The 2023-24 NBA regular season is coming to an end and we’re continuing to tackle it hard at VSiN. As always, Jonathan Von Tobel continues to provide you with his exceptional coverage of the greatest league in the world. Just click here for all of his content. However, all of my picks will be featured in this daily column, which will combine my NBA best bets and NBA player props. So, keep reading to find out how I’m playing the NBA slate on Wednesday, April 10th. Also, check out our NBA Odds page for the latest line movement.
MORE: Check out our Pro Picks page for everything our experts have on April 10
NBA Best Bets Today – April 10
Toronto Raptors at Brooklyn Nets – 7:30 pm ET
The Over has hit in six of the last seven games the Raptors have played. It’s also 12-8 in the last 20 games that the Nets have played. With that in mind, I’m not going to overthink this all that much. While there won’t be a lot of star power in this one, there’s just no reason to expect anything but a pretty high-scoring game. The fact of the matter here is that both of these teams are in the bottom 15 of the NBA in defensive rating over the last 15 games. And two really bad defenses means good things for the offenses, especially at this point in the season.
It’s also worth noting that neither one of these teams is playing for anything, so these players will likely want to just get out and play a free-flowing game. The Raptors played a similar game against the Washington Wizards on Sunday, with the two combining to score 252 points.
Bet: Over 221.5 (-108 – 1.5 units)
Orlando Magic at Milwaukee Bucks – 8:00 pm ET
The Magic are coming off a bad loss to the Houston Rockets last night, but they should be able to pick up a win tonight. I know the Bucks just beat the Boston Celtics, but they lost Giannis Antetokounmpo to a calf injury in that game. And with this being a back-to-back, it’s likely the Greek Freak won’t be the only Milwaukee player to miss this one. So, that should give Orlando a pretty significant edge, especially if Franz Wagner ends up suiting up here.
This is also a Bucks team that struggles to get stops with Antetokounmpo, and losing one of the best defenders in the league likely won’t help matters. That should help Orlando quite a bit offensively, and the Magic need it. While Orlando is an elite team defensively, the team can struggle to score efficiently.
The Magic just need to be prepared to defend an aggressive Damian Lillard here. He’s going to come out swinging, but it helps that Orlando can stick Jalen Suggs on him.
Bet: Magic ML (-110 – 2 units)
Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets – 10:00 pm ET
Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Clippers – 10:30 pm ET
Tonight’s meeting between the Timberwolves and Nuggets is massive. The top seed in the Western Conference is still on the line, and these teams know it. So, this will be a battle between two highly motivated squads. But the Timberwolves beat the Nuggets in Denver on March 29th, and it’s hard to see them doing it again. In fact, Denver is 49-25 against the spread when playing at home against a team that upset them earlier in the season under Mike Malone. And the Nuggets have won those games by an average of 10.3 points per game. So, I like Denver to bounce back this evening, especially with Karl-Anthony Towns still out for Minnesota. But instead of playing the spread, I’m taking the Nuggets moneyline as part of a two-team parlay.
For the Suns, I’m just counting on a big bounce-back performance after last night. That first quarter last night was embarrassing and Phoenix knew it. So, the Suns should come out with a lot more fire, and the Clippers are likely to be without multiple stars here. That said, I’m trusting a Phoenix team that has burned me all year. It’d be shocking if Los Angeles overcomes a significant talent mismatch two nights in a row, especially against a Phoenix team that badly needs a win.
Parlay: Nuggets ML/Suns ML (+122 – 2 units)
UPDATE: After this was published, it was announced that the Clippers will be without Paul George, Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. Russell Westbrook and Ivica Zubac are also questionable. I’d still play this moneyline parlay, but you likely won’t get it at plus-money odds.
NBA Player Props Today – April 10
Toronto Raptors at Brooklyn Nets – 7:30 pm ET
I’m already taking the Over in Raptors-Nets, but I’m also backing Cam Thomas to go Over his point total. Thomas only had 21 points in a 30-point beatdown at the hands of the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. However, he had scored at least 25 points in seven of his previous 10 games. He is being relied on to do everything for Brooklyn right now, so we know the usage is going to be there. Toronto also happens to be the second-worst defensive team in the league since the All-Star break, according to defensive rating. So, this is a very good matchup for Thomas, who also happens to hit 37.4% of his 3s at home. If he hits a few triples, he should easily hit the first of tonight’s two NBA player props.
Bet: Thomas Over 24.5 Points (-120 units)
Dallas Mavericks at Miami Heat – 7:30 pm ET
Kyrie Irving is averaging 5.2 assists per game this season, yet the Over on his 4.5-assist total is available at even-money odds. When you consider that Irving has racked up 18 assists over his last three games, it’s hard not to love the Over tonight. The point guard position is also one of the only places where Miami isn’t strong defensively. The Heat have wing defenders to throw on Luka Doncic, and they’ll feel great about what Bam Adebayo can do to some of the Mavericks bigs. But Miami is going to have a hard time keeping Irving out of the paint, and I trust him to make some good reads when he’s there. So, I like his assist number with tonight’s NBA player props.
Bet: Irving Over 4.5 Assists (+100 – 1.5 units)
2023-24 Record: 314-331-2 (-19.15 units)
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