Free Basketball Betting Picks - April 04, 2009

We split our picks last night on the NBA hardwood. Today we are back with three more premium plays including a 5-unit early-game selection. Over the last four and a half months, our NBA picks are 223-181, +68.8 units.

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Today's NBA Basketball Picks:

Game: Toronto at New York (1:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 5 units on Game Total UNDER 221 -110 (risk 5 to win 4.6)

The New York Knicks were on an offensive roll that saw them surpass the 100-point mark in 26 straight games. That offense has left the building, but the totals issued in their games aren't reflecting that. Since that point, the Knicks are averaging just 101.2 points per game in their last 10, and that includes an overtime game where they scored 135. They have now played nine of their last 11 games under the total. Toronto has won five games in a row for the first time all season. They came off a streak of allowing 100 points in eight straight games, but have since allowed 100 or more in just in four of their last nine. These teams are trending away from the large numbers and this total is set too high, so I will play this one UNDER the total.

Last night the Orlando Magic laid it all over the Cleveland Cavaliers, and didn't expend much energy in the process as, for all intent and purposes, the game was over at halftime. The Magic may look at this game as their biggest of the season as well as their next against Houston, because all the following games to close the season are against teams with a losing record. They need to finish ahead of Boston to have the home court in their likely second-round playoff meeting. The Magic are the best road team in terms of scoring the cash of any NBA team with a 58-28-3 ATS mark over their last 89. The Hawks have had trouble responding to a big loss of 10 points or more as they are just 6-14 ATS in their last 20 after such a loss. The Magic has dominated on the road for two years and this is a meaningful game for them, so I'll back them in this spot.

The Grizzlies are playing as well as they have all season with three straight wins, and four of their last five. Better yet, they are 5-1 in their last six against teams with a losing record, and that is straight up. The Bucks are doing a repeat of last season as the injury bug has once again taken its toll on this team. The Bucks are just 3-9 in their last 12 games and 3-9 ATS as well. They are also just 3-10 ATS in their last 13 as a favorite. The Grizzlies best role of late has been as an underdog where they have been 16-7 ATS in their last 23 and worth the money here, so I will go with Memphis.

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Check out the last five NBA Basketball Picks Newsletters:

NBA-Basketball-Picks-April-03-2009
The Indiana Pacers have been a tough team at home against the top teams. They have already beaten nine teams with winning records at home, and lost to four others by just two points and another in ove...

NBA-Basketball-Picks-April-02-2009
The Utah Jazz has played 15 games on the road this season vs. teams with a winning record on the season. They have allowed every one of the 15 teams to score 100 or more, and have allowed an average o...

NBA-Basketball-Picks-April-01-2009
The Toronto Raptors have now won four games in a row for the first time all season. All that will do is get Orlando's attention that they need to show up for this one. Toronto is fool's gold h...

NBA-Basketball-Picks-March-31-2009
Since Lebron James arrived in Cleveland, the Cavaliers and the Pistons have played some of the ugliest games of any two teams in the league. This has become a hate match, and the games play ugly. The ...

NBA-Basketball-Picks-March-30-2009
The Utah Jazz is a red-hot team that has now gone 20-6 over their last 26 games. They have been a tale of two teams during the second half of the season. On the road, the Jazz have allowed 100 points ...