NBA betting: Five picks for Sunday
The NBA will take Monday off, with no games scheduled on the night of the NCAA men’s basketball championship game. As such, we’ve got a huge slate on Sunday with a whopping 13 games and 26 of 30 teams in action. The NBA season has only a week remaining, and fully half the league is still battling for playoffs positioning. As such, there should be a nice mix of motivated teams on Sunday, and even individuals on teams headed for the lottery can be motivated to finish the season strong. So, I’m looking for some big performances on Sunday. Starting with:
Devin Booker over 26.5 points (-120). Booker has detonated in three straight games against the Pelicans, twice this season and once last. In their last matchup last season, Booker made 21 of 35 field goal attempts on his way to 58 points. In January of this season, Booker made 18 of 30 field goal attempts on his way to 52 points. Just last week, Booker made 19 of 28 field goal attempts on his way to 52 points. In all, he is averaging 54.0 PPG the past three times he’s faced the Pelicans, so I am taking the over on his 26.5 point line for Sunday.
Pick the winners and crown your NBA champion! Create A Bracket
LA Clippers -3.5 over Cleveland Cavaliers (-110). The Clippers seem to be righting the ship after struggling for a few weeks, having won five of their past six games including a big one over Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets. The Cavaliers enter Sunday on the opposite energy, having gotten blown out in three of their past four games, including a 29-point loss to those same Nuggets. Playing at home, and needing a win to hold off the hard-charging Mavericks to hold onto the fourth seed and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, I look for the Clippers to have a strong outing on Sunday.
Jalen Brunson over 30.5 points (-110). Brunson has averaged 34.3 PPG in four games against the Bucks this season, with at least 36 points scored in three of the games. The Knicks are currently tied with the Magic for the fourth/fifth seeds in the East, but trail the Cavs by only a half-game for third and still have a chance to catch the Bucks, only two games ahead for the second seed. Brunson should be prepped to have yet another huge effort against the Bucks as the Knicks fight for vital playoffs positioning.
Brandon Miller over 20.5 points (-120). Miller is finishing his rookie season on a high-note, averaging 23.0 PPG in his past seven games and coming off a 32-point effort on 11-for-13 shooting from the field in an upset win over the Magic on Friday. Miller is facing a Thunder squad that is stumbling down the stretch, having lost four of their past six games but most importantly slowing slippage on defense. The Thunder have allowed an average of 130.5 PPG in their last two games. Playing at home as he tries to finish his rookie season strong, I look for Miller to put another big number on the board on Sunday.
Golden State Warriors -11.5 points over Utah Jazz (-115). The Warriors are ramping it up for a postseason run, having won five straight games to put some space between them and the 11th-place Rockets before losing a 2-point thriller in Dallas on Friday. They are likely slotted into the 9-10 seed play-in game, trailing the eighth-place Lakers by 2.5 games with only five games remaining, but still have a chance to catch the Kings (2.0 games ahead, in 9th seed) for home court in that matchup. On Sunday, they face a lottery-bound Jazz squad that has lost 11 straight games, the last three of which by a combined 66 points.
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com.
Houston Rockets at Dallas Mavericks
3:30 p.m. American Airlines Center, Dallas
Records (Against the Spread)
Rockets: 38-39 (42-33-2)
Mavericks: 47-30 (46-31-0)
Line: Mavericks (-8.5) Total: 227.5
Money Line: Rockets (+270), Mavericks (-340)
BPI Projection: Mavericks by 4.6, straight up 66%, 225.7 total points.
Injury Report:
Rockets: Amen Thompson, (GTD – Ankle); Jae’Sean Tate, (OUT – Ankle); Alperen Sengun, (OUT – Ankle); Steven Adams, (OUT – Knee); Tari Eason, (OUT – Lower Leg)
Mavericks: Luka Doncic, (GTD – Knee); Maxi Kleber, (GTD – Back); Greg Brown III, (OUT – Personal); Josh Green, (OUT – Ankle); Dereck Lively II, (OUT – Knee)
Cleveland Cavaliers at LA Clippers
3:30 p.m. Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles
Records (Against the Spread)
Cavaliers: 46-32 (35-42-1)
Clippers: 49-28 (37-40-0)
Line: Clippers (-3.5) Total: 218.5
Money Line: Cavaliers (+140), Clippers (-165)
BPI Projection: Clippers by 3.3, straight up 62%, 227.7 total points.
Injury Report:
Cavaliers: Isaac Okoro, (GTD – Toe); Dean Wade, (OUT – Knee); Ty Jerome, (OUT – Ankle)
Clippers: Jordan Miller, (GTD – Thumb); Moussa Diabate, (GTD – Hand); Joshua Primo, (OUT – Ankle); Kawhi Leonard, (OUT – Knee)
Miami Heat at Indiana Pacers
5:00 p.m. Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
Records (Against the Spread)
Heat: 43-34 (37-38-2)
Pacers: 44-34 (42-34-2)
Line: Pacers (-1.5) Total: 226.5
Money Line: Heat (+105), Pacers (-125)
BPI Projection: Pacers by 0.1, straight up 50%, 231.6 total points.
Injury Report:
Heat: Josh Richardson, (OUT – Shoulder)
Pacers: Jalen Smith, (GTD – Ankle); Tyrese Haliburton, (GTD – Back); Bennedict Mathurin, (OUT – Shoulder)
Portland Trail Blazers at Boston Celtics
6:00 p.m. TD Garden, Boston
Records (Against the Spread)
Blazers: 21-56 (38-39-0)
Celtics: 61-16 (41-33-3)
Line: Celtics (-15.5) Total: 215.5
Money Line: Blazers (+900), Celtics (-1600)
BPI Projection: Celtics by 24, straight up 99%, 226.6 total points.
Injury Report:
Blazers: Ibou Badji, (GTD – Back); Jerami Grant, (GTD – Hamstring); Anfernee Simons, (OUT – Knee); Malcolm Brogdon, (OUT – Elbow); Matisse Thybulle, (OUT – Ankle); Shaedon Sharpe, (OUT – Abdomen); Robert Williams III, (OUT – Knee); Toumani Camara, (OUT – Ribs)
Celtics: Jaden Springer, (GTD – Knee); Jaylen Brown, (GTD – Hand); Jayson Tatum, (GTD – Knee)
Oklahoma City Thunder at Charlotte Hornets
6:00 p.m. Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
Records (Against the Spread)
Thunder: 52-25 (42-34-1)
Hornets: 19-58 (31-46-0)
Line: Thunder (-8.5) Total: 218.5
Money Line: Thunder (-425), Hornets (+320)
BPI Projection: Thunder by 10.6, straight up 82%, 235.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Thunder: Gordon Hayward, (GTD – Lower Leg); Isaiah Joe, (GTD – Ankle); Jalen Williams, (OUT – Ankle); Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, (OUT – Quadriceps)
Hornets: Amari Bailey, (GTD – Illness); Leaky Black, (GTD – Abdomen); Nick Richards, (GTD – Foot); Cody Martin, (OUT – Ankle); LaMelo Ball, (OUT – Ankle); Mark Williams, (OUT – Back); Seth Curry, (OUT – Ankle)
Chicago Bulls at Orlando Magic
6:00 p.m. Amway Center, Orlando
Records (Against the Spread)
Bulls: 37-40 (38-38-1)
Magic: 45-32 (48-29-0)
Line: Magic (-7.5) Total: 209.5
Money Line: Bulls (+250), Magic (-300)
BPI Projection: Magic by 5.3, straight up 68%, 225.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Bulls: Alex Caruso, (GTD – Ankle); Coby White, (GTD – Ankle); Torrey Craig, (GTD – Knee); Julian Phillips, (OUT – Foot); Lonzo Ball, (OUT – Knee); Patrick Williams, (OUT – Foot); Zach LaVine, (OUT – Foot)
Magic: Caleb Houstan, (GTD – Ankle)
Washington Wizards at Toronto Raptors
6:00 p.m. Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
Records (Against the Spread)
Wizards: 15-63 (35-41-2)
Raptors: 24-53 (33-44-0)
Line: Raptors (-4.5) Total: 231.5
Money Line: Wizards (+150), Raptors (-175)
BPI Projection: Raptors by 2.5, straight up 59%, 225.8 total points.
Injury Report:
Wizards: Kyle Kuzma, (GTD – Ankle); Richaun Holmes, (GTD – Toe); Landry Shamet, (OUT – Calf); Tyus Jones, (OUT – Back); Marvin Bagley III, (OUT – Knee); Bilal Coulibaly, (OUT – Wrist)
Raptors: Bruce Brown, (GTD – Knee); D.J. Carton, (GTD – Ankle); Gary Trent Jr., (GTD – Illness); Jakob Poeltl, (OUT – Finger); Scottie Barnes, (OUT – Hand); Chris Boucher, (OUT – Knee); Jontay Porter, (OUT – Personal)
New Orleans Pelicans at Phoenix Suns
6:00 p.m. Footprint Center, Phoenix
Records (Against the Spread)
Pelicans: 45-32 (40-36-1)
Suns: 46-31 (35-41-1)
Line: Suns (-6.5) Total: 222.5
Money Line: Pelicans (+190), Suns (-220)
BPI Projection: Suns by 4.5, straight up 66%, 231.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Pelicans: Jose Alvarado, (GTD – Oblique); Naji Marshall, (GTD – Shoulder); Zion Williamson, (GTD – Finger); Brandon Ingram, (OUT – Knee)
Suns: Damion Lee, (OUT – Knee)
New York Knicks at Milwaukee Bucks
7:00 p.m. Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee
Records (Against the Spread)
Knicks: 45-32 (41-35-1)
Bucks: 47-30 (33-44-0)
Line: Bucks (-4.5) Total: 220.5
Money Line: Knicks (+135), Bucks (-160)
BPI Projection: Knicks by 0.3, straight up 51%, 233.7 total points.
Injury Report:
Knicks: Bojan Bogdanovic, (GTD – Hand); Duane Washington Jr., (GTD – Knee); Julius Randle, (OUT – Shoulder)
Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo, (GTD – Hamstring); Patrick Beverley, (GTD – Ankle); MarJon Beauchamp, (OUT – Ankle)
Philadelphia 76ers at San Antonio Spurs
7:00 p.m. Frost Bank Center, San Antonio
Records (Against the Spread)
76ers: 43-35 (44-34-0)
Spurs: 19-58 (40-36-1)
Line: 76ers (-6.5) Total: 226.5
Money Line: 76ers (-240), Spurs (+200)
BPI Projection: 76ers by 5.8, straight up 70%, 231.6 total points.
Injury Report:
76ers: Mo Bamba, (GTD – Illness); Robert Covington, (GTD – Knee); Tobias Harris, (GTD – Knee); De’Anthony Melton, (OUT – Back)
Spurs: Keldon Johnson, (GTD – Foot); Cedi Osman, (OUT – Ankle); Dominick Barlow, (OUT – Knee); Charles Bassey, (OUT – Knee); Devin Vassell, (OUT – Foot); Jeremy Sochan, (OUT – Ankle)
Sacramento Kings at Brooklyn Nets
7:30 p.m. Barclays Center, New York
Records (Against the Spread)
Kings: 44-33 (40-36-1)
Nets: 31-47 (33-41-4)
Line: Kings (-7.5) Total: 217.5
Money Line: Kings (-320), Nets (+260)
BPI Projection: Kings by 2.2, straight up 58%, 229.3 total points.
Injury Report:
Kings: Malik Monk, (OUT – Knee); Kevin Huerter, (OUT – Shoulder)
Nets: Cameron Johnson, (GTD – Toe); Dennis Smith Jr., (GTD – Hip); Ben Simmons, (OUT – Back); Dariq Whitehead, (OUT – Lower Leg); Keita Bates-Diop, (OUT – Lower Leg)
Utah Jazz at Golden State Warriors
8:30 p.m. Chase Center, San Francisco
Records (Against the Spread)
Jazz: 29-48 (38-39-0)
Warriors: 42-35 (41-34-2)
Line: Warriors (-11.5) Total: 227.5
Money Line: Jazz (+425), Warriors (-600)
BPI Projection: Warriors by 12.3, straight up 86%, 236.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Jazz: Kris Dunn, (GTD – Foot); John Collins, (OUT – Back); Jordan Clarkson, (OUT – Back); Walker Kessler, (OUT – Nose); Lauri Markkanen, (OUT – Shoulder)
Warriors: Andrew Wiggins, (GTD – Ankle); Gary Payton II, (GTD – Ankle); Jonathan Kuminga, (GTD – Knee); Dario Saric, (OUT – Knee); Stephen Curry, (OUT – Rest)
Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers
10:00 p.m. Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles
Records (Against the Spread)
Timberwolves: 53-24 (39-35-3)
Lakers: 45-33 (37-41-0)
Line: Lakers (-1.5) Total: 220.5
Money Line: Timberwolves (+110), Lakers (-130)
BPI Projection: Timberwolves by 1.7, straight up 56%, 229.7 total points.
Injury Report:
Timberwolves: Jaylen Clark, (OUT – Achilles); Karl-Anthony Towns, (OUT – Knee)
Lakers: Jarred Vanderbilt, (OUT – Foot); Christian Wood, (OUT – Knee); Jalen Hood-Schifino, (OUT – Back)