NBA Picks Today: Best Bets, Odds & Predictions for Friday’s Full Slate

It is the last Friday of the NBA’s regular season, and it is going to be a busy one with all 30 teams in action tonight. So, if you like options, well, you’ve got plenty to choose from to bet on the NBA. Too many choices? 

Don’t worry; we’ve narrowed them down for you in our Best NBA Bets list.

The challenging part is figuring out who will be gunning for a win and who is already looking to the offseason/playoffs. I kept that in mind when I selected the following for my best NBA bets for the day.

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Houston Rockets

Houston is on a roll right now. With a 113-102 win over the Philadelphia 76ers last night, the Rockets have won eight in a row and their sixth consecutive home game. With the Lakers also winning last night, they still have something to play for: the No. 4 seed.

They’ll face a Minnesota team that is locked into the No. 6 seed and is probably already thinking about how best to deal with the Denver Nuggets in the first round. The Timberwolves will be without Rudy Gobert, and it would not be shocking to see Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle sit (both are listed as GTD and questionable).

My Pick: Rockets -10 at -110 (bet365)

The season series between them is 1-1. But this is essentially a meaningless game for the Timberwolves. They have no reason to try to win, unlike the Rockets. Couple that motivation with how well they’ve been playing on both ends of the court, and that ten-point spread doesn’t look so scary.

Toronto Raptors vs. New York Knicks

Knicks -6 at -110 (bet365)

New York has dominated the Raptors this season, winning all four previous matchups by 15+ points. The Knicks are healthy, have won four straight, and are playing at home, where they are 29-9 this season. At this time of the year, there is a chance they sit people and look to the playoffs, but with the No. 3 seed not secure yet, I doubt they’ll sit anyone tonight.

Toronto has something to play for as well (staying out of the play-in tournament), but they don’t stand a chance against a healthy Knicks team at home.

Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers rallied behind a 26-point game from LeBron James to beat a depleted Golden State Warriors team last night, 119-103, to retain their grasp on the No. 4 seed. But now they’ll face a better Phoenix Suns team. However, the Suns are also fresh off a win, one that secured the No. 7 seed.

So, the Suns don’t have anything to play for, and the Lakers do. Devin Booker is listed as out for Phoenix, but Los Angeles is down Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

My Pick: Suns ML at -125 (bet365)

This is a winnable game for the Lakers, but in the second half of a back-to-back. Los Angeles has more motivation to win, but I don’t trust this Lakers team to overcome a rest disadvantage. Phoenix may be without Devin Booker, but Dillon Brooks (assuming he plays) will be enough to lead them to a win.