We're kicking off the weekend right with seven best bets for Friday's three NBA Playoff games.
Whether you're looking to bet Bucks vs. Pacers early in the evening, place a wager on Clippers vs. Mavericks or stay up late sweating Timberwolves vs. Suns, we have you covered.
Check out all seven of our NBA Playoffs best bets for Friday, April 26 below — and be sure to come back tomorrow for even more NBA expert picks.
NBA Playoffs Best Bets Today
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 5:30 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
| 8 p.m. | |
| 8 p.m. | |
| 8 p.m. | |
  | 10:30 p.m. | |
| 10:30 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. | ||
Bucks vs. Pacers
Damian Lillard has been incredible in the first half of this first-round series, but he’s not sustaining it over the full game. Without Giannis Antetokounmpo, that won’t be enough against the Pacers with Pascal Siakam playing the way he has in this series.
Dame went nuts in Game 1, but even in that game, the Pacers were getting transition opportunities. That's the type of game they like to play, but they just weren’t executing. They looked nervous or just "off" for whatever reason.
But they found a groove in Game 2, and that’s what I expect from here on out — at least until Giannis returns.
That doesn’t mean the Pacers won’t lose another game, but I expect them to come out aggressively for their first home playoff game since August 2020.
Tyrese Haliburton hasn’t looked like his full healthy self, taking stepback 3s and threatening from long range, but he’s still a magnetic offensive force as a decision-maker and passer. Siakam should be enough to punish the Bucks defense in the midrange.
Plus, their depth is far superior to Milwaukee’s, which could be the difference in this first-round series.
No official word has been given in regard to Giannis' health, but he has barely ramped up his practicing, and I see no harm in waiting for official word on his status before placing a wager on the Pacers in Game 3.
They’re simply the better team at this point.
Pick: Pacers -5.5
| | |
Clippers vs. Mavericks
Clippers +4.5
The Clippers lost Game 2, but they were in it late. They led by one entering the fourth quarter, and you could make a solid argument they would've been better without Kawhi Leonard in the lineup.
To be clear, the Clippers are not better without Leonard, but in his first game back after a long absence, he didn’t look like his typical self.
I expect Leonard to settle back into his role and carry the Clippers more offensively in Game 3 after shooting just 7-of-17 in Game 2. Even with a poor shooting game from Leonard, L.A. lost by only three.
Expect a rested Clippers team and a less rusty Kawhi in Game 3. I’ll take +4.5 points as a cushion in a game Los Angeles could win outright.
Pick: Clippers +4.5
Ivica Zubac Over 11.5 Points
Ivica Zubac has been putting the beats on the Mavs' frontline, specifically Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively. He posted 20 points in Game 1 and 13 in Game 2. Including the playoffs, he's gone over this number in eight of his last 10.
The issue — and why this line is at just 11.5 — is that Luka Doncic was killing him on switches in Game 2, which could force head coach Ty Lue to look at small-ball lineups. But I think the need for Zubac's size, interior scoring and activity on the glass will outweigh that.
He's logging over 30 minutes per game this series, and as long as that remains the case, he should continue putting up numbers. But if he's the center of an adjustment, he'll need to work fast.
Pick: Ivica Zubac Over 11.5 Points
Ivica Zubac Over 10.5 Rebounds
By Jim Turvey
Using the larger sample of the regular season, this line seems a rebound too low. Zubac averaged 9.2 rebounds per game in the regular season for the Clippers, but as we all know, things change in the postseason.
And this season, that change has seen Ty Lue not go small! In fact, after Zubac played 26.4 minutes per game in the regular season, he has played 33 minutes each game of the series so far.
That seven-minute boost alone gets us to around 10.5 as a solid projection, but this matchup is one Zubac loves. On a per-minute basis, Zubac sits around 14.5 rebounds per 33 minutes against Dallas this season, giving us plenty of clearance even if Lue drops him closer to 30 minutes in Game 3.
I'd play this to over 11.5 (-115).
Pick: Ivica Zubac Over 10.5 Rebounds (Play to 11.5 at -115)
Russell Westbrook Over 11.5 PR
By Joe Dellera
The Clippers and Mavericks are tied 1-1 in a thrilling Western Conference series.
Kawhi Leonard returned last game but still didn’t appear to be 100% in the flow of the game. One player who always is the flow is Russell Westbrook. He's his own motor and can kick-start any fastbreak opportunity.
In the two playoff games, he’s averaged 9.5 rebound chances. However, last game, he finished second on the team with 14 behind only Ivica Zubac.
Kawhi being a little less aggressive on the glass has opened up more opportunities for Westbrook.
This matchup has also been one in which Westbrook has thrived with his engine. He has averaged 19 PR in three head-to-head spots against the Mavericks with James Harden, Paul George and Leonard. Furthermore, he has a 100% hit rate on this prop against Dallas over the last few seasons even with a 25-minute cap.
Westbrook can be leaned upon for some bench production, and his motor will open up rebounding and fast-break opportunities.
I expect Westbrook to exceed 11.5 points and rebounds.
Pick: Russell Westbrook Over 11.5 PR
| | |
Timberwolves vs. Suns
Suns 1H -3
Before the playoffs, a lot of the talk surrounding this series had to do with this being a terrible matchup for Minnesota because of the Suns' ability to exploit the midrange — an area where the Wolves are susceptible.
However, it seems to be a bad matchup for the Suns, who are struggling to match the Wolves' versatility with little depth. But we know from the regular season that this Suns team can absolutely hang with the Wolves — just maybe not for an entire game.
That’s why I’m targeting Phoenix in the first half.
I like the Suns early coming off a loss, but I don’t trust them to outmatch the Wolves' personnel for 48 minutes. Since acquiring Kevin Durant, the Suns are 24-19 against the spread in the first half following a loss. Since Devin Booker joined, the playoff Suns are 12-7 ATS off a loss, including in Game 2 when they led, 51-50.
On top of that, playoff teams on a losing streak of exactly two games are 223-152-9 ATS (59.3%) in the first half for a 13.8% ROI. That's a solid sample with literally no other factors involved.
This is a great spot for the Suns in the first half.
Pick: Suns 1H -3
Anthony Edwards Under 24.5 Points & Suns ML
By Maltman
The Suns have been terrible in this series. They've had no real defensive answer and haven't been able to get their offense going.
Putting Karl-Anthony Towns on Kevin Durant was a great strategic move by Chris Finch and allowed Minnesota to play strong defense on everyone else.
But series often switch when the other team comes home. The Suns dominated the Wolves for a reason during the regular season — they shot the lights out, forced more turnovers and took advantage of key opportunities.
I think the Suns turn it around here.
Head coach Frank Vogel has been significantly outcoached, but he isn't a bad coach. Phoenix has potential solutions, including more motion, better passing and keeping Jusuf Nurkic on the floor.
Anthony Edwards had a great Game 1 for Minnesota, but he scored less than 20 points in his other three games against the Suns this season. Phoenix has limited Edwards' shooting, putting its only good defenders on him, and he has generally been inefficient in the midrange.
I think the correlation between the under and a Suns win is strong. In fact, the only way they pick up the win is by limiting Edwards.
I'm putting a quarter-unit on a parlay featuring Edwards under 24.5 points and Suns moneyline at +175 at BetMGM. I'd bet it down to +150.
Pick: Anthony Edwards Under 24.5 Points & Suns ML (+175 · Play to +150)
