NBA Best Bets: Tuesday, April 5th

The NBA had a rare night off on Monday, but it’s back with a bang on Tuesday. There are 12 games to get stuck into, and we’ve picked our two favourite bets from a packed slate below.

NBA Best Bets Tuesday, April 5th

• Miami Heat vs Charlotte Hornets: Over 224.5 points at 1.91
• Toronto Raptors vs Atlanta Hawks: Raptors -3.5 at 1.90

Odds as at 1 pm April 5th 2022. Odds may now differ.

Miami Heat vs Charlotte Hornets Best Bet

Tue, Apr 5. 00:30 (UK)

Miami looks to have put the Erik Spoelstra and Jimmy Butler spat behind them. It’s four consecutive wins for the Heat, and they have all but cemented their place as the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

Charlotte is coming off a blowout loss to the Sixers. LaMelo Ball and co are still eyeing the eight seed in the East, however, which will crucially get them away from the win-or-go-home nine versus 10 matchup. The Hornets are 11th in net rating since the All-Star break – they are 5.5-point underdogs with most books for this one.

Even with a decent run after the break, the Hornets’ defence remains bottom 10, which was obviously not helped out by giving up 144 to the Sixers. They are just 17-28 against teams over .500 this season, though they have covered in 53.6% of games as a road underdog. Miami is just 15-19 against the spread as a home favourite.

The Heat have won all three of the previous meetings this season, including a double-overtime thriller in mid-February. They also have a lot of health uncertainty heading into this game with P.J. Tucker, Markieff Morris, Caleb Martin, Kyle Lowry, Gabe Vincent and Dewayne Dedmon listed as questionable. Charlotte is fortunate to have a clean injury report.

The points line is set at 224.5 here, a number which has been passed in five of the Hornets’ last eight. Despite their elite defence, the over has cashed in 59% of Heat games this season.

Charlotte is third in offence over their last 18, and Miami should be able to put up points against a porous defence. There’s good value backing this over.

• Selection: Over 224.5 points
• Best Odds: 1.91 (Unibet)
• Stakes: 8/10

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Toronto Raptors vs Atlanta Hawks Best Bet

Tue, Apr 5. 00:30 (UK)

The spread is between 3.5 and 4.5 in Toronto’s favour depending on the book. Atlanta, however, is on a 7-3 run and ranks fifth in net rating over that period. Toronto has also won seven of its last 10 and sits third in net rating at +7.8 over the same spell.

The Raps won the first two meetings between these teams this season but were blown out when they duelled in late February on the back of a 41-point gem from Trae Young. Nick Nurse’s team have gone 13-6 since then.

Atlanta remains without John Collins and OG Anunoby is questionable for Toronto. Both teams are almost at full strength, and after his performance in their last matchup, all eyes will be on Young. The Texas native is on fire at the moment, averaging 29 points and 11 assists over his last 14 on 47% from the field and 39% from three. The ever-inventive Nurse is bound to throw numerous looks at Young, and they will hope they can upset his rhythm by forcing the ball out of his hands and putting length on him in Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes and others.  

These are two of the best teams in the league over the last few weeks. Atlanta has a lot to play for with the Hornets and Nets putting the pressure on for the eighth seed. Toronto could yet move up to fifth.

It’s always difficult to pick between two teams playing this well. Toronto, though, is 26-18 against the spread as a favourite this term. Atlanta has covered in just 10 of 29 games as an underdog. We feel confident backing the Raps to win this by a few points.

• Selection: Raptors -3.5
• Best Odds: 1.90 (Marathonbet)
• Stakes: 9/10

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