The NBA regular season continues with a solid 9-game slate today — Wednesday, April 1.
Our staff of betting experts dug into the latest NBA odds and identified best bets for six of Wednesday's matchups — including picks for Celtics vs. Heat, Knicks vs. Grizzlies, Spurs vs. Warriors and more.
Continue below for our NBA best bets, picks, predictions, and odds for this Wednesday.
NBA Best Bets for Wednesday, April 1
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 10 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NBA Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Hawks vs. Magic Spread Prediction
By Matt Moore
This has the makings of a fairly ugly contest with many missed jumpers.
The Magic prevent three-pointers at a high rate, but Atlanta generates them at a high rate. Orlando struggles to defend the rim, but the Hawks aren’t good scoring there — and their new identity is five-out with Onyeka Okongwu.
The Magic will focus on Atlanta's spot-up attempts, which is the majority of their offense, but Orlando is also a little weaker against on-ball actions.
Offensively, this is going to be a lot of transition from both teams — with both squads ranked top-10 in points per game in transition. Orlando is bottom-10 in transition defense, while the Hawks are 13th.
The Magic will get to the foul line against the Hawks in this spot, but it’s hard to sustain offense that way.
I’ll trust Atlanta to sweep the season series and move closer to punching its playoff ticket. I’m just not ready to believe the Magic have turned a corner yet.
Pick: Hawks -4 (-110)
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Celtics vs. Heat Prop Bet
Action PRO is projecting 1.94 assists for Baylor Scheierman in the Celtics' matchup against the Heat tonight, presenting a solid 12.3% edge against his current prop line of over/under 1.5, which is good enough to mark the Over with a B grade in our database.
With the return of Jayson Tatum to the Celtics' lineup, Scheierman's numbers have taken a little bit of a hit recently. However, his assist numbers have remained solid.
Scheierman has recorded 2+ assists in 10 of his last 11 games, while hitting 3+ assists in five of those contests — and we expect that trend to continue in tonight's matchup against a Heat squad that plays at the fastest pace in the league.
Pick: Baylor Scheierman Over 1.5 Assists (+120)
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Knicks vs. Grizzlies Player Prop Pick
By Joe Dellera
The Knicks face off against the Grizzlies in the second game of a back-to-back set tonight.
The Knicks lost a tough one to the Rockets yesterday, but they should be in a good position to bounce back as double-digit favorites tonight.
One player that has gotten more run lately is Jordan Clarkson. He’s consistently logging somewhere between 15-20 minutes — and even with Landry Shamet potentially returning today, I would be a little surprised if McBride plays.
Regardless, Clarkson should get plenty of run in this game.
In games with double-digit spreads, Clarkson averages 10.7 points on around 20 minutes per game. If we bump the minutes floor up to 10, he averages 11.4 points on 20.8 minutes per game — clearing this mark in 10 of those 14 games.
The Knicks generally destroy bad teams — and when that happens, the bench usually gets extended run.
Pick: Jordan Clarkson Over 8.5 Points (-130)
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Pacers vs. Bulls Total Prediction
By Matt Moore
I project this total at 248.
The Over is 19-15 when the Pacers are road 'dogs this season — and 7-4 when their opponent is below .500.
The Over is also 9-5 when the Bulls face a team with a winning percentage below 30%.
Chicago can’t guard anyway, and the Pacers’ system lends itself toward good shots and makes.
The Bulls rank second in pace; the Pacers are still top-10.
This is going to be a fast-paced, fun game between two teams trying to lose. What could be better?
Pick: Over 246.5 (-115)
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Kings vs. Raptors Spread Bet
By Bet Labs
Our NBA spread betting system titled "Fading Tired Home Teams" targets regular season matchups where fatigue and overvaluation intersect to create an edge for visiting teams — and the Kings fit the bill in this spot.
Home teams that have played multiple games in a short span, often 3-5 within five days, tend to experience a drop in energy and defensive consistency despite the advantage of being on their own court.
The market often overlooks this subtle fatigue effect, assuming comfort at home offsets physical wear, but in reality, quick turnarounds and short rest lead to slower rotations, weaker transition defense, and less efficiency late in games.
Visiting teams facing these tired hosts, particularly when they are more rested and entering the matchup with focus and travel rhythm, tend to outperform expectations against the spread.
This setup consistently rewards bettors who recognize that rest and intensity outweigh location when home favorites are running on fumes.
Pick: Kings +13.5 (-110)
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Spurs vs. Warriors Prop Pick
Action PRO is projecting 13.22 points for Gary Payton II in the Warriors' matchup against the Spurs tonight, showing a sizable 11.3% edge against his current prop line of over/under 11.5, which is strong enough to tag the Over with a B grade in our system.
Steph Curry will remain sidelined for the Warriors tonight, so that means there will continue to be plenty of extra shot attempts to go around for the rest of Golden State's supporting cast — and Payton has been one of the main benefactors.
Payton has scored 14+ points in seven of his last eight games, while managing to break 15+ points in five of those contests; and getting up to 16+ points in three of them.
He shouldn't have too much trouble reaching 12+ points in this spot, despite drawing a difficult matchup against the Spurs.
Pick: Gary Payton II Over 11.5 Points (-125)
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