We are a week and a half away from the end of the regular season. There are six spots left on the road to the playoffs. Four seeds left for the Eastern Conference teams and two for the West. It’s safe to say every game counts from now and until the next weekend.
All the TV lights will be focusing on the 2017 March Madness Final Four, but for the fans of the professional basketball, the NBA will have a salad of great games for three consecutive days.
These are the NBA Picks for this weekend:
San Antonio Spurs vs Oklahoma City Thunder
- When: Friday, March 31st, 2017
- Game Time: 8:00 PM ET
- Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK
- TV: ESPN
The San Antonio Spurs need to bounce back after a disappointing loss on Primetime against the Golden State Warriors. Beating a team like the Thunder should be easy for the Spurs if we take a look at their record. Yet, OKC’s athletic roster has always been an issue for San Antonio for some reason.
The pay per head bookie expects the Spurs to have a tough fight on Friday Night. The season series is tied at one win apiece, and OKC won the last meeting 102-92. The Thunder are 20-6-1 ATS in their last 27 home games, 7-3 ATS in their last ten games overall and 7-2-1 ATS in their last ten home games vs. a team with a winning road record. The Spurs are 3-7 ATS in their last ten games following an ATS loss.
NBA Picks: Thunder with the points.
Houston Rockets vs. Golden State Warriors
- When: Friday, March 31st, 2017
- Game Time: 10:30 PM ET
- Where: ORACLE Arena, Oakland, CA
- TV: ESPN
The Rockets and Warriors recently met on Tuesday Night with Golden State coming on top with an 113-106 win in Houston. The book making services got a lot of action the following night when the Warriors earned their ninth consecutive win by beating the San Antonio Spurs 110-98.
However, that win against the Spurs goes beyond a regular win. The way they stole that game was epic and sent a huge message to the rest of the league. Not only did the Warriors were down by 20 points, but they ended up winning by 12. That’s insane. It’s to understand even for the per head sportsbook.
The Warriors are 5-1 ATS in their last six games as a favorite, 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600, and 7-1 ATS in their last eight games overall. The Rockets are 1-5 ATS in their last six games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
NBA Picks: Warriors
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Los Angeles Clippers
- When: Saturday, April 1st, 2017
- Game Time: 3:30 PM ET
- Where: STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, CA
Neither of the Los Angeles teams is in good shape, but it’s for different reasons. The Lakers have no team or soul. They just want to end the season as quick as possible. The Clippers are thinking about the playoffs, but better opponents will overmatch them in the way.
The Clippers will be playing for the fourth spot in the Western Conference in the next two weeks. A loss against the terrible Lakers would have a crushing effect. They can’t afford it, and they won’t allow it.
The question is whether they have enough to cover the spread. Even knowing the Lakers are bad, we have to ask that question. The Clippers are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games following a straight up win and 1-9 ATS in their last ten games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
NBA Picks: I’m still picking the Clippers.
Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks
- When: Sunday, April 2nd, 2017
- Game Time: 1:00 PM ET
- Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
- TV: ABC
Early on Sunday, the Boston Celtics should abuse the New York Knicks. Boston is playing for the top seed in the Eastern Conference while New York is eliminated. Yet, this game is slightly tricky. On Wednesday the Celtics will play against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Boston could ease up this game against the Knicks and try to win it without much effort. The Cavaliers are the issue.
Boston has covered the spread in four of the last five games in New York. The price per head sportsbook software will make the Celtics favorites by just enough points to back them up on the road.
NBA Picks: Celtics.
Utah Jazz vs. San Antonio Spurs
- When: Sunday, April 2nd, 2017
- Game Time: 3:30 PM ET
- Where: AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
- TV: ABC
Like the Clippers, the Utah Jazz are playing for the fourth spot in the Western Conference. The Jazz and Clippers will clash in the first round. They are both fighting to win home field advantage.
San Antonio still is in the race for the top seed in the West, but after the loss against the Warriors, it looks like a long shot.
The Jazz is 4-1-1 ATS in their last six games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. The Spurs are 1-4 ATS in their last five games as a favorite of 0.5-4.5 points and 5-11 ATS in their last 16 games overall.
NBA Picks: Jazz with the points.
Washington Wizards vs. Golden State Warriors
- Utah Jazz vs. San Antonio Spurs
- When: Sunday, April 2nd, 2017
- Game Time: 8:00 PM ET
- Where: ORACLE Arena, Oakland, CA
The betting software for bookies will make the Warriors the favorites for this game, but this is a tricky matchup. Washington is a young roster who can go toe to toe with Golden State.
The Warriors will have a tough time stopping John Wall. Golden State is a good defensive team, but they don’t have anybody who can matchup with Wall, who has become a scoring machine lately.
The Wizards are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game, 4-1 ATS in their last five games after allowing more than 125 points in their previous game, and 9-3 ATS in their last 12 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
NBA Picks: Wizards with the points.