NBA Odds, Best Bets and Expert Tips | April 2

I’ve got three NBA picks for Thursday afternoon NZT as the regular season winds down. Boston head to Miami with injury cover improving, Chicago face a gutted Indiana side, and Denver’s depth should overwhelm Utah. I’m on spreads across the board - two conservative, one a punt.

Celtics -5.5 | $1.85 @ Betista

Miami have lost seven of their last eight. That includes a 135-118 hiding from the tanking Pacers on Sunday where Bam Adebayo managed 15 points. The Heat sit ninth in the East at 40-36, and Adebayo admitted post-game that nobody on the roster wants to be in the play-in.

Boston dropped a 112-102 result at Atlanta on Monday, but Jayson Tatum sat out the second night of a back-to-back. He’s expected back for this one. The Celtics are 50-25, Tatum put up 32 over Charlotte on Sunday, and Jaylen Brown’s rough shooting in Atlanta was more fatigue than form. Nikola Vucevic remains out. 

I’m on Boston minus 5.5 through the best betting sites NZ and I’m not overthinking it.

Bulls -8.5 | $1.95 @ VipLuck

Indiana are 17-58. Tyrese Haliburton is done for the year. Ivica Zubac, same. Pascal Siakam had 30 and 11 against Miami on Sunday but he’s been carrying a knee issue and the Pacers have no reason to push him through a meaningless April.

Chicago aren’t flash at 29-46. But that’s still 12 wins clear of Indiana. Josh Giddey keeps producing and the Bulls are on a four-game slide that I’d expect to end here. I’d normally dodge big spreads with bottom-tier sides but the talent gap is wide enough here.

Nuggets -10.5 | $2.15 @ Betandplay

This is my riskiest call. Double-digit spreads make me nervous, and Ace Bailey is the reason I’m not going bigger. The Rutgers rookie is averaging 18.9 points since the All-Star break, dropped 37 on Toronto and 33 over Milwaukee. He keeps Utah competitive on any given night.

Utah are 21-55 though. Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George remain sidelined. Denver hammered Golden State 116-93 on Sunday with Jamal Murray scoring 20 and Nikola Jokic doing his usual damage. Aaron Gordon is trending toward a return after missing that game. 

I’m using the free bets I’ve got stacked up on Denver minus 10.5. They beat Utah 135-129 four days ago without Gordon.