NBA Expert Picks and Best Bets | April 23

The NBA playoffs are in full swing with at least a few games every single day. If you haven’t already started to make wagers on games, there are several sports betting sites welcoming new users and running great promos related to the playoffs. If you want to get started, the USA Legal Betting team is here to help. We have three expert picks for Tuesday’s game with odds from three different sportsbooks.

Timberwolves -3 | -110 at FanDuel

Game 1 between these teams turned into a blowout with the T’Wolves winning by 25 points. That makes the three-point spread that FanDuel is offering a little easier to get behind. While the Suns got good productivity from their three biggest stars, they didn’t get enough from their complementary players. With Grayson Allen questionable with a sprained ankle, one of the team's best role players may not be much of a factor in Game 2. Plus, after the loss in Game 1, the Suns are just 2-4 against the spread in their last six games, so things definitely aren’t trending in the right direction for them.

Meanwhile, the T’Wolves are now 13-5 in their last 18 games after their dominating effort in Game 1. They figure to be confident in Game 2, especially at home. In Game 1, Karl Anthony-Towns let his presence felt with 19 points. Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid also scored in double figures. Phoenix simply couldn’t handle Minnesota’s big men on top of a huge night from Anthony Edwards. Coming off a 25-point win, the Timberwolves should be able to cover a mere three-point spread in Game 2.

Under 225.5 | -115 at BetMGM

This is the playoffs, so Indiana’s up-and-down, high-scoring style of play just isn’t going to fly. The Pacers managed just 94 points in Game 1, resulting in a total of 203 points, well below the over/under of 230 points. Even with the over/under falling to 225.5 points for Game 2, that’s going to be a hard number to hit if the Pacers can’t get out and run.

Keep in mind that this isn’t the first rodeo for Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers. He knows that slowing down the pace of the game is the key to beating Indiana. The Bucks don’t mind playing that way, especially with Giannis still questionable to play in Game 2. Milwaukee should be able to force another slow-paced game, making it tough for both teams to top 100 points.

Clippers ML | +120 at BetRivers

Admittedly, the Mavericks are not nearly as bad as they showed in Game 1. But that performance was concerning nonetheless. It’s hard to understand why BetRivers and other sportsbooks are listing Dallas as a road favorite in Game 2 after a performance like that. That’s why we’re going to fade the Mavs in Tuesday’s game.

In fairness, that decision is more about how well the Clippers played. Even without Kawhi Leonard, they were better than Dallas in almost every way outside of garbage time in the fourth quarter. James Harden and Paul George rose to the occasion as expected while the Clippers saw their supporting cast step up as well. With or without Leonard in Game 2, we’re backing the Clippers to win straight-up.