NBA Picks and Predictions for Sunday April 5
Our team of writers and handicappers hand out their NBA picks and predictions for Sunday, April 5.
San Antonio Spurs at Cleveland Cavaliers, 1:05PM ET
At this point of the season, the Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs should be hitting their stride in preparation for a title run. Neither has been playing like a championship-caliber team lately, though.
The Cavaliers look to break out of their funk and avoid losing three straight for the first time in a year Sunday when they host a Spurs team trying to get back on track after a lackluster defensive performance.
With the postseason less than two weeks away, Cleveland (61-15) is hoping to secure home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. The Cavs have a 3 1/2-game lead over second-place Boston in the Eastern Conference and a one-game advantage over the West-leading Los Angeles Lakers.
After having a franchise-record 13-game winning streak come to an end with Thursday's 109-101 loss to Washington - the East's worst team - Cleveland suffered a humiliating 116-87 defeat to Orlando on Friday. The Cavs shot 36.9 percent from the field and trailed by as many as 41 as the Magic handed them their most lopsided loss of the season.
NBA Free Pick: San Antonio | Best Line: +6.5 SPORTSBETTING.COM
New York Knicks at Toronto Raptors, 6:05PM ET
It may be a lost season for the Toronto Raptors, but establishing a franchise record for consecutive wins may help them feel good about themselves heading into the summer.
Toronto looks to move within two victories of tying that mark when it completes a home-and-home series Sunday night against the New York Knicks, who haven't won at Air Canada Centre in over five years.
The Raptors (30-45) came away with a 102-95 victory over New York (29-47) on Saturday afternoon to win six in a row for the first time since April 2007. They haven't registered seven consecutive victories since a franchise-record nine-game run from March 22-April 9, 2002.
NBA Free Pick: Toronto | Best Line: -5.5 SPORTSBETTING.COM
Portland Trail Blazers at Houston Rockets, 7:05PM ET
Four straight blowout wins have put the Portland Trail Blazers on the verge of clinching a playoff spot. They might have a tough time continuing that run at Houston.
With a chance to secure their first postseason appearance in six years, the Trail Blazers look to end their struggles on the road against the Rockets on Sunday night in a matchup of teams jockeying for position in the Western Conference.
Portland (48-27), a half-game ahead of Houston (48-28) for fourth place in the West, needs a win or a Phoenix loss entering Sunday to make the playoffs for the first time since 2003.
With seven games left, this is an excellent time for the Trail Blazers to be heating up. They've won each of their last four games by at least 20 points, including a 107-72 victory over Oklahoma City on Friday night.
NBA Free Pick: Detroit | Best Line: +4 SPORTSBETTING.COM
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