NBA Picks for Saturday
Our team of writers and handicappers hand out their NBA picks and predictions for Saturday, April 11.
Orlando Magic at New Jersey Nets, 7:35PM ET
A surprising loss their last time out may have left the Orlando Magic out of contention for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, meaning they likely won’t have home-court advantage should they win their first-round playoff series.
Coach Stan Van Gundy, though, isn’t even sure his slumping team will even get there to find out.
The Magic will try to work their way out of their offensive doldrums Saturday night in East Rutherford as they look for their fifth straight win over the New Jersey Nets, who may be without All-Star guard Devin Harris.
Orlando (58-21) was percentage points ahead of Boston for the No. 2 seed in the East at the beginning of the month, but its quickly lost its grip on home-court advantage in a potential second-round meeting with the Celtics.
The Magic have lost three of six to drop two games behind Boston with three to play, and the conference’s fourth-highest scoring team is now officially mired in an offensive slump. Orlando was averaging 102.2 points after a 116-87 victory over Cleveland on April 3, but has scored just 86.8 points over their last four.
NBA Free Pick: New Jersey – View Game Matchup | Best Line:
Phoenix Suns at Minnesota Timberwolves, 8:05PM ET
The Phoenix Suns have three games left in their season, but based on their latest effort they seem ready for it to end sooner.
Set to miss the playoffs for the first time in five years, the visiting Suns look to bounce back and win the season series from the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
Ninth in the Western Conference, Phoenix (43-36) was eliminated from playoff contention Wednesday when Dallas beat Utah to clinch the final playoff spot.
Playing in their first game since then, the Suns lacked effort Friday in a 106-89 loss at Memphis to snap their 10-game winning streak over the lowly Grizzlies. Jason Richardson and reserve Louis Amundson each had 13 points for Phoenix, which committed 22 turnovers.
"We were a little bit careless with the ball, and we have to learn from that," Richardson said. "Right now, the most important thing is to get these young guys to play and get ready for next year.”
The Suns, who posted their lowest-scoring effort since Alvin Gentry took over as interim coach Feb. 16, have lost five of eight since a six-game winning streak.
NBA Free Pick: Minnesota – View Game Matchup | Best Line:
Oklahoma City Thunder at Milwaukee Bucks, 8:35PM ET
All games in this series since 1996
OKLAHOMA CITY is 16-7 against the spread versus MILWAUKEE since 1996
OKLAHOMA CITY is 14-10 straight up against MILWAUKEE since 1996
14 of 23 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL since 1996
Games over the last 3 seasons
OKLAHOMA CITY is 3-2 against the spread versus MILWAUKEE over the last 3 seasons
MILWAUKEE is 3-2 straight up against OKLAHOMA CITY over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
All games played at MILWAUKEE since 1996
OKLAHOMA CITY is 6-5 against the spread versus MILWAUKEE since 1996
MILWAUKEE is 8-4 straight up against OKLAHOMA CITY since 1996
6 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL since 1996
Games played at MILWAUKEE over the last 3 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 1-1 against the spread versus OKLAHOMA CITY over the last 3 seasons
MILWAUKEE is 2-0 straight up against OKLAHOMA CITY over the last 3 seasons
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
NBA Free Pick: Milwaukee – View Game Matchup | Best Line:
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Posted: 4/11/09 2:05 AM ET