NBA Betting Tips and Predictions for 12 April 2015

NBA Regular Season Hits The Home Straight

There has been a big couple of days in the NBA and with the final regular season games taking place this week, there is a great deal at stake for so many teams.

Friday the 10^th of April games

The Raptors won in Orlando, defeating the Magic by a score of 99-101 and the Celtics were big winners in Cleveland, defeating the Cavaliers by a score of 90-99. The Bucks were also road winners, defeating the Knicks by a score of 91-99 and the Thunder were triumphant at home, winning by a score of 116-103. The Spurs won a very close match in Houston, winning by 103-104 and the Grizzlies also won a narrow match, winning 88-89 in Utah.

The Hawks were comfortable at home versus the Hornets, winning 104-80 and the Nets were in excellent form, defeating the Wizards in Brooklyn by a score of 117-80. The Pistons were downed at home by the Pacers 103-107 and the Pelicans trashed the Suns 90-75 in New Orleans. The Nuggets lost out narrowly in an epic encounter, defeated 143-144 by the Mavericks. The Lakers won at home, defeating the Timberwolves by a score of 106-98.

Saturday the 11^th of April games

The Magic lost at home for the second day in a row, losing a close on 79-80 to the Knicks while the Bulls were confident at home, defeating the 76ers 114-107. The Jazz dealt with the Trail Blazers in Portland, winning 105-111 and the Heat slipped at home in a close game, the Raptors winning 104-107. The Grizzlies lost in Los Angeles, with the Clippers winning 94-86 and the Warriors were home winners, defeating the Timberwolves by a score of 110-101.

Sunday the 12^th of April previews

Sunday can sometimes be a slow day in the NBA but given that we are in the home straight for the campaign, there is plenty of action on offer. There are a total of 9 games on offer today, including:

• Cleveland Cavaliers @ Boston Celtics
• Brooklyn Nets @ Milwaukee Bucks
• Charlotte Hornets @ Detroit Pistons
• Sacramento Kings @ Denver Nuggets
• Oklahoma City Thunder @ Indiana Pacers
• Atlanta Hawks @ Washington Wizards
• New Orleans Pelicans @ Houston Rockets
• Phoenix Suns @ San Antonio Spurs
• Dallas Mavericks @ Los Angeles Lakers

We will look at three matches in close detail.

Brooklyn Nets @ Milwaukee Bucks

With both of these teams very much in the mix for the playoffs, there may be a lot of people needing to brush up their research on the teams that will be enjoying the postseason. When you think about the fact that the Bucks endured the worst record in the NBA, the fact that they are standing on the brink of a playoff spot is unbelievable! There is also a lot to be said for the fact that the Nets have had a tremendous month, breathing considerable life into their campaign which many felt was impossible.

If the Bucks win a game, or either Indiana, Brooklyn or the Celtics lose, they will be assured of a playoff spot. This game against the Nets gives them the chance to take care of business but it is far from do or die on behalf of the Bucks. They also know that they play the Celtics on Wednesday so it is very much in the hands of the team from Milwaukee. Brooklyn has a bit to do, but the fact that they are so deep in the playoff process at this point suggests that they won’t give it up easily.

The Nets have a 37-29 record this season and this includes a 19-21 record on the road. An 8-2 record in their last 10 games is an indicator of a team that is on fire. They face a Bucks team with a 39-40 record this campaign, and this includes a 21-17 record at home. The Bucks have a 5-5 record in their last 10 games. With respect to average points scored, the Nets lead 98.5 to 97.9 and for average points against, the Bucks lead 97.6 to 101.0.

Taking the Nets at -1, with odds of 1.90, could be a great bet for Sunday. Bet Now!

Oklahoma City Thunder @ Indiana Pacers

Both of these teams are battling it out to make the playoffs and the team that loses this game could find themselves in serious trouble with respect to continuing their season. The Thunder and the Pelicans are tied for 8^th spot but the Pelicans have the tie-break lead after they clinched a 3-1 lead in the series. Oklahoma City have dropped six games in 7 before they grabbed a big 116-103 win against the Kings on Friday night.

The Pacers have won 4 games in a row but they know that they still have a lot to do to continue their season. The Indiana side are on game behind Boston and Brooklyn who are currently tied for 7^th spot in the conference. Indiana also know that they lose the tie-breaker to both of these teams, which means that the Pacers need to get some wins on the board in the final few days of the regular NBA season.

The Thunder holds a 43-36 record this season which includes a 15-24 record on the road. In the last 10 games, the Thunder have a 4-6 record. They face a Pacers team with a 36-43 record, which includes a 21-18 record at home. The Pacers have a 6-4 record in their last 10 games. With respect to average points scored, the Thunder leads 103.6 to 97.3 and for average points against, the Pacers lead 97.0 to 101.6.

Taking the Thunder with a +3.5 handicap, at odds of 1.90, should be a decent bet for Sunday. Bet Now!

New Orleans Pelicans @ Houston Rockets

These teams are still very much in the mix amongst the most competitive division in the NBA but they know that they cannot afford to slip up now. The Rockets have three games to go and they will be going all out to clinch the Southwest while the Pelicans are in the mix for the final playoff spot from the Western Conference.

The Rockets have a game in over Memphis and San Antonio in their race but the Spurs bagged a big win on Friday night, with a nail-biting 104-103 triumph at the Toyota Center, in a game that was played on Friday. It was a cruel loss for the Rockets who also won it with less than 3 seconds on the clock but Tim Duncan blocked the layup from James Harden. Harden bagged his 20^th double-double of the campaign with 16 points and 10 assists, but no doubt he will be feeling the impact of being so close, yet so far, from winning the game.

Houston have only dropped two home games in a row once this campaign and they know if they can return to winning ways, they have a chance to overtake the Spurs, who face Phoenix on Sunday. Of course, the Spurs are on a great run at the moment, with 8 wins in a row and 14 wins from 15 at home but all the Rockets can do is concentrate on their own game and see where it takes them. There is a chance that the Grizzlies could lose though as they face Golden State on Monday and they then close up their regular campaign with a game against the Pacers.

The Rockets will do battle against the Hornets on Monday and the Jazz on Wednesday while the Spurs will take on New Orleans on Wednesday. The Pelicans also have plenty to play for and if the Rockets can get beyond them on Sunday, they will then be looking for the New Orleans to find some form and perhaps do them a favour.

The Pelicans have a 43-36 record so far, which includes a 16-23 record on the road. The New Orleans team has a 6-4 record in their last 10 games. The Rockets are 53-26 at the moment, which includes a 28-11 record at home and they currently have a 7-3 record in their last 10 games. With respect to average points scored, the Rockets lead 103.6 to 99.1 and for average points against, the Pelicans lead 98.4 to 100.6. Taking the Rockets at -4.5, with odds of 1.90, should be a sound bet for Sunday.

Once the Sunday games are concluded, we move into a new week and there are only regular season games left for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Once we beyond this, we move into the playoffs, which is when the season comes alive for many people.