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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
