The NBA regular season continues with a solid 7-game slate today — Wednesday, April 8.
Our staff of betting experts dug into the latest NBA odds and identified best bets for all seven of tonight's matchups — including picks for Hawks vs. Cavaliers, Thunder vs. Clippers and more.
Continue below for our NBA picks and predictions for Wednesday, April 8.
NBA Best Bets for Wednesday, April 8
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Hawks vs. Cavaliers Spread Prediction
I’m looking at the Cavaliers -1.5 tonight in what essentially serves as a free miniseries before the real thing starts. These two teams are likely headed for a 4-vs-5 matchup in the Eastern Conference, and they close out the season playing each other twice.
While the standings make it unlikely that Atlanta actually unseats Cleveland for home-court advantage, I don't think the Cavs want to tempt fate.
The familiarity factor here is almost zero. These squads haven’t seen each other since November, meaning Cleveland hasn’t had to account for this recent version of the Hawks, and Atlanta hasn't faced this new version of the Cavs.
That lack of familiarity usually favors the better-coached, more disciplined roster.
When I run my numbers, I have the Cavs as 4-point favorites with a healthy roster. Right now, the books are giving us a discount at -1.5 or -2 because they’re trying to middle the Donovan Mitchell injury news.
Mitchell sat out Monday against Memphis, but that was a clear maintenance day; they didn't need him for the Grizzlies.
This is a massive game on the schedule and it's not a back-to-back, which are loud alarm bells that Mitchell will likely be ready to go. When the "big boys" show up in these high-stakes spots, I'm siding with Cleveland.
There’s also a massive statistical split to consider: Atlanta’s rebounding. While the Hawks are fun to watch, their ability to control the glass completely falls off a cliff when they leave home. On the road, they are a different, more vulnerable squad.
You don't want to give a team you’re about to see in the playoffs any unnecessary confidence-building wins. I expect the Cavs to treat this like a statement game.
Pick: Cavaliers -1.5 (-110)
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Timberwolves vs. Magic ATS Pick
By Matt Moore
The Wolves are trying to lock up a playoff spot; if they win, they are in. The Magic are just trying to hang on for dear life in the play-in race.
It doesn’t feel like it, but the Wolves are actually really good short-handed. Without Jaden McDaniels or Anthony Edwards this season, the Wolves are 14-9 SU and ATS. That’s promising with Minnesota on a back-to-back here after cruising to a win vs. the Pacers.
The Magic's offense remains tepid, and Minnesota’s offense has enough weapons to piece together some points to find a way to hang within the number, if not win outright.
I project this at Magic -4.4; a much more reasonable number for an Orlando team that is still carrying market value for some reason despite their foibles.
The market line on this, built off power ratings at Inpredictable.com, derived from the spreads of the teams with a healthy 2.5-point homecourt adjustment, puts this line at a pick‘em.
At that price, I’d be on the Magic — but instead, Orlando is laying 6.5 points to a Western Conference team in the midst of a desperate seeding race with a chance to lock up a playoff spot? No thanks.
Minnesota is also 8-5 SU and 7-6 ATS this season on the second night of a back-to-back.
The Wolves aren’t world-beaters without Ant and McDaniels (assuming they don’t play), but Orlando simply continues to be a team worth fading; it’s been over a month since they covered the spread in back-to-back games.
Pick: Timberwolves +6.5 (-110)
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Bucks vs. Pistons Prop Bet
The Pistons return to Little Caesars Arena tonight for their final home game of the regular season, and while the stakes are low for the standings, there may be value in backing Tobias Harris in this spot.
With the Pistons already having clinched the 1-seed in the Eastern Conference, our Action PRO models have identified a significant edge on Harris's assists prop.
While Cunningham is officially listed as questionable for a return from a collapsed lung, the reality of the 1-seed being locked means the Pistons have no incentive to give him a full workload.
Whether Cade is sidelined or playing on a strict "ramp-up" minutes limit, the offensive orchestration will likely fall to veteran hubs like Harris for long stretches of the game
Harris enters tonight having recorded under 2.5 assists in back-to-back games, which has caused this line to stagnate. However, looking at the larger sample size, Harris had cleared this mark in seven of his last eight games prior to that mini-slump.
With a day of rest behind him after sitting out Monday’s game against Orlando for maintenance, he should return to the lineup with the fresh legs needed to facilitate.
The Bucks have largely shifted into evaluation mode, and their defensive discipline has waned as a result.
Detroit leads the league in scoring differential (+7.7), and even their bench units move the ball with elite efficiency.
Harris should be in a prime position to regain his form as a secondary playmaker facing a Bucks defense that ranks near the bottom of the league in opponent assists per game over the last month.
Pick: Tobias Harris Over 2.5 Assists (-135)
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Grizzlies vs. Nuggets Spread Prediction
By Matt Moore
Denver hopes to keep its streak alive and secure the first 10-game winning streak in the Nikola Jokic era. The Grizzlies are playing a large number of guys whose names I do not recognize and will have to Google mid-game. What could be better than betting on this game?
Ok, put simply, you just have to hold your nose and bet this. The Nuggets have only won nine games this season by more than 20 points. They just do not win games like this. They struggled with a very mediocre Blazers offense on Monday.
There’s no way for the Nuggets to scout this game. How do you possibly come up with a game plan for a team that basically met one another last week?
There’s no way to A.) get up for this game, B.) plan for this game, and C.) not look ahead to Friday’s matchup with OKC, which could be a game to clinch the 3-seed for them.
I like this one because it’s a lookahead spot — and quite simply, the Nuggets should not be favored by 20 over anyone. They’re a great team, but they are not a team that profiles as one that blows out its opponents.
Memphis has only lost by more than 20 points nine times this season as well, despite their tanking and injuries and unnecessarily trading a former DPOY and core component at the age of 25.
There’s nothing in either team’s profile to suggest that this spread should be this high, no matter who suits up for Memphis. This line is an abomination against the betting gods, and we must condemn it by taking the 'dogs here.
Pick: Grizzlies +22.5 (-105)
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Trail Blazers vs. Spurs ATS Pick
By Matt Moore
Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama are both doubtful for this game, and I make that a whopping 8.4-point adjustment to the power rating for these two teams.
The Blazers are 17-12 this season as underdogs of more than four points — and without Wembanyama, Portland has an advantage in size and in the frontcourt.
Portland is the 2nd-worst 3-point shooting team in the league, but they are shooting better since the All-Star break, especially Toumani Camara, which can give them the ability to hang offensively with the Spurs.
I make the Blazers small favorites in this game, which is likely too much of an adjustment, but it does suggest the line is off with the Blazers more than three-point dogs.
Portland needs this game for its lungs, as the Blazers try to scrap their way to the 8-seed so they can get two chances at getting into the playoffs — while the Spurs are basically locked into the 2-seed and don’t need to push it.
These two teams actually played with Wembanyama out, in San Antonio, back in January — and the Blazers won outright.
The Spurs don’t have the depth to just run roughshod over a motivated Portland team.
The Blazers' perimeter defenders are a perfect counter to De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper — and Portland allows the 6th-lowest three-point rate to its opponents.
The Blazers will make this game ugly and close enough to hang around — or pull off the win outright if San Antonio decides to punt with its seeding all but assured.
Pick: Trail Blazers +3.5 (-115)
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Thunder vs. Clippers Prop Bet
The top-seeded Thunder are looking to put a stamp on their historic campaign, while the Clippers are fighting to solidify their seeding in a crowded Western Conference play-in race. When the stakes reach this level, the handicap starts and ends with Kawhi Leonard.
We are officially in the part of the calendar where Kawhi flips the switch. He is coming off a dominant 34-point performance against the Mavericks on Tuesday, showing zero signs of fatigue despite the heavy usage.
Over his last 10 games, he’s averaged 28.1 PPG, consistently finding his spots in the mid-range and attacking the rim with postseason-level aggression.
Yes, the Thunder are the gold standard for defense this year, boasting an elite perimeter stopper in Lu Dort and a great rim protector in Chet Holmgren. However, Kawhi has historically been a system-breaker.
While OKC’s defense thrives on forced turnovers and transition stops, Kawhi’s game is built on isolation and high-stakes shot-making that neutralizes defensive schemes.
With the Clippers listed as 6.5-point underdogs, they simply cannot afford a passive night from their superstar.
The Thunder have owned the season series 2-0 so far, and if the Clippers want to avoid a sweep and build momentum for the play-in, Kawhi will likely need to push toward 20+ field goal attempts.
Given his current efficiency — shooting over 50% from the field and 39% from deep this season — that volume should be enough for Kawhi to clear this total, despite the tough matchup.
Pick: Kawhi Leonard Over 25.5 Points (-120)
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Mavericks vs. Suns Spread Prediction
By Bet Labs
For tonight’s clash at the Footprint Center, the Bet Labs "Visitor Recent 'Dogs – Losing Streak" system has flagged the Dallas Mavericks +10.5 as a high-value play.
While the general public is understandably hesitant to back a 25-54 Mavericks team that has lost 12 of its last 16 games, the data suggests that the market has reached a point of maximum overreaction, creating an inflated line for a team that is playing much better than its record suggests.
This system targets road underdogs who have been consistently overlooked by the market. The Mavericks arrive in Phoenix as a "Recent 'Dog," having been spotted points in nearly every matchup over the last month.
While they managed to snap their skid with a win over the Lakers on Sunday, the Mavs immediately fell back into the loss column with a 13-point loss to the Clippers on Tuesday.
When a team fails to cover or win consistently, the betting public tends to price them for dead, leading to double-digit spreads that fail to account for the inherent variance of professional basketball.
Cooper Flagg is currently on a historical scoring tear, recording a 51-point game and a 45-point game in the last week alone. While the Mavericks' overall results are ugly, Flagg’s individual supernova status means Dallas has an option that is capable of keeping them competitive in any game script.
The system also highlights the distraction-free nature of the road. After the emotional high of ending their home losing streak and the subsequent letdown in LA, a road game in Phoenix provides a focused environment to end the season with pride.
The Suns are solid, but they are coming off an ATS loss to the Rockets and have shown a tendency to play down to their competition when favored by double digits.
In a game where the public expects a blowout, the system bets on the resilient road 'dog to keep it within the number.
Pick: Mavericks +10.5 (-110)
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