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What we learned as Warriors seal play-in fate with OT loss to Clippers

What we learned as Warriors seal play-in fate with OT loss to Clippers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Programming Note: Tune into “Warriors Pregame Live” at 6 p.m. PT on Tuesday on NBC Sports Bay Area before the Warriors and Grizzlies tip-off. Immediately after the final buzzer, tune back in for “Warriors Postgame Live.”

BOX SCORE

SAN FRANCISCO – Game 82 of the 2024-25 NBA regular season wasn’t exactly a win or go home for the Warriors, but it certainly had a playoff feel Sunday at Chase Center. 

Win, and the Warriors were guaranteed the No. 6 NBA playoff seed and a first-round matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. Lose, and the Warriors dropped to the No. 7 seed, hosting an NBA play-in tournament game on their home court. 

The drama. The suspense. Sports were at their finest, and the Warriors were outlasted 124-119 in an overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Jimmy Butler played nearly flawless basketball for the Warriors (30 points, nine assists, 12-of-20 shooting). Steph Curry, fighting off a right thumb injury, started off extremely slow but scored 21 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. Brandin Podziemski was a team-high plus-14, giving Golden State 19 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Curry also had a season-high eight turnovers.

On the other side, Kawhi Leonard (33 points, six rebounds, seven assists, three steals, 13-of-19 shooting), James Harden (38 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists) and Ivica Zubac (22 points, 17 rebounds) were sensational.

While Zubac hauled in 17 rebounds of his own, the Warriors only grabbed 25 as a team. Podziemski had seven rebounds, but the rest of Golden State’s starters had seven. The Clippers finished with 17 more rebounds than the Warriors, and eight more second-chance points.

Here are three takeaways from a wild final game of the regular season.

Steph’s Late Surge

With his right thumb padded and wrapped in athletic tape, Curry wasn’t going let another injury concern deter him from playing the regular-season finale. Whether it was pain, discomfort or something else, Curry was off early on. He scored five points in the first quarter, but had three bad turnovers and already was whistled for two fouls. 

The Warriors then went on a 22-9 run without him before he came back during the second quarter. Curry scored eight points in the second quarter, bringing him to 13, but he was a minus-15 in 15 first-half minutes. 

As Butler continued to carry the Warriors, Curry only scored two points in the third quarter and was down to a minus-16 entering the fourth. The Warriors trailed by one point going into the fourth, needing any extra juice Curry could muster to give them a final jolt. He entered with nine minutes left and the Warriors down by four points. 

Curry hit a deep three with a little under eight minutes remaining to cut the deficit to four points. A fire was lit. Curry exploded for an absurd 18 points in the fourth quarter, putting on a cinematic show for all to enjoy.

Butler vs. Leonard

They stood shoulder-to-shoulder at center court for the opening tipoff. Not all eyes gravitated to Butler and Leonard, but the two players completely change the outlook of their respective teams. The Warriors had lost all three of their previous games against the Clippers this season, though none included either player. 

Butler kicked into get-into-the-playoffs mode right away, scoring 10 first-quarter points. Only two of those points were from the free-throw line, where Butler has lived since joining the Warriors at the NBA trade deadline. He went 4-of-6 shooting and even threw down two dunks. 

Butler and Leonard undoubtedly were the two best players on the floor. Each looked spry and determined to bring their team a victory. Butler was up to 13 points and seven assists by halftime, but Leonard was even better. In 21 minutes, Leonard was a plus-12 with 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting and had four rebounds and four assists. 

Leonard had 25 points going into the fourth quarter, and Butler was at 24. Butler opened the quarter nailing a turnaround jumper, but was outscored 8-6 by Leonard between the fourth quarter and overtime.

The Kuminga Plan

Is there one? In this game, with so many implications, Jonathan Kuminga was an afterthought. He started the game staying loose on the stationary bike, and then watched the rest from the bench.

Buddy Hield was the first player off the bench, something that isn’t new or out of the ordinary. But the next player coach Steve Kerr usually points to is Kuminga to replace Butler. It wasn’t. Gary Payton II checked in as Butler took a seat. 

Kerr has said recently the three-man combination of Draymond Green, Butler and Kuminga doesn’t work, and the numbers show he’s right. They’ve spent 38 minutes on the floor together over three games and have a minus-24.9 net rating with a 97.5 offensive rating and 122.4 defensive rating. The Warriors coach also said after Golden State’s win in Portland on Friday night that the team’s offense has lacked flow and rhythm the past few weeks. 

That just so happens to coincide with Kuminga’s return from a badly sprained ankle. Kuminga’s athleticism is second to none on the Warriors. His impact was loud and obvious when the Warriors beat the Lakers 10 days ago, scoring an efficient 18 points off the bench with nine rebounds, four assists and a blocked shot. 

Kuminga theoretically raises the Warriors’ ceiling. Kerr doesn’t care about hypotheticals, only winning basketball on that particular day.

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NBA playoff bracket set for 2025: Here all the matchups entering the postseason

NBA playoff bracket set for 2025: Here all the matchups entering the postseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

After a grueling regular season, it’s time to crown a champion.

The 2024-25 NBA regular season concluded on Sunday after nearly six months of non-stop action.

The upcoming playoffs will feature all of the best teams from across the league, including the defending champion Boston Celtics and 68-win Oklahoma City Thunder.

How do the seeds stack up in each conference? Who will compete in the Play-In Tournament? And what is the bracket looking like? Here’s everything to know entering the postseason:

When do the NBA playoffs start?

The 2025 NBA playoffs tip off on Saturday, April 19, with Game 1 of four first-round series’ being held.

The remaining four series will play Game 1 on Sunday, April 20.

What are the NBA playoff matchups and seeds?

The top six seeds in each conference are locked into the playoffs, which means matchups for four of the eight first-round series are set. The bottom two seeds in each conference will be determined in the Play-In Tournament.

Here are the seeds and matchups for both conferences:

EAST

  • No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 7 Orlando Magic/No. 8 Atlanta Hawks/No. 9 Chicago Bulls/No. 10 Miami Heat
  • No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Orlando Magic/No. 8 Atlanta Hawks
  • No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 6 Detroit Pistons
  • No. 4 Indiana Pacers vs. No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks

WEST

Who is in the NBA Play-In Tournament?

The Play-In Tournament will feature the seventh through 10th seeds in each conference.

The No. 7 seeds will face the No. 8 seeds, with the winners moving to the first-round against the No. 2 seeds. The losers will face the winner of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 games, with the winners of those games moving on to face the No. 1 seeds. Here’s the Play-In Tournament matchups:

EAST

  • Game 1: No. 8 Atlanta Hawks at No. 7 Orlando Magic (Tuesday, April 15)
  • Game 2: No. 10 Miami Heat at No. 9 Chicago Bulls (Wednesday, April 16)
  • Game 3: Winner of Game 2 at Loser of Game 1 (Friday, April 18)

WEST

  • Game 1: No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies at No. 7 Golden State Warriors (Tuesday, April 15)
  • Game 2: No. 10 Dallas Mavericks at No. 9 Sacramento Kings (Wednesday, April 16)
  • Game 3: Winner of Game 2 at Loser of Game 1 (Friday, April 18)

How to watch the NBA playoffs and NBA Finals

The NBA playoffs will air on ESPN, ABC, TNT and NBA TV. The exact partners for each series and game are still to be determined.

For the 23rd consecutive season dating back to 2003, the NBA Finals will be broadcasted on ABC.

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Troy transfer forward Fields discusses his West Virginia choice

Troy transfer forward Jackson Fields entered the transfer portal looking for the right fit. Fields, 6-foot-8, 210-pounds, committed to the Mountaineers in large part because of the culture that new head coach Ross Hodge is bringing over from his time at North Texas. Fields was able to cultivate a strong relationship with both Hodge and his coaching staff led by assistant Mike Randle by being on multiple calls with them to discuss his fit in the program.

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Warriors vs. Grizzlies NBA play-in set after Golden State's loss to LA Clippers

Warriors vs. Grizzlies NBA play-in set after Golden State's loss to LA Clippers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Programming Note: Tune into “Warriors Pregame Live” at 6 p.m. PT on Tuesday on NBC Sports Bay Area before the Warriors and Grizzlies tip-off. Immediately after the final buzzer, tune back in for “Warriors Postgame Live.”

The Warriors didn’t take care of business Sunday, and now they will have to deal with the NBA play-in tournament again.

Golden State’s crushing season-finale 124-119 overtime loss to the LA Clippers at Chase Center means the Warriors will host the Memphis Grizzlies in the No. 7 vs. No. 8 play-in game at 7 p.m. PT on Tuesday night.

Steph Curry led the way with 36 points and Jimmy Butler finished with 30, but that wasn’t enough to overcome big performances from Clippers stars James Harden, Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac.

The winner of the Warriors-Grizzlies game will advance to take on the No. 2-seeded Houston Rockets in the first round.

The loser of the Golden State-Memphis game will host the winner of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 game between the Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks on Friday.

Steph Curry and Co. won three of the four regular-season matchups against the Grizzlies, with the most recent coming April 1 in Memphis, thanks to a 52-point eruption from the two-time NBA MVP.

The Warriors and Grizzlies previously met in the 2021 play-in tournament, with Memphis winning the elimination game to end Golden State’s season.

Golden State, winless in three prior play-in games, is hoping for a different result this time.

Games between the Warriors and Grizzlies always are intense, and Tuesday’s showdown should be no different.

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3 observations after Sixers close out dismal 2024-25 season with loss to Bulls

3 observations after Sixers close out dismal 2024-25 season with loss to Bulls  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers’ 2024-25 season is history. They won’t want to relive much of it. 

The team closed out its schedule Sunday afternoon at Wells Fargo Center with a 122-102 loss to the Bulls. 

At 24-58, the Sixers’ record was by their worst since the 2015-16 season. 

Lonnie Walker IV scored 31 points in the season finale, tying his career high

The injury-plagued Sixers’ eight available players included Isaiah Mobley, who signed Sunday morning. The 6-foot-8 power forward averaged 17.4 points and 7.9 rebounds this season for the Delaware Blue Coats in the G League. He posted six points, five assists and four rebounds against the Bulls.

Here are observations on Game No. 82:

More positives from Bona

The Sixers’ starting lineup had just one member of their opening-night roster: Rookie Adem Bona. He was joined by two trade acquisitions (Quentin Grimes and Jared Butler), a February signing from Lithuania (Walker), and a 10-day contract player (Marcus Bagley). 

In keeping with a late-season theme, Bona’s early work against Bulls big man Nikola Vucevic was a bright spot.

A left-handed Bona tip-in gave him six points in the first six minutes. The rookie finished the season with multiple offensive rebounds in 13 consecutive appearances. 

Bona beat Vucevic in the post with a nifty step-through layup a few minutes later. He’s continued to be efficient and self-aware, but Bona’s offensive comfort zone has clearly expanded this year thanks to in-game reps and ample behind-the-scenes work.

Consistent late-season regulars 

In addition to Bona, several Sixers became consistent contributors at the end of the season.

Grimes had an off day, shooting just 3 for 14 from the field, but was often brilliant. He posted 26.6 points, 4.9 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game in March. 

Walker drilled two early three-pointers and went 8 for 15 beyond the arc on the afternoon. He wrapped up the season with five straight double-figure scoring games and averaged 22.8 points during that stretch. Walker’s runner late in the second quarter put the Sixers up 54-45. 

Butler (19 points, five assists) also produced steadily over the Sixers’ last couple of weeks. He’s gained familiarity with his teammates, developed pick-and-roll chemistry with Bona and picked his spots to score. 

Coming off of a 20-point, 10-rebound game Friday vs. the Hawks, Bagley was again sharp as a cutter and on the glass in a 10-point, 15 rebound performance. He picked up four steals and a block in the first half, too.

Almost all about the injuries

The Bulls rested starters Kevin Huerter, Coby White, Vucevic and Matas Buzelis for the second half.

Of course, the perpetually undermanned Sixers had no such luxuries. Chicago started the second half well and gradually pulled away.

In our view, a large chunk of the Sixers’ 58 losses can legitimately be chalked up to injuries. 

That doesn’t mean, health permitting, the Sixers were undoubtedly destined for greatness. They had a variety of flaws unrelated to injuries, such as leaning too heavily on older players and remaining a poor defensive rebounding team. However, no team hit by the Sixers’ volume of injuries would have thrived. 

There are ways the Sixers can be better equipped for injury woes. As president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said in February, the team aimed to get younger at the trade deadline. Still, in order to dramatically bounce back from a hellacious season, the Sixers surely need Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey to have much better health. 

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Report: West Virginia lands Troy transfer forward Fields

West Virginia has landed Troy transfer forward transfer Jackson Fields. The news was reported by Jeff Goodman of Fieldof68 and WVSports.com has confirmed the commitment. Fields, 6-foot-8, 210-pounds, entered the transfer portal March 24 and received interest from a number of schools prior to picking the Mountaineers.

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Kings to host Mavericks in 2025 NBA play-in matchup after win vs. Suns in finale

Kings to host Mavericks in 2025 NBA play-in matchup after win vs. Suns in finale originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Programming Note: Tune into “Kings Pregame Live” at 6:30 p.m. PT on Wednesday on NBC Sports California before the Kings and Mavericks tip-off. Immediately after the final buzzer, tune back in for “Kings Postgame Live.”

The Kings will have at least one more home game this season.

By beating the Phoenix Suns 109-88 in the season finale on Sunday, Sacramento secured the No. 9 seed and home-court advantage in their 2025 Western Conference play-in game against the No. 10-seeded Dallas Mavericks.

The Kings and Mavericks are slated to play at 7 p.m. on Wednesday night at Golden 1 Center, with the winner advancing to take on the loser of Tuesday’s game between the No. 7 seed Golden State Warriors and No. 8 seed Memphis Grizzlies.

Star center Domantas Sabonis finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds, while backup big Jonas Valančiūnas scored a game-high 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds off the bench.

If the Kings win both play-in games this week, they would face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.

Sacramento won all three regular-season matchups against Dallas, with the last game coming on March 3.

Both teams will enter the play-in game with sub-.500 records, as the Kings finished the regular season at 40-42 and the Mavericks concluded a disappointing 39-43 campaign with a blowout loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Kings and Mavericks have endured a lot of turmoil this season, but both have a chance to extend their campaigns this week.

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NBA Playoff Picture 2025: Five games to watch on NBA final day, including Clippers vs. Warriors

This is what the NBA dreams of — high drama on the season's final day.

The Eastern Conference didn’t provide it, the playoffs there are set, and the games on the final day of the season will look like some G-League rosters turned loose on the big stage for a day.

The West has all the drama. A tight race all season long will come down to the final day, with five games in particular impacting the final standings. Here are the games to watch on the final day of the season, with all four taking place simultaneously at 3:30 p.m. Eastern

Clippers at Warriors

This is the biggest and best game of the day — the winner finishes in the top six, the loser falls into the play-in despite racking up 48 or 49 wins.

Both teams come in hot — the Clippers have won seven in a row, the Warriors are 7-2 in their last nine. Both teams have stars proven in clutch moments — Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler for Golden State, Kawhi Leonard and James Harden for Los Angeles. Both teams are playing great defense and have been in the top six in the league since the All-Star break.

For the Clippers, win and they are at least the No. 5 seed (and could get to No. 4 if Denver loses). For the Warriors, this is about avoiding the Play-In Tournament — win and they are the No. 6 seed, lose and they fall to No. 7 and the play-in. These are both older teams, so the week off that comes with a top-six seed matters — old guys need their rest.

The Clippers are 3-0 in the season series so far.

One thought: If the Warriors lose and fall to No. 7, then win the first play-in game (at home against Memphis), they avoid LeBron James, Luka Doncic and the Lakers in the first round and instead get the young, athletic but untested Rockets. Golden State might prefer Houston, but not at the price of falling into the play-in.

Nuggets at Rockets

Houston has nothing to play for, they are locked in as the No. 2 seed and are expected to rest key players for this one.

Denver has everything to play for: Win and they are the No. 4 seed, with a week off of rest and then home court in the first round. Lose and they could fall all the way to the No. 7 seed (if the Nuggets lose, they need the Clippers to beat the Warriors, do that and Denver falls no further than No. 6, avoiding the play-in).

Expect Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and company to bring it on a day they know they are playing for a week off.

Utah at Minnesota

Minnesota needs the win and will go with their best players — including Anthony Edwards, who had a technical rescinded from his last game, so he will not be suspended. Utah has been tanking since roughly October and will roll out a borderline G-League lineup for this game.

The Timberwolves should win this game comfortably — do that and they will jump over the loser of the Clippers/Warriors game into a top-six seed (fifth or sixth, depending on other games). There is even a slim chance the Timberwolves get to No. 4 if the Clippers and Nuggets lose. Win and avoid the play-in and get a week off, which is plenty of motivation to take this game seriously.

Mavericks at Grizzlies

Both teams are headed to the Play-In Tournament, but seeding is on the line in this game.

For Memphis, win and there is a slim chance it can move up to the No. 7 seed and host the first-round, but it needs Minnesota to lose to Utah (hence the slim chance).

For Dallas, a win combined with a Phoenix win over Sacramento, and the Mavericks jump to the No. 9 seed and host the first play-in round. The problem with that scenario is the combination of the words “Phoenix” and “win” in the same sentence.

Both teams in this game will be scoreboard watching and could get very motivated if an upset is brewing elsewhere.

Phoenix at Sacramento

It’s simple for Sacramento: Win and it is the No. 9 seed, and the Kings host the first round of the Play-In Tournament. Lose and they run the risk of falling to No. 10 if Dallas beats Memphis.

Phoenix has nothing to play for. The problem for the Suns is that they played like they had nothing to play for all season long.

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3 biggest Knicks questions heading into the 2025 NBA playoffs

With just one game separating the Knicks from a first-round meeting with the Detroit Pistons, there’s little time left to improve or innovate on the season. The last 81 games have served as all the preparation they’re going to get before a grueling postseason run through an improved East. 

But despite the season nearly being over, plenty of questions remain about this squad, which are sure to be answered in due time. Here are three of the biggest ones as we enter the playoffs.

Can the Knicks shut down the East’s elite?

SNY’s Ian Begley wrote that Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby must step up defensively in the playoffs after struggling against the East’s best all season. New York will get an early test when they take on Cade Cunningham in the first round. 

The former No. 1 overall pick has terrorized the Knicks this season to the tune of 30.8 points, five rebounds, and 8.3 assists on 56.3 percent shooting from the field and 52 percent from three. Shutting his offense down would cut the head off the snake for the Pistons, and all but ensure a first-round series victory. 

But the defensive questions extend beyond the two wings, as teams will undoubtedly attack New York’s weak points -- Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. The two will need to play the best defense of their respective seasons if the Knicks want to make it to a Conference Finals. 

The Knicks were average to below average defensively for most of the season until Mitchell Robinson’s return -- it’s possible we see more of him in the playoffs. And if something isn’t working, will head coach Tom Thibodeau be able to adjust?

Will the Knicks make major adjustments?

Fans have long bemoaned the lack of experimentation by Thibodeau, who can stay locked into schemes and rotations long after they’ve done their damage. He believes in making a change only after his team is executing and still falling short, but the postseason doesn’t leave much room for error.

If New York falls behind in a series, will Thibodeau actually throw in a major shake up? Would he start Robinson with Towns, or bench Josh Hart for a shooter, after spending so few regular season minutes playing with these concepts?

He’s proven himself a capable tactician in the past two playoffs, with injuries cratering New York’s chances last year. But with a team that’s likely going to have to forge an identity through this postseason instead of coming in with an established one, he needs to be ready to make big moves before it’s too late.

What is the Knicks identity?

This isn’t the question you normally ask of a contending team going into the playoffs, which isn’t a good sign for the Knicks' chances. Unfortunately they’ve yet to settle on a cohesive or coherent gameplan other than score more points than the other team.

Look back on last year’s team, which knew exactly how it wanted to win games: defend physically, dominate the glass and keep pace and turnovers down to win the possession game, and run the offense through its core engines -- Brunson and Julius Randle, then Isaiah Hartenstein. What does this year’s team want to do?

Early on it seemed clear, blitz teams with their high-passing, high-movement and high-scoring offense, scrapping enough on the other end to give themselves the edge. But the offense devolved into hero ball and low assist rates as the year progressed.

New York regained some of its defensive identity when Robinson returned and Brunson got hurt, but haven’t looked connected in recent games.

The good news is plenty of teams have looked messy in the regular season and even the early parts of the playoffs and figured it out on their way. The 2021 Milwaukee Bucks were a shoe size from firing their coach and ended up winning the championship. 

So no matter how many questions are open about these Knicks, they’ll soon find answers in the playoffs. For better or worse, we’re about to discover what this team is.

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Magic vs. Hawks Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 13

It’s Sunday, April 13, and the Orlando Magic (41-40) and Atlanta Hawks (39-42) are all set to square off from State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

The Magic are currently 19-21 on the road with a point differential of 0, while the Hawks have a 7-3 record in their last ten games at home. Orlando is 2-1 against Atlanta this season and won the most recent matchup, 119-114.

Atlanta and Orlando are locked into the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds of the Eastern Conference, so the two will play on Tuesday night in Orlando. The winner of that game will be the No. 7 seed and play the Celtics in the first round, while the loser will have to play the winner of the No. 9 and No. 10 seed matchup (Chicago/Miami) to see who plays the 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 Magic vs. Hawks live today

  • Date: Sunday, April 13, 2025
  • Time: 1:00PM EST
  • Site: State Farm Arena
  • City: Atlanta, GA
  • 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-dayNBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Magic vs. Hawks

The latest odds as of Sunday:

  • Odds: Magic (+105), Hawks (-125)
  • Spread:  Hawks -1.5
  • Over/Under: 218 points

That gives the Magic an implied team point total of 108.63, and the Hawks 109.42.

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 Sunday’s Magic vs. Hawks game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Under:

"Both teams are locked into meeting each other in the play-in tournament, so I have to lean the Under here. These teams met a little over a week ago and combined for 231 points and now that they know they are playing each other, I'd expect neither side to want to show their cards much or tire out the starters. It's under 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 Magic & Hawks 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 Orlando Magic at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 218.

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 Magic vs. Hawks on Sunday

  • The Magic have won their last 7 matchups against divisional opponents
  • The Magic's last 3 road trips to the Hawks have stayed under the Total
  • The Magic have covered the Spread in 4 of their last 5 matchups against Eastern Conference Southeast Division opponents
  • The Magic are 18-21 on the road this season but have won 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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Hornets vs. Celtics Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and Best bets for April 13

It’s Sunday, April 13, and the Charlotte Hornets (19-62) and Boston Celtics (60-21) are all set to square off from TD Garden in Boston.

The Hornets are currently 7-33 on the road with a point differential of -9, while the Celtics have an 8-2 record in their last ten games at home. Boston is 3-0 against Charlotte this season with double-digit wins in every meeting.

Boston is firmly in the second seed of the East, while Charlotte holds the second-worst record in the East and the third-worst overall record. Neither team will play its starters for the full amount of minutes and a win or loss doesn't impact either team.

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 Hornets vs. Celtics live today

  • Date: Sunday, April 13, 2025
  • Time: 1:00PM EST
  • Site: TD Garden
  • City: Boston, MA
  • 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 Hornets vs. Celtics

The latest odds as of Sunday:

  • Odds: Hornets (+569), Celtics (-840)
  • Spread:  Celtics -13
  • Over/Under: 213 points

That gives the Hornets an implied team point total of 105.53, and the Celtics 112.31.

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 Sunday’s Hornets vs. Celtics game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

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

"Boston just destroyed Charlotte 130-94 thanks to a massive second half, but I don't see that happening again. All three Celtics wins came by double-digits and after that 36-point win, the spread for this game has moved down. There's no incentive for either side, so I lean Charlotte to 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 Hornets & 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 Charlotte Hornets at +13.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the under on the Game Total of 213.

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 Hornets vs. Celtics on Sunday

  • The Celtics have won 4 of their last 5 home games against teams with losing records
  • The Celtics' last 3 home games versus the Hornets have gone over the Total
  • The Celtics have covered the Spread in their last 3 home matchups with the Hornets
  • The Celtics have won 8 of their last 10 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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Knicks vs. Nets Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 13

It’s Sunday, April 13, and the New York Knicks (50-31) and Brooklyn Nets (26-55) are all set to square off from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The Knicks are currently 23-17 on the road with a point differential of 4, while the Nets have a 3-7 record in their last ten games at home. New York is 3-0 against Brooklyn this season with wins of 2, 4, and 8 points.

New York is solidified as the No. 3 seed, so they have nothing to play for ahead of this matchup. It's the same case for the Nets who own the fourth-worst record in the East.

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 Knicks vs. Nets live today

  • Date: Sunday, April 13, 2025
  • Time: 1:00PM EST
  • Site: Barclays Center
  • City: Brooklyn, NY
  • Network/Streaming: WLNY

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 Knicks vs. Nets

The latest odds as of Sunday:

  • Odds: Knicks (-339), Nets (+269)
  • Spread:  Knicks -8
  • Over/Under: 213 points

That gives the Knicks an implied team point total of 109.59, and the Nets 105.42.

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 Sunday’s Knicks vs. Nets game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Nets to 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 Knicks & Nets game:

    • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the New York Knicks on the Moneyline.
    • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the New York Knicks at -8.
    • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 213.

    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 Knicks vs. Nets on Sunday

    • The Knicks are on a 3-game win streak at the Nets
    • The Nets' last 3 games at home versus the Knicks have stayed under the Total
    • The Knicks have failed to cover in 22 of their 40 road games this season
    • The Knicks are on a 3-game win streak at the Nets

    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)

    Posted on

    Pacers vs. Cavaliers Predictions: Odds, expert picks recent stats, trends and Best bets for April 13

    It’s Sunday, April 13, and the Indiana Pacers (49-32) and Cleveland Cavaliers (63-17) are all set to square off from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland.

    The Pacers are currently 19-20 on the road with a point differential of 2, while the Cavaliers have an 8-2 record in their last ten games at home. Indiana beat Cleveland two games ago, 114-112 and the Pacers own the season series 2-1.

    Cleveland is locked into the No. 1 seed, so they will be resting a majority of starters, if not all, while Indiana is soldidly in the No. 4 seed. Indiana tanked the last outing against Orlando to avoid being the No. 3 seed and seeing Boston in the second round, something they will likely do here too.

    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 Pacers vs. Cavaliers live today

    • Date: Sunday, April 13, 2025
    • Time: 1:00PM EST
    • Site: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
    • City: Cleveland, OH
    • 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 Pacers vs. Cavaliers

    The latest odds as of Sunday:

    • Odds: Pacers (-188), Cavaliers (+156)
    • Spread:  Pacers -4.5
    • Over/Under: 227 points

    That gives the Pacers an implied team point total of 114.97, and the Cavaliers 112.62.

    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 Sunday’s Pacers vs. Cavaliers game

    NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

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

    "Indiana's entire gameplan was to get the No. 4 seed to have the home edge over the No. 5 seed and avoid No. 2 Boston in the second round. That has worked to perfection and it was evident in the previous contest versus Orlando. I don't expect Indiana to take this game seriously, while Cleveland can allow their bench players to get some extra shots up in preparation for the postseason. It's Cavs 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 Pacers & Cavaliers game:

    • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Indiana Pacers on the Moneyline.
    • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Indiana Pacers at -4.5.
    • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending 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 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 Pacers vs. Cavaliers on Sunday

    • The Pacers have won 6 straight matchups against Eastern Conference teams
    • The Pacers' last 5 road games have gone over the Total
    • The Cavaliers have covered in 48 of their 80 games this season
    • The Pacers have won 6 straight matchups against Eastern Conference teams

    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)