NBA Betting Guide for April 5: Playoff Race Heats Up

We have a great 12-game NBA slate set for tonight, so let’s dive into the action in lay out all the information you need to know as we head into the weekend.

Looking at the Eastern Conference playoff race, there a ton of crucial games with a ton of seeding implications that we need to break down. To start, the Orlando Magic can’t let up against the Charlotte Hornets as with a win, they would be tied with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the third seed in the East. Additionally, the New York Knicks are in the same boat as they go on the road to face a fiesty Chicago Bulls squad on the second night of a back-to-back as they’re in a tie with the Magic for the fourth seed. 

While Cleveland isn’t in action tonight, they better hope the Knicks or Magic choke tonight as they face a tough back-to-back against both Los Angeles teams this weekend. By Monday, we could be looking at the fifth-seeded Cavs who would be on the ropes big time heading into the opening round of the playoffs.

Additionally, the Indiana Pacers face a must-win at home against an injured Oklahoma City Thunder who are in a desperate spot themselves. For Indy, they hold a half-game lead over the Miami Heat who are on the road to play the Houston Rockets tonight for the coveted sixth seed, but both teams better watch out as the Philadelphia 76ers are coming alive at the right time as they sit only a game back of the sixth seed. As Philly only plays a single playoff team the rest of the way, home vs. Orlando, both Miami and Indiana will be in must-win situations for the rest of the season.

Moving over to the Western Conference, we already touched on the OKC Thunder’s desperation on the road in Indiana tonight as they hope to not be stuck in the third seed, but the Minnesota Timberwolves will have a tough road battle tonight as they take on the Phoenix Suns who are trying to lock up the coveted sixth seed in the West. That should be an epic, battle, so we worked up a +1650 ultimate same-game parlay to give you action on the game.

Finally, the LA Clippers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Dallas Mavericks are all home favorites tonight as all three teams obviously aim to finalize their playoff seedings as well.

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 5

Featured Same-Game Parlays: +1650 Timberwolves-Suns

Tonight’s Headliners: Top Props

Catch Up on Last Night’s Action: Embiid, Maxey Carry 76ers Over Heat | Knicks Dominate Kings at MSG | Clippers Take Down Nuggets | Warriors Run Over Rockets

7:00 p.m. ET: Portland Trail Blazers @ Washington Wizards

• Spread: Wizards -2.5 | Moneyline: Wizards -134 | Total: 222
• Where to Watch: NBA League Pass | Location: Capital One Arena (Washington, D.C.)

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

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Wizards -2.5 (1-Star) | OVER 222 (2-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Top Player Props: Rayan Rupert UNDER 8.5 Points (5-Stars) | Deni Avdija OVER 17.5 Points (5-Stars) 

7:00 p.m. ET: Oklahoma City Thunder @ Indiana Pacers

• Spread: Pacers -5.5 | Moneyline: Pacers -215 | Total: 233.5
• Where to Watch: NBA League Pass | Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, IN)

Thunder Last 5 ATS: 1-4 | Pacers Last 5 ATS: 3-2

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Pacers -5.5 (1-Star) | UNDER 233.5 (1-Star)

SportsGrid’s Top Player Props: TJ McConnell OVER 10.5 Points (5-Stars) | Chet Holmgren UNDER 18.5 Points (5-Stars)

7:00 p.m. ET: Orlando Magic @ Charlotte Hornets 

• Spread: Magic -12 | Moneyline: Magic -750 | Total: 206.5
• Where to Watch: NBA League Pass | Location: Spectrum Center (Charlotte, NC)

Magic Last 5 ATS: 2-3 | Hornets Last 5 ATS: 3-2

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Hornets +12 (5-stars) | OVER 206.5 (2-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Top Player Props: Paolo Banchero  OVER 21.5 Points (5-Stars) | Brandon Miller OVER 2.5 Three-Point FG Made (5-Stars)

7:30 p.m. ET: Sacramento Kings @ Boston Celtics 

• Spread: Celtics -10 | Moneyline: Celtics -460 | Total: 225
• Where to Watch: NBA TV | Location: TD Garden (Boston, MA)

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

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Kings +10 (2-Stars) | UNDER 225 (1-Star)

SportsGrid’s Top Player Props: Keegan Murray OVER 16.5 Points (4.5-Stars) | Derrick White OVER 13.5 Points (3.5-Stars)

8:00 p.m. ET: San Antonio Spurs @ New Orleans Pelicans

• Spread: Pelicans -11 | Moneyline: Pelicans -720 | Total: 218.5
• Where to Watch: NBA League Pass | Location: Smoothie King Center (New Orleans, LA)

Spurs Last 5 ATS: 5-0 | Pelicans Last 5 ATS: 1-4

SportsGrid’s Best Bet: OVER 218.5 (3-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Top Player Props: Tre Jones OVER 4.5 Rebounds (3.5-Stars) | Zion Williamson UNDER 27.5 Points (5-Stars)

8:00 p.m. ET: Detroit Pistons @ Memphis Grizzlies 

• Spread: Grizzlies -1.5 | Moneyline: Grizzlies -118 | Total: 211.5
• Where to Watch: NBA League Pass | Location: FedEx Forum (Memphis, TN)

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

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Grizzlies -1.5 (1-Star) | OVER 211.5 (3-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Top Player Props: Jaden Ivey OVER 3.5 Rebounds (5-Stars, +104)

8:00 p.m. ET: New York Knicks @ Chicago Bulls 

• Spread: Bulls -1.5 | Moneyline: Bulls -118 | Total: 212
• Where to Watch: NBA League Pass | Location: United Center (Chicago, IL)

Knicks Last 5 ATS: 3-2 | Bulls Last 5 ATS: 2-3

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Bulls -1.5 (3-Stars) | OVER 212 (3-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Top Player Props: Isaiah Hartenstein OVER 8.5 Points (5-Stars) | DeMar DeRozan OVVER 24.5 Points (5-Stars)

8:00 p.m. ET: Miami Heat @ Houston Rockets

• Spread: Heat -2 | Moneyline: Heat -132 | Total: 215
• Where to Watch: NBA League Pass | Location: Toyota Center (Houston, TX)

Heat Last 5 ATS: 2-3 | Rockets Last 5 ATS: 2-3

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Heat -2 (1-Star) | OVER 215 (2-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Top Player Props: Jimmy Butler UNDER 20.5 Points (4-Stars) | Dillon Brooks OVER 1.5 Three-Point FG Made (5-Stars)

8:00 p.m. ET: Toronto Raptors @ Milwaukee Bucks

• Spread: Bucks -15.5 | Moneyline: Bucks -1350 | Total: 227
• Where to Watch: NBA League Pass | Location: Fiserv Forum (Milwaukee, WI)

Raptors Last 5 ATS: 0-5 | Bucks Last 5 ATS: 1-4

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Raptors +15.5 (3-Stars) | OVER 227 (2-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Top Player Props: RJ Barrett UNDER 22.5 Points+Assists (5-Stars) | Giannis Antetokounmpo UNDER 30.5 Points (2.5-Stars)

8:30 p.m. ET: Golden State Warriors @ Dallas Mavericks

• Spread: Mavericks -3.5 | Moneyline: Mavericks -205 | Total: 228
• Where to Watch: NBA League Pass | Location: American Airlines Center (Dallas, TX)

Warriors Last 5 ATS: 4-1 | Mavericks Last 5 ATS: 4-1

SportsGrid’s Best Bet: Warriors +5.5 (3-Stars) | UNDER 228 (1-Star)

SportsGrid’s Top Player Props: Derrick Jones Jr. OVER 7.5 Points (5-Stars)

10:00 p.m. ET: Minnesota Timberwolves @ Phoenix Suns

• Spread: Suns -4 | Moneyline: Suns -174 | Total: 217
• Where to Watch: NBA TV | Location: Footprint Center (Phoenix, AZ)

Timberwolves Last 5 ATS: 2-3 | Suns Last 5 ATS: 3-2

SportsGrid’s Best Bet: Timberwolves +4 (2-Stars) | OVER 217 (2-Stars)

SportsGrid’s Top Player Props: Jaden McDaniels OVER 10.5 Points (5-Stars) | Bradley Beal UNDER 14.5 Points (5-Stars)

10:30 p.m. ET: Utah Jazz @ LA Clippers 

• Spread: Clippers -13 | Moneyline: Clippers -950 | Total: 223
• Where to Watch: NBA League Pass | Location: Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles, CA)

Jazz Last 5 ATS: 1-4 | Clippers Last 5 ATS: 2-3

SportsGrid’s Best Bets: Jazz +13 (1-Star)

SportsGrid’s Top Player Props: Collin Sexton OVER 27.5 Points+Rebounds (5-Stars) | Ivica Zubac OVER 13.5 Points (4.5-Stars)