NBA · 1 year ago

NBA Betting Guide for April 3: Must-Win for Oklahoma City?

Ben DiGiacomo

Host · Writer

NBA Betting Guide for April 3: Must-Win for Oklahoma City?

We have an intriguing nine-game slate in the NBA tonight, so as the season comes to a close shortly, every game matters that much more for playoff seeding. Let’s dive into it all.

Kicking off the night, we have ourselves a clash of titans as the Charlotte Hornets will host the Portland Trail Blazers. Sounds like must-see TV to me! Anyway, Steve Clifford has stepped down as the Hornets head coach, so how desirable is the Hornets job ultimately going into next season with Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball?

Elsewhere in the early-window, the Los Angeles Lakers will look to pick up another win on the second night of a back-to-back as they head to DC to face the Washington Wizards. Additionally, the Atlanta Hawks will look to secure their Play-In Tournament spot tonight with a win over the Detroit Pistons and a Brooklyn Nets loss to the Indiana Pacers.

Headlining the early window though is a great non-conference matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Boston Celtics. OKC finds themselves in a must-win unfortuantely as they cannot afford to lose a second straight game in the race for the West’s No. 1 seed. However, we don’t think the Thunder can get it done as we’re touting a C’s win in our +1200 ultimate same-game parlay.

Additionally, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Milwaukee Bucks will look to pick up wins as lofty favorites tonight while the New Orleans Pelicans and Orlando Magic will meet in what will be an interesting non-conference battle between two of the league’s most underrated teams.

Closing out the night, the Phoenix Suns are aiming to climb out of the Play-In Tournament, but they won’t have a cakewalk tonight as they’ll welcome the Cleveland Cavaliers to the deset.

Let’s lock in, enjoy the slate, and aim to build up our bankroll!

Dunk on the sportsbooks tonight! Grab SportsGrid’s free NBA picks, NBA props, and NBA SGPs.

SportsGrid’s NBA Betting Guide for April 3

Featured Same-Game Parlays: +1200 Thunder-Celtics

Tonight’s Headliners: Weekly Power Rankings | Best Bets | Top Props

Catch Up on Last Night’s Action: Kings Handle Clippers | Embiid’s Return Propels Win Over Thunder | Lakers Defeat Raptors | Warriors Pull Off Much-Needed Win Over Mavs | Heat Take Down Knicks

7:00 p.m. ET: Los Angeles Lakers @ Washington Wizards

Spread: Lakers -13 | Moneyline: Lakers -900 | Total: 235
Where to Watch: NBA League Pass | Location:Capital One Arena (Washington, D.C.)

Lakers Last 5 ATS: 4-1 | Wizards Last 5 ATS: 3-2

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Wizards +13 (4-Stars) | UNDER 235 (2-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Top Player Props: LeBron James OVER 1.5 Three-Point FG Made (5-Stars) | Jordan Poole OVER 2.5 Three-Point FG Made (5-Stars, +114)

7:00 p.m. ET: Portland Trail Blazers @ Charlotte Hornets

Spread: Hornets -2 | Moneyline: Hornets -132 | Total: 211.5
Where to Watch: NBA League Pass | Location: Spectrum Center (Charlotte, NC)

Trail Blazers Last 5 ATS: 2-3 | Hornets Last 5 ATS: 3-2

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Trail Blazers +2 (2-Stars) | OVER 211.5 (4-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Top Player Props: Rayan Rupert UNDER 7.5 Points (5-Stars) | Brandon Miller UNDER 3.5 Three-Point FG Made (5-Stars)

7:30 p.m. ET: Detroit Pistons @ Atlanta Hawks

Spread: Hawks -11.5 | Moneyline: Hawks -720 | Total: 223
Where to Watch: NBA League Pass | Location: State Farm Arena (Atlanta, GA)

Pistons Last 5 ATS: 3-2 | Hawks Last 5 ATS: 4-1

SportsGrid’s Best Bet: Pistons +11.5 (1-Star)

SportsGrid’s Top Player Props: Cade Cunningham OVER 24,5 Points (5-Stars) | Bogdan Bogdanovic OVER 3.5 Rebounds (5-Stars)

7:30 p.m. ET: Oklahoma City Thunder @ Boston Celtics

Spread: Celtics -9 | Moneyline: Celtics -400 | Total: 230.5
Where to Watch: ESPN | Location: TD Garden (Boston, MA)

Thunder Last 5 ATS: 2-3 | Celtics Last 5 ATS: 2-3

SportsGrid’s Best Bet: Thunder +9 (2-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Top Player Props: Jrue Holiday UNDER 11.5 Points (5-Stars) | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander UNDER 28.5 Points (5-Stars)

7:30 p.m. ET: Indiana Pacers @ Brooklyn Nets

Spread: Pacers -7.5 | Moneyline: Pacers -320 | Total: 230.5
Where to Watch: NBA League Pass | Location: Barclays Center (Brooklyn, NY)

Pacers Last 5 ATS: 3-2 | Nets Last 5 ATS: 2-3

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Nets +7.5 (3-Stars) | UNDER 230.5 (1-Star)

SportsGrid’s Top Player Props: Tyrese Haliburton UNDER 10.5 Assists (5-Stars) | Mikal Bridges OVER 2.5 Three-Point FG Made (5-Stars)

8:00 p.m. ET: Memphis Grizzlies @ Milwaukee Bucks

Spread: Bucks -13.5 | Moneyline: Bucks -850 | Total: 222.5
Where to Watch: NBA League Pass | Location: Fiserv Forum (Milwaukee, WI)

Grizzlies Last 5 ATS: 2-3 | Bucks Last 5 ATS: 2-3

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Grizzlies +13.5 (1-Star) | OVER 222.5 (4-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Top Player Props: Jaren Jackson Jr. UNDER 23.5 Points (4-Stars) | Giannis Antetokounmpo OVER 13.5 Rebounds (5-Stars)

8:00 p.m. ET: Orlando Magic @ New Orleans Pelicans

Spread: Pelicans -4 | Moneyline: Pelicans -168 | Total: 209.5
Where to Watch: NBA League Pass | Location: Smoothie King Center (New Orleans, LA)

Magic Last 5 ATS: 1-4 | Pelicans Last 5 ATS: 1-4

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Pelicans -4 (2-Stars) | OVER 209.5 (2-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Top Player Props: Wendell Carter Jr. OVER 7.5 Rebounds (4-Stars) | Trey Murphy III OVER 20.5 Points+Rebounds (5-Stars)

8:00 p.m. ET: Toronto Raptors @ Minnesota Timberwolves

Spread: Timberwolves -15.5 | Moneyline: Timberwolves -1400 | Total: 215.5
Where to Watch: NBA League Pass | Location: Target Center (Minneapolis, MN)

Raptors Last 5 ATS: 1-4 | Timberwolves Last 5 ATS: 2-3

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Raptors +15.5 (5-Stars) | OVER 215.5 (2-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Top Player Props: Mike Conley OVER 2.5 Three-Point FG Made (5-Stars, +126)