NBA Picks and Predictions for 5/6/21 - Free NBA Picks

The Bull remain without Zach Lavine in this one, and they have lost 4 straight games. They have failed to eclipse the 100-point mark during that stretch. The Bulls won the first two in this series, but Nikola Vucevic was a big part of their last win and he is banged up with a hip injury. If he does play it will likely be in a limited fashion. The Hornets are also injured but recently welcomed back LaMelo Ball. His 6.1 assists and 18.4 PER lead the team and his distribution skills should be enough to push the Hornets past a struggling Chicago team.

Pick: Charlotte Hornets +2.5

Brooklyn Nets -4 Dallas Mavericks +4 O/U: 234

7:30PM EST

The Nets are at full strength for the final stretch of the year but have lost three straight games. However, two of those were awfully close games in Milwaukee, and they are catching a Mavericks team that is without Kristaps Porzingis. The Mavericks are basically a .500 team at home, with a 17-15 record this year. This is a good spot for the Nets to start their run into the postseason. Luka Doncic will do everything he can to keep the Mavs in it at home, but the Nets Big 3 will be too much for a Dallas team that is 13-12 without Porzingis this season.

Pick: Brooklyn Nets -4

Washington Wizards +2 Toronto Raptors -2 O/U: 235

7:30 PM EST

The Wizards have been playing well, going 11-2 in their last 13 games with their two losses being by a combined 4 points. However, they have still not been playing defense, ranking 30th in the league with 120.2 points allowed per game this season. The Raptors won the first two games in this series and are in a good situation here. The Wizards will be on the second game of a back-to-back, and they are 5-10 in those spots this season. Back Toronto.

Pick: Toronto Raptors -2

Memphis Grizzlies -9.5 Detroit Pistons +9.5 O/U: 221

8:00PM EST

Both teams are 1-4 in their last 5 games, but Memphis has their team at full strength. The Pistons have 4 rotation players out for this one, including leading scorer Jerami Grant. Despite their struggles of late, the Grizzlies rank 4th in the NBA in rebounds and 6th in assists. Memphis is sitting at 9th in the Western Conference, so they need this win desperately. I will take the better team to win convincingly in a must have game.

Pick: Memphis Grizzlies -9.5

Atlanta Hawks -5 Indiana Pacers +5 O/U: 239.5

8:00PM EST

These two have split the season series, but Atlanta has been playing better of late. The Pacers are 4-6 in their last 10, but their 4 wins came against three non-playoff teams. Those 6 losses for Indiana have been by an average of 14.5 points. The Hawks have shot the three well of late, and their offense should be enough to push past a slumping Indiana team that has 5 players on their injury report.

Pick: Atlanta Hawks -5

Oklahoma City Thunder -14.5 Golden State Warriors -14.5 O/U: 228.5

10:00PM EST

The Thunder have lost 4 straight games. Over their last ten, Oklahoma City has allowed 120.5 points per game on 48.8% shooting.  On the other side the Warriors are just 5-5 over their last 10, but Curry has been getting hot of late. He has at least 30 in the last 4 games and will be facing a porous Thunder defense. The Warriors need this win to stay in play-in position in a tight Western Conference playoff race, and we have seen the Thunder lose by more than 20 multiple times over the last few weeks. Back Golden State to cover.

Pick: Golden State Warriors -14.5

Los Angeles Lakers +8 Los Angeles Clippers -8 O/U: 210.5

10:00PM EST

This will be the series finale for these crosstown rivals, with the Clippers taking the first two games. You never know what you are going to get from these Lakers right now, having beaten a red-hot Denver team last time out after losing three straight games to average competition. It is hard to rely on the Lakers with Lebron James out, and Anthony Davis has not been the player we saw during their championship run last season. The Clippers rank second in the league with a 56.5 effective field goal percentage and will face a struggling Lakers defense that has allowed 110.9 points per game over their last 10. Give me the Clippers to cover.

Pick: Lakers Los Angeles Clippers -8