Each day, one of our experts will offer up a best bet (or two or three) that mobile sportsbooks are offering. It might be a traditional spread bet, a player prop or one of the various odds boosts that books offer.
Here are our best bets for Sunday, April 22:
TOP PLAY
The play: NBA playoffs, Nuggets -3.5 over Timberwolves
The odds: -110
The book: FanDuel Sportsbook
Time/TV: 9:30 p.m. (ABC)
Our take: The Western Conference has been home to some of the most exciting first round NBA Playoffs matchups. However, the Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves has not been one of them. The No. 1 vs. No. 8 series has been completely one-sided with the top seed in the West one game away from advancing.
The Nuggets have won by an average of 16 points per game in the three games that’ve been played against Minnesota during the postseason. They now have an opportunity to close out the series on the road against a tired Timberwolves team and secure their place in the second round via a sweep.
It’s obvious that oddsmakers are taking into account the host’s fighting spirit with this spread. While Minnesota has put up more of a fight than many believed it would this series, the Timberwolves’ best just hasn’t been enough.
The Brooklyn Nets rolled over and succumbed to the sweep against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday — I believe it’ll go the same way for Minnesota. The Timberwolves’ season should end with a whimper as the top seed in the West moves on with a comfortable win.
How can you not take Denver to cover here at just a 3.5-point spread?
KINGS KEEP IT CLOSE AT THE CHASE CENTER
The play: NBA playoffs, Kings +7.5 at Warriors
The odds: -108
The book: FanDuel Sportsbook
Time/TV: 3:30 p.m. (TNT)
Our take: Remember earlier in the piece when I alluded to a few series in the West being highly competitive and entertaining? The Golden State Warriors vs. Sacramento Kings series has epitomized that description. These games feature the NBA’s two highest-scoring offenses, plenty of star power and even more fun.
The Warriors pummeled the Kings in Game 3 to bring the series back within one game. Sacramento will undoubtedly respond in Game 4 and give Golden State its all. The Kings should be able to keep it close as De’Aaron Fox and Co. look to steal a game at Chase Center.
The winner of two out of three games in this series has covered Game 4’s spread of -7.5. However, I believe this game will be a lot more similar to Game 1 in terms of intensity as the two teams trade blows. I hate to bring cliché analysis to this space, but Game 4 could come down to whichever team has the ball last.
HOW WE’VE FARED
NBA playoffs: Nets money line over 76ers (LOST)
NBA playoffs: Suns -7½ over Clippers (WON)
Saturday’s record: 1-1
Total for the week: 5-6, 1 pending
Total for April: 18-25, 1 pending
Total for 2023: 83-95, 1 pending
NOTE: If a line or odds are minus, it considers the juice one must lay to place the bet. Ex: Team A is -160 on the money line, one would have to bet $160 to win $100 (or $16 to win $10). OR Team B is a 5-point favorite at -110, one would have to bet $110 to win $100 (or $11 to win $10.)
Conversely, on positive lines, if Team C is +140 on the money line, $100 would bring in $140 (or $10 to win $14).
