Smart Money NBA Picks For Friday 4/9/2021 Action
April 09, 2021
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Mike’s Twitter: @MOConnor_NBA
Last week was another 3-3 week for me, and back to back weeks at .500 has me feeling like this week has to break positive for me. We’ve got a huge slate of NBA games tonight with plenty of appetizing lines, so let’s get into some picks to try and win you money.Smart Money NBA Betting Picks for Tonight’s Action
Chicago Bulls @ Atlanta Hawks: Bulls +2 (+100)
I’m starting to like what I’m seeing from the new-look Bulls. They’ve won back-to-back games against the Pacers and Raptors and have looked rock solid on both ends. Nikola Vučević and Zach LaVine are starting to click together, and the duo is complementing one another well. The Atlanta Hawks also have multiple injuries that leave you with cause for concern in this matchup against the Chicago Bulls. Clint Capela is questionable, as is Danilo Gallinari, and John Collins and De’Andre Hunter remain out as well. That accounts for nearly all of the Hawks’ front line. And I’m just not confident that they’ll be able to contain Vučević with a group of hobbled bigs. Even Thaddeus Young could be in for a big game – he’s a high-effort player who could get loose for offensive rebounds. Take the Bulls with the points here.Philadelphia 76ers @ New Orleans Pelicans: Sixers -6.5 (+120)
The Sixers are clicking on all cylinders defensively right now, and with New Orleans still lacking shooting, I’m betting here that Philly can stifle the Pelicans into a woeful offensive performance. I also like that the Sixers have Joel Embiid to confront Zion Williamson around the rim – Zion’s offensive rebounding and finishing will not be the cakewalk that it usually is against Mr. Embiid. Throw in the fact that Brandon Ingram is out and Lonzo Ball is questionable (not to mention Josh Hart and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, as well), and I struggle to see where the Pelicans find the offensive firepower to compete against Philly’s defense.San Antonio Spurs @ Denver Nuggets: Nuggets -8.5 (+125)
This spread is bigger than I expected it to be, but Denver looks like an absolute buzzsaw right now. The addition of Aaron Gordon has supercharged them on both ends, and it’s hard to imagine that San Antonio is going to be able to get in the way of that tonight. With Gordon in the lineup, Denver’s defense has already improved, and they’re playing with excellent pace on offense. He and Jamal Murray have been great when screening for each other, and Nikola Jokić has continued his MVP-level play. San Antonio has been sputtering of late, having lost four straight. I’m expecting that trend to continue tonight.
Golden State Warriors vs. Washington Wizards: Warriors -4.5 (-110)
Coming off of a big win over the Bucks (it’s still a big win even if Giannis wasn’t playing!), my thinking here is that the Warriors will ride the feel-good vibes into tonight and coast to a win over the Wizards. The Warriors’ recent stretch of play has many wanting to write them off, saying that they may not even make the play-in tournament. But the reality is that the Dubs are just an inconsistent team. They’ve had miserable stretches already in this season, and have bounced back in due time. My thinking here is that Curry unleashes a massive performance against Washington’s horrid defense, and the Warriors continue their positive play from Tuesday night with a blowout win over the Wiz.Top Player Props for Tonight’s NBA Action
Golden State Warriors vs. Washington Wizards: Stephen Curry Over 31.5 Points (-115)
You could’ve guessed that this was coming based on my commentary about the Warriors. Each week, I always like to double down and bet a player prop on a team that I also bet to win. In this case, my thinking is simply that the Wizards’ terrible defense will have no answers for Curry. He’ll be flying around screens off the ball and pulling up for 35 feet. And the Wizards will have nothing to say about it. I can feel a hot night coming for Curry.Minnesota Timberwolves @ Boston Celtics: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 26.5 Points (-115)
After watching Joel Embiid rip the Celtics’ big men to shreds on Tuesday night, I am betting here that Karl-Anthony Towns will be able to do the same. Robert Williams, Tacko Fall, and Luke Kornet have absolutely no chance of containing a post player like Towns or Embiid. I can easily see Towns scoring in a number of ways. The Wolves will be able to run pick and pops for Towns against slower bigs like Fall and Kornet. And Towns will be able to bowl through Williams in the low post. Depending on the matchup, Towns has an advantage regardless of who is guarding him. This is an easy bet; Towns will face little to no opposition.Mike’s Year to Date Record: 22-38
