Author: NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

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What we learned as Steph Curry ignites Warriors' incredible win over Nuggets

What we learned as Steph Curry ignites Warriors' incredible win over Nuggets originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

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SAN FRANCISCO – Following a two-week road trip and playing their second game within 24 hours, the Warriors shook off their early lethargy to summon enough energy to drop their own personal colossus Friday night.

With Stephen Curry leading the way, scoring 36 points, the Warriors came together for a 118-104 victory over Denver, snapping a nine-game regular-season losing streak against the Nuggets.

The Warriors (46-31) outscored Denver 84-60 over the final three quarters, delighting the sellout crowd (18,064) and moving within a half-game of the fourth-place Nuggets (47-31) in the Western Conference.

Golden State remains the Western Conference’s No. 5 seed with the win, one game up on the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Brandin Podziemski finished with 26 points and Jimmy Butler added 19 to support Curry’s game-high total. The Warriors forced 26 Denver turnovers, off which they scored 23 points.

Here are three observations from Golden State’s third consecutive win in a four-game stretch against conference competitors:

Steph quickens sluggish pulses

The Warriors played in the first quarter in haze, with countless defensive lapses, more dribbling than passing and giving away eight points off turnovers. They looked like a team on the dark side of a back-to-back set after a two-week road trip.

After his teammates pulled it together enough to shave nine points off a 10-point lead while Jokic was on the bench early in the second quarter, Curry took it upon himself to restore his team’s lagging collective pulse.

Returning simultaneously with Jokic, Curry scored 12 of Golden State’s next 14 points – awakening the snoozing sellout crowd – to give the Warriors a 62-58 lead. After trailing by as much as 12 early, they went into intermission up 66-60.

Of Curry’s 19 first-half points, 12 came during his 5:33 stint in the quarter. His flurry, along with a revived defense (Denver scored 16 points in the quarter), put the Warriors in position to succeed.

Draymond vs. Joker

Given the monumental task of trying to keep Jokic from dominating the game, Draymond Green immediately tried to defend his way into the big man’s head.

It worked, initially. Frustrated with Green’s mongoose energy, Jokic aggressively shoved Draymond to the floor and was whistled for an offensive foul within the first three minutes of the game. Green lobbied for a flagrant, but crew chief Josh Tiven held firm.

It was clear Green, knowing the Nuggets follow the lead of the three-time NBA MVP, wanted to maximize his energy on defense. Jokic scored 15 points in the first quarter, 18 over the final three.

Multiple Warriors took turns defending Jokic, with Jonathan Kuminga the most prominent. Jokic totaled 33 points on 13-of-17 shooting from the field, including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. He added 12 rebounds and nine assists.

Butler’s quiet-storm excellence

This was Butler’s introduction to a Warriors-Nuggets clash, and he fit right in with the physicality and the psychological warfare.

While Curry and Podziemski were splashing pretty jump shots, Butler, who was listed as questionable on the injury report with left forearm strain, committed to the dirty buckets that come amid crowds in the paint or under late-shot-clock pressure.

He was the third scorer the Warriors needed, but he also brought more than points, adding five assists, five steals, three rebounds and his usual late-game composure as Golden State held on down the stretch.

Butler’s 19 points came on 6-of-13 shooting from the field, including 1-of-3 from distance, and 6-of-6 from the foul line. He played 34 minutes and finished a team-high plus-21.

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Doc Rivers has 'much more hope' that Damian Lillard will return this season

A year ago, the Milwaukee Bucks were bounced by the Pacers in the first round of the playoffs with Giannis Antetokounmpo watching from the bench, out injured.

Milwaukee could be without its other star — Damian Lillard — for the 2025 playoffs as he is out with deep vein thrombosis in his calf. While Lillard has missed the last eight games and did not travel with the team on its current road trip, coach Doc Rivers is increasingly optimistic that Lillard will be back this season, something he talked about Thursday night (before the Bucks beat the 76ers), via Eric Nehm at The Athletic.

"We have much more hope today than we did three days ago, I can tell you that. And so we're going to take everything that we can do to see if there's a way we can get him back."

At the time of the diagnosis, the Bucks organization was optimistic that Lillard could return before the playoffs, and that optimism appears to be growing. While good for the Bucks, it's better news for Lillard and his family that he could be healthy enough to return to play.

The Bucks have gone 4-4 with Lillard out, missing the 24.9 points and 7.1 assists he brings each night. With that Milwaukee and Detroit are tied for the 5/6 seeds in the East with six games to play — and the last two games of the season for both teams are against each other.

The Bucks have a +5.4 net rating when both Lillard and Antetokounmpo are on the court. For a Bucks team that has been good but not threatening to the league's best this season — trading for Kyle Kuzma at the deadline didn't change that — they will need both on the court to have a chance to advance out of the first round.

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Christie lauds Kings' effort in crucial bounce-back win vs. Hornets

Christie lauds Kings' effort in crucial bounce-back win vs. Hornets  originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It’s not how one falls. It’s how one gets back up.

After a flustering loss to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, the Kings responded like a team yearning for NBA playoff basketball, cruising to a much-needed 125-102 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday at Spectrum Center.

In the midst of a six-game road trip and with a loose grip on the Western Conference’s No. 10 seed, interim coach Doug Christie praised the way in which his team bounced back.

“A total team effort,” Christie told reporters. “Love and respect the way that the guys came out after a really disappointing loss. 

“One that, in many ways, a team can go the other way. That’s what talking and being about your teammates and loving your teammates and respecting them is all about. A lot of love and respect for how the guys came out and approached this game.” 

Sacramento, who dropped the first three games of the team’s last road trip of the regular season, leveraged a balanced approach on offense against an ailing Hornets side. 

Despite shooting 0 of 9 from beyond the arc early on, the Kings finished draining 19 3-pointers on 36 attempts. 

On the other side of the ball, Sacramento did its part in containing the league’s lowest field-goal percentage team to under 40 percent from the floor. 

Guard Malik Monk credited the Kings’ mindset for a well-rounded performance.

“Yeah, definitely, that’s what we’ve been talking about: just coming in with the right mind, knowing we’re going to win it and knowing we’re going to play together and play hard and not in spurts,” Monk told NBC Sports California’s Morgan Ragan and Deuce Mason on “Kings Postgame Live.” 

“We played, I wouldn’t say a full game, but we played close to a full game today.” 

All-Stars Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine combined for 71 points, while Monk and Trey Lyles contributed a combined 29 points off the bench.

With the urgency and expectation to break out of a three-game rut and gain a frim grip on the West’s No. 10 seed, Sacramento delivered.

Now, with a difficult back-to-back coming up against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons, Christie has reasons to believe the Kings are up for challenge — regardless of what took place against the Wizards.

“We have some tough teams coming up on a back-to-back,” Christie concluded. “One that we’ve beat, so they’re going to be ready for us. And another one that beat us on a last-second shot.

“So, you bring it. That’s what you do. And that’s what I expect. Hopefully, these are the types of games that you find yourself, you love your teammates and now you take that and continue it on play by play.”

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Celtics break Warriors' 3-point NBA record, on track to set new milestones

Celtics break Warriors' 3-point NBA record, on track to set new milestones originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics broke one of the NBA’s 3-point records in Friday’s game versus the Phoenix Suns, and it probably won’t be the only one they set during their historic season from beyond the arc.

The Celtics have passed the 2022-23 Golden State Warriors for the most 3-pointers made by one team in a single season. The Warriors’ record was 1,363 and the Celtics currently stand at 1,364 and counting after Payton Pritchard’s second-quarter 3-pointer with five games left in the regular season.

The C’s came close to breaking the Warriors’ record last season but came up 13 short.

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Back in 2016-17, Isaiah Thomas set the Celtics record for most 3-pointers made in a season with 245. Derrick White broke this record on Monday, and it’s likely Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard will surpass Thomas before the regular season concludes.

Barring a surprise downturn in the Celtics’ 3-point shooting, they are on track to break two more 3-point records.

The Utah Jazz set the record for most 3-point shots made per game with 16.74 during the 2020-21 season, and the Celtics are at 17.9 per game.

The Houston Rockets set the record for most 3-point attempts per game with 45.38 in the 2018-19 campaign, and the Celtics are at 48.5 per game.

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The Celtics have ranked first or second in both 3-pointers made and attempted per game every season since Joe Mazzulla took over as head coach in 2022. His 3-point-heavy strategy has produced fantastic results. Boston reached the NBA Finals in 2022 and 2024 (won the title) and Game 7 of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals.

It’s very difficult to beat the Celtics when they’re firing on all cylinders from beyond the arc. The C’s have made 15 or more 3-pointers in 62 of their 75 games so far this season, and they’ve won 48 of those matchups.

If the Celtics continue to hit 17.9 3-pointers per game throughout the 2025 NBA playoffs, it’s hard to imagine any team beating them four times in a seven-game series.

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Celtics break Warriors' single-season NBA record for 3-pointers made

Celtics break Warriors' single-season NBA record for 3-pointers made originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Boston Celtics broke one of the NBA’s 3-point records in Friday’s win over the Phoenix Suns, and it probably won’t be the only one they set during their historic season from beyond the arc.

The Celtics have passed the 2022-23 Golden State Warriors for the most 3-pointers made by one team in a single season. The Warriors’ record was 1,363, and the Celtics currently stand at 1,370 after making 14 3-pointers against the Suns.

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Payton Pritchard’s 3-pointer in the second quarter Friday night was the record-breaker for Boston, which still has five regular-season games remaining to extend the record.

Back in 2016-17, Isaiah Thomas set the Celtics record for most 3-pointers made in a season with 245. Derrick White broke this record on Monday, and it’s likely Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard will surpass Thomas before the regular season concludes.

Barring a surprise downturn in the Celtics’ 3-point shooting, they are on track to break two more 3-point records.

The Utah Jazz set the record for most 3-point shots made per game with 16.74 during the 2020-21 season, and the Celtics are at 17.9 per game.

The Houston Rockets set the record for most 3-point attempts per game with 45.38 in the 2018-19 campaign, and the Celtics are at 48.5 per game.

The Celtics have ranked first or second in both 3-pointers made and attempted per game every season since Joe Mazzulla took over as head coach in 2022. His 3-point-heavy strategy has produced fantastic results. Boston reached the NBA Finals in 2022 and 2024 (won the title) and Game 7 of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals.

It’s very difficult to beat the Celtics when they’re firing on all cylinders from beyond the arc. The C’s have made 15 or more 3-pointers in 62 of their 75 games so far this season, and they’ve won 48 of those matchups.

If the Celtics continue to hit 17.9 3-pointers per game throughout the 2025 NBA playoffs, it’s hard to imagine any team beating them four times in a seven-game series.

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Kings vs. Hornets Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 4

It’s Friday, April 4, and the Sacramento Kings (36-40) and Charlotte Hornets (19-57) are all set to square off from Spectrum Center in Charlotte.

The Kings are currently 17-21 on the road with a point differential of 0, while the Hornets have a 4-6 record in their last ten games at home. Sacramento beat Charlotte by 42 points in the only meeting this season.

Sacramento has lost three straight games with the latest coming to the Wizards, while Charlotte has lost six of the past seven games.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Kings vs. Hornets live today

  • Date: Friday, April 4, 2025
  • Time: 7:00PM EST
  • Site: Spectrum Center
  • City: Charlotte, NC
  • Network/Streaming:

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Kings vs. Hornets

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Odds: Kings (-495), Hornets (+374)
  • Spread:  Kings -10.5
  • Over/Under: 221 points

That gives the Kings an implied team point total of 114.87, and the Hornets 109.39.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Friday’s Kings vs. Hornets game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Under:

"Sacramento has been, to be it mildly, terrible in the last two games. This team has been blowing leads and/or falling behind early and it seems like this Kings team has called it quits. Charlotte is playing most of its bench players deep into games, so it's clear both benches will be more active than the starters. It's Under or pass for me."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Kings & Hornets game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Sacramento Kings on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Charlotte Hornets at +10.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 221.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Kings vs. Hornets on Friday

  • The Hornets have lost 9 of their last 11 games against teams with better records
  • The Kings' last 3 versus the Hornets have stayed under the Total
  • The Kings have failed to cover in 44 of their 76 games this season
  • The Hornets have lost 4 of their last 5 games

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Jazz vs. Pacers Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 4

It’s Friday, April 4, and the Utah Jazz (16-61) and Indiana Pacers (45-31) are all set to square off from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The Jazz are currently 7-31 on the road with a point differential of -9, while the Pacers have a 9-1 record in their last ten games at home. Indiana won by one point in the only meeting with Utah this season.

Indiana has won two straight and eight of the past 10 contests, while Utah has lost seven consecutive games and 17 of the past 18 games.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Jazz vs. Pacers live today

  • Date: Friday, April 4, 2025
  • Time: 7:00PM EST
  • Site: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
  • City: Indianapolis, IN
  • Network/Streaming:

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Jazz vs. Pacers

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Odds: Jazz (+767), Pacers (-1250)
  • Spread:  Pacers -15.5
  • Over/Under: 235 points

That gives the Jazz an implied team point total of 116.61, and the Pacers 124.68.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Friday’s Jazz vs. Pacers game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Pacers to cover:

"Utah is in full tank mode with seven straight losses and with Indiana playing Denver, Washington, Cleveland, Orlando, and Cleveland over the last five games, this is one that the Pacers should win. It's Pacers or pass on the spread."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Jazz & Pacers game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Utah Jazz at +15.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under on the Game Total of 235.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Jazz vs. Pacers on Friday

  • The Jazz have lost 18 of their last 19 games against teams with better records
  • The Over is 40-36 in Pacers' games this season
  • The Pacers have failed to cover in 42 of their 76 games this season
  • The Pacers have won 14 of their last 17 games at home

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Pistons vs. Raptors Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 4

It’s Friday, April 4, and the Detroit Pistons (42-34) and Toronto Raptors (28-49) are all set to square off from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

The Pistons are currently 21-18 on the road with a point differential of 2, while the Raptors have a 5-5 record in their last ten games at home. Detroit won all three meetings versus Toronto by a combined 15 points.

Detroit lost two straight games to Minnesota and Oklahoma City by 19 and 16 points that followed a three-game winning streak. Toronto is coming off two straight blowout losses themselves that followed up four consecutive wins.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Pistons vs. Raptors live today

  • Date: Friday, April 4, 2025
  • Time: 7:30PM EST
  • Site: Scotiabank Arena
  • City: Toronto, ON
  • Network/Streaming:

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Pistons vs. Raptors

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Odds: Pistons (-422), Raptors (+331)
  • Spread:  Pistons -9.5
  • Over/Under: 231 points

That gives the Pistons an implied team point total of 119.34, and the Raptors 114.4.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Friday’s Pistons vs. Raptors game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Pistons to cover:

"While neither team is playing good basketball with two straight blowout losses, Detroit is the far superior team that is still playing for postseason positioning. This is a good spot for Detroit to bounce back with a road win before four straight home games. It's Pistons or pass."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Pistons & Raptors game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Detroit Pistons on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Toronto Raptors at +9.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under on the Game Total of 231.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Pistons vs. Raptors on Friday

  • The Pistons have won 10 of their last 11 matchups against Eastern Conference teams
  • The Under is 4-1 in the Raptors' last 5 home games
  • The Raptors are 24-15 ATS at home this season
  • The Raptors are showing a 119% return on investment at home on the Money Line

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Trail Blazers vs. Bulls Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends, and best bets for April 4

It’s Friday, April 4, and the Portland Trail Blazers (34-43) and Chicago Bulls (34-42) are all set to square off from United Center in Chicago.

The Trail Blazers are currently 14-25 on the road with a point differential of -3, while the Bulls have a 5-5 record in their last ten games at home. Portland won 113-102 at home against Chicago this season in the only meeting.

Chicago has won five of the past seven games, including a 19-point win over Toronto last time out. Portland has won six of the past 10 games and two straight over Atlanta and Toronto.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Trail Blazers vs. Bulls live today

  • Date: Friday, April 4, 2025
  • Time: 8:00PM EST
  • Site: United Center
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming:

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Trail Blazers vs. Bulls

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Odds: Trail Blazers (+148), Bulls (-177)
  • Spread:  Bulls -4.5
  • Over/Under: 239 points

That gives the Trail Blazers an implied team point total of 118.59, and the Bulls 120.94.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Friday’s Trail Blazers vs. Bulls game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Bulls to cover:

"Portland is wrapping up a three-game road trip that they are 2-0 on already, so money should come in on the Blazers. However, this is a spot Chicago could and should take at home to build on their play-in standing. This is the second-to-last road game for Portland who is 14-25 as the away team. I like the Bulls to win and cover."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Trail Blazers & Bulls game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Chicago Bulls on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Portland Trail Blazers at +4.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the under on the Game Total of 239.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Trail Blazers vs. Bulls on Friday

  • The Trail Blazers have won 4 of their last 5 games against teams with losing records
  • Each of the Trail Blazers' last 4 games at the Bulls have gone over the Total
  • The Trail Blazers have covered the spread in 4 of their last 5 away games against teams with losing records
  • The Bulls have won 3 straight home games against the Trail Blazers

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Suns vs. Celtics Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 4

It’s Friday, April 4, and the Phoenix Suns (35-41) and Boston Celtics (56-20) are all set to square off from TD Garden in Boston.

The Suns are currently 12-26 on the road with a point differential of -2, while the Celtics have a 7-3 record in their last ten games at home. Boston won the only meeting versus Phoenix this season by 30 points.

Boston had a nine-game winning streak going before a 21-point loss to Miami on Wednesday, while Phoenix lost four-straight all by double-digits.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Suns vs. Celtics live today

  • Date: Friday, April 4, 2025
  • Time: 7:30PM EST
  • Site: TD Garden
  • City: Boston, MA
  • Network/Streaming: NBA TV

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Suns vs. Celtics

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Odds: Suns (+638), Celtics (-980)
  • Spread:  Celtics -14.5
  • Over/Under: 227 points

That gives the Suns an implied team point total of 112.52, and the Celtics 120.08.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Friday’s Suns vs. Celtics game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Celtics to cover:

"The Suns look like one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA over the past four games with blowout losses to the Celtics, Timberwolves, Rockets, and Bucks. Unless there are a ton of players out for Boston last minute, I have to lean the Celtics."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Suns & Celtics game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Phoenix Suns at +14.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under on the Game Total of 227.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Suns vs. Celtics on Friday

  • The Celtics have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against Western Conference Pacific Division teams
  • The Under is 41-35 in Celtics' games this season
  • The Celtics are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite
  • The Celtics have won 3 straight games against the Suns

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Mavericks vs. Clippers Predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends, best bets for April 4

Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Clippers Preview 

The Dallas Mavericks (38-39) and Los Angeles Clippers (44-32) are all set to square off from Intuit Dome in Inglewood.

The Mavericks are coming off a big win against the Atlanta Hawks. Anthony Davis had a monster game and will have a major impact for the rest of the season as the Mavericks push for the playoffs.

The Clippers have been playing great basketball. They have won eight of their last 10 games and are eighth in the Western Conference.

The Mavericks are currently 17-22 on the road with a point differential of 0, while the Clippers have a 9-1 record in their last ten games at home. 

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Mavericks vs. Clippers live today

  • Date: Friday, April 4, 2025
  • Time: 10:30PM EST
  • Site: Intuit Dome
  • City: Inglewood, CA
  • Network/Streaming:

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Mavericks vs. Clippers

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Odds: Mavericks (+285), Clippers (-361)
  • Spread:  Clippers -8.5
  • Over/Under: 224 points

That gives the Mavericks an implied team point total of 110.9, and the Clippers 115.33.
 
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Friday's Mavericks vs. Clippers game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
 
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Mavericks & Clippers game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Dallas Mavericks on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Dallas Mavericks at +8.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 224.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Mavericks vs. Clippers on Friday

  • The Clippers have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against Western Conference Southwest Division teams
  • The Under is 26-20 in the Clippers' matchups against Western Conference teams this season
  • The Mavericks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog
  • The Under is 26-20 in the Clippers' matchups against Western Conference teams this season

 
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
 
Bet the Edge is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. 
 
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff: 
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) 
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) 
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Live updates: Celtics seeking bounce-back win vs. Beal, Suns

Live updates: Celtics seeking bounce-back win vs. Beal, Suns originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

What to Know

  • Coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. ET with Celtics Pregame Livefollowed by a 7:30 p.m. tip-off on NBC Sports Boston.
  • Boston (56-20) had its nine-game win streak snapped Wednesday vs. Miami.
  • Phoenix (35-41) has lost four straight.
  • Bradley Beal is back in the Suns’ lineup after an eight-game absence.
  • Jaylen Brown (questionable) is the only Celtics player on the injury report.

The Boston Celtics will look to back in the win column Friday night and make some history in the process.

The Celtics need eight 3-pointers to break the 2022-23 Golden State Warriors’ NBA record for most made threes in one season (1,363). That seems like a safe bet against a Phoenix Suns team that’s lost four in a row and given up an average of 134 points per game during that span.

Follow along with our live blog below for live updates throughout Celtics-Suns.

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Pelicans vs. Lakers Predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends, best bets for April 4

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Los Angeles Lakers Preview 

The New Orleans Pelicans (21-55) and Los Angeles Lakers (46-30) are all set to square off from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

The Lakers are coming off a home loss to the Golden State Warriors. Now they must rebound against the 21-55 Pelicans.

The Pelicans are currently 7-31 on the road with a point differential of -9, while the Lakers have a 7-3 record in their last ten games at home. 

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Pelicans vs. Lakers live today

  • Date: Friday, April 4, 2025
  • Time: 10:30PM EST
  • Site: Crypto.com Arena
  • City: Los Angeles, CA
  • Network/Streaming:

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Pelicans vs. Lakers

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Odds: Pelicans (+621), Lakers (-943)
  • Spread:  Lakers -14
  • Over/Under: 220 points

That gives the Pelicans an implied team point total of 109.03, and the Lakers 116.33.
 
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Friday's Pelicans vs. Lakers game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

 Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) is leaning towards Pelicans +14.5…

Thomas: “The Lakers spread is likely to be a popular bet tonight. The Pelicans have covered in four of their last five games. The noncover was a push against the 76ers as 16-point dogs.”

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Pelicans & Lakers game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Los Angeles Lakers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the New Orleans Pelicans at +14.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 220.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Pelicans vs. Lakers on Friday

  • The Pelicans have lost 4 of their last 5 games as an underdog
  • The Over is 41-35 in Pelicans' games this season
  • The Lakers are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games as a home favorite
  • The Lakers have won 10 of their last 12 home games against the Pelicans

 
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
 
Bet the Edge is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. 
 
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff: 
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) 
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) 
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Knicks' Jalen Brunson returns to practice ahead of likely weekend return

The signs of Knicks captain Jalen Brunson returning to the starting lineup this weekend are right on track.

The superstar guard practiced on Friday for the first time since spraining his right ankle in early March. While it's unclear if Brunson participated fully without any hitches, Knicks star Josh Hart revealed that his longtime teammate looked "so normal" on the court.

SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley recently projected Brunson to play either Saturday on the road against the Atlanta Hawks, or back home on Sunday against the Phoenix Suns. Following this weekend's back-to-back, the Knicks will play four more regular-season games.

The ankle injury to Brunson occurred in overtime against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 6, after he landed on Austin Reaves' foot during a layup attempt. Since then, the two-time All-Star has missed 14 games, and in order to qualify for league postseason awards, he needs to play four more times.

Brunson expressed optimism in his recovery last week, stating that his realistic goal was to be ready before the first round of the playoffs arrive on April 19. He's now in a prime position to achieve that goal and get back into game shape with intense, physical basketball on the horizon.

It's no secret that the Knicks will only go as far as Brunson takes them. He's the undisputed catalyst, who's averaged a team-high 26.3 points and 7.4 assists in 61 games. Entering the All-Star break, he ranked first in points, assists, and minutes among all 28-year-olds in the NBA this season, and he recently became the fastest player in franchise history to score 5,000 points.

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Nuggets vs. Warriors Predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends, best bets for April 4

Denver Nuggets vs. Golden State Warriors Preview 

The Denver Nuggets (47-30) and Goden State Warriors (45-31) are all set to square off from Chase Center in San Francisco.

The Warriors are coming off a big win in LA against the Lakers last night.

The Nuggets are coming off a loss to the Spurs, where they sat the majority of their starters.

The Nuggets are currently 22-16 on the road with a point differential of 4, while the Warriors have a 9-1 record in their last ten games at home. 

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Nuggets vs. Warriors live today

  • Date: Friday, April 4, 2025
  • Time: 10:00PM EST
  • Site: Chase Center
  • City: San Francisco, CA
  • Network/Streaming:

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.
Game odds for Nuggets vs. Warriors
The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Odds: Nuggets (-104), Warriors (-115)
  • Spread:  Warriors -1.5
  • Over/Under: 235 points

That gives the Nuggets an implied team point total of 117.12, and the Warriors 117.9.
 
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Friday's Nuggets vs. Warriors game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

 Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) is leaning towards the Nuggets +1…

Thomas” It’s difficult to make an accurate bet suggestion in this game, given the fact that we do not have lineup clarity yet. My guess is we see some players out for the Warriors and the Nuggets close to full strength.”

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Nuggets & Warriors game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Denver Nuggets on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Denver Nuggets at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under on the Game Total of 235.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Nuggets vs. Warriors on Friday

  • The Nuggets are on a 4-game win streak at the Warriors
  • Each of the last 3 matchups between the Warriors and the Nuggets have stayed under the Total
  • The Nuggets have covered the Spread in 4 of their last 5 road games against the Warriors
  • The Nuggets have won 9 straight games against the Warriors

 
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
 
Bet the Edge is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. 
 
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff: 
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) 
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) 
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)