We are nearly there. With the NBA regular season wrapping up on Sunday, teams are starting to learn their fate for the postseason. However, unsurprisingly the West is still undecided, especially when looking at the play-in positions. The Dallas Mavericks still have hope of forcing themselves in. Meanwhile the teams from 5th to 9th are separated by just 2 games. There could still be plenty of shuffling between them to come.
Take a look at our NBA predictions for all of tonight’s 11 games. But till then, check out my favourite first basket scorer props below.
With the New York Knicks locked into their position in the East, it is interesting to see if they run a full-strength lineup tonight. It could really impact not only their chances of winning the tip, but also the ability of their offense to knock down shots. With Jonas Valanciunas helping the New Orleans Pelicans win 80% of their tips over the last 10 games, the hosts could start with the ball here. Brandon Ingram could take over from there. With RJ Barrett potentially side-lined for the visitors, they could have issues matching Ingrams length on the wing. The Pelicans star has made the teams opening basket in 3 of his last 10 starts. Look for him to utilise this his size advantage to get his shot off over the Knicks.
The Celtics are now in the same position as the Knicks, with this game being all but meaningless for the team. The Raptors on the other hand still have hope of overtaking the Atlanta Hawks. Look for them to come out fast as a result. The Raptors have been locked in defensively, ranking 3rd in defensive rating over the last 10 games. They should be well positioned to get a stop against the shorthanded hosts even if they do not win the tip. On offense, Scottie Barnes looks good value to get them going. He was 2nd on the team in scoring in their last meeting and should prove to be a mismatch for the Celtics wings in the post. With an effective post hook once he gets close to the basket, Barnes should have the chance to open the scoring tonight.