The Boston Celtics have been trying to overtake the Indiana Pacers for fourth place in the Eastern Conference for a long time, but to no avail. The season is winding down quickly, but Boston now has a chance to pull even when the teams face off in a head-to-head matchup on Friday. These two teams seem destined to face off in the first round of the playoffs, with the No. 4 seed getting the benefit of the home court advantage.
This is a huge game for both sides, and it highlights an intriguing schedule on Friday. Check below for the correct choice on the Pacers-Celtics game as well as several other best bets for Friday in NBA odds.
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Odds Analysis
The Celtics are one game back of the Pacers in the standings, but the oddsmakers have long felt like Boston is the better team. Indiana has exceeded expectations but has recently fallen back to earth, losing seven of its past 10 games. The Celtics have been very inconsistent this year but they are 26-12 at home and have an impressive point-differential. This one is not going to be as competitive of a game as most believe. Boston is the choice to win this game comfortably and cover the spread.
The Golden State Warriors are in a battle of their own over in the Western Conference. They are tied with the Nuggets in the loss column for the top seed in the conference. Golden State can take a positive step on Friday when it hits the road to face off against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The T-Wolves play pretty well at home, and normally this could be a worrisome matchup. However, the Warriors have a lot to play for and are trying to round into form as the postseason approaches. Avoid the spread, but Golden State on the moneyline is a smart play.
The Nuggets have a tough game as they hit the road to face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder. OKC has been struggling recently but did win last time out. The Thunder can move up or down the standings quite a few spots down the stretch as there are a lot of teams bunched closely together, so its focus will be locked in. Oklahoma City should be the favorite and will come away with the victory, dealing a blow to Denver’s chances at finishing atop the West.
The Portland Trail Blazers are dealing with some serious injuries in their starting lineup but nonetheless still sit in third place in the West after a recent hot streak. They are on the road on Friday against the Atlanta Hawks. Normally Portland would be a solid favorite to win this game, but the absence of Jusuf Nurkic and C.J. McCollum will loom large. The Hawks will be able to focus a lot of their defensive pressure on Damian Lillard. If he struggles, it will give Atlanta an opening. Take the Hawks on the moneyline to secure the upset win.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The best bet of the week comes from the matchup between the Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards. Washington is out of the playoff race but has done a nice job at home this season. This looks to be shaping up as a competitive showdown, and one the Jazz would really like to win as it battles for seeding in the Western Conference.
While Utah will have the superior motivation, the Wizards are still playing hard and will want to pick up the win in front of their home fans. Washington will get it done, and this is a good wager to pad the bankroll on Friday in NBA betting lines.
NBA ATS Pick: Washington Wizards on the moneyline against the Utah Jazz
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