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Rockets at Thunder Picks and NBA Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 4/18/2013

Things could not have gone better on Wednesday in the final night of the 2012-13 NBA regular season if you are an NBA fan. No offense to the Utah Jazz, but no one outside that state likely wanted to see them in the postseason ahead of the L.A. Lakers (TV executives are giddy). When Utah was beaten soundly at Memphis in an early Wednesday tip, the Lakers knew they were in the playoffs when their home game with Houston began. However, both teams still had plenty of motivation: avoid the No. 8 seed and a likely quick out against the No. 1 and Western Conference favored Oklahoma City Thunder.

Jazz at Grizzlies Picks and NBA Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 4/17/2013

The Utah Jazz close out their regular season with a trip to FedEx Forum this Wednesday night to face the Memphis Grizzlies in a must-win situation to keep their playoff hopes alive. This Western Conference showdown is set to tip off at 8 p.m. (ET), and the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

Raptors at Hawks Picks and NBA Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 4/16/2013

It's my final NBA free picks article of the 2012-13 regular season, which seemed to fly by. Hopefully I made you a bit of money as I did finish solidly above .500 for the year. Of course, I will continue on through the playoffs.

76ers at Pistons Picks and NBA Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 4/15/2013

This game means nothing. Nothing at all. The 76ers will finish ninth or 10th in the Eastern Conference. No trophy for that. The Pistons could finish 11th but are probably destined for 12th. Who cares? There is nothing on the line and nothing to play for. These teams are just playing out the string — killing time until they can go on vacation with their families and forget the miserable season they have just endured.

Bucks at Bobcats Picks and NBA Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 4/13/2013

Saturday has a limited slate of games to choose from, and none are particularly meaningful. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t interesting storylines. At this point of the season — the very end — there are always storylines to be found. This game is going to be almost unwatchable. However, if you can get past that, it provides a good psychological puzzle to keep bettors interested.

Timberwolves at Jazz Picks and NBA Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 4/12/2013

The concept of a must-win game is dramatically overused in sports. As the Jazz finish off the home portion of their season, though, they are pretty much in must-win territory. With just three games remaining, they sit a full game behind the Lakers for the eighth and final playoff spot. They don’t necessarily need to win all three remaining games to overtake the Lakers, but it would sure help. They have a slightly easier schedule — home and home against Minnesota and at Memphis compared to home games against Golden State, San Antonio and Houston for the Lakers — but the margin for error is extremely slim.

Thunder at Warriors Picks and NBA Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 4/11/2013

I am writing this preview of Thursday night's TNT nightcap -- the final TNT Thursday doubleheader of the regular season -- between the Thunder and Warriors before the result of San Antonio's game in Denver on Wednesday night. However, I am going to assume the short-handed Spurs lose against the short-handed Nuggets because Denver is the NBA's best home team.

Spurs at Nuggets Picks and NBA Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 4/10/2013

The San Antonio Spurs will try and end the Denver Nuggets four-game winning streak this Wednesday night while keeping their grip on the No.1 seed in a battle between two heavyweights in the Western Conference. All the action from the Pepsi Center is slated to get underway at 10:30 p.m. (ET), and the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

Wizards at Knicks Picks and NBA Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 4/9/2013

As recently as two weeks ago, I presumed the NBA's scoring race was over and that Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant would become the first player since Michael Jordan to win four straight scoring titles. And it's not like Durant isn't playing well. He's averaging 30.4 points in his past five games and 28.7 in his last 10.

Bobcats at Nets Picks and NBA Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 4/6/2013

The Charlotte Bobcats will play their third game in four nights when they travel to the Barclays Center this Saturday to face the Brooklyn Nets. This Eastern Conference clash is set to tip off at 7:30 p.m. (ET), and the game will be available on NBA League Pass.

Bucks at Knicks Picks and NBA Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 4/5/2013

This has been a season of winning streaks, and the Knicks are the latest team to forget how to lose. After looking more than mortal earlier in the season, the team has now won 10 in a row — the longest unbeaten stretch for the franchise in 19 years. Unfortunately, the wins haven’t had the effect it could have — the Pacers have won five straight, so the Knicks still only have a half-game lead in the race for the second seed in the playoffs. The obvious storyline for this game, then, is whether the team can keep winning.

Spurs at Thunder Picks and NBA Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 4/4/2013

The San Antonio Spurs played at home Wednesday night against the Orlando Magic, meaning I should know better than to preview the Spurs' game Thursday night in Oklahoma City. This sets up as a perfect Gregg Popovich game to sit Tony Parker and/or Tim Duncan in the second of a back-to-back on the road. But Spurs-Thunder has a ton of importance, so I am banking on Pop doing the right thing and playing his guys. I would expect, however, several guys to sit in San Antonio's final back-to-back of the season, April 14 at the Lakers and April 15 at Golden State. Wouldn't it be a shame of Popovich helped get L.A. into the playoffs because he didn't play Parker and/or Duncan in that game?

Hornets at Warriors Picks and NBA Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 4/3/2013

The New Orleans Hornets will kick off a five-game road trip this Wednesday night with a stop at the Oracle Center to face the Golden State Warriors. This Western Conference clash is set to tip off at 10:30 p.m., and the game will be available on NBA League Pass.

Bulls at Wizards Picks and NBA Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 4/2/2013

How cool would it be for Bulls star Derrick Rose to make his debut on Tuesday night when Chicago visits Washington? Although I'm not sure debuting off ACL surgery against John Wall is a great idea considering he might be the fastest end-to-end player in the NBA. But to see Rose and Wall go at it, two former No. 1 overall picks who each played under John Calipari, would be terrific.

Pacers at Clippers Picks and NBA Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 4/1/2013

Last Wednesday the Clippers tied a franchise record by winning their 49th game of the season. Since then they have had two tries to set the record by eclipsing the 50-win mark for the first time, but they have fallen short — and against fellow Western Conference playoff teams Houston and San Antonio, no less.

Lakers at Kings Picks and NBA Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 3/30/2013

Every game counts as the Los Angeles Lakers continue their quest for a spot in the postseason this Saturday night with a trip to the Sleep Train Arena to play the Sacramento Kings. This Pacific Division battle is slated to get underway at 10 p.m. (ET), and the game will be available on NBA League Pass.

Nets at Nuggets Picks and NBA Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 3/29/2013

The Nuggets had won 15 straight games before improbably losing in New Orleans on Monday night. They must have enjoyed something about the feeling of losing because they did it again on Wednesday night. That second loss was by a single point in San Antonio, though — far more understandable and acceptable than the 14-point debacle in New Orleans.

Lakers at Bucks Picks and NBA Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 3/28/2013

I never like previewing a game that involves both teams playing the second of a back-to-back, but it’s pretty clear that Lakers at Bucks is the top game on Thursday night and the one that’s most intriguing (it’s another thin NBA Thursday night opposite the NCAA Tournament).

Heat at Bulls Picks and NBA Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 3/27/2013

The Miami Heat will look to move one game closer to setting the all-time NBA mark for consecutive wins when they square off against the Chicago Bulls this Wednesday night at the United Center. This Eastern Conference showdown is slated to tip off at 8 p.m. (ET), and the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

Clippers at Mavericks Picks and NBA Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 3/26/2013

Could this be the week the Dallas Mavericks players finally get to shave? A few months ago, the Mavs players made an NHL-type playoff pact that they wouldn’t shave until the team reached the .500 mark (as I’m sure you know, most hockey players don’t shave during the postseason). Well, Dallas is about there thanks to winning eight of its past 11 games to climb to 34-36. While most left the Mavs for dead in the playoff race, they are just two games behind the No. 8 Lakers for the West’s final spot. The time to make a move is now as the Mavericks are home for three games this week to conclude a six-game homestand.