We’ve turned the backstretch and now in the final week of the regular season with so much still up in the air. Monday’s NBA menu features some big-time collisions with playoff seeding implications in play. The biggest tilt of them all? The Knicks and the Hawks. New York heads to the ATL for a high-profile Eastern Conference clash set for 7:00 PM ET and televised on Peacock. In the later slate, the Spurs host the Sixers in San Antonio. You can find our NBA picks for all of today’s matchups along with EVERY GAME throughout the regular season and postseason. But for now, here are our expert NBA best bets for each of today’s 5 games on Monday, April 6.
Pistons vs Magic NBA best bet: Magic +135 (ML)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.
This sets up as a classic late-season value spot where context matters as much as team quality. Detroit has already secured its position as top dog in the East pecking order and comes in off a dominant win, while Orlando is still fighting for playoff positioning and has shown urgency down the stretch.
The Magic’s defensive identity at home allows them to slow games down and disrupt rhythm, which is key against a structured Detroit team. When pace drops and possessions tighten, spreads become harder to cover. Orlando and their ability to control tempo makes them live to win outright. Play it that way.
Read our full Pistons vs Magic prediction
Knicks vs Hawks NBA best bet: Hawks -1.5 (-110)
Odds available at Caesars Sportsbook at time of publishing.
Believe it or not,Atlanta is still too cheap here. The Hawks have won 13 straight at home and are 18-2 since February 22, yet the market is only asking them to cover a bucket. Normally, that would be bounds for looking the other way, but because the Birds are facing the Knicks, there is reason for why they are underpriced. New York has curb appeal, period.
New York’s biggest issue is that they have struggled badly on the road against winning teams, going 0-5 SU in their previous five contests showing the same flaws: slow starts, stagnant offense, and shaky transition defense. Atlanta just dropped 141 on Brooklyn and continues to get balanced offense from multiple sources. This is a small number on the hotter home team, so I am rolling with the ATL.
76ers vs Spurs NBA best bet: Spurs -8.5 (-110)
Odds available at Draftkings Sportsbook at time of publishing.
Don’t overthink this one because the Spurs got clipped in overtime against Denver. The Spurs are scary good. The Spurs have eight players with 700-plus points this season and demonstrates how much stable offensive creation they have beyond Wembanyama. Their overtime loss in Denver was not discouraging; it was proof they can still play at a playoff level against elite teams.
Philadelphia, by contrast, just got handled by Detroit and scored only 33 points in the second half of that loss. With home court, more scoring balance, and better recent form against quality opponents, The Spurs are in a prime bounce-back spot to handle business. Lay the points.
Read our full 76ers vs Spurs prediction
Cavaliers vs Grizzlies NBA best bet: Under 238.5 (-110)
Odds available at Draftkings Sportsbook at time of publishing.
This is a rich total for a game involving a Memphis team that has lost 17 of its last 19 and can vanish offensively for long stretches. With a high line like this one, the Over can also go poof quickly if Memphis repeats their antics.
However, many will make a case for the Over rooted in Grizzlies’ 131-115 loss to Milwaukee, but that game required the Bucks to shoot 60% overall and 50% percent from three. Those are hard numbers to replicate any night from any team. Cleveland’s more to the mean Sunday result against Indiana landed at 225. If the Cavs control this game, pace and urgency can disappear early; if Memphis hangs around, it is more likely through uglier basketball than clean offense. Take the Under.
Trail Blazers vs Nuggets NBA best bet: Over 240.5 (-110)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.
If you get a read on how I attack totals, I will tell you that most totals in the 240 range are too expensive. But there always exceptions and spots where both teams cook, This is one of them. The offensive ecosystem supports it. Portland is hot, Denver is hotter, and both still have seeding incentives on the table.
The key matchup point is that Portland’s turnover-forcing defense loses leverage against a Nuggets team that commits the third-fewest turnovers in the league. That should translate into cleaner Denver possessions and more efficient offense. The last meeting finished 128-112, and Portland’s offense is running better now than it was then, with Holiday and Camara both in strong form. This is a legitimate Over candidate with fireworks in its back pocket, not just a big number.
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