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2025 NBA Playoffs Betting: Futures bets, odds, picks for Conference and NBA Finals

Many are claiming the NBA Playoffs are as wide open as they have been in recent memory. Is that true? Oklahoma City put together the most dominant regular season since the 1990-91 Chicago Bulls with Michael Jordan. The Celtics and Cavaliers finished with a combined 125 wins and finished atop the East by a whopping ten games better than their nearest "rivals". Not sure how wide open the chase for the Larry O'Brien Trophy really is.

Let's ask the experts at NBC Sports who follow the Association with a magnifying glass what they expect in the postseason. Who do they believe wins the conference finals, who claims the NBA Championship, and what player jumps to the forefront of conversations on talk shows and social media as the playoffs unfold. We have thrown in the odds where it is appropriate.

NBA Eastern Conference Winner

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports): Celtics (-145) over Pacers (+2200)

"It's very easy to see Boston versus Cleveland and 99% of the world will pick it, which doesn't mean it's wrong because I agree it's the most likely outcome, but the Cavaliers play at the 10th-quickest tempo this season and that plays right into how Indiana plays (7th-quickest). With the Bucks Damian Lillard dealing with a blood clot and a 4-2 series win over Milwaukee last season, I think the Pacers can advance in the first round and give the Cavaliers a run for their money in the second round. I will go out on a limb here and go with the Pacers versus Celtics in hopes the Eastern Conference isn't as vanilla as Cleveland versus Boston."

Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper): Cavaliers (+210) over Celtics (-145)

"Clear tier difference between the top two and everyone else in the East and with some questions about Boston's health and depth I'll back the home court team with the stronger offensive closing five in the Cavs."

Kurt Helin (@basketballtalk): Celtics (-145) OVER Cavaliers (+210)

"I'd love to be adventurous here, but these two teams were head and shoulders better than anyone else."

Raphielle Johnson (@raphiellej): Celtics (-145) OVER Cavaliers (+210)

"Boston and Cleveland have been the two best teams in the East by a comfortable margin. It's difficult to see that changing in the playoffs."

Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas): Celtics (-145) OVER Cavaliers (+210)

"The Eastern Conference is top-heavy. The Celtics and the Cavs are miles better than any other team in the East. The Celtics have a deep team, probably the deepest in the NBA. Mix in their ability to shoot threes and lock down on defense; they are going to be hard to beat over a seven-game stretch."

**odds listed are to win the Eastern Conference

NBA Western Conference Winner

Dalzell: Lakers (+600) OVER Clippers (+1200)

"Whoever the No. 7 and 8 seeds are, they will be hot picks to make a run in the West, especially if they are Golden State and Memphis, which makes each round all that more difficult for the No. 1 and 2 seeds. If there is a shakeup, both of the Los Angeles teams could make a run. The Thunder lost in the second-round last year, and the Rockets haven't made the playoffs since the 2019-20 season, and we forget how young these teams truly are. Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers are white-hot at the right time and the LeBron James and Luka Doncic duo has worked out well, so I will go with the best outcome for the NBA's ratings (and LeBron's career)."

Dinsick: Thunder (-140) OVER Lakers (+600)

"The Thunder put a bow on their historic season with a clean run through the Western Conference and get some revenge on Luka and the Lakers in the process."

Helin: Thunder (-140) OVER Warriors (+750)

"A second-round series between the Lakers and Warriors might be the best series of the playoffs."

Johnson: Thunder (-140) OVER Lakers (+600)

"As long as the Warriors take care of Memphis and earn the 7-seed, the top half of the bracket breaks well for OKC. The bottom half will be wild, but the LeBron/Luka/Reaves trio should come through."

Thomas: Lakers (+600) OVER Thunder (-140)

"The Thunder are the deserving favorite. However, since the Luca Doncic acquisition, the Lakers have gone 1-1 with the Thunder. The experience is on the side of the Lakers, with Doncic and LeBron James making deep runs in the playoffs. If there’s a team to beat the Thunder, it will be the Lakers."

**odds listed are to win the Western Conference

NBA Champion

Dalzell: Celtics (+190) OVER Clippers (+3000)

"I think the Celtics' road to the Finals will pan out to be easier than the Thunder's and if Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis can stay healthy, I think Boston is a tough out for anyone in the West."

Dinsick: Thunder (+165) OVER Cavaliers (+650)

"On the back of the best defense in the NBA in a decade, the versatile Thunder and their MVP engine SGA lift the trophy in a thrilling series against the Cleveland Cavaliers."

Helin: Thunder (+165) OVER Celtics (+190)

"Trust the regular season."

Johnson: Celtics (+190) OVER Thunder (+165)

"As long as Jaylen Brown's knee doesn't give him any trouble, Boston remains on top."

Thomas: Celtics (+190) OVER Lakers (+1400)

"The Boston Celtics will win the NBA Championship this season. They are second in offensive rating and fourth in defensive rating. Their ability to outscore their opponents from the three-point line, while defending at a very high level, reminds me of the Splash Brothers Golden State Warriors teams. They have multiple superstars who can carry the offensive load on any given night. They also have the sixth man of the year and a deep and battle-tested bench. It’s hard to repeat as champions, but this Celtics team will probably do just that."

NBA Player to Breakout in 2025 Playoffs

Dalzell: Jalen Green, Houston Rockets

"With the Rockets being the No. 2 seed, they'll face Ja Morant or Steph Curry in the first round which puts the 23-year-old Green in the spotlight and in 1-on-1 situations. Everyone is talking about Amen Thompson, but Green signed a three-year extension earlier this season and could show everyone why with a few 30-point games this postseason."

Jalen Green is +9000 to win WCF MVP and +30000 to win Finals MVP.

Dinsick: Austin Reaves, LA Lakers

"Amazingly, Austing Reaves is the 6th most efficient player (+3.1 offensive EPM this season) in the Western Conference playoff field and with the gravity of Luka Doncic creating additional space for Reaves, he should help the Lakers make the Western Conference Finals this season."

Austin Reaves is +6000 to win WCF MVP and +13000 to win Finals MVP.

Helin: Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

"Detroit is going to drag Brunson and KAT into every pick-and-roll possible, and Cunningham will thrive finding space in the midrange."

Cade Cunningham is +15000 to win ECF MVP and +50000 to win Finals MVP.

Johnson: Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets

"As good as he's been since moving into the starting lineup, the playoffs will introduce Thompson and his versatile skill set to a wider audience. He's ready for his close-up."

Amen Thompson is +16000 to win WCF MVP and +50000 to win Finals MVP.

Thomas: Luka Doncic, LA Lakers

"Without a doubt, the Lakers are the team to watch for me. This is a team that went from fighting for a play-in spot to being the No. 3 seed in the West after the Luca Doncic trade. Let’s not forget that Doncic and Kyrie Irving helped bring the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals with a team full of role players. Now, Doncic is paired with Lebron James, still playing at an all-NBA level, and Austin Reaves, who has taken the next step in his NBA development."

So, while chalk basically held with this group of experts, there were a handful of surprises/reasons to tune in and enjoy the ride right through to its conclusion when the Larry O'Brien Trophy is awarded in June.

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NBA Players to Split $35 Million for 2025 Playoff Bonuses

The NBA playoffs tip off this week with the Oklahoma City Thunder coming in as the slight favorite over the Boston Celtics to win the title, with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers the next top picks.

The Thunder were the NBA’s youngest team and also had one of its lowest payrolls, but Thunder players can earn an NBA-high $12.4 million in total bonuses if they win the title after posting the best record in the NBA.

NBA players have the highest salaries in U.S. pro sports by a wide margin. The same holds true come playoff time.

Players on NBA playoff teams will divvy up $34.7 million this season, with each team receiving a chunk based on how far their teams go. The total is up $1 million from last year.

Teams earn more for each round they advance, and the NBA also factors in regular-season standings in its playoff pool, with an added bonus of $869,345 for the best record among all 30 teams. Players will receive anywhere from $466,263—roughly $30,400 per player based on a 15-player roster—to potentially $12.4 million ($828,000 per player) for the NBA champion if it is the Thunder, who finished the season 68-14.

Clubs that finished as the seventh or eighth seed do not receive any bonuses for their regular-season records, and players on those teams would earn $719,000 if they made a historic run to lift the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. The Houston Rockets in 1995 were the lowest-seeded team to win the NBA Finals, doing it as a six seed.

Teams do not earn anything for the play-in tournament beyond their regular-season salaries, which are typically paid out over 12 months.

The NBA playoff pool is up 3% over last year after a 25% bump the previous season when the new collective bargaining went into effect. The CBA reads: “A Player Playoff Pool for each Salary Cap Year in an amount equal to the greater of: (i) $31,014,350 multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is BRI for the Salary Cap Year immediately preceding the then-current Salary Cap Year and the denominator of which is BRI for the 2021-22 Salary Cap Year, and (ii) the amount of the Player Playoff Pool for the immediately preceding Salary Cap Year.”

Last season, playoff bonuses rose between 12% and 17% for each round, except for the NBA champion, whose payout was boosted 79% to $8.55 million, up from $4.78 million.

The amount NBA players earn in the playoffs is much higher than those in the NFL, NHL and MLB.

The NFL uses part of the playoff gate revenue to fund its player postseason pool. Players earned $49,500 to $54,500 during the first two weeks of this year’s playoffs, per their CBA. Player paychecks jumped to $77,000 for the conference championship games. The Super Bowl was worth $171,000 for each player on the winning team and $96,000 for ones on the losing side. The maximum a player could earn during the playoffs was $357,000.

The MLB playoff pool, also culled from playoff ticket revenue, was a record $129.1 million last year, thanks to a pair of big market teams—the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees—in the World Series. The Dodgers split up $46.5 million among the players, with each receiving $477,441.

The NHL playoff pool is $23 million this season, up 4.5% from last year. The Florida Panthers shared $6.54 million in 2024, while the runner-up Edmonton Oilers got $3.78 million. The rest of the NHL playoff breakdown included $2.06 million for each team that lost in the conference finals, $859,375 for those out in the semifinals, and $429,688 for each team that fell in the first round. The New York Rangers won the Presidents’ Trophy, which carried a $859,375 bonus their players.

The average NBA salary is more than $10 million, led by Stephen Curry at $55.8 million. Forty-nine NBA players earned at least $30 million in salary this season before incentives, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($35.9 million) and Isaiah Hartenstein ($30 million) on the Thunder. The playoffs serve as pocket change for those guys. But a pair of players on their playoff roster, Dillon Jones and Jaylin Williams, earned less than $3 million this season. An NBA title would bump each of their seasonal pay more than 30%.

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Bucks' Damian Lillard 'has significantly improved' but will miss start of playoffs due to injury

For the second year in a row, the Milwaukee Bucks will start the playoffs with one of their two stars on the bench.

The important news (and good news) is that "Damian Lillard has made significant improvement on his deep vein thrombosis in his right calf," the Bucks announced Tuesday. However, he will not be cleared to play on Saturday when the Bucks tip off the playoffs in Indiana, according to multiple reports.

"Damian's most recent weekly scan shows that his injury has significantly improved which will enable him to move ahead safely with increased basketball activity," Bucks General Manager Jon Horst said in a statement. "Damian's health remains our No. 1 priority. We have followed strict protocols and will continue to do so. We are pleased with the positive news about Damian's progress."

Lillard has been doing some shooting and light running, but not full contact in practice yet as he works toward a return. First-round series can drag out with stretches of multiple days off (only the date and time of the first game of this series is officially set). We also don't know exactly what Lillard's recovery timeline is (there may not be one, this is a relatively unique situation). This means that it's possible Lillard will return later in the series.

This season, Lillard averaged 24.9 points and 7.1 assists a game, shooting 37.6% on 3-pointers. This season, the Bucks still had a very strong +9 net rating in the minutes that Giannis Antetokounmpo was on the court but Lillard was out. However, Antetokounmpo can't play every minute, and in the minutes he and Lillard were both out the Bucks had a -2.4 net rating. Milwaukee was 3-1 against the Pacers in the regular season.

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Mavericks vs. Kings Predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for April 16

Dallas Mavericks vs. Sacramento Kings Preview 

It’s Wednesday, April 16, and the Dallas Mavericks (39-43) and Sacramento Kings (40-42) are all set to square off from Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

The Mavericks will be happy to win this game and make it to the playoffs, after shipping away Luca Doncic before the trade deadline.

The Mavericks are currently 17-25 on the road with a point differential of -1, while the Kings have a 4-6 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. Kings live today

  • Date: Wednesday, April 16, 2025
  • Time: 10:00PM EST
  • Site: Golden 1 Center
  • City: Sacramento, CA
  • Network/Streaming: ESPN

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. Kings

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Odds: Mavericks (+162), Kings (-195)
  • Spread:  Kings -4.5
  • Over/Under: 215 points

That gives the Mavericks an implied team point total of 106.64, and the Kings 108.99.
 
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 Wednesday's Mavericks vs. Kings 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.

 Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) is betting Dallas +5…

Dinsick: “Expecting a close game and Mavs shooting and defense to keep them inside the number in the 9/10 western confernce matchup”

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) is betting on under 55.5 1st quarter points…

Dalzell: “This will have intensity from the tip. The first quarter Unders went 4-2 to 57 or fewer points in the play-in last season. I will be on all the first quarters Unders this season too.”

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 & Kings 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 Dallas Mavericks at +4.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the under on the Game Total of 215.

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. Kings on Wednesday

  • The Kings are 3-6-1 against the spread in their last 10 games
  • The Mavericks are 3-7 against the spread in their last 10 games
  • The over is 3-7 in the last 10 Kings games
  • The over is 5-4-1 in the last 10 Mavericks 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!
 
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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Grizzlies vs. Warriors Predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends and, best bets for April 15

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors Preview 

It’s Tuesday, April 15, and the Memphis Grizzlies (48-34) and Golden State Warriors (48-34) are all set to square off from Chase Center in San Francisco.

This will be the fifth meeting of the season between the two. The Warriors have won three of the four.

The Warriors have been playing great basketball. They have won seven of their last 10 and have covered in six of those games (6-3-1).

The Grizzlies are currently 22-19 on the road with a point differential of 5, while the Warriors have a 6-4 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 Grizzlies vs. Warriors live today

  • Date: Tuesday, April 15, 2025
  • Time: 10:00PM EST
  • Site: Chase Center
  • City: San Francisco, CA
  • Network/Streaming: TNT

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 Grizzlies vs. Warriors

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Odds: Grizzlies (+252), Warriors (-314)
  • Spread:  Warriors -7
  • Over/Under: 228 points

That gives the Grizzlies an implied team point total of 113.01, and the Warriors 116.65.
 
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 Tuesday's Grizzlies 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 betting on Golden State -6.5 and Ja Morant vs Jimmy Butler +0.5 assists…

Thomas: “The Golden State Warriors have dominated the Grizzlies this season. Adding Jimmy Butler helps strengthen their defense, and allows for a strong secondary scorer to Steph Curry.”

Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) is betting on Golden State -6.5…
Dinsick: “The Grizzlies defense is a mirage of late and the Warriors pull away cleanly in the 2nd half to cover.”

Raphielle Johnson (@raphiellej) is taking Golden State -6.5…

Johnson: “It's not like the Grizzlies have experienced the new head coach bump" since firing Taylor Jenkins. And the Warriors are a different animal since acquiring Jimmy Butler.”

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 Grizzlies & Warriors game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Memphis Grizzlies on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Memphis Grizzlies at +7.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 228.

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 Grizzlies vs. Warriors on Tuesday

  • The Warriors have failed to hit their team total in 22 of their 34 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!
 
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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Heat vs. Bulls Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 16

It’s Wednesday, April 16, and the Miami Heat (37-45) and Chicago Bulls (39-43) are all set to square off from United Center in Chicago.

The Heat are currently 17-23 on the road with a point differential of 1, while the Bulls have an 8-2 record in their last ten games at home. Chicago has won all three meetings versus Miami this season and are slight favorites of one point.

The winner of this No. 9 seed versus No. 10 seed matchup will face the loser of the No. 7 versus No. 8 seed matchup between Atlanta and Orlando for a chance at the No. 8 seed. The No. 8 seed will have a first-round date with the No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers.

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 Heat vs. Bulls live today

  • Date: Wednesday, April 16, 2025
  • Time: 7:30PM EST
  • Site: United Center
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming: ESPN

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 Heat vs. Bulls

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Odds: Heat (-103), Bulls (-117)
  • Spread:  Bulls -1
  • Over/Under: 219 points

That gives the Heat an implied team point total of 109.25, and the Bulls 109.77.

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 Wednesday’s Heat vs. Bulls game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) thinks the wrong team is favored in Chicago versus Miami and Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) agrees:

Dinsick likes Miami +1: "I make the Heat small favs in this contest and would expect a close game decided by superlative coaching and clutch play from Miami."

Dalzell likes Miami and the 1Q Under: "The lowest total between these teams was 225 and this total dropped from 222.5 to 219.0, so that leaves me with a first quarter Under 56.5 to 55.5 and Miami +1 play. The fact the total is dropping is an indication of a play on Miami rather than Chicago and Josh Giddey is questionable, which is a significant impact on the Bulls' offense."

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 Heat & Bulls 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 Miami Heat at +1.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the under on the Game Total of 219.

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 Heat vs. Bulls on Wednesday

  • The Bulls have won their last three meetings with the Heat
  • Four of the last five meetings between these teams have produced 230 or more points
  • The Bulls have won each of their last three encounters with the Heat by five points or more
  • It's win-or-go-home time in the NBA playoffs and the Chicago Bulls should be happy with their play-in game match-up against the Heat. Chicago won all three of the teams' regular-season meetings, two of them at home, and finished the season with six wins in their last seven games. They can advance.

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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Hawks vs. Magic Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 15

It’s Tuesday, April 15, and the Atlanta Hawks (40-42) and Orlando Magic (41-41) are all set to square off from Kia Center in Orlando.

The Hawks are currently 19-22 on the road with a point differential of -1, while the Magic have a 4-6 record in their last ten games at home. Orlando and Atlanta split the season series 2-2 with two meetings over the last seven days, resulting in a 1-1 split.

The winner of this game will be the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference and play the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics in the first round. The loser of this game will have to play the winner of Chicago versus Miami, which is the No. 9 and No. 10 seeded matchup for a chance to be the No. 8 seed and play the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round.

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 Hawks vs. Magic live today

  • Date: Tuesday, April 15, 2025
  • Time: 7:30PM EST
  • Site: Kia Center
  • City: Orlando, FL
  • Network/Streaming: TNT / truTV / Max

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-dayNBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Hawks vs. Magic

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Odds: Hawks (+179), Magic (-216)
  • Spread:  Magic -5.5
  • Over/Under: 219 points

That gives the Hawks an implied team point total of 108.51, and the Magic 111.38.

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 Tuesday’s Hawks vs. Magic game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Drew Dinsick (whale_capper) and Raphielle Johnson (@raphiellej) have different picks against the spread:

Dinsick likes Orlando: "The Magic have the keys to truly expose the defensive weaknesses of the Hawks small lineup."
Johnson likes Atlanta: "Orlando's injuries on the perimeter could prove problematic in this matchup and I think Trae Young goes off."

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 Hawks & Magic 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 Atlanta Hawks at +5.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 219.

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 Hawks vs. Magic on Tuesday

  • The Magic have won their last 6 games against teams with records worse than their own
  • The Under is 9-6 in the Magic's divisional matchups this season
  • The Magic have covered in their last 3 games as a home favorite
  • The Hawks beat the Magic on the final day but plenty of players were rested on that occasion. With both sides back to naming their starters, the Magic are fancied to cover the spread against the Hawks, who lost by seven points on their last visit to Orlando.

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!

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- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

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2025 NBA playoffs predictions: Can anyone beat the Boston Celtics and OKC Thunder?

Nothing brings the drama like the NBA Playoffs — and this year promises to have some epic showdowns and moments.

There will be no cakewalk to the title for Boston this time — they can't be without Kristaps Porzingis for half a series and still host a parade. Cleveland is a legitimate contender in the East and Oklahoma City is a tough matchup for Boston out of the West — if OKC can get past the Warriors or Lakers to get to the Finals.

Here are my predictions for the 2025 NBA Playoffs.

Play-In Tournament

Eastern Conference
• Orlando beats Atlanta
• Chicago beats Miami
• Chicago beats Atlanta

Chicago vs. Atlanta is a toss-up. Who has the better night, Trae Young or Coby White? Or maybe the answer is Josh Giddey is unstoppable.

Western Conference
• Golden State beats Memphis
• Sacramento beats Dallas
• Memphis beats Sacramento

First Round

Eastern Conference
• Cleveland beats Chicago 4-1
• Boston beats Orlando 4-1
• New York beats Detroit 4-2
• Indiana beats Milwaukee 4-3

Not having Damian Lillard to start the playoffs is a setback for Milwaukee, but if you told me Giannis Antetokounmpo just won the Bucks that first-round series on his own, I'd buy it. That pick is also a bet on the solid defense Indiana played after the All-Star break was real. In another series, it may end quickly but New York is going to have to work and be physical to beat Detroit.

Western Conference
• Oklahoma City beats Memphis 4-1
• Golden State beats Houston 4-2
• Los Angeles Lakers beat Minnesota 4-3
• Los Angeles Clippers beat Denver 4-2

I may be selling the Rockets short, but I trust the Warriors' playoff experience over the Rockets' young legs and defense. The Lakers should best the Timberwolves because Luka Doncic is in the Timberwolves' nightmares. Clippers vs. Denver is the best series of the first round in either conference, a real war that could go either way, but I am going to trust the Clips have a healthy Kawhi Leonard and James Harden for one round.

Conference Sem-Finals

Eastern Conference
• Cleveland beats Indiana 4-1
• Boston beats New York 4-1

Just a bad matchup for the Knicks and Pacers.

Western Conference
• Oklahoma City beats Los Angeles Clippers 4-2
• Golden State beats Los Angeles Lakers 4-3

The Warriors vs. Lakers series is a toss-up, but I trust the Golden State defense with Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green more than I do the Lakers' defense. The OKC defense will just be too much for the other Los Angeles squad.

Eastern Conference Finals

• Boston beats Cleveland 4-3

This will be a legitimate test for the Celtics and they will have to bring their "A" game, but assuming they do they just have too much versatility and too many weapons for the Cavaliers.

Western Conference Finals

• Oklahoma City beats Golden State 4-2

Oklahoma City has the depth to play a lot of different styles, but this is the series where Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren have to prove themselves. The Warriors will make life tough on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, those other stars will have to win this for the Thunder. I believe they can.

2025 NBA Finals

• Oklahoma City beats Boston 4-3

This may end faster than seven games — OKC is just not a good matchup for Boston. This is the one team with the depth and versatility to match the Celtics, and I will trust the regular-season results and trust the Thunder's role players to step up.

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New Orleans reportedly finalizing deal to make Joe Dumars new head of basketball operations

Hall of Famer Joe Dumars is coming home.

The Louisiana native who played for the Pistons, and then ultimately took over their front office and led them to their 2004 title — but also had some misses with player and coaching moves that led to his exit a decade later — is finalizing a deal to become the New Orleans Pelicans' head of basketball operations, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN.

Dumars takes over for David Griffin, who was let go Monday after six years on the job, with just two playoff appearances (and only two playoff games won in that time). Dumars had been a consultant with the Kings' front office and ownership for a few years, but spent the last three as the NBA league office's executive vice president of basketball operations (he's the guy who officially handed down fines and suspensions).

Dumars takes over a team at a crossroads, a franchise facing a couple of big questions: Whether to retain coach Willie Green and test the trade market for Zion Williamson.

Dumars may be taking the job with the understanding that ownership/upper management wants to see Green retained and Zion traded, a rumor working its way around league circles and reached NBC Sports. There's nuance to this — Green could have interest in the Phoenix coaching vacancy, the trade market for Zion may not be to Dumars' liking — but don't be surprised if that is the road traveled this summer. Zion has three years and $126.5 million remaining on his contract, and he looked like an All-NBA player (24.6 points a game on 56.7% shooting with 7.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists a night) when healthy, but he only played 30 games this season and has played more than 65 games just once in his career. That said, because of clauses in his contract that would allow a team to walk away from Zion if he's not playing (New Orleans could do the same), there will be teams trying to take the risk.

It's not just Zion and his hamstring, the Pelicans were ravaged by injuries this season including to Dejounte Murray (torn Achilles), Trey Murphy III (torn labrum), Herb Jones (torn labrum) and CJ McCollum. However, it was piled up losses and misses on players that led to Griffin's dismissal. For example, Dyson Daniels spent two seasons in New Orleans battling for minutes with Jones, Murphy, and Jose Alvarado among others. However, after being traded to Atlanta last summer, he has had a breakout season where he is the frontrunner for Most Improved Player and is in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year.

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A look back at when Scottie Pippen was almost a Celtic

A look back at when Scottie Pippen was almost a Celtic originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

In 1997, the Rick Pitino-led Boston Celtics nearly made a franchise-altering deal with the dynastic Chicago Bulls.

Boston finished the 1996-97 season with only 15 wins, the fewest in team history. On the bright side, the Celtics’ terrible record gave them great odds of securing the No. 1 pick in the 1997 NBA Draft and selecting Wake Forest star Tim Duncan.

Despite having a 27.5 percent chance of picking first overall, the C’s ended up with the No. 3 pick, in addition to the No. 6 from a trade with the Dallas Mavericks. The draft lottery results forced Pitino and Co. to get creative as they looked to piece together a competitive team for 1998.

First, Pitino attempted to trade the third and sixth picks to Gregg Popovich and the Spurs for the No. 1 selection.

“I got a call from the folks in Boston,” former Celtics coach and general manager M.L. Carr told NBC Sports Boston. “The Pitino group (was) asking, ‘Could we give picks to Popovich and ask him if he’d trade the first pick for a third and sixth?’ I went to Popovich; he felt sorry I even had to ask.

That didn’t work, so Pitino turned to Plan C.

Rumors swirled before the draft that the Celtics tried to trade their two first-round picks and a future first-rounder to the Bulls, who had just won their fifth NBA title, in a move to pair perennial All-Star Scottie Pippen and big man Luc Longley with young C’s star Antoine Walker.

Pitino confirmed the rumors on draft night.

“You have maybe, arguably, a top-20 player of all time, and you get Luc Longley. So you get a center, you have Scottie Pippen on one side, Antoine Walker on the other side,” Pitino said. “Our job is to bring the fans the best product as quickly as we can bring them the best team. Our fans deserve the best. I felt Scottie Pippen was one of the best players in the game, so we had a look at that.

“(The Bulls) wanted to sweeten — three and six was not enough for them. We sweetened it a little bit, but then they wanted the whole sugarcane factory, and we could not do that.”

With Duncan and Pippen off the table, the Celtics reluctantly stood pat and selected Chauncey Billups and Ron Mercer with the third and sixth picks, respectively. Billups, who went on to enjoy a Hall-of-Fame career, was traded to the Toronto Raptors at the deadline during his rookie season. Mercer was traded to the Denver Nuggets after two years in Boston.

The Celtics improved to 36 wins in 1997-98. They wound up with the 10th overall pick, which they used to select Kansas standout Paul Pierce.

If Pippen had turned around Boston’s fortunes, they may not have been in the position to select “The Truth.” Pierce endured a difficult decade as the face of the franchise before forming the “Big Three” with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in 2008 and bringing Banner 17 to TD Garden.

Later, Pitino admitted in a radio interview that taking the Celtics coaching position was a mistake.

“I took over a team with 15 wins, banking everything on the Tim Duncan lottery,” 790 the Ticket. “Once we didn’t get Tim Duncan, I realized that leaving Kentucky was not a good move.”

Pitino resigned from his role as Celtics head coach in 2001. Pippen announced his retirement in 2004 after spending his final few seasons with the Bulls, Houston Rockets, and Portland Trail Blazers.

Learn more about the Celtics nearly trading for Pippen in the video above, narrated by Michael Holley.

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Holiday reacts to Brown's knee injury: ‘Nobody's worried about him'

Holiday reacts to Brown's knee injury: ‘Nobody's worried about him' originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The status of Jaylen Brown’s right knee is one of the biggest storylines for the Boston Celtics as they prepare for Game 1 of their first-round series in the 2025 NBA playoffs on Sunday.

Brown appeared to be less than 100 percent healthy over the last couple weeks. He didn’t have his normal workload in several matchups and missed three of Boston’s seven games in April.

Brown was a participant in Celtics practice Tuesday, and his teammates gave a positive report on how he looked.

“He looked great today,” Celtics forward Al Horford told reporters. “I was very happy to see him out there doing everything. It’s a really good sign for us.

Horford added: “Jaylen is very strong mentally and he finds a way. He’s the type — he’s out here putting in the work and trying to get himself ready to go. He understands what’s in front of us. I know that mentally he’s gonna be in a good place.”

Celtics point guard Jrue Holiday also came away impressed by Brown’s practice.

“He looked good to me,” Holiday told reporters. “JB is gonna be JB in terms of not showing weakness. Everything is about not showing weakness and being the strongest mentally and physically. Nobody’s worried about him. We know he wants to be on the court every time we play. We also know he’s going to be prepared.”

Brown averaged 22.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game this season. He was named to the All-Star Game in February and would have been a candidate for All-NBA Third Team had he played in 65-plus games.

For the Celtics to play at their apex during the playoffs, they’ll need Brown to be an effective scorer and an elite defender, like he was in the postseason last year en route to winning NBA Finals MVP.

The Celtics will know their first round opponent Tuesday night when the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic square off in the No. 7 vs. No. 8 play-in tournament game. The winner will come to Boston to begin Round 1.

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5 bold predictions for 2025 NBA Playoffs, including Knicks' fate against Pistons

During the NBA playoffs, fans see the returns on 82 hard-fought regular season games and all unanswered questions become clear as day -- sometimes in ways staggeringly unexpected.

With the postseason starting later this week, here are five bold predictions for what will happen...

1. Pacers and Clippers take out fledgling franchises

The No. 4 vs. No. 5 seed matchups in each conference often provide much of the first round entertainment, and feature two teams usually close in talent and performance. This spring's slate -- likely to be enjoyable -- will actually serve better as a ceremonial goodbye to the reigns of two once-contenders.

The Pacers will be taking on the Bucks, who will be playing without veteran star Damian Lillard after a rocky and ineffective season. Milwaukee is no longer a feared Eastern Conference elite, and this will only be reaffirmed when Indiana advances to the next round.

Meanwhile in the West, the Clippers will challenge the Nuggets, who just recently fired the major architects of their 2023 championship team -- head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth. Denver is clearly moving toward a transition period, and Los Angeles is eager to push them along, having found success behind a healthy Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.

2. Julius Randle comes around

After spending the first half of his career falling short of the playoffs, Julius Randle finally led the Knicks there in three of four seasons, only to be haunted by the experiences that followed. He crumbled in 2021, struggled through injury in 2023, and completely missed 2024 with a shoulder issue.

But this is the time Randle turns it around. He looked increasingly comfortable as his first season with the Timberwolves progressed, and a nice first-round matchup with the wing-heavy Lakers creates plenty of opportunity for him in a critical contract year.

Expect the usual, rumbling, stat-stuffing Randle in this year’s playoffs. Minnesota may not be able to make a deep run, but it won’t be because he fell short again.

3. Playoff version of Jalen Brunson defies doubters (again)

Like clockwork, the playoffs arrive and Brunson’s prior work is immediately forgotten -- this time in order to stamp rising star Cade Cunningham as the best player in the Knicks-Pistons series.

Nov 1, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) drive past Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey (23) in the third quarter at Little Caesars Arena.
Nov 1, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) drive past Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey (23) in the third quarter at Little Caesars Arena. / Lon Horwedel - Imagn Images

For those who need reminding: During last year's playoffs, Brunson became the first player since Michael Jordan to record four consecutive 40-point games. That's also only a snapshot of what he’s been able to achieve in the postseason.

Once again, expect Brunson to block out the noise and have, at the very least, a spectacular first-round series for New York. He shouldn’t have anything left to prove against Detroit, but if the dissenters insist on clamoring, the added motivation is welcome.

4. Lakers make Western Conference Finals push

It’s hard to predict anything but chalk in this year’s bracket, with so many juggernauts leading the standings. But one team that could surprise with the strength of their push is the Lakers, who've resembled an entirely different squad since acquiring superstar Luka Doncic.

They’re probably a year removed from truly contending, but they boast a flexible and suffocating defense. And playing on the side of the bracket that includes the Timberwolves, the Rockets, and play-in tournament teams allows them to avoid the West's grim reaper. Los Angeles also has two of the best playoff performers of their respective generations, both with chips on their shoulders.

5. Thunder over Celtics in NBA Finals

Perhaps this isn’t "bold," per se, but the likeliest outcomes don’t always come true -- and some still favor Boston as the NBA’s kingpin. But the pick to win it all is Oklahoma City in six games. They have more functional depth, even more lineup flexibility, and the likely MVP of the league in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.