The final day of the 2022-23 NBA regular season will take place on Sunday, April 9, with all 30 teams in action. Take a look at three strong bets for tonight’s games, featuring the Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers and New Orleans Pelicans.
NBA Best Bet #1: Utah Jazz +16 (-110)
The 37-44 Utah Jazz will visit the 42-39 Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. Both teams will be playing for the same outcome. The Lakers will look to avoid slipping in a crowded Western Conference postseason race, where spots five through nine are up in the air. The Jazz, meanwhile, will look to avoid hurting their draft lottery odds. Los Angeles will win this game, but they will likely bench their key players once the game is locked up and avoid covering the spread. Look for Utah to lose by no more than 15 points.
NBA Best Bet #2: Portland Trail Blazers +17 (-110)
The 33-48 Portland Trail Blazers will visit the 43-38 Golden State Warriors in a game that has plenty in common with the first game listed. Portland does not want to hurt their lottery odds, and a loss would guarantee them the fifth-best odds at the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Golden State is one of the five teams with their seed still up in the air, giving them plenty to play for. Like Los Angeles, they will likely look to avoid injury by pulling their starters once the game is out of reach. Expect the Warriors to win by no more than 16 points.
NBA Best Bet #3: New Orleans Pelicans ML (+114)
The 42-39 New Orleans Pelicans will visit the 41-40 Minnesota Timberwolves in yet another game with important seeding implications. While the Timberwolves can finish no higher than ninth, the Pelicans can finish anywhere from fifth through ninth. Furthermore, the loser of this game will end up as the No. 9 seed and need two wins to qualify for the postseason. Minnesota will be on the second leg of a back-to-back after playing in San Antonio last night. Look for New Orleans to take advantage as they win this game outright.
