 times all year, while Detroit comes in at full health and will want to cap the season with a big road win.

Pick: Pistons 106, Knicks 95

Heat @ 76ers

Miami is an interesting team to watch tonight, since they’ve been eliminated from the playoff race. That could lead to them sitting all of their main guys when they head into Philly tonight. That doesn’t mean the Heat can’t finish the season strong, but they’re on the road with nothing to play for. The Sixers should be a solid upset pick.

Pick: Sixers 101, Heat 96

Pacers @ Grizzlies

Indy’s season is on the line when they head to Memphis tonight, where the Grizzlies also look to finish strong and earn a shot at the Southwest division. The Grizz will need both San Antonio and Houston to lose to have a chance at snagging the division title, but they’re still alive in their pursuit for the hardware. This one could come down to the health of the Grizz, as Mike Conley and Marc Gasol are both pretty banged up. Indiana spent a lot of energy getting by the Wizards in a 2OT marathon session last night, so if Memphis comes to play I think they’re in trouble.

Pick: Grizz 104, Pacers 101

Nuggets @ Warriors

Denver will look to close out the season strong, while the Warriors have nothing left to play for and could limit their key players. Head coach Steve Kerr still intends to start his usual guys, though, and Golden State won’t be too keen on allowing Denver to be just the third team to win at Oracle Arena this year. Starters or not, the Warriors should roll.

Pick: Warriors 107, Nuggets 102

Kings @ Lakers

In oddly what could end up being the game of the night, the Kings take on the Lakers for the second game in a row. These two teams play little defense and can explode offensively, so you can chase the Total and hope for a close, up-tempo affair. Jordan Clarkson is on the fence (ankle) for this one, and if he’s out the Kings have to be the call.

Pick: Kings 109, Lakers 106

The 2014-15 NBA season is very much coming down to the final seconds. The Western Conference’s 8th playoff spot won’t be decided until Wednesday, when the regular season concludes, while playoff seeding is still very much up in the air in general, as well. We made our way through the chaos on Monday with an 8-4 record, and that was despite getting burned by the Pistons (the Cavs actually played their starters), the Hawks falling (at home, no less) to the freaking Knicks and the Nets blowing a crucial home game against the Bulls.

It was still a solid night, overall, and we head into a quiet Tuesday (just three games) with a stout 721-360 record on the year. Let’s try to go 3-0 on the night as we preview the NBA contests for 4/14/2015:

Raptors @ Celtics

Boston and Toronto are both locked into the playoffs, while Toronto still can reach 50 wins, as well as beat out the Bulls for the East’s #3 seed. They have to win out and see Chicago lose once to do so, but it’s possible. Boston has clinched and is at home, but we could see them rest some guys now that they can’t move up from their #7 seed. That being said, if they lose they can drop down from a matchup with the Cavs and would have to face the top-seeded Hawks. Neither is ideal, but Boston could still want to fight for tonight’s win. Or maybe they’ll tank to avoid a first round meeting with LeBron James. Regardless, Toronto, who is the better squad anyways, probably has all the edge they need.

Pick: Raptors 107, Celtics 104

Wizards @ Pacers

Indiana’s plight to make the playoffs truly begins at home against the Wizards tonight, as they need to win their next two games to sneak in. If they lose, they’ll be in danger of losing the final playoff spot to either the Brooklyn Nets or Miami Heat. Washington’s seeding is locked in and they may not want to force some of their banged up stars onto the floor in a game the Pacers will be banging heads in order to win. We wouldn’t be shocked to see a slight uptick in minutes for Paul George if this game is tight, either. Indy is by no means a lock, but they’re at home in a pretty huge game. They’re a fairly safe pick tonight.

Pick: Pacers 102, Wiz 97

Clippers @ Suns

Los Angeles has been on a tear lately, as they’ve won six straight and nine of their last 10. Getting Jamal Crawford and Blake Griffin back at 100% has been huge and Chris Paul has been a man possessed. That should remain the same on Tuesday, when the Clips play their last regular season game of the year. A showdown with the Suns (eliminated) wouldn’t normally be a huge deal, but a win locks Los Angeles in as a top-five seed, while a win paired with losses by the Rockets and Spurs on Wednesday could grant them the #2 seed. The #3 seed would also be in play. Needless to say, in the ultra competitive Western Conference, the higher seed they can land, the better. Expect the Clips to be on top of their game tonight as they notch their 56th win of the year.

Pick: Clippers 109, Suns 102

The NBA closes up shop for the 2014-15 NBA regular season this Wednesday, meaning very soon we’re going to have a small amount of games to conduct our NBA betting. Monday offers up a nice slate of 12 games, while Wednesday caps things off with 28 of 30 NBA squads hitting the hardwood.

We look to end the year in a fiery blaze (in a good way, of course), after wrapping up last week with a solid 6-3 mark (bringing us to 713-356 on the year). We got burned by the Thunder, while we didn’t catch the Hawks resting their main guys in time and the Nets didn’t even show up in Milwaukee. That just goes to show you that big games don’t necessarily always mean teams are going to be at their best, while paying attention to team and player news up to the last minute is crucial.

With that, let’s dive into a fully loaded Monday night and pick the NBA games for 4/13/2015:

Pistons @ Cavaliers

Detroit is out of the playoffs and they’re on the road but the Cavs are probably sitting their main guys again. Unless that changes, it’s really hard to take the Cavs in this one, as their bench is awful.

Pick: Pistons 104, Cavs 96

Bucks @ 76ers

Milwaukee clinched their spot in the playoffs, so they’ll be ready to focus on beating down Michael Carter-Williams’ former team. Philly hosts, but has lost eight in a row.

Pick: Bucks 105, Sixers 92

Rockets @ Hornets

Houston still has a shot at their division and a #2 overall seed in the West. I can’t see them blowing that opportunity against a Hornets team that has nothing left to play for.

Pick: Rockets 109, Hornets 88

Knicks @ Hawks

Atlanta should continue to rest their best players, but they’re still at home and the Knicks are just all kinds of terrible.

Pick: Hawks 106, Knicks 97

Magic @ Heat

Miami is clinging to slim playoff hopes, so as bad as it looks it’s easy to see them coming together and knocking off the Magic on their home floor tonight.

Pick: Heat 104, Magic 101

Bulls @ Nets

The Bulls are still chasing the #3 seed in the East, but the Nets have much more to play for. They could still sneak into the playoffs and should have enough of an edge at home, where they tend to play their best ball.

Pick: Nets 104, Bulls 102

Pelicans @ Timberwolves

Minnesota could play spoiler at home tonight, but they’re really not very healthy and the Pellies still have a great shot at nailing down the West’s final playoff spot. Expect big games out of Anthony Davis and Tyreke Evans in a win.

Pick: Pelicans 107, T’Wolves 100

Trail Blazers @ Thunder

Portland would probably love to end the year on a high note, but that may be difficult to pull off in OKC with the Thunder needing wins to sneak into the playoffs. Russell Westbrook’s one-game suspension got lifted and LaMarcus Aldridge has already been ruled out for this one, giving OKC the edge at home.

Pick: Thunder 106, Blazers 105

Mavericks @ Jazz

Dallas is still chasing their 50th win of the year, but they may have to wait for the regular season finale to get it. Utah has been a nasty team to face since the All-Star break, while they’re especially tough at home these days. Add in a bunch of guys sitting out for the Mavs, and Utah is the easy choice.

Pick: Jazz 98, Mavs 93

Lakers @ Kings

This might be the game of the night in terms of chasing the Total, as neither the Lakers or Kings play much defense. It’s a no-name game with DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay both shut down for the year, so we’re probably going to see Jordan Clarkson take over this one. Sacramento has a slight edge on their home floor, but the Lakers are the more cohesive unit right now, which is crazy to think or say.

Pick: Lakers 108, Kings 104

Grizzlies @ Warriors

Memphis is another team in contention for that Southwest division (although the Spurs look unstoppable with 11 straight wins), so they badly need to win tonight to keep up with them and the Rockets. That may not happen, though, as Marc Gasol, Mike Conley and Tony Allen are all banged up and Golden State never loses at home (two losses all season). If the Warriors’ main guys play, it may not be wise to side with the Grizz in this one.

Pick: Warriors 109, Grizz 103

Nuggets @ Clippers

Ty Lawson and Danilo Gallinari try to finish out the season on a high note, as the Nuggets go on the road searching for their fifth win in their last 11 tries. They could come out hot and make this the game of the night, but that’ll take a nearly flawless effort and the Clippers not exactly playing their best. That’s a tough sell, since L.A. has a nice five-game winning streak rolling and they’ve been pretty darn good (29-11) on their home floor this year.

Pick: Clips 111, Nuggets 108

After a fairly light Saturday evening of NBA action, Sunday offers up a fully loaded schedule, starting with two 3:00 pm ET games and capped by a late showdown with the Mavericks and Lakers in Los Angeles. That puts nine NBA games on the docket a day after we only had to worry about six, which makes NBA betting a little more exciting to close out the weekend.

We got burned by the Magic, Heat and Blazers on Saturday, all of which lost games at homes they either badly needed to win or probably should have won. That gave us a weak 3-3 record on the night, but we’ll take .500 for a bad night, any day of the week.

We get five more games that carry some playoff implications today, but we still need to be on the lookout for star players resting. DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay have already been shut down for the year, while Cavs, Mavs, Spurs and Hawks players are all in danger of playing limited minutes or sitting out, entirely. Keep up with the news and join us as we carry our 707-353 season record into tonight’s NBA action:

Cavaliers @ Celtics

Boston just took the Cavs down the other day in Cleveland, which is pretty good evidence that the Cavs don’t care about winning with their #2 seed locked up. That being said, it’s really tough to buy Boston beating LeBron James and co. in back to back games.

Update: The Cavs are sitting all of their top players, so it looks like Boston will be solid bets to get a second straight win over the Cavs.

Pick: Celtics 103, Cavs 98

Nets @ Bucks

This matchup has been intense all year, as these two very evenly matched squads have enjoyed two triple overtime contests. Milwaukee has won two of three clashes and has a slight edge at home, but Brook Lopez has been unstoppable during a wild 8-2 run over Brooklyn’s last 10 games. Look for the Nets to tie up the season series.

Pick: Nets 104, Bucks 102

Hornets @ Pistons

Charlotte and Detroit are both toast, so they’ll just look to end the year on a high note. With Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Al Jefferson down for the count, the advantage lies with the Pistons at home tonight.

Pick: Pistons 99, Hornets 92

Kings @ Nuggets

DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay are out for the year, so the Nuggets should be feeling pretty good at home tonight. The Kings will need huge games out of Omri Casspi, Derrick Williams and Jason Thompson, which should keep you from betting on them on the road tonight.

Pick: Nuggets 107, Kings 101

Thunder @ Pacers

This could be Indiana’s last stand as they try to sneak into the playoffs, while Russell Westbrook also tries to will his Thunder into the West’s tourney by staying one game ahead of the Pelicans. Indiana has Paul George back and is at full strength, but OKC is the more dangerous squad. We could be in for an epic battle, but it may not be wise to bet against Russell Westbrook.

Pick: Thunder 104, Pacers 97

Hawks @ Wizards

Atlanta should limit or rest most of their guys, while the Wizards could do the same considering they can’t move up or down in the seeding game. John Wall could sit out a third straight game, but even if he plays the Hawks seem like the safer pick as they enter with a nice four-game winning streak.

Pick: Hawks 106, Wiz 102

Pelicans @ Rockets

There’s no denying the tension in New Orleans, as the Pelicans are neck and neck with the Thunder for the West’s final playoff spot. As huge as this game is for them, this might be an even bigger deal for the Rockets, who have a real shot at stealing their division. With a lot on the line, we have to go with the Rockets, who have a healthy Dwight Howard and are at home.

Pick: Rockets 108, Pellies 100

Suns @ Spurs

Phoenix has just about given up and the Spurs have stormed back from a slow start to be within striking distance of their division title. They’re not about to blow it in a loss to the Suns, while betting against their 10-game winning streak is probably silly, by itself.

Pick: Spurs 107, Suns 96

Mavericks @ Lakers

Los Angeles can just be annoying to teams down the stretch, but they don’t really want to win anyways (to protect their pick). Dallas, on the other hand, could rest some bodies but does seem to be interested in getting to 50 wins on the year. Even if they rest some guys they should still beat the Lakers, however.

Pick: Mavs 108, Lakers 104

Five of the NBA teams taking the floor on Saturday night won’t be playing in this year’s playoffs. The other seven have either already punched their ticket or are fighting to get in. That gives way to some very interesting matchups tonight, while also throwing a wrench into some NBA betting. We can probably safely assume maybe two of tonight’s games will have both teams competing at a high level. The other games could involve players sitting/resting or teams giving up.

Naturally, as the NBA season winds down, betting large amounts of cash on any given night can be a greater risk than usual. We made out OK on a busy Friday night (10-2), only getting tripped up by the Celtics winning in Cleveland (the hell?) and the Timberwolves falling to the Lakers in L.A. We still made our way up the ladder to 704-350 on the year and should continue our hot run into the weekend. Let’s hit each matchup and see which way you should lead if you’re betting on any games tonight:

Knicks @ Magic

Orlando is about as good as it gets for the atrocious Knicks to have a chance at getting a win down the stretch, but it coming on the road makes New York tough to trust (5-34 on the road). Orlando hasn’t been amazing, but they’re a pretty competitive losing team and thankfully play their best ball at home. They won’t disappoint the fans at the Amway Center by falling to the Knicks.

Pick: Magic 106, Knicks 101

Raptors @ Heat

Miami is still fighting for their playoff lives, while Toronto would like to lock up the #3 seed. That means everyone who matters should still play, although Toronto will be without big man Amir Johnson (ankle) for this one. The Heat are at home and need this more, so we can see them pulling it out in the end.

Pick: Heat 99, Raptors 97

76ers @ Bulls

Chicago is fighting with Toronto for that #3 seed and Derrick Rose is supposed to see more minutes tonight. Philly has actually played the Bulls quite close in both previous clashes, but this one should be more decisive with the importance being so much greater.

Pick: Bulls 109, Sixers 94

Grizzlies @ Clippers

Memphis and L.A. have had one gritty battle (Clippers won), while the Grizz easily one the other two matchups. This battle is huge for seeding if Memphis loses their division race, but this game is probably way more important for the Grizzlies. That being said, Memphis is without point guard Mike Conley and swing man Jeff Green might also sit this one out. That’s bad news when you’re going up against a Clippers team that excels on their home floor and is red hot with nine wins in their last 10 games.

Pick: Clippers 107, Grizz 104

Jazz @ Trail Blazers

LaMarcus Aldridge is out with a foot sprain and the team will also hit the floor sans Arron Afflalo tonight. Portland’s offense and defense both take a hit, and they’ll need big outings from C.J. McCallum and Meyers Leonard on offense to get past a nasty Utah defense. The Jazz have nothing to play for, but they’d love to take down the Blazers to end the year. That being said, Portland rarely loses at home and still has slim hopes of locking down the #3 seed out West.

Pick: Blazers 104, Jazz 99

Timberwolves @ Warriors

Golden State never loses at home (two losses all year) and they surely aren’t about to let the T’Wolves be loss number three. NBA bettors should be mildly concerned about stars like Stephen Curry and others sitting this one out, but even Golden State’s spares should be able to take down Minnesota. The T’Wolves might even be without Kevin Martin (illness), so if you’re going to bet hard tonight, do it here with the Warriors.

Pick: Warriors 116, T’Wolves 102

The Heat blew a huge half-time lead and Stephen Curry went “all MVP” on the Blazers in a would-be quiet Thursday night that actually ended up being quite entertaining. Most sports betting folk were probably paying attention to The Masters, but the NBA action on TNT ended up being more than worth the time to tune in. If you bet on the action using our picks (694-348 on the year now), you only went 1-1, but we blame a horrific second half Miami collapse for that one (they scored eight points in the third quarter. yikes).

It’s okay if you had a down night on Thursday, though, since there are a litany of NBA games on Friday to help cover any losses. Let’s get back into the fire as we break down the 12 games scheduled for Friday, 4/10/2015:

Raptors @ Magic

Orlando has played the Raptors close a couple of times this year, but Toronto clearly has them figured out as they come into the Amway Center tonight holding a 3-0 series lead. Toronto still has to wrap up the #3 overall seed in the East, so look for them to put the finishing touches on a sweep tonight.

Pick: Raps 106, Magic 100

Hornets @ Hawks

Charlotte is beat up and is probably hopeless when it comes to the playoffs, so their slow death should speed up in Atlanta tonight. The Hawks should rest or limit a few guys but no matter who takes the court, they should lock this one up to get their 60th win of the year.

Pick: Hawks 109, Hornets 88

Celtics @ Cavaliers

Boston is eyeing a playoff spot and will want to take down a big team like the Cavs, but LeBron James is playing and it doesn’t look like Cleveland is prepared to take their foot off the gas just yet. They’re at home and have a cool four-game winning streak going, too, so they won’t want to ruin that.

Pick: Cavs 108, Celtics 102

Pacers @ Pistons

Indiana and Detroit have played three fairly tight games already this season, oddly producing a good amount of points in two of those contests. Detroit has the 2-1 series edge and is at home tonight, but with Paul George back the Pacers should be a little spirited as they try to chase down a playoff spot.

Pick: Pacers 101, Pistons 99

Wizards @ Nets

John Wall is sitting out again tonight, which plays directly into the hands of the Nets. Deron Williams will probably go nuts, while Brooklyn has been fairly strong lately at home. The Barclays Center should be rocking tonight, too, as the Nets continue to work toward cementing a playoff spot.

Pick: Nets 103, Wiz 97

Bucks @ Knicks

Milwaukee has owned the Knicks this year (who hasn’t?) and they’ll come into the Garden with a commanding 3-0 series lead. They’ve had it a bit rough since the All-Star break, so taking down a crappy team should be nice, while also erasing a two-game skid.

Pick: Bucks 105, Knicks 90

Suns @ Pelicans

Eric Bledsoe has been awful lately and the Suns have seemingly quit on their season. The Pelicans probably have to win out to guarantee themselves a shot at the West’s final playoff spot, too, so them losing at home to the Suns just isn’t a possibility.

Pick: Pellies 109, Suns 96

Spurs @ Rockets

James Harden says he’s the MVP and if he’s going to win it he probably needs to drop an epic game at home in a win over the Spurs. He just might come close, but betting against the Spurs (9 wins in a row) right now just seems like crazy talk.

Pick: Spurs 106, Rockets 103

Kings @ Thunder

DeMarcus Cousins (foot) is out again and Rudy Gay is questionable, so picking the Kings is a dangerous game tonight. They’re also on the road and a possessed Russell Westbrook is still trying to will his Thunder into the playoffs.

Pick: Thunder 112, Kings 104

Mavericks @ Nuggets

Dallas has been shaky over their last 10 contests (4-6) but they have their sights set on 50 wins. They probably need to win in Denver tonight to get there, so if they’re as focused as they sound they should be able to get it done.

Pick: Mavs 108, Nuggets 101

Grizzlies @ Jazz

Two extremely defensive-minded teams wage war in Utah tonight, as the Grizz and Jazz square off. We can probably take the under in this one, but picking this game is a nightmare. It seems every time we pick the Grizz or Jazz, they lose. Now that they’re facing each other, we don’t know what the hell to do. The only that stands out in the least is that the Jazz have used a grind-it-out style to win two of the first three meetings. Utah keeps limiting the minutes of Gordon Hayward, though, so their upside is capped in this one. Memphis also has much more to play for with a Southwest division title still up for grabs.

Pick: Grizz 95, Jazz 92

Timberwolves @ Lakers

Two bad teams that play no defense take the court in L.A. tonight, but fans can expect a fast-paced game with a good amount of points. That makes picking the winner somewhat difficult and you should probably just chase the Total in this one. That being said, the T’Wolves have better talent on the floor and Jeremy Lin probably will sit this one out.

Pick: Wolves 107, Lakers 104

After a busy Wednesday night in the NBA, things calm down on a quiet Thursday with just two games on the schedule. It’s a good thing, since anyone conducting any NBA betting may have had a rough go of it last night, with home teams going just 7-6 on the evening. If you listend to our NBA picks, though, you were probably making it rain, as we went a stellar 11-2 on the 13-game slate. We even could have easily had a perfect 15-0 run, if the Bulls hadn’t coughed up a loss to the inferior Magic and Detroit had taken care of business at home against the Celtics. We’ll take the 84%, though, which merely adds to our stout 693-347 season record (66%).

Enough self promoting, though, right? We have just two games to break down and pick for Thursday night, so let’s get to it:

Chicago Bulls @ Miami Heat 8:00 pm ET on TNT

Derrick Rose returned last night against the Magic, but his 19 minutes didn’t help enough to get Chicago it’s 47th win of the year. That helped the Cavaliers clinch the Central division title, leaving the Bulls nothing to play for but possibly the third overall seed in the Eastern Conference. That’s not exactly nothing, but that may pale in comparison to Miami, who still has to lock up a playoff spot. Both teams are at full strength for the most part, but the Heat play host tonight and are a little more desperate on the surface. The Bulls would probably love to take the season series (currently tied, 1-1), but the Heat need this game more.

Pick: Heat 102, Bulls 98

Portland Trail Blazers @ Golden State Warriors 10:30 pm ET on TNT

Portland and Golden State could easily rest some guys tonight, so make sure you stay on top of the latest buzz before you finalizing your NBA bets. That being said, these teams match up quite well when at full strength, although the Warriors won both of the previous two meetings this year. More impressively, they won both games in Portland, where opponents usually struggle.

The Warriors now play host, where their homecourt edge is even more obvious, considering they’ve lost just two times at the Oracle Arena all year. We could dive into the matchup, but it probably isn’t necessary. Portland’s defense has taken a huge hit with the loss of shooting guard Wes Matthews (torn Achilles) and the Warriors are pretty much unstoppable on their home floor. That, and they’ve lost two games in a row and won’t be too excited about making it three straight.

Pick: Warriors 107, Blazers 102