The 2019 NBA Playoffs are in full swing, and we’re already starting to see the pretenders and contenders separate from the rest of the pack. The Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and Milwaukee Bucks look head-and-shoulders better than the rest of the pack, and, right now, it’s sure looking like two of those three teams will be meeting in the NBA Finals.
Still, there’s a lot of basketball left to be played, and the first-round playoff series still haven’t ended. At this point in time, no one has been eliminated, and it’s too early to go overboard overreacting to early results.
With that said, here are our betting picks for today.
NBA Betting picks for April 20
Nets +1.5 — The Nets have their backs against the wall, as a Sixers win would shift all momentum in their favor, and give Philadelphia the opportunity to close out this series at home in Game 5. As such, it’s a must-win game for the Nets, and we believe they’ll make the necessary adjustments
The main reason Philadelphia beat Brooklyn in Game 3 was the Nets’ three-point shooting, as the team made just eight of 39 it attempted. It figures that they’ll be much better in this must-win game, and we believe they’ll win the contest outright.
Spurs -3.5 — It’s starting to look like the Nuggets just can’t win in San Antonio, as they’ve now lost their last nine games to the Spurs there. Denver just wasn’t good on the road, away from the friendly confines of Pepsi Center this season, posting a 20-21 record, compared to 34-7 at home.
The Spurs are experienced, with the better coaching staff, and the players that know how to perform in crunch time. We like them to cover on Saturday, and win the series in six games.
Pistons +8.5 — It’s do-or-die for Detroit, as this figures to be a huge statement game in front of the home crowd at Little Caesars Arena. The Pistons won’t have another home playoff game this season, and we expect a huge effort from them as a result.
It’s unlikely that the Pistons will win the game outright, as the Bucks look like the most dominant team in the Eastern Conference by a large margin, but it’s tough to sweep a team on their home court, and Detroit will do whatever it can to prevent that from happening.
Jazz -2.5 — Similar to the above pick, it’s absolutely embarrassing for a team to be swept in front of its home fans, and the Jazz will do whatever they can to prevent that from happening. The Rockets have been the much better team in this series, but don’t be surprised if they choose to preserve Chris Paul and James Harden for Game 5, rather than keeping their foot on the gas pedal.
Donovan Mitchell will need to play better, and we believe he will, as well as the team’s role players, such as Joe Ingles. The officiating could favor the Jazz as well, and we believe enough factors will be in play to help them avoid the sweep and send the series back to Houston.
