Andrew Wilsher

The Hornets are still fighting to improve playoff positioning in the East, while Detroit has already locked up the top seed in the conference after clinching already. That difference matters in the final stretch of the regular season because Charlotte is playing for leverage, while Detroit’s biggest goals are already secured.

The Hornets are also playing some of their best basketball right now. Charlotte has been on absolute tear, they have gone 9-3 SU in their last 12 outings. No matter where the Hornets land in the Eastern Conference bracket, make no mistake, they are a threat. Stylistically, Charlotte’s offensive balance makes them dangerous too. The Hornets have multiple options to post double figures, and that kind of distributed scoring matters against Detroit’s physical defense because it prevents the Pistons from loading up on one creator. At home, with urgency and momentum, Charlotte gets the situational edge. Against a Detroit team with less at stake, the Hornets are the time to hop on here. They are favored for a reason.

Pistons vs Hornets prediction: Hornets -2.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to -3.

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After a long battle with the San Antonio Spurs, the OKC Thunder have finally secured the #1 seed in the Western Conference. OKC’s win over the Clippers was their 7th in a row, as the lead is now 3 games ahead of the Spurs with just 2 games remaining. That likely means the Thunder will rest most of their key players in order to get ready for the postseason. It’s exactly what this team needs following a season of uncertainty on the injury front. Although they are one of the deepest teams in the league, the oddsmakers still have them as double-digit underdogs on Friday against the Nuggets. They’ve covered just twice in 8 meetings against this team and only once in 5 visits to Ball Arena.

For the Nuggets, this game means everything, as they are still not 100% safe in the #3 seed. The good news is they control their own destiny, and if they can win the remaining 2 games, they’ll finish 3rd and face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs. Jokic and company have won 10 games in a row, which is the longest active win streak in the NBA. Although the defense has not performed up to the level their fans hoped it would, this team has absolutely destroyed opponents on the offensive end during this win streak. Denver has posted an offensive rating of 128.2 in the last 10 games, that’s 3.1 points more than the Thunder, who are in 2nd.

The Nuggets’ Net Rating during the win streak is at 9.6 points, and they’ll look to take out their frustrations on this team after OKC took the first 3 meetings of the season earlier. They too have a bunch of players on the injury report, but with everything still left to play for, I think we’ll see a full lineup from Denver here. Back the home team.

Thunder vs Nuggets prediction: Nuggets -10.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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The Los Angeles Clippers (41–39) and Portland Trail Blazers (40–40) square off Friday night in a crucial Western Conference play in seeding battle, with both teams jockeying for positioning and momentum entering the final stretch of the regular season. The Clippers come in slightly ahead in the standings after winning 7 of their last 10 games, with Kawhi Leonard leading a more balanced and efficient offensive approach that has helped stabilize late-season inconsistency. Portland has also been competitive down the stretch, especially at home, where they’ve been more reliable in recent weeks behind strong two-way play from Deni Avdija and interior defense anchored by Donovan Clingan. Both teams have shown the ability to grind out wins, but neither has been consistently explosive offensively, especially in high pressure matchups.

This matchup profiles as a slower, more physical game given recent trends and roster limitations. Portland continues to deal with offensive absences, forcing them into a more deliberate half-court style that leans heavily on defensive effort and controlled possessions. The Clippers, while more talented on paper, have also leaned into slower tempos on the road and are comfortable executing in late game half-court situations. Recent head-to-head meetings between these teams have trended tight and low-scoring, with defensive stretches dictating flow more than transition pace. With playoff positioning on the line and both teams prioritizing efficiency over pace, possessions should be limited and scoring runs harder to come by.

Clippers vs Trail Blazers Prediction: Under 226.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to 225.

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The Arizona Diamondbacks continue their East Coast road trip as they open a 3-game set against the Philadelphia Phillies. Arizona is coming off a series win over the Mets, taking 2 of 3, while the Phillies dropped 2 of 3 to the Giants and are still searching for offense after being held scoreless over their last 20 innings.

Taking the mound for the Diamondbacks will be Mike Soroka who is 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA through 2 starts this season. For the Phillies, they’ll send Jesus Luzardo to the mound who is 1-1 with a 4.97 ERA. Offensively, these teams have been very similar. The Phillies rank 20th in the league in OPS (.658) and average 3.5 runs per game, while the Diamondbacks rank 21st in OPS (.657) and average 4.3 runs per game. As far as the bullpen goes, the Diamondbacks bullpen has struggled this season, posting a 5.40 ERA while the Phillies hold a 3.89 ERA.

At the end of the day, both teams are fairly even offensively, and Soroka has been the stronger pitcher to start the season, but the real question is how will this Diamondbacks bullpen hold up if they get an early lead? Soroka hasn’t gone over 5 innings yet this season, and they’ll probably have to rely on Kevin Ginkel, Ryan Thompson, Juan Morillo, or Paul Sewald late in the game — who are well-rested. Despite the concerns surrounding their bullpen, I think the Diamondbacks are more than capable of keeping this game close. 

Diamondbacks vs Phillies prediction: Diamondbacks +1.5 (-135) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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The Detroit Tigers are off to a surprisingly slow start. They enter Friday’s matchup against the Miami Marlins with a 4-9 record on the young season, and have lost 5 games in a row. However, they now return home and have a favorable matchup going up against Miami starting pitcher Chris Paddack. Paddack was lit up to the tune of 8 hits and 8 earned runs over 4 innings against the White Sox in his first start of the season on March 30. He bounced back nicely with a strong start against the Yankees, but he issued 4 walks and couldn’t get through 5 innings. The Detroit bats have been quiet to start the season, but they have plenty of talent to be able to take advantage of Paddack’s weaknesses.

The Tigers have played 10 of their first 13 games on the road, so they will be happy to be back at Comerica Park for this weekend series. Conversely, the Marlins have had the luxury of playing 10 of their first 13 games at home, and now have to play on the road for just the 4th time this season. Detroit held a strong 46-35 record at home last season, and they are 2-1 on their home turf so far this season. I am fading the Marlins on the road in this spot and backing the Tigers to find the win column.

Marlins vs Tigers prediction: Tigers ML (-150) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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The edge in this matchup is clear, and it starts with Chase Burns taking the mound for the Cincinnati Reds. Burns has looked every bit like the overpowering frontline arm Cincinnati hoped for, and this sets up as the kind of matchup where his skill set can completely dictate the game. Through his early work, Burns is 1-0 with a dazzling 0.69 ERA. The supporting metrics are just as impressive. He’s striking out hitters at a rate of 13 per 9 innings, generating ground balls at nearly a 50% clip, and carrying a crisp 0.90 WHIP. That combination is what makes him so dangerous. He can miss bats when he needs a punchout, but he also limits damaging contact when hitters do put the ball in play.

That profile is especially threatening against a Los Angeles Angels offense that often leans heavily on power. The Angels can change games with the long ball, but they’re also prone to strikeouts and extended offensive droughts when facing premium swing-and-miss pitching. Burns is built to exploit exactly that weakness. Jack Kochanowicz has been serviceable for Los Angeles, but there’s a clear difference in ceiling between these starters. Burns gives Cincinnati the kind of frontline advantage that can create separation and that’s why the run line is the right way to play it.

Angels vs Reds prediction: Cincinnati Reds -1.5 (+120) available at time of publishing. Playable to the number.

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