The 2019 NBA Playoffs continue to entertain fans with plenty of entertaining moments, highlight-reel plays and clutch shots down the stretch in games. Role players are beginning to emerge, and superstars are continuing to shine.
Sunday’s action will not disappoint, so check out our picks before watching today’s slate of games.
NBA Playoffs betting picks for April 21
Pacers +2 — One of the strongest trends across all sports is playing on a team to avoid being swept on its home court, and the Pacers fit that bill on Sunday. They’ve been so close to emerging victorious in each of their past two games, having second-half leads, but haven’t been able to seal the down the stretch in the fourth quarter.
Their bad luck will change on Sunday, when they rally around the home crowd, and find just enough to get a few stops on defense, as well as drain a clutch shot or two late in the game to win.
Clippers +8.5 — It’s dangerous to bet against the Warriors, but in looking at how Game 3 really played out, it’s hard to overlook that Kevin Durant was the difference-maker in the game. He dropped 38 points on a ridiculous 14-of-23 shooting, and it’s going to be hard for him to replicate that performance again on Sunday.
Not only that, the Warriors have been in LA for the weekend, so don’t be surprised if they were enjoying Thursday’s win a bit too much, and this game is close throughout. The Clippers may not win, but we do like them to get the cover.
Magic +5.5 — Home underdogs getting more than a few points are valuable in the playoffs, especially those that have been competitive throughout much of the series, as is the case of the Magic. Orlando knows it can’t go back to Toronto facing elimination, in a 3-1 hole, and we believe it’ll play a physical game to attempt to prevent that from happening, keeping it close.
The Raptors needed an otherworldly performance from Pascal Siakam to win in Game 3, and we don’t expect him to drop 30 points again anytime soon. The Magic will make the necessary adjustments on defense, and we believe they could even win this game outright.
Thunder -6 — The home team has dominated this series, covering every game so far, so there’s no reason to go away from that trend on Sunday. Russell Westbrook returned to his dominant form on Friday, scoring 33 points, after putting up just 14 in the previous contest, and we expect him to build on that heading into Game 4.
The Trail Blazers just don’t shoot as well from the perimeter away from the friendly confines of the Moda Center, and that’s unfortunate for them, as the Thunder have a distinct advantage in the frontcourt. We look for them to control the glass, and the game, on Sunday.
