Meat Loaf is back on the menu. What a game between the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics. Two of Fantasy Alarm NBA Best Bets cashed in that game, with Jayson Tatum covering his plus odds point proposition, and the game exceeding over 203.5– which was never in doubt. Yesterday’s column also mentioned that a fourteen point spread was extremely disrespectful to the Miami Heat organization, and the Heat proved it with a ten point victory over the Celtics… Congratulations to those that took the moneyline. 

 

Jonas Valanciunas had a great game, it just was not in the rebounding department. He fell short of his rebounding goal, and a large part of that was the blowout victory by the Oklahoma City Thunder. Yet yesterday ended how several college experiences begin, with 101. There were 1.01 units gained yesterday, and even though we wanted a sweep, ‘...don’t be sad, because two out of three ain’t bad’.

*Editor’s Note: Get the most favorable NBA odds and lines exclusively on BettorEdge, the leading social sports betting platform! Available in 40+ states, just enter the code ALARM to instantly claim a $10 bonus when you sign up through us.

There are three wonderful games today, and all three of those games feature a 2-0 lead for the higher ranked team. The pressure will be on for the home court teams to bring a victory and escape the feared 0-3 start. Today’s game in order of start time are; Cleveland Cavaliers at Orlando Magic, New York Knicks at Philadelphia 76ers, and Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers.

All three of these teams are near the ocean, and with spring in full swing, seafood is on the mind. As great and nutritious as Meat Loaf has been for Fantasy Alarm it’s time for a new protein to bolster the bankroll. With two teams from the interior of the country headed near the ocean, a seafood sampler platter is ‘on the dock’. That is to say a player prop, an alternate straight bet, and same game parlay are the bets in today’s column. Because we want it all!

 

BET OF THE NIGHT: SAME GAME PARLAY BOOST ON BET365

NEW YORK KNICKS AT PHILADELPHIA 76ERS 

  • JOSH HART AND TYRESE MAXEY EACH 20+ POINTS & 2+ THREES MADE (BOOSTED TO +700)

This is the first time a boosted bet from the sportsbook has been mentioned as the Bet of the Night. This bet is boosted on BET365 sportsbook, but can be made on most sportsbooks. It averages out around +600 if you build it elsewhere. It is boosted to +700, and appears to be a great same game parlay to take advantage of. 

First and foremost they have each achieved this in both games of this series. Second, they have been the best and most consistent players for their teams. Third, they are playing big time minutes. Tyrese Maxey has played over forty-four minutes in each game of the series, and Josh Hart is averaging over forty-five minutes per game. Hart played every second of game two, and could do it again in game three. 

Perhaps sportsbooks are planning on tired legs, causing a dip in field goal percentage… But not us. Or perhaps they are planning on Hart to score near his point line of 13.5, and truthfully his points are the risk in this parlay. Maxey’s point line is set at 26.5 points, so it would take a terrible performance for him to not score twenty or more points. 

However as mentioned, they have BOTH achieved this in BOTH games. Hart recorded twenty-two and twenty-one points with four threes made in each game. Maxey had thirty-three points and three threes in game one. Followed by thirty-five points and five threes made in game two. They are more than capable of achieving this in game three.

One expression is ‘good things come in threes’, and hopefully these two can deliver for the third game in a row. This bet hinges on Hart, and if he delivers seven units will be gained. Cheer them both on tonight in the Knicks versus 76ers game.

 

NBA Picks & Predictions: Thursday, 4/25
DENVER NUGGETS AT LOS ANGELES LAKERS 

  • ALTERNATE SPREAD: DENVER NUGGETS -2.5 (+105 ON DRAFTKINGS SPORTSBOOK)

How great was Jamal Murray’s buzzer beating, game winner three days ago? There have been five other games since, and it is still being discussed across NBA media and platforms. Murray's basket is in Denver’s top three finishes across all its professional sports, a prestigious history. Meanwhile the Lakers social media (a stand alone force) has possibly been the quietest it’s ever been. Murray’s nickname is the Blue Arrow, and his ‘shot’ over Anthony Davis was a devastating hit. It appeared to snatch the soul of the Lakers faithful, and at the same time gave Nuggets fans an experience they never had.

Today is a new day, and although the Nuggets have won the previous ten games against the Lakers, the sportsbooks have the game at even odds. Some have a one point spread in favor of the Los Angeles Lakers, others have a one point spread in favor of the Denver Nuggets. Why? Because the games have been battles, often with lead changes in the fourth quarter. Tonight is projected to be more close, and thrilling basketball.

The Law of averages states the Lakers are due for a win against the Nuggets. However, there are exceptions to almost everything in the universe. The Lakers have played absolutely fantastic basketball in both game one and two. The problem is Denver, both the players and coaches on the Nuggets, and the city at 5,280 feet above sea level. However the first of those two factors are 95% of the equation. 

Nikola Jokic can not be stopped when he is giving max effort. It can be scoring, passing, rebounding, and even defense. There is not a player in the league that can stop him in those moments when he is called upon to elevate his team's production. Jamal Murray is a playoff assassin, and the most clutch playoff performer since mid 2010s LeBron James. That combo alone has proven an insurmountable foe for the Lakers regardless of the location.

However, it is the unsung heroes, the combination of Michael Porter Jr, Aaron Gordon, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope that haunt the Lakers. It was Porter Jr. who grabbed the rebound and gave the ball to Jamal Murray for the game winner. It was Porter Jr. who made the three prior, tying up the game with less than a minute. And it was Porter Jr who made timely threes throughout the game to keep it close. 

Aaron Gordon was asked to stop a hot Anthony Davis, after Nikola Jokic stated he wanted to guard him at the beginning of game two. Gordon delivered too, essentially making Davis a non-factor in the second half. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was tasked with stopping D’Angelo Russell and Lebron James. Minus a couple three point field goals from James, he kept both in check to help deliver the twenty-point comeback.

The starting five of the Denver Nuggets is the best since the 2016-2017 Golden State Warriors, and have been the most dominant team against ANY Los Angeles Lakers starting five. The narrative is the Lakers will keep it close, but the Nuggets have the coaching, the players, and the game plan. Plus their two best players have yet to have a high scoring night. 

Tease the spread up to -2.5 and take plus odds for the Nuggets to go up 3-0 behind the combo of Jokic and Murray

 

NBA Props & Best Bets, 4/25

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS AT ORLANDO MAGIC

  • JARRETT ALLEN OVER 12.5 REBOUNDS (-102 ON DRAFTKINGS SPORTSBOOK)

A playoff favorite has become Jarrett Allen’s rebounding line. He has absolutely smashed the prop in both games with twenty rebounds in game one and eighteen in game two. He is the unsung hero of this team, and of this series. 

J. Allen has played over thirty-five minutes in each game, has a combined four steals and three blocks, and five total assists. He has scored sixteen points in each game, but his leading statistic has been rebounding in each game.

There is not any indication that will change for the big man tonight. Sure, the Cleveland Cavaliers are playing the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center, but it will have little impact on J. Allen. The former Texas Longhorn has a wingspan of 7’ 6” and great basketball IQ. He uses both to his advantage in most games, and has thirteen or more rebounds in three of his last four games.

The Magic are two point favorites and Allen could see forty or more minutes tonight, which only increases the percentage of this bet being successful. This has been a low scoring series, and the inexperience of Orlando has been seen in game one and two. Even if they attempt higher percentage field goals, Allen will be able to out rebound Jonathan Isaac and Wendell Carter Jr. 

He has delivered in two games in a row, and ‘good things come in three’… or so they say.

Enjoy the three bet sampler, and enjoy the three games. The third game in 2-0 series oftentimes have a high level of intensity, and goes down to the last minutes of the fourth quarter. Should all three bets be successful, today would return 9.03 units… How interesting. 

Thank you for taking a look at my NBA picks for today! Remember to visit Fantasy Alarm for all your fantasy sports and betting needs.


Bet Smart, Be Lucky - Iggy