The Atlanta Hawks face the Cavaliers in Cleveland for No. 8 in the East and the Los Angeles Clippers face the New Orleans Pelicans at Cryto.com Arena, without the services of their star Paul George. Our NBA experts are considering a spread bet and a player brace in tonight’s game. Check out their best bets for Friday’s knockout stages.
NBA Odds & Options
Atlanta Hawks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Pick Cavaliers +2.5 Book BetMGM Tipoff 7:30 p.m. ET TV ESPN Austin Wang: Money and action seem to favor the Hawks in this match, but I will support the Cavaliers here. The differences inside and outside are very favorable for the Cavaliers and they have the opportunity to bring Allen back in the lineup. The Hawks deal with myriad injuries on their own. Without bothering Collins, expect Mobly (and possibly Allen) to be able to help Young and his other scorers. I think this narrative is consistent with the theme throughout the season. The Cleveland Cavaliers have been criminally underestimated and the Hawks are constantly on the podium. This is no different here. The Cavaliers have the advantage at home, injury and rest. The value is in the Cavs here – bet on the spread and do not be afraid to add some to the money line. »Back to table of contents«
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Select Jonas Valanciunas Over 0.5 3 points (+110) Kings Tipoff book drafts 10 p.m. ET TV TNT Brandon Anderson: The Pelicans have some interesting advantages in this match, and the biggest one is almost certainly in the glass. New Orleans mash the glass of aggression. The Pels are one of the best attacking rebound teams in the league, while the Clippers are the last dead in the glass of defense. New Orleans had 58 offensive rebounds in four games against the Clips, averaging +12 rebounds. That puts LA in a real catch-22. The Clippers like to go young and this could force the mountaineer Jonas Valanciunas to leave the field defensively. But just playing small gives New Orleans an even bigger advantage in rebounds, so it could have a boomerang. But if the Clippers stay big, that means more Ivica Zubac, and it has been difficult defensively with the Pelicans deliberately removing Valanciunas in the 3-point line to remove Zubac from the edge. And a sacred cow works. Valanciounas made 57 3s this year – and 12 of them came in two games with the Clippers. He made five in one and three in another, attempting eight and nine 3s, the two games with the highest volume of the season. JV scored a three-pointer in exactly half of his games, already in our favor since we get plus juice, but this match expects more. In addition to a recent defeat with the Valanciunas’ limited minutes, he scored 14-of-20 3s in the other three Clippers games with multiple 3s in each. I initially researched Valanciunas trying to play his rebound. He had 13, 15 and 16 in those three games and I like his rebounds and alternative overs – but I would rather play a three-pointer and not want to play both if his minutes get annoying. Do you want to get wild? Look for some 3 point alternatives. Remember, the Valanciunas have a lot of 3 in three of the Clippers’ four games and the volume was there. This is a clear, deliberate strategy. You can play two 3s at +600 at Bet365, three + at +1700 and four + at +4000. This may sound crazy, but he has done it twice this season against the Clips. Come on big. Let’s see this shot. »Back to table of contents« How would you rate this article?
