Top 5 NBA Playoffs Odds, Picks & Predictions: Monday (4/21)
As we further embark on the first round of the 2024-25 NBA playoffs, we will be breaking down the two games across The Association this evening. Let's not waste any more time and jump right into some of our favorite NBA picks for Monday, April 21st.
Monday’s Best NBA Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Detroit Pistons Team Total Over 107.5 Points (-110)
The Pistons have faced the Knicks five times this season, including the first playoff game on Saturday. Detroit has exceeded 107.5 points in four out of those five contests, while averaging 117.4 points on 50.8% shooting from the field.
The Pistons have eclipsed 107.5 points in 16 out of their last 20 games, despite missing Cade Cunningham for six of those contests. Detroit has scored at least 108 points in five straight contests. The last time they failed to do so was on April 5th.
Detroit finished the regular season ranked eighth in the league over their last 10 games in regards to offensive rating, while playing at the second-fastest pace. The Knicks may be a smothering defense, however, they have not proven to consistently limit the Pistons from scoring at least 108 points in five matchups this season.
Cade Cunningham Over 26.5 Points (-115)
In the first playoff contest of his career, Cade Cunningham shot a woeful 38% from the field and only connected on one three-pointer on the way to 21 points. While not ideal by any means from the top scoring option on the team, 20+ points in your first postseason appearance is nothing to scoff at. We expect an uptick in scoring for the Detroit guard in this contest, despite a hounding New York defense.
Before Saturday's contest, Cunningham had scored at least 29 points in three consecutive matchups against the Knicks. The Pistons superstar is averaging 30.5 points against New York on the season, while shooting 56.3% from the field and 52% from beyond the arc on 6.3 attempts per game.
If the Pistons are going to even up this series on the road amongst a raucous New York crowd, Cunningham will have to shoot much more efficiently than his 8-for-21 performance on Saturday. We feel Cunningham turns it around in this contest and exceeds 26.5 points.
Cade Cunningham -1.5 Assists vs. Jalen Brunson (-130)
Cade Cunningham averaged 9.6 assists against the Knicks in four matchups this season. The Detroit guard dished out 12 assists in the first game of the series on Saturday. This was the second time in as many contests Cunningham finished with 12 assists.
Jalen Brunson recorded an average of 7.8 assists when facing Detroit this season and finished with eight dimes in the first contest of the series. Coming into this series, Brunson is averaging 6.7 assists over the last 10 games.
Cunningham is averaging 10.6 assists in the previous three contests and finished with four more assists than Brunson in Game 1. While we feel that gap could be a lot closer in this contest, Cunningham still looks to be in good shape to record at least two more assists than Brunson.
Los Angeles Clippers @ Denver Nuggets Over 217.5 Points (-115)
The first game of this series between the Clippers and Nuggets was a fantastic display of playoff basketball. While the first half was heavily influenced by defense, the second half featured a little extra scoring due to overtime, resulting in a 112-110 finish. With any luck, the basketball gods will once again smile upon us, and we'll be treated to another must-see matchup between.
Denver closed out the 2024-25 campaign allowing over 117 points per game over their last 15 games, while averaging 118.7 points on the other end of the floor. The Clippers have faced the Nuggets five times this season (including the playoffs), and the score exceeded 217.5 points in four of those contests.
The Clippers averaged 119.4 over their last 10 games of the season, while the Nuggets scored over 121 per game in their final 10 contests of the regular season. These two teams have surpassed 217.5 points in three straight matchups when playing in Denver and four consecutive games overall.
Denver Nuggets Team Total Over 108.5 Points (-110)
This total seems way too low for a Denver team that ended the regular season averaging over 120 points in their final 10 games. The Nuggets exceeded 108.5 total points in 12 of their last 15 contests to close out the season.
Denver has scored more than 108.5 points in four out of the last five games played at home against the Clippers and seven out of 10 overall. The Nuggets are averaging 120 points over the last five contests when facing the Clippers, while shooting 52.6% from the field.
The Nuggets finished with at least 109 points in four consecutive games against the Clippers. Denver owns a 61.6% true shooting percentage in those contests, including 40% from beyond the arc.
Denver averaged just 123 points per game on 50% shooting from the field when playing at home this season. Los Angeles conceded an average of 110.7 points per game on the road in the 2024-25 campaign.
Enjoy the games tonight and best of luck with your picks.
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Monday: