Knicks vs. Heat and Grizzlies vs. Spurs could be the No. 1 vs. No. 8 first round playoff match-ups for either conference. However, both the Knicks and Grizzlies still need to win to get in, which will be difficult to do as they go on the road against the in-form top seeds.
New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat (Sunday, April 6, 1:00 PM ET)
Betting on the New York Knicks
[sc:NBA240banner ]As improbable as it may seem, the New York Knicks look like they’re making the playoffs. The Knicks absolutely smoked the Nets 110-81 on Wednesday to move into the no. 8 seed in the East. They are now 4-1 SU in their last five and have won three in a row.
Carmelo Anthony (27 PPG in his last five) is giving his usual production, but JR Smith is finally providing what’s been expected from him all season with 20 PPG in his last five games.
On the other end, the Knicks defense has impressively held its last three opponents to 40% or below from the field and just 32% from three. This good defense has helped the total go under in the Knicks’ last four games.
Betting on the Miami Heat
The talk of a crisis has been duly been extinguished by LeBron James and the Miami Heat, who have won four in a row and are 5-1 SU/ATS in their last six games. The totals have also gone under in all six games.
With Dwyane Wade likely to sit out until the playoffs, LeBron James (25 PPG, 7 RPG, 7 APG on 55% shooting in his last five) will continue to carry the load for Miami. LeBron is averaging 31 PPG on 65% shooting in three games against the Knicks this season.
Even without Wade and Ray Allen, the Heat offense has shot 50% or better in three of their last four contests and on defense, they’ve held their last four opponents to 30% or worse from beyond the arc.
The Heat are 5-0 SU in their last five home games, with four of those wins coming against likely playoff teams.
Prediction
LeBron James and the Heat take care of business at home with a comfortable win and cover over Carmelo and the Knicks.
Memphis Grizzlies vs. San Antonio Spurs (Sunday, April 6, 7:00 PM ET)
Betting on the Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are still fighting for the last Western Conference playoff spot, but they haven’t helped their cause by going just 2-3 SU in their recent five-game road trip. The Grizzlies also went 0-5 ATS in those five games.
The trademark Grizzlies defense has uncharacteristically allowed around 50% shooting in their last four games, while the usually consistent duo of Zach Randolph (just four points on 1-8 shooting) and Mike Conley (seven points, 3-15 from the field) look to bounce back from off nights in a loss to the Timberwolves on Wednesday. Conley is averaging 24 PPG on 52% shooting in three games vs. the Spurs this season.
Betting on the San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs’ epic 19-game winning streak was finally snapped on Thursday after a 106-94 road defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Spurs failed to cover as four-point underdogs, dropping them to 12-3 ATS in their last 15 games.
San Antonio’s struggles against the Thunder continued as the Spurs committed 19 turnovers which led to 30 Thunder points. The San Antonio defense also allowed the Thunder to shoot 49% after holding its last four opponents to around 42%.
Despite the loss, San Antonio still has an active 13-game home winning streak to protect. Moreover, the Spurs have a nine-game home winning streak vs. the Grizzlies.
Prediction
The Spurs haven’t figured out how to beat the Thunder, but they have with everyone else, especially the Grizzlies at home. Expect a bounce-back San Antonio win and cover.
