Welcome to the second season of the NBA everyone, and the second season of our NBA Best Bets and Prop Bets! From now until mid-June, basketball games will be intense, and battles between greats. It starts with some of the most intense games of the second season too: the play-in. 

 

 

 

NBA Predictions & Picks Today, 4/16

Today’s action focuses on the Western Conference, as the Los Angeles Lakers travel to the Smoothie King Center to play the New Orleans Pelicans. The winner will own the seventh position, and have a ticket to Denver, Colorado. 

The second game features a divisional rivalry that extends past the regular season yet again. The Sacramento Kings host their neighbors the Golden State Warriors and there will be a few wagers dependent on this game.

The Bet of the Night for today’s NBA picks takes place in the Lakers vs. Pelicans game and features one of the hottest scorers of this month. Let’s get right into it!

*Editor’s Note: Find the best lines for these NBA bets at BettorEdge, the leading social sports betting marketplace. Legal in over 40 states, the promo code ALARM initiates a $10 signup bonus when you click here!

 

 

CJ McCollum Props: Over 23.5 Points (-115 on Bet365 Sportsbook)

Leading off today’s NBA best bets is CJ McCollum, who’s been on absolute fire carrying the New Orleans Pelicans to the play-in. He has been arguably the best player in April. He has played 33 or more minutes in all eight games this month, he has scored 25 or more points in all but one game and has 44 assists (an average of over five per game in April). 

Despite his magnificent scoring, the sportsbooks have moved his line up just one point. He only made nine field goal attempts Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers, but still managed 25 points. His three-point attempts are off the chart with 86 this month, or over 10 per game. Even more amazing is his 51.2% success rate behind the arc in April.

Teammate Zion Williamson looked like a shell of himself Sunday, and Anthony Davis could be too good defensively for the young Williamson to figure out. Brandon Ingram played just 23 minutes and was truly ineffective on the floor. He had a game-high -28 when on the court, and he looked sluggish in his first game since March 21st. 

This puts an even bigger responsibility on McCollum to be a high scorer. The Pelicans were beat down by the Lakers Sunday, but after a day of rest at home, could come out and put the pressure on a poor back court defense. He has covered his point prop in seven straight games and will do it again today. A confident unit on McCollum’s points today.

 

 

 

NBA Props & Best Bets Today, 4/16 

The Kings are hosting their rival and will need a big night from their big man to have a chance. Domantas Sabonis finished the season as the top rebounder in the Association for the second year in a row. He is the only player to earn over 1,000 rebounds and should be on the All-NBA team when the selections are announced. 

Domantas Sabonis Props: Over 12.5 Rebounds (-115 on Bet365 Sportsbook)

Sabonis averages 13.7 rebounds per game and against a smaller, older Golden State Warriors lineup, he should earn his average tonight. The Golden State Warriors allow 50.6 rebounds per game, and have allowed an average of 52.7 in their last three games. There should be a high volume of field goal attempts from the Warriors tonight, and Sabonis should utilize his size and basketball IQ for great positioning. 

Unlike the Lakers vs. Pelicans game, the loser of this game sees their season come to an end. Sabonis will be giving maximum effort in doing his role with the team. He may have been the league leader in triple-doubles this year, but his #1 job is to earn as many rebounds as possible by protecting the glass and defending the paint.

We’re adding his rebounds prop to our NBA predictions today, looking for him to go over his average regardless of the outcome of the game. 

 

 

 

NBA SGP Today, 4/16

This is a fun, boosted parlay found on Bet365, but you can place this wager on almost all sportsbooks. There is a great deal of debate in sports media if the Lakers should tank to have a – supposedly – better match up. That is highly unlikely, even with the Denver Nuggets lining up against them if they win.

Lakers ML + LeBron James 25+ Points & 7+ Assists (+240 Boosted to +260 on Bet365 Sportsbook) *0.5 UNIT

Yeah, the Nuggets may have won nine straight games against the Lakers, but it is highly unlikely the Lakers plan on losing a game, only to be in a ‘do or die’ game against a division rival. The Sacramento Kings swept the Lakers this season, 4-0, and the Golden State Warriors have one final ride of ‘The Three Amigos’. 

Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry, and Draymond Green have eliminated LeBron James-led teams more than any other group of players. In other words, do not buy the bologna they are selling. It’s a good talking point, but a champion never wants to lose, regardless of the situation.

LeBron James is simply amazing. To put up the consistent numbers that he did in his 21st season is truly special. His averages are 25.7 points, 8.3 assists, and 7.8 rebounds… in his 21st season! He put up a triple double Sunday against the Pelicans and had eight assists in the first quarter. He finished with 17 assists in the game, 11 rebounds, and 28 points. 

He is playing through injuries but expected to play today, and he will be the leader of the team. He needs just his averages to hold up this end of the parlay. As it sits, the Pelicans are 1.5-point favorites, and it is the most difficult fold of this parlay. This is still one of my favorite NBA picks today, but as with most Same Game Parlays, a half unit wager is recommended. 

 

 

 

NBA Parlay & Futures Bet: 2024 Play-In Tournament

We have a bet on a two-fold parlay in both the Eastern and Western Conference 9 vs. 10 matches. In addition, while it doesn’t necessarily settle as a result of today’s NBA predictions, a future bet with nice odds that cashes out before Saturday is Golden State to make the playoffs.

Golden State Warriors ML + Chicago Bulls ML (+196 on DraftKings Sportsbook)

We’re looking at the moneyline on the Golden State Warriors and Chicago Bulls. The Warriors and Bulls are slight favorites in their matches, Golden State -2.5 and the Bulls -3. 

The focus of this bet for today is the Golden State Warriors. The Kings versus the Warriors has been an epic rivalry this decade. Their series went to seven games last year as the dynastic combination of Draymond Green, Steph Curry, and Klay Thompson broke the city of Sacramento’s heart. 

This year it’s guaranteed to not go to seven games, but it will be a game seven-like atmosphere. It is once again in Sacramento, and the Kings have been trying to find footing since losing leading Sixth Man of the Year candidate Malik Monk. They have lost six of their last 10 games, and that familiar feeling of the annual nightmare is creeping upon them.

This playoff or play-in could, and very likely will, be the last ride of ‘The Three Amigos’, and Golden State knows it. The players know it, the coaching staff knows it, and the administration knows it. It is difficult to picture them losing against a depleted team with so much emotion and familiarity against their foe. 

The Chicago Bulls were the closest team to beating the Eastern Conference champions last year. Let that sink in, as that was a play-in game against the Miami Heat that went down to the last seconds. This year is different from last year, but the Chicago Bulls are a better team than the Atlanta Hawks. In fact, three games better.

The Hawks are on a six-game losing streak, have lost seven of their last 10, and seem like a team ready to get into the off-season and make some major moves. The Chicago Bulls are a mix of veterans that know this could be their last opportunity to play together. This game is at the United Center and the Hawks have only won 15 games on the road this season. 

The spread could be in play tomorrow but get this moneyline parlay in for the better teams to keep their seasons alive.

  • Bet on Warriors ML + Bulls ML at DraftKings Sportsbook today!

 

 

 

Golden State Warriors To Make The Playoffs (+320 on DraftKings Sportsbook) *0.5 UNIT

At +320 it was too good of a line, and a half a unit wager was placed. They should win tonight against the Kings for all the reasons mentioned before. Although the opponent is not known, the Warriors would be on the road against either the Pelicans or the Lakers. 

The Warriors are the hottest team in the Western Conference with wins in eight of their last 10 games. Should the Warriors play the Lakers, it would easily be the most watched play-in game of all time. The Lakers (as would all other teams) could have difficulty keeping pace if Thompson and Curry get on a hot streak.

New Orleans would present a good match up as the Pelicans beat the Warriors Friday, and a good deal of trash talking took place after the match. It just seems fitting that the hottest team of the conference, led by all-time great players, should find a way to get into the playoffs. A half a unit is recommended as this is essentially a two-fold parlay.

 

 

 

Let’s have a Lucky Day!

Thank you for taking the time to view my NBA picks today! Remember to visit Fantasy Alarm for all of your fantasy sports and betting needs.

Bet Smart, Be Lucky - Iggy

*All NBA odds accurate at time of writing and bets to be placed at 1 unit unless specified otherwise