A 3-0 day on Tuesday got us back on the winners list in a big way and we’ll be striving for more success as we preview the key games in the NBA’s 11 game slate this Saturday, the 1st of April.
San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder (11am AEDT)
After being up as much as 24 points against the Warriors on Thursday, the Spurs eventually went down to their Western Conference rivals by 12 points, all but waving goodbye to their chances to snatch the first seed. Now 3.5 games behind the Warriors with just 8 games to play, Spurs coach Greg Popovich will likely begin to ice some of his star players in preparation for the playoffs. Which makes this game an extremely tough one to call.
The Thunder are still in a tight race to pinch the 5th seed in the West off the Clippers. 2 wins behind but with 2 games in hand, they’ll be pushing hard every night from here on out in an attempt to set up a seeding to meet the Jazz instead of the Rockets in the first round.
With 4 out of their 8 remaining games on the road, Popovich will likely rest his stars in those games so I like the Thunder to cover at home.
TIP: Oklahoma City Thunder +1 - $1.95 at Sportsbet
Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors
They’ve been pushed to the brink by several teams, but the Warriors are currently on a 9 game winning streak and look like a championship calibre team even without their star small forward in Kevin Durant. With a win over the Spurs on Thursday, Golden State have probably done enough to lock up the first seed in the West, but will want to win at least one or two more games to be sure of it. The good thing for them is that of their seven remaining games, only one will be on the road. It should give Steve Kerr’s men plenty of time to rest at home without actually taking games off.
With 6 games of daylight above and below them, the Rockets are locked into the 3rd seed in the West and could start resting players any day now. The game in Golden State will be the 2nd of road back to back for the Houston team, and with Ryan Anderson still out with injury, I can’t see them winning this game even if all their stars do play.
TIP: Golden State Warriors -7.5 - $1.95 at William Hill
Philadelphia 76ers at Cleveland Cavaliers (10.30am AEDT)
In an absolute must win for the Cavs, they will take on the 76ers at home in a bid to win back their number one seed in the East. After a disappointing loss to the Bulls on Friday, the Cavs slipped a game behind the Celtics in the loss column and will need a win here and Boston to lose to the Magic to level up the records. Five of Cleveland’s remaining eight games will come at home but they’ll have to travel to Boston next Tuesday in a game that could decide the East.
The 76ers have been gallant in many of their defeats this year and average just 4 points less than their opponents on a nightly basis. Currently playing for lottery picks having iced Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons earlier in the season, it’s hard to find a scenario in which the 76ers win this one, but they have been good at keeping games close, only losing by over 10 points in one of their last five losses. At home we’d probably take them to cover a 10-point line but on the road against the Cavs in a must win for Cleveland, LeBron will take no chances here.
TIP: Cleveland Cavaliers -10.5 - $1.91 at Ladbrokes
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