NBA Picks – Rundown For Saturday, April 17th
Online betting odds should favor the Hawks at home after their 102-92 win in Game 1, with six players scoring in double figures. The Hawks moved the ball around with 18 assists in a balanced attack, while the Bucks were pretty cold, outside of 34 points from rookie Brandon Jennings. The Bucks looked nervous as they fell down by 17 after the first quarter, and it was too big a hole to climb out of. They should be more relaxed in Game 2, but they’ve now dropped seven in a row in Atlanta.
Pick: Atlanta
The Celtics will be without Kevin Garnett in Game 2, but they should still be favored in your sportsbook after Game 1’s chippy 85-76 win in Boston that was highlighted by Garnett’s errant elbow to the face of Miami’s Quentin Richardson after he got tangled up with Paul Pierce. On the court, the Celtics’ defense showed an intensity that it has missed down the stretch, holding the Heat to 39.7% from the field, while forcing 19 turnovers. Dwyane Wade had 26 points, but he’ll need some help, and it’ll be easier without Garnett in the lineup.
Pick: Miami
The Trailblazers pulled out the NBA betting upset with a 105-100 win in Phoenix on Sunday, and Andre Miller stepped up huge in the absence of the injured Brandon Roy with 31 points. Portland held Phoenix to 41.8% from the floor, and they held the Suns to only four fast-break points, which is amazing against the Suns’ run-and-gun offense. The Suns have to be more aggressive as they were just 13-of-16 from the foul line, while Portland was 23-of-31, and they have to take it to the Trailblazers, especially at home. They should earn a split here.
Pick: Phoenix
Kevin Durant looked shaky in his first playoff game, an 87-79 loss to the Lakers, going 7-of-24 for 24 points, and he missed seven of his eight long-range attempts. Russell Westbrook picked up the slack with 23 points, but the Thunder were bothered by the Lakers’ length all game as Los Angeles blocked nine shots, and Andrew Bynum dominated the post with 13 points, 12 boards and four swats. The Thunder have now lost 13 in a row in Los Angeles against the Lakers, who didn’t have their best offensive game, but their defense was in top form against a team that can really explode on you. The Thunder’s nerves should be better for Game 2, but with their track record in the Staples Center against the Lakers, we’re not that confidence that they can steal a sports betting win here.
