The NBA has a nine-game slate to help celebrate Cinco De Mayo, if you’re into that. Tonight’s lineup ends with a monster game in the Mile High City with the red-hot New York Knicks vs. the Denver Nuggets.
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (+3) Total: 238.5
The Timberwolves have embraced the role of spoiler late in the season, having won five of their last seven games. When the Timberwolves are fully healthy, they are tough to deal with. Tonight they face a sliding Grizzlies team that really needs a win after dropping their last two games, and four of their last five.
This game opened up with the Timberwolves as a 4-point home underdog. PointsBet currently has the Timberwolves as 3-point home dog. Over 60% of the early money is backing the Grizzlies, yet the line is moving in the favor of the Timberwolves. Reverse steam on this game signals sharp action backing Minnesota. Putting your money on a short road favorite is a very dangerous spot to put yourself in. I will be backing the Timberwolves tonight.
Edge: Timberwolves +3
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Phoenix Suns vs. Atlanta Hawks (+1.5) Total: 228
I literally just warned you about putting your money on a short road favorite, but nothing in sports betting is absolute. The Suns visit Atlanta tonight looking for their sixth straight victory. The Phoenix Suns are currently tied for the best record in the NBA and they could have home court advantage throughout the playoffs.
The Hawks enter this evening’s game winners of two straight, and tonight they will try to avenge a 7-point loss to the Suns in late March. This will be the Hawks’ third game in the past five days. The Suns on the other hand, will be playing their third game in the past four days which included going to overtime last night. This is likely the reason why oddsmakers want you to fade the Suns tonight. The smart bet would be to back the Hawks, but I’m not comfortable fading the Suns.
Edge: Suns -1.5
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Washington Wizards vs. Milwaukee Bucks (-3) Total: 240
The Wizards have won 8 of their last 10 games on both the money line and against the spread. It’s not cliche to say that they’re the team no one wants to play right now. If you can find odds on them to be the eight seed in the Eastern Conference, I would bet it ASAP.
Things will get tough tonight as they face a Bucks team that has made light work of them twice this season. As good as Washington has been, they are not in the same class as the Bucks. I think this will be a fun and entertaining game that will go Over the number, but I would not fade the Bucks for the trendy Wizards.
Edge: Bucks -3
New York Knicks vs. Denver Nuggets (-3.5) Total: 215
The New York Knicks are the talk of the NBA right now. They’re currently 9-1 straight up and against the spread in their last 10 games. They have a tough test on the road vs. the Nuggets, who are a legit title contender. Denver have not skipped a beat since Jamal Murray was lost for the season.
The Knicks have become a very public team in the second half of the season. They will be a trendy underdog tonight in Denver. As you know, I like to fade trendy dogs whenever possible but I’m not looking to get in front of New York tonight.
Edge Finder Tip: The Knicks are 13-9 to the Under as road underdogs this season.
Edge: Under 215
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