The final weekend of the regular season is upon us. Thursday’s NBA slate certainly rings it in with style. Six match-ups fill the schedule headlined by the renewal of a historic rivalry that also played out in the 2025 Playoffs. The New York Knicks will host the Boston Celtics in Madison Square Garden for a primetime collision on Prime at 7:30 PM ET. On the back-end, Lakers vs Warriors at 10:00 PM ET on the back-end of Amazon’s doubleheader.
You can find our NBA picks for all of today’s matchups, along with EVERY GAME through the rest of the regular season and postseason. But for now, here are our expert NBA best bets for all of today’s 6 games on Thursday, April 9.
Bulls vs Wizards NBA best bet: Wizards +6.5 (-110)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.
After Chicago beat Washington by 31 as just a 5.5-point favorite two days ago, seeing this line return in nearly the same range feels intentional. If that previous result truly represented the matchup, the Bulls should be laying significantly more here. Instead, the market is inviting bettors to chase Chicago again at what looks like a manageable number. That makes me look hard at Washington.
On Tuesday, everything broke perfectly for the Bulls – elite shooting, favorable tempo, and a complete Wizards offensive collapse. Betting on all of that repeating is dangerous. When a line barely moves after a blowout, it often signals caution rather than opportunity. Upset potential here is high. Believe it.
Read our full Bulls vs Wizards prediction
Heat vs Raptors NBA best bet: Under 239 (-110)
Odds available at BetMGM Sportsbook at time of publishing.
The number is too high. What else can I say? These teams just played Tuesday and finished at 216 total points, yet the rematch is posted at 239. Miami has now lost 9 out of their last 12 and managed only 95 in Toronto. While the Raptors are incentivized to bank wins for seeding, they don’t need to gard and play recklessly. The Dinos will just lean into their defense and dare the Heat to score.
Even with some Heat shooting regression upward, a total this high still needs four quarters of cooperation. Toronto already showed it can control this matchup physically and stylistically. This feels like the market reacting to league-wide scoring rather than to this specific pairing. The Under is the value play.
Celtics vs Knicks NBA best bet: Under 216.5 (-110)
Odds available at Draftkings Sportsbook at time of publishing.
This feels like a playoff rehearsal, which is good for the Under. New York is 28-9 at home, has won three straight, and still has seeding to chase, while Boston is trying to protect their #2 spot. The Knicks already lead the season series 2-1, and their last home win over Boston was 111-89, showing how easily this matchup can become possession-heavy at The Garden.
Tatum’s return adds emotion to the narrative, but both teams are incentivized to tighten up defensively. This is a personal rivalry and given the viscous between these two, every possession is going to matter. All of the ingredients point to the Under.
Read our full Celtics vs Knicks prediction
Pacers vs Nets NBA best bet: Nets +135 (ML)
Odds available at Draftkings Sportsbook at time of publishing.
This comes down to price more than trust. Indiana being favored on the road asks bettors to believe they are the more stable team, but both clubs sit near the bottom of the standings and inconsistency defines each side. That makes laying points with the Pacers uncomfortable, especially away from home where they have won just 7 times this year.
Brooklyn at least gets the benefit of home court in a matchup where execution is likely to be messy on both ends. In games between evenly flawed teams, getting the home dog at plus money in a game that is going to be competitive by attrition makes the Nets the value play here. Brooklyn outright.
Read our full Pacers vs Nets prediction
76ers vs Rockets NBA best bet: Rockets -4 (-110)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.
Houston checks more boxes here. The Rockets have won seven straight, are still pushing for first-round home court, and have the added edge that Philadelphia is the one team that can sweep them this season. That matters late in the year for motivational purposes.
Houston also wants to get back to its 30-assist style, which speaks to a healthier offensive structure than Philadelphia has shown. The Sixers are still fighting to avoid the play-in, but that race is messy enough that even winning out may not solve it. Houston’s mission is simpler, and at home that matters. Lay the points.
Lakers vs Warriors NBA best bet: Warriors -4.5 (-110)
Odds available at BetMGM Sportsbook at time of publishing.
Golden State is the better side because its purpose is clearer tonight. Stephen Curry’s return immediately changed the Warriors’ energy, starting with a 29-point game against Houston and parlaying that into a win over Sacramento. The Lakers, meanwhile, have looked uneven in April, they are a team whose foundation has started to crack after an explosive 15-2 March. That difference matters.
Golden State is using these last games of the regular season to lock back into rhythm around Curry, while the Lakers feel more like a team trying to get through the stretch and reset for the postseason. We know that Golden State has disappeared for time, but in a rivalry game like this one with national syndication, the W’s rise to the occasion.
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