Whatever misgivings Kevin Willard may have had about coaching basketball at Maryland, Buzz Williams’ arrival shows the job is still pretty enticing.
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Bucks vs. 76ers Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 3
It’s Thursday, April 3, and the Milwaukee Bucks (41-34) and Philadelphia 76ers (23-53) are all set to square off from Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
The Bucks are currently 16-20 on the road with a point differential of 2, while the 76ers have a 2-8 record in their last ten games at home. Milwaukee won all three meetings versus Philly this season by at least eight points.
Philadelphia has lost nine consecutive games, while Milwaukee snapped a four-game losing streak with a 10-point win over Phoenix.
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 Bucks vs. 76ers live today
- Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025
- Time: 7:00PM EST
- Site: Wells Fargo Center
- City: Philadelphia, PA
- 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 Bucks vs. 76ers
The latest odds as of Thursday:
- Odds: Bucks (-606), 76ers (+445)
- Spread: Bucks -11.5
- Over/Under: 225 points
That gives the Bucks an implied team point total of 117.44, and the 76ers 111.44.
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 Thursday’s Bucks vs. 76ers game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Bucks to cover:
"The Bucks got a much-needed 10-point win over the Suns to break a four-game losing streak. Of the remaining schedule, this is the most winnable game outside of a road game at New Orleans. The 76ers have dropped nine straight games and I don't see that changing here after three straight double-digit losses. It's Bucks 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 Bucks & 76ers game:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Philadelphia 76ers on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Philadelphia 76ers at +11.5.
- Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 225.
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 Bucks vs. 76ers on Thursday
- The Bucks have lost 20 of their 36 road games this season
- The Under is 7-3 in the Bucks' last 10 road games
- The Bucks have covered in 7 of their last 8 road games
- The Bucks are 1-4 in 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)
Final Four picks: Expert predictions, odds, betting lines, schedule for NCAA tournament Saturday games
This looks like the strongest Final Four since the tournament expanded.
How Draymond roasted Steph during 52-point game vs. Grizzlies
How Draymond roasted Steph during 52-point game vs. Grizzlies originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Nobody is safe from Draymond Green’s trash talk on the court, not even Steph Curry.
The Warriors’ superstar, despite scoring 52 points in Golden State’s 134-125 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday at FedExForum, was chirped by his longtime teammate toward the end of the game.
Green joined ESPN’s Malika Andrews for an exclusive interview that aired on Thursday’s episode of “NBA Today,” where he revealed what he told Curry after realizing how many points his Warriors teammate had late in the fourth quarter.
“I told him at the free-throw line, when they fouled him, he had 50, and he went to the free-throw line, I said ‘Man! Oh, you already got 50? Well, go ahead and get 52, that’s not bad for a 40-year-old,” Green told Andrews.
Curry, of course, is 37 years old, but you might not be able to tell by how he still plays on the court in his 16th NBA season.
One NBA player who is 40 years old, is LeBron James, whom Green and the Warriors will face off against on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. And of course, he will not be safe from Green’s trash talk.
“He gotta hear it too,” Green said about poking fun at James for his age.
That’s a bear that the Warriors would be wise not to poke.
The same goes for Curry, although opposing teams still seem to be learning that lesson the hard way.
March Madness: Where does Cooper Flagg rank among the all-time great one-and-dones?
A national title is all that's missing between Flagg and the likes of Anthony Davis and Carmelo Anthony.
Warriors provide encouraging GP2 injury update ahead of Lakers game
Warriors provide encouraging GP2 injury update ahead of Lakers game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
It appears Gary Payton II soon could re-join the Warriors’ rotation.
The injured guard missed Golden State’s previous three games after suffering a partial tear in his left thumb on March 25 against the Miami Heat, but on Thursday, the team provided an encouraging update, stating Payton is “making good progress.”
While Payton will not play in the marquee matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena, he is considered “day-to-day.”
Warriors guard Gary Payton II, who suffered a partial tear of a ligament in his left thumb during Golden State’s game at Miami on March 25, is making good progress. He will not play in tonight’s game against the Lakers and will be considered day-to-day moving forward.
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) April 3, 2025
In 58 games this season, Payton is averaging 6.6 points, 3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game on 58.5-percent shooting from the field and 33 percent from 3-point range in 14.9 minutes off the bench.
The 32-year-old two-way player is a key piece of coach Steve Kerr’s rotation and has been missed on both ends of the floor in recent games.
However, it appears the Warriors could have him back sooner rather than later.
Grizzlies vs. Heat Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 3
It’s Thursday, April 3, and the Memphis Grizzlies (44-32) and Miami Heat (35-41) are all set to square off from Kaseya Center in Miami.
The Grizzlies are currently 19-18 on the road with a point differential of 5, while the Heat have a 3-7 record in their last ten games at home. The Grizzlies beat the Heat, 125-91 on March 15 in Memphis and this is the final meeting of the season.
Memphis lost four straight games entering this contest, whereas Miami won the past six including last night's contest against the Celtics.
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 Grizzlies vs. Heat live today
- Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025
- Time: 7:30PM EST
- Site: Kaseya Center
- City: Miami, FL
- Network/Streaming: TNT / Max / TruTV
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. Heat
The latest odds as of Thursday:
- Odds: Grizzlies (-172), Heat (+145)
- Spread: Grizzlies -4
- Over/Under: 227 points
That gives the Grizzlies an implied team point total of 114.76, and the Heat 112.68.
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 Thursday’s Grizzlies vs. Heat game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Grizzlies to cover versus the Heat:
"Miami has won six-straight games, including last night's 124-103 win in Boston. The Heat are riding high, but this is a tough spot beating Boston on the road then flying back to Miami to face a Grizzlies team with a slight rest advantage and coming off four straight losses. This is a spot where I like the Grizzlies 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 Grizzlies & Heat 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 Miami Heat at +4.
- Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play 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 Grizzlies vs. Heat on Thursday
- The Grizzlies have won 4 of their last 5 away games against teams with losing records
- Each of the last 3 matchups between the Grizzlies and the Heat have stayed under the Total
- The Heat are 20-17 ATS at home this season
- The Grizzlies have won 16 of their last 20 games against teams with losing records
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)
How to watch the men’s and women’s 2025 HBCU All-Star Games: Live stream, rosters, start time
Don't miss the men's and women's 2025 HBCU All-Star Games this Sunday on Peacock and the NBC Sports NOW FAST channel at 1 PM ET.
Warriors vs. Lakers Predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends, best bets for April 3
Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers Preview
The Golden State Warriors (44-31) and Los Angeles Lakers (46-29) are all set to square off from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
The Warriors continue to play good basketball with the combination of Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler. Curry was playing out of his mind in their win over the Grizzlies on Tuesday. He finished with 52 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists.
The Warriors are currently 21-17 on the road with a point differential of 3, while the Lakers have a 8-2 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 Warriors vs. Lakers live today
- Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025
- Time: 10:00PM 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 Warriors vs. Lakers
The latest odds as of Thursday:
- Odds: Warriors (+105), Lakers (-125)
- Spread: Lakers -1.5
- Over/Under: 230 points
That gives the Warriors an implied team point total of 114.63, and the Lakers 115.42.
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 Thursday's Warriors 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 Lakers -1.5…
Thomas: “While both teams are rolling right now, I think there is a bit of value with the Lakers tonight. Despite the Warriors beating the Grizzlies, I wasn’t left impressed with that game. Had it not been for Curry, that team would’ve likely lost by double digits.
The Lakers, with the addition of Luka Doncic, have been a team that has maximized the potential of the other role players. Doncic is such a great facilitator. He makes the other players around him.
With the Lakers being 29-9 at home, and the best home record in the Western Conference, it’s hard to imagine they lose this game tonight.”
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 Warriors & Lakers game:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Los Angeles Lakers on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Golden State Warriors at +1.5.
- Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 230.
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 Warriors vs. Lakers on Thursday
- The Lakers have won their last 6 matchups against Western Conference Pacific Division opposition
- Each of the Warriors' last 4 games at the Lakers have gone over the Total
- The Lakers have covered in their last 6 matchups against divisional opponents
- The Lakers have won 4 of their last 5 home games against teams with winning records
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)
Report: Maxey expected to miss rest of season with finger injury
Report: Maxey expected to miss rest of season with finger injury originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Unlike Kyle Lowry, Tyrese Maxey won’t return during the Sixers’ home stretch.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Thursday that Maxey is “expected to be ruled out for the rest of the season with a finger tendon injury.” The 24-year-old guard is “still dealing with discomfort and needs treatment,” Charania reported.
The 23-53 Sixers have six regular-season games remaining. In addition to Maxey, Joel Embiid (left knee surgery), Paul George (adductor and left knee injuries), Jared McCain (left knee surgery) and Eric Gordon (right wrist surgery) have been ruled out for the year. Kelly Oubre Jr. (right knee) and Andre Drummond (left big toe) are among their sidelined veterans.
Maxey practiced last Friday and the Sixers weren’t encouraged.
“It went just medium,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said Tuesday night before his team’s loss to the Knicks. “It wasn’t like, ‘Oh, that was great,’ but he’s still working out today. He’ll work out tomorrow. And again, we’re hoping he feels a little bit better.
“He got a splint put on there and kind of liked it, but then it was bothering him post-practice a little bit. But again, we’re working him out and trying to get him back on the court.”
Maxey did not look comfortable in his pregame workout at Madison Square Garden. He mostly took shots inside with his left hand and did not extend beyond the mid-range with his right.
The last time Maxey played was March 3. He’d clearly been hampered by his injured finger and acknowledged on Feb. 26 that it was affecting “mostly just my shot and my ball handling.”
“I can’t really pound the ball like I want to, but I’m not going to make any excuses,” he said.
Over his final four games, he shot just 19 for 69 (27.5 percent) from the floor and 2 for 21 (9.5 percent) from three-point range.
For the season, Maxey averaged 26.3 points, 6.1 assists and 3.3 rebounds. He made major improvements defensively and easily set a new career high in steals, nabbing 1.8 per game.
Why Butler vs. Dončić is matchup to watch in Warriors-Lakers game
Why Butler vs. Dončić is matchup to watch in Warriors-Lakers game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
It’s fascinating each time Stephen Curry and LeBron James go after each other, as they will Thursday night when Curry’s Warriors face James’ Lakers in Los Angeles.
But another matchup might be even more intriguing.
The venerable superstars, with eight NBA championships between them, will have to share the marquee with their team’s new toys: Jimmy Butler III for the Warriors, and Luka Doncić for the Lakers. The curiosity factor is high.
Neither Butler nor Doncić has won an NBA Finals, but each was acquired in February to pursue that goal. Curry-James has a long and distinguished history of high-stakes hoops, but Butler-Doncić has no postseason story – and no previous game of this magnitude.
The atmosphere will be intense when the ball tips off at 7 p.m. inside Crypto.com Arena. Coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area begins at 6 with “Warriors Pregame Live,” with “Warriors Postgame Live” immediately after the TNT telecast.
Golden State (44-31, fifth place in the Western Conference) and Los Angeles (46-29, third place in the West) are among six teams within 2.5 games of each other in the standings. Four will earn playoff berths, with the bottom two headed for the dreaded play-in tournament.
Butler has been a tonic for the Warriors, who were in 10th place with a 25-26 record before his Feb. 8 debut. Their 19-5 record since his arrival has pushed them up the standings. His individual statistics have been impressive enough – 17.5 points, 6.2 assists, 6.1 rebounds, 7.6 free-throw attempts per game – but his reservoir of intangibles has made an extraordinary impact on his teammates.
When Golden State coach Steve Kerr said this week that the Butler trade “saved our season,” there was not a trace of hyperbole.
“He’s just a big-time defender, big-time two-way player,” Kerr said. “Jimmy has made the rest of the pieces fit.”
The trade that sent Butler to the Warriors was stunning, but the deal a few days earlier that sent Doncić to the Lakers was a shocker of such proportions that the widespread initial reaction was disbelief. It rocked the entire NBA.
Doncić, however, has not shifted LA’s season into overdrive. Three of his four highest-scoring games were in losses. He’s shooting 41.5 percent from the field, including 36.1 percent from distance. The intangible impact has been negligible; the Lakers won 62 percent of their games (31-19) before his arrival and have won 60 (15-10) percent since he was added to the roster.
Butler projects to be the first defender on Doncić, as Andrew Wiggins was before Golden State traded him to Miami for Butler. Whoever puts the bigger stamp on the game likely shifts the outcome in his team’s favor.
Kerr had NBA revelation after watching Steph, Jokić's monster games
Kerr had NBA revelation after watching Steph, Jokić's monster games originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Steve Kerr is in awe of today’s NBA, and for good reason.
The Warriors coach joined 95.7 The Game’s “Willard & Dibs” on Wednesday, where he was asked about Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokić’s monster 61-point game in Denver’s 140-139 overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night, which took place shortly after Steph Curry scored a whopping 52 points in Golden State’s 134-125 win over the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum, and made a loud declaration about today’s NBA.
“We watched the end of that game on the plane, and man, what a performance,” Kerr said of Jokić’s big game. “You know what I was thinking while watching Steph last night and watching Jokić? If these type of games had happened 10 years ago, honestly, I think NBA fans would have been absolutely losing their minds. And I think what’s happened is the players have gotten so skilled and they’re doing such amazing things, and I think our game is being taken for granted right now.
“What these guys are doing is so spectacular. I could have never survived the NBA if I were playing today. I couldn’t have survived. These guys are so talented, they’re so good, and it’s like you read these articles (saying) ‘the NBA product isn’t that great.’ Are you kidding me? Are you looking at these guys? They’re just spectacular and they’ve never been more skilled and I’m just blown away by what I see night after night.”
The 37-year-old Curry, in his 16th NBA season, scored 52 points with 10 rebounds and eight assists on 16-of-31 shooting from the field and 12 of 20 from 3-point range against the Grizzlies. Jokić, who currently is battling Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for his fourth MVP award, scored 61 points with 10 rebounds and 10 assists, setting the record for the most points scored in a triple-double in league history.
Just another Tuesday night in the Association, right?
While the league and fans around the world have grown accustomed to these herculean-efforts from players like Curry, Jokić and many others, Kerr believes it’s necessary to take a step back and appreciate the greatness of today’s NBA.
Auburn’s Johni Broome can pass Barkley, blast March Madness cliché with one Final Four
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Jaylen shares update on knee injury, how he plans to manage pain
Jaylen shares update on knee injury, how he plans to manage pain originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Jaylen Brown scored a team-high 24 points in the Boston Celtics’ loss to the Miami Heat on Wednesday. But the right knee injury that kept him out of six of Boston’s previous 13 games clearly is still impacting him.
“I was in some pain today,” Brown told reporters after Wednesday’s game at TD Garden. “But you know, just pushing through it, trying to find ways to still be aggressive and add value to the team and stuff like that. Just something I gotta work through and manage.”
Brown looked visibly hobbled at times during Wednesday’s game yet still hit 10 of his 20 shots to go along with nine rebounds and four assists. The Celtics star suggested the ailment — which the team has described as a “right knee posterior impingement” — will simply need to be managed on a nightly basis.
“It’s a good step forward,” Brown said of playing with the injury. “I’ve had to come to grips that every night I’m not gonna feel my normal self, but that doesn’t mean I still can’t make plays and things like that. So, it’s just something that we are working through. Today was a good step forward.”
Brown has played in 60 games this season, and he’d need to play in at least five of the Celtics’ final six regular-season games to hit the 65-game threshold of eligibility for awards like All-NBA and Defensive Player of the Year.
Brown insisted that threshold has zero impact on his decision to play or not play, and that his goal is to be in a good place health-wise when the playoffs begin.
“I’ve got some stuff lined up with the medical staff in order to feel better come playoffs,” Brown said. “But for now, just mentally working through not feeling great, but still (being) able to find ways to be effective.
“… I’ve seen some specialists and stuff like that, but we’ve got a great medical staff, and we’ve got good people around. Come playoffs, my goal is to be feeling my best, so we’re just working through that.
“It’s a thing that we kind of manage and push through, but we’ve got a good plan in place.”
With the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 seed essentially locked up, Celtics fans probably wouldn’t hate to see Brown take a few games off down the stretch, even if it disqualifies him from making All-NBA. The C’s will have about a week off between the end of the regular season and the first round as they await the winner of the NBA play-in tournament, however, so Brown will at least have that time to make sure his knee is right for the postseason.
Boston’s next game is Friday night at TD Garden against the Phoenix Suns at 7:30 p.m. ET.