April 30th NBA Playoffs Best Betting Picks and Predictions

Two home teams are facing elimination in the NBA playoffs on Thursday night.

The Philadelphia 76ers extended their series back home for Game 6 against the Boston Celtics, while the Atlanta Hawks try to stay alive against the New York Knicks in Atlanta.

We’ll break down three plays for the Thursday action. Remember to monitor the odds throughout the day, as the sides and totals market is constantly changing.

Here are the free NBA picks for Thursday, April 30. Odds Courtesy of DraftKings

Best NBA plays today

• Celtics (-5.5) at 76ers
• Knicks (-2.5) at Hawks
• Nuggets/Timberwolves Under (224.5)

Celtics (-5.5) at 76ers - 8:00 p.m. ET

Philadelphia stunned Boston in Game 5 as 10.5-point road underdogs, 113-97 to stay alive. The 76ers return home looking to force a Game 7, but Philadelphia has lost both home games to Boston.

The Celtics were held to 11 points in the fourth quarter in Game 5, while shooting 28% from 3-point range. Boston limited Philadelphia to an average of 98.0 points per game in two road wins, capped off by a 128-96 blowout in Game 4.

Philadelphia is 2-11 straight-up and 3-9-1 against the spread in the last 13 games as a single-digit underdog. Boston should bounce back tonight and eliminate Philadelphia with a road cover in Game 6.

Knicks (-2.5) at Hawks - 8:00 p.m. ET

The Hawks led the Knicks, 2-1 through three games, but New York has rebounded with consecutive victories. New York seeks its fourth consecutive trip to the second round as the Knicks are favored on the road.

In each of the past two wins, the Knicks dominated with a pair of double-digit blowouts. Jalen Brunson dropped 39 points in the Game 5 rout, as the Knicks shot 57% from the floor.

Hawks G CJ McCollum is coming off his worst offensive game of the series, getting held to six points on 3-of-10 shooting. Atlanta’s two victories came by one point apiece, so New York was that close to sweeping this series. Let’s lay the short number with the Knicks to finish off the series.

Nuggets/Timberwolves Under (224.5) - 9:30 p.m. ET

Minnesota Timberwolves can finish off the Denver Nuggets at home tonight, but has to do so without leading scorer Anthony Edwards. He remains sidelined after getting injured in Game 4, as the Nuggets took advantage with a Game 5 home triumph.

The Wolves still lead the series, 3-2 returning to Target Center off a 125-113 loss in Denver on a 225.5 total. Tonight’s total has dipped one point after the teams combined for 39 points from the foul line in Game 4.

Each of the two games in Minneapolis finished under the total easily, with the Nuggets getting held to 96 points each time. Look for a defensive battle after the highest-scoring game of the series in tonight’s pivotal Game 6.