Free NBA Betting Picks - Today's Best Bets, Expert Predictions, Odds (4/20/23)

It's time for some pivotal game threes in three of these first-round series in the NBA Playoffs tonight. The Warriors and Nets will try to avoid going down 3-0, while the Suns and Clippers are vying for a 2-1 edge as both teams try to take control of that series out west.

I'd be lying if I said I was happy with how my postseason picks were going so far. I whiffed pretty badly on Tuesday while trying to peg some totals when I should have just trusted my gut and taken the Cavs and Suns to cover. But we press on and there is still plenty of time this postseason to get things turned around.

In this article, I'll be providing my favorite picks against the spread, game totals, parlays, and teasers for the NBA playoff games that tip-off at 7:00 PM EST on Thursday, April 20th.

Thunder Dan's NBA Best Bets

• 2022-2023 Postseason Record: 4-8
• Against the Spread: 2-2
• Game/Team Totals: 1-3
• Moneyline Parlay: 1-1
• Teasers: 0-2

NBA Betting Picks

Philadelphia 76ers (-5) @ Brooklyn Nets (209.5 total)

Season Series: Philly leads series 2-0

This spread is really messing with me. It's simply not enough points to feel good about Brooklyn covering, even at home. Perhaps the Nets grab game 3 with a gutsy win, but they held the Sixers under 100 points in game two and still couldn't pull it out as struggled offensively and finished with only 86 points. If they do win a game in this series, I think it's much more likely to be game 4 as the Sixers might relax a bit and leave themselves more vulnerable.

On the other hand, I don't really want to take the Sixers and lay 5 points on the road in case the Nets do summon all their strength and play their best basketball tonight.

I think I'm going to land on the over here. This total is incredibly low and I think it's a pretty big overreaction to the 180 points scored in game 2. Let's not forget that these teams combined for 222 points in game 1, right? I think we are more likely to see both teams shoot the ball better in game 3 and that game 2 ends up being the lowest-scoring game of the series and ends up being more of a fluke than a trend.

The Pick: OVER 209.5 points (-110 DK)

Sacramento Kings (+5.5) @ Golden State (239 total)

Season Series: Sacramento leads series 2-0

It's been a lot of fun watching this series and both games so far have been really competitive until the final minutes. The Kings have been the team to play better in clutch time and DeAaron Fox has been just about as clutch as anyone this season and postseason so far. Sabonis is such a good all-around player and Sacto is getting some great minutes from Malik Monk and Harrison Barnes, too.

The Warriors fans (and NBA casuals) keep waiting for the Dubs to turn it on and turn this series around, and a must-win game three at home certainly seems like the best time to do it. But I am really skeptical about their chances with no Draymond Green tonight (suspension) and possibly no Andrew Wiggins either (injury, currently questionable).

"LIGHT THE BEAM"

De'Aaron Fox lights the beam 🙌 pic.twitter.com/bVuQDs2Jw9

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 16, 2023

I see no reason not to take the Kings here and the points. The Warriors aren't blowing them out in this series and Sacto has shown they have enough offensive firepower to go shot for shot with Curry and Klay. The Kings are going to be playing loose with nothing to lose as no one expected them to be in this spot up 2-0 and the pressure in this game falls squarely onto the Warriors who simply can't afford to lose and go down 3-0 in front of their home fans.

Even if the Warriors win, I like the Kings to cover. But I will definitely sprinkle a little on the Sacto money line at plus money, too. In Fox and Sabonis, I trust.

The Pick: Kings +5.5 (-110 DK)

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Phoenix Suns (-2.5) @ L.A. Clippers (227 total)

Season Series: Series tied 1-1

Phoenix really hit their stride in game 2, pulling away in the fourth quarter and securing a 14-point win and evening the series. They managed to survive another playoff-Kawhi 31-point outing and a surprisingly efficient Russell Westbrook game as RWB poured in 28 points on 9-16 shooting.

But the Suns are just too much for the Clips when they are firing on all cylinders. And it certainly appears like they've knocked off the rust from game one. I predicted a 4-1 finish to this series before it started and I'm sticking to that prediction. The Clippers just don't have enough defense to stop the Suns or the offensive firepower to outscore them in shootouts.

This spread is too slim for the Slim Reaper, D-Book, and the Point-God. I expect the Suns to win game 3 and I certainly think they can do it by three points or more. Give me the road favorites all day and this is my favorite bet of the three games in terms of confidence.

The Pick: Suns -2.5 (-110)

NBA Betting Picks: Parlays and Teasers

Money Line Parlay: PHX + PHI = (+159 DK)

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