X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Free NBA Betting Picks and Best Bets (4/19/24)

Keegan Murray - NBA DFS Picks, Daily Fantasy Basketball Rankings, Injury News - rotoballer icon

Josh Wiesel's top NBA betting picks and best bets for today's NBA games on 4/19/24. Use his free picks against the spread, teasers, parlays, and NBA player props to win money betting on the NBA!

The 2024 NBA playoffs are almost set, but there are two games to take care of tonight. On Tuesday, the Lakers beat the Pelicans in New Orleans and the Kings lit the beam at Golden 1 Center after ending the Warrior's season (and possibly their core). New Orleans hosts Sacramento tonight, with the winner taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder. In the East, the Sixers emerged victorious in a tight game against the Heat. Philadelphia now plays the New York Knicks in round one. The late game saw the Chicago Bulls hang 131 points on the Atlanta Hawks to win 131-to-116. Chicago will go on the road tonight to Miami to determine the final seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

On Wednesday, I ended up missing both of my picks. The under-208.5 in Sixers vs. Heat looked great the entire game, but then tragedy struck. It turned into a foul fest at the end, and Tyler Herro hit a three with 0.3 seconds left to put the total at 209. I had the right read; I'd take the under again, given the chance, and that was just an unfortunate ending. My second pick was the Hawks to cover the first quarter and they got crushed. I know I should've split my picks so I don't feel too bad about it. Let's sweep the two picks tonight.

In this article, I'll be providing my favorite picks against the spread, game totals, parlays, and teasers for the NBA slate that tips off at 7:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, April 19. Follow me on X, @Jwiesel13.

Featured Promo: Get any Props Premium Pass for 50% off using code SUMMER. Win more with our two new Props Optimizer tools -- one for PrizePicks Props, and one for Sportsbook Betting Props. Find optimal prop bets and get our recommended picks daily! Go Premium, Win More!

 

NBA Betting Picks: ML & Spreads

Chicago Bulls (+2.5) at Miami Heat (207.5 total)

Not only did the Miami Heat lose a close game on Wednesday, they also lost Jimmy Butler. Butler was seen limping while leaving the arena last night and is reported to be out for several weeks with an MCL injury. The Heat are not in the playoffs and still have to face a Bulls team that looked great on Wednesday night.

I'm going with the road team and taking Chicago in the first half. I do think the Heat could outlast the Bulls over the course of the full game, but it may take them time to get going. Jimmy averaged 10.3 first-half points in 60 games this season. Against the Sixers, he led the team with 10 points at halftime. The offense will shift towards Herro, who looks good when he's on, but when he's off, he's not very impactful. Chicago can hone in on him and try to force the ball out of his hands.

The Bulls put up 73 points in the first half against the Hawks on Wednesday. They gave up 67 points, but it was nice to see them generate some offense. Chicago had pretty decent ATS in the first half on the road this season, finishing with a 22-18-1 record. Miami will be a harder test, but without Jimmy, I think this game is really even.

Chicago has veteran leadership with DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic, and Alex Caruso, along with younger players like Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu, who are hungry. DeRozan and White combined for 35 points in the first half vs. the Hawks. White had 25 in the second half to finish with a career-high 42 points. They typically haven't been great on offense but still managed to hit 47.5 percent of their FGAs and nearly 38 percent from three in the opening two quarters in enemy territory this season.

In the last 10 games of the season, the Bulls finished ninth in first-half net rating. Among all the play-in teams, they finished first in offensive rating. The Heat finished first in defense but Butler played nearly 20 minutes and had an excellent 79.5 defensive rating. Not having him quarterback the perimeter is a big deal and should create open shots for the Bulls.

Miami was 22-19 in the first half ATS at home so it's not like they were elite in these situations. I don't think the Bulls will hit 60.4 percent of their FGAs and 53.8 percent from three again, but they could tighten up the defense. It should be a competitive first half and I'll roll with Chicago, who should be coming into Miami with confidence.

The Pick: Bulls First Half +0.5 (-110 ESPN BET)

 

Sports Betting Promo Offers

Featured Promo: Get any Betting Premium Pass for 50% off using code SUMMER. Win more with exclusive betting picks from proven winners across 9 sports! Find optimal bets with our Betting Picks Tool and Bet Weighting Tool and follow along in our VIP chat rooms! Go Premium, Win More!

 

NBA Betting Picks: ML & Spreads

Sacramento Kings (-1.5) at New Orleans Pelicans (212.5 total)

Although the Pelicans lost the game to the Lakers on Tuesday, they did give me a win by leading after the opening quarter. New Orleans had a much better start Tuesday than they did on Sunday and led 34-to-26. Los Angeles had a big second quarter and led by 10 at halftime. The Lakers went up a lot in the second half, but New Orleans fought back, and it ended up being a great game. As everyone saw, Zion Williamson unfortunately had to exit the game with 40 points and three minutes left. Williamson is out tonight, which is really disappointing.

Sacramento looked really good in their win over the Warriors. Golden State cut the deficit to four at halftime, but the Kings didn't let that bother them. Mike Brown's team outscored GS 64-44 in the second half to win by a commanding 24 points.

With Zion out, I'm going to go with the Kings to cover the first quarter. Keegan Murray was the star of the opening quarter for the Kings against the Warriors. The second-year forward hit three three-pointers in the first three minutes of the game and finished the quarter with 14 points. I would be surprised if Murray had 14 again in the first but he showed he's capable of it. More defensive pressure on Murray means more open shots for the other four players. Sacramento finished the regular season strong by going 4-1 in their last five and 7-3 in their last 10 ATS on the road in the first quarter.

Against the Warriors, the Kings outscored them 31-to-22 while hitting 46.2 percent of their FGAs and 5-for-12 from three. They out-rebounded the Warriors 16-to-11 and 6-to-0 on the offensive glass. Rebounding will be key against a Pelicans team that finished in the top six in first-quarter boards. New Orleans held an 18-to-11 advantage on the glass after the opening quarter against the Lakers.

In the last 10 games of the season, the Kings were fourth in first-quarter defensive rating and 13th in offense. Their 15.2 net rating was the seventh-best in the league. Among the four Western Conference teams that played on Tuesday night, Sacramento had the best first-quarter net rating.

Williamson only averaged 5.3 first-quarter points against the Kings this season, but he had 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting in the first quarter vs. LA. He was the Pelicans offense. There are still questions about Brandon Ingram's health, and he hasn't looked sharp in his two games since returning. This Kings team is not my favorite and losing Monk and Huerter hurts, but I just think they have a better starting group right now.

Sacramento was in the top 15 in limiting points in the paint this season. That's a spot on the floor the Pelicans like to get to. In that final 10-game sample, the Kings held opponents to the fewest first-quarter points per game and the second-lowest field goal percentage.

The Pick: Kings First Quarter ML (-110 Sports Illustrated Sportsbook)

*Picks and odds are subject to change throughout the day. Monitor your books for the best lines. 



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy basketball mobile app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, lineup notifications & DFS articles. All free!

NBA DFS News and Injury Alerts




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

José Berríos

Jose Berrios Tosses Seven Scoreless in Fourth Win
Nick Martinez

Flirts With No-Hitter, Settles for Win
Gary Sánchez

Gary Sanchez Homers, Reaches Five Times in Onslaught
Trea Turner

Blasts Two Homers, Steals Base
MLB

Ron Washington to Remain on Medical Leave for Rest of the Season
Jeremy Peña

Imaging Negative on Jeremy Pena's Ribs on Friday
Spencer Steer

Slugs Three Home Runs in Win
Ace Bailey

to Report to Utah on Saturday
Sonny Gray

Tosses Complete-Game Shutout
Justin Edwards

Sixers Agree on a New Contract
Naz Reid

Agrees to a New Contract with Minnesota
Hunter Goodman

Dealing With Hamstring Soreness
Aaron Rodgers

Roman Wilson Could Fit Nicely With Aaron Rodgers
Josh Simmons

on Schedule to Open the Year as a Starter
Micah Parsons

Contract Length an Issue for Cowboys, Micah Parsons
Denver Broncos

Broncos Unsure How Their Running Back Room Will Look
Russell Wilson

Not the Only Leader in Giants Clubhouse
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Returns Against Marlins
Wyatt Langford

Rangers to Place Wyatt Langford on Injured List
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Now in Friday's Lineup
Wyatt Langford

Out With Strained Oblique
Luis Robert Jr.

Out on Friday
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Not in Friday's Lineup
Xander Bogaerts

Back in Lineup on Friday
Griffin Canning

Done for the Year With Ruptured Achilles
Jae'Sean Tate

Rockets Want to Bring Back Jae'Sean Tate
Andre Drummond

Accepts Player Option
Cal Raleigh

Added to Home Run Derby Field
José Ramírez

Jose Ramirez Won't Start on Friday
Jihaad Campbell

to Begin at Inside Linebacker
Josh Conerly Jr.

to Play Right Tackle for Now
Tyleik Williams

Expected to Fill Big Role Right Away
Malaki Starks

Should Make an Immediate Impact
James Pearce Jr.

Impressing the Falcons
Jaxson Dart

has "Excellent" Spring
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Should Play Vs. BoSox
Donovan Jackson

has Inside Track on Starting Job
Spencer Jones

Promoted to Triple-A
Matthew Golden

Appears Set for Significant Role
Derrick Harmon

in Line to Start
Jahdae Barron

Primarily Working at Cornerback
Cleveland Cavaliers

Tyrese Proctor Selected by Cavaliers With the No. 49 Pick
Portland Trail Blazers

Caleb Love Lands with Trail Blazers
Dallas Mavericks

Ryan Nembhard Signs a Two-Way Deal with Mavericks
Orlando Magic

Noah Penda Drafted and Traded to the Magic
Phoenix Suns

Rasheer Fleming Taken With the First Pick of the Second Round
Charles Oliveira

Can Become A Two-Time Lightweight Champion
Ilia Topuria

A Favorite At UFC 317
Kai Kara-France

Can Become The New Flyweight Champion
Josh Giddey

Receives Qualifying Offer from Chicago
Alexandre Pantoja

Set For Fourth Title Defense At UFC 317
Joshua Van

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Brandon Royval

Looks For His Third Win In A Row
Renato Moicano

Returns At UFC 317
Beneil Dariush

An Underdog At UFC 317
Andre Szmyt

Browns Sign Andre Szmyt to One-Year Deal
Payton Talbott

Looks To Bounce Back
Wilfried Pene

Patriots Waive Wilfried Pene
Felipe Lima

Set To Open Up UFC 317 Main Card
Aaron Rodgers

Lauds DK Metcalf as "Big Reason" Behind Move to Pittsburgh
Emeka Egbuka

to Have Big Role in the Offense
Daniil Tarasov

Panthers Bring in Daniil Tarasov
Grey Zabel

in Line to Start at Left Guard
Frederick Gaudreau

Kraken Pick Up Frederick Gaudreau From Wild
Shemar Stewart

Bengals Still High on Shemar Stewart
SJ

Sharks Buying Out Marc-Edouard Vlasic
Jamie Benn

Stays in Dallas on One-Year Deal
Reilly Smith

Signs New One-Year Deal with Vegas
Michael Kesselring

Traded to Sabres
Josh Doan

Moves to Buffalo
JJ Peterka

Mammoth Acquire JJ Peterka
Evander Kane

Traded to Canucks
Miami Heat

Miami Selects Guard Kasparas Jakucionis
Brooklyn Nets

Brooklyn Takes Nolan Traore in the First Round
Utah Jazz

Walter Clayton Jr. Heading to Utah
Minnesota Timberwolves

Minnesota Drafts Joan Beringer
Portland Trail Blazers

Yang Hansen Drafted by Portland
Oklahoma City Thunder

Thomas Sorber Selected by Thunder
San Antonio Spurs

Carter Bryant Lands in San Antonio
New Orleans Pelicans

New Orleans Acquires No. 13 Overall Pick Derik Queen From Atlanta
Chicago Bulls

Noa Essengue Drafted by Chicago
Memphis Grizzlies

Cedric Coward Drafted by Portland, Traded to Memphis
Michael Thorbjornsen

Returns in Detroit at Rocket Classic
Adam Hadwin

Could Struggle Over the Weekend in Detroit
Cam Davis

Hopes Detroit Magic Can Spark Turnaround
Matt Wallace

a Boom-or-Bust Option at Rocket Classic
Joel Dahmen

Not Cutting it Lately
Michael Kim

Searching for Spark at Rocket Classic
Rasmus Hojgaard

a High-Ceiling Play in Rocket Classic
Matt McCarty

a Wild Card Heading into Detroit
Emiliano Grillo

Rolling into the Summer Season
Rickie Fowler

Looking for More Magic at Rocket Classic
Wyndham Clark

Brings High Upside to Detroit Golf Club
Max Greyserman

Could Make Noise at Rocket Classic
Akshay Bhatia

a Strong Value Play at Rocket Classic
Eric Cole

Hoping for Better Times at Rocket Classic
Beau Hossler

Searching for Form at Rocket Classic
PGA

Byeong Hun An in Good Form Heading into Rocket Classic
Cameron Young

Looking For Redemption and Possible First Career Victory in Detroit
Collin Morikawa

is The Headliner This Week in Detroit For Good Reason
Si Woo Kim

Back in Competition After Last Week's Withdrawal
PGA

Alex Noren Finishes Tied For 30th at Travelers Championship
Kurt Kitayama

Misses The Cut at RBC Canadian Open
Ryan Poehling

Becomes a Duck
Trevor Zegras

Moves to Philadelphia
Andre Burakovsky

Traded to Blackhawks
Fabian Zetterlund

Remains in Ottawa on Three-Year Deal
Matt Duchene

Signs Four-Year Extension
Jonathan Toews

to Sign with Jets
Ryan Blaney

Drives Through the Field Twice Despite Failing Cool Suit to Finish Third
William Byron

Poor Strategy Ruins William Byron's Strong Run
Kyle Larson

Decent Pocono Run Allows Him to Make Up Some of his Points Deficit
John Hunter Nemechek

Earns Another Sixth-Place Finish in One of His Best Career Races
Jamahal Hill

Gets Dominated At UFC Azerbaijan
Khalil Rountree Jr.

Dominates At UFC Azerbaijan
Rafael Fiziev

Gets Back In The Win Column
Ignacio Bahamondes

Drops Decision At UFC Azerbaijan
Curtis Blaydes

Gets Split-Decision Win at UFC Azerbaijan
Curtis Blaydes

Rizvan Kuniev Unsuccessful In His UFC Debut
Denny Hamlin

Falls Short of Victory At Pocono
Chase Elliott

Continues his 2025 Consistency with A Top-Five Run at Pocono
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace's Difficult Weekend Ends with A Tire Failure at Pocono
Chris Buescher

Finishes Well at Pocono with A Solid Top-Five Finish
Tofiq Musayev

Submitted In His UFC Debut
Myktybek Orolbai

Scores First-Round Submission
Nikolas Motta

Gets Finished After Back-And-Forth Fight
Nazim Sadykhov

Scores Second-Round TKO
Bogdan Grad

Drops Decision
Denny Hamlin

the Favorite to Notch Yet Another Pocono Win
Ryan Blaney

Qualifies 20th but Should Contend at Pocono
William Byron

the Chalk DFS Play at Pocono After Wrecking in Qualifying
Joey Logano

Is Better Than Recent Pocono Record Suggests
Chris Buescher

Looking for Legitimate Pocono Win This Time
Brad Keselowski

Should Be Strong at Pocono This Weekend
Josh Berry

a Safe DFS Option at Pocono After Diffuser Issue
Erik Jones

Is Good at Pocono
Noah Gragson

is a DFS Pivot Option at Pocono
Austin Dillon

is Respectable at Pocono
John Hunter Nemechek

Should Be Avoided in DFS
Christopher Bell

Probably Not Dominant Enough Recently for DFS Play
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace's Lack of Pocono Qualifying Time Makes Him a DFS Must-Have
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF