NBA Best Bets: Thursday, April 7th

We have 7 games scheduled for Thursday night, but there is still more than enough betting value. I’m coming out with 2 more of my best bets for tonight, and I’m backing the Celtics and Spurs this time around. We backed them plenty this season already, but they provide the most value as underdogs, as we have two very disciplined sides with great coaches. Check out my picks and analysis below.

NBA Best Bets Thursday, April 7th

• Milwaukee Bucks vs Boston Celtics: Celtics +6.0 at 1.91
• Minnesota Timberwolves vs San Antonio Spurs: Spurs +8.5 at 1.95

Odds as at 2 pm April 7th. Odds may now differ.

Milwaukee Bucks vs Boston Celtics Best Bet

Fri, Apr 8. 00:30 (UK)

The defending NBA champions the Milwaukee Bucks are currently 3rd in the eastern conference with 49 wins and 30 losses. They have won 6 of their last 10 games and are coming off an important 127-106 victory against the Chicago Bulls. It was an offensive clinic by the Bucks in that game with 32 assists, and they are looking to continue their solid form at Fiserv Forum against the Celtics.

The Bucks have been solid in the regular season, ranking 3rd in offensive and 15th in defensive rating, but their form has taken a dip in the last 10 games on both sides of the floor. Mainly, their defence has been the biggest concern, ranking 22nd in the league over the last 10, and allowing 120.3 points per game, compared to their season average of 111.9. This isn’t the type of effort that will get the job done in the playoffs, especially not against the Celtics, who are one of the most disciplined sides in the NBA.

Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics are 2nd in the east with 50 wins and 30 losses and are in danger to lose the 2nd seed if they fail to win tonight. But the Celtics have won 8 of their last 10 games and are on a 3-game winning streak. They are coming off a dominant 117-94 victory over the Chicago Bulls last night where their star scorers played limited minutes, but Jaylen Brown still went off for 25 points in 30 minutes.

The Celtics have consistently been one of the best teams in the league and despite their mid-season slump, they are back to playing their best game. They have been the best offensive team in the NBA over the last 10 games, whilst ranking 4th in defensive rating during the same period. Their defence is their main weapon heading into the playoffs, allowing an average of 104.1 points per game (1st in NBA) and keeping opponents to just 33.9% from beyond the arc. This is a very important game for Ime Udoka’s team, taking them as underdogs is always a good value bet. I expect a bit of fatigue to set in after last night’s game, so I’ll be using lower stakes.

• Selection: Celtics +6.5
• Best Odds: 1.91 (Marathonbet)
• Stakes: 5/10

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Minnesota Timberwolves vs San Antonio Spurs Best Bet

Fri, Apr 8. 01:00 (UK)

The Minnesota Timberwolves are looking to finally make the playoffs again for the 2nd time since the 2003/04 season, as they are 7th in the west with 45 wins and 35 losses. They have won 5 of their last 10 games, and are coming off a 114-132 loss to the Washington Wizards. They came out with a pathetic defensive performance in that game, allowing Wes Unseld’s side to shoot 43.3% from beyond the arc as well as 72 points in the pint. Ouch!

The Timberwolves have been solid on both sides of the floor this season, but it has seen a drop in recent games. Their offence is still very good, ranking 6th in offensive rating and scoring 120.5 points per game. However, their defence has been atrocious, ranking 24th in defensive rating and allowing 120.6 points per game, as well as an opponent field-goal percentage of 49.7%. They are heavy favourites to win this game at 1.23 odds and with 80% of bettors backing them tonight, I’d rather stay away considering their recent performances.

But the San Antonio Spurs are also battling for a playoff spot this year, and with a record of 34-45, they are currently 10th in the west. They could potentially face Minnesota in the play-in tournament and this game would be a preview of that encounter. The Spurs are in superb form, winning 8 of their last 10 games and coming off a 116-97 victory over the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. They enjoyed a nice and balanced scoring effort in that game, with Johnson and Vassell putting in 20 points each, as well as Poeltl and Jones pitching in with 14 points apiece.

The Spurs have finally gotten their offence going, increasing their offensive rating from 112.4 to 117.0 over the last 10 and increasing their 3-point attempts from 32 to 36.4 per game. But it’s their defence that has been the biggest reason for their recent success, with the team climbing from 16th place in defensive rating to 3rd in the league in recent games. The Spurs are very underrated coming into this game and they have what it takes to keep this game close. The Spurs have covered the spread in 7 of their last 10 games, and I’m backing Greg Popovich’s team to get the job done once again.

• Selection: Spurs +8.5
• Best Odds: 1.95 (Marathonbet)
• Stakes: 9/10

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