Playoff positioning and seeding is on the line Thursday night when NBA odds get underway. There are only three games to choose from, but two in particular have huge postseason implications. First, LeBron James and the Cavaliers visit the Chicago Bulls. Then, the Denver Nuggets will host Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. Here is a free pick for each game.
Cleveland Cavaliers at Chicago Bulls – Thursday at 8:00 p.m. ET
Cleveland (61-17, 36-40-2 ATS) has bullied its way to a second-consecutive 60-win season. The Cavaliers are coming off a 113-101 win over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night, improving the club to 12-2 in its last 14 outings. Although the Cavs have dominated on the hardwood, they've been a real disappointment at the sportsbook lately; the Raptor game was the first time Cleveland covered in six outings, and the team is 3-7 against the spread in its last 10 games on NBA odds. The Cavaliers are 5-5 ATS in their last 10 road games.
Chicago (37-40, 39-36-2 ATS) lost 79-74 to the Bucks on Tuesday but remains in the playoff hunt. The Bulls are 6-3 since ending a recent 10-game losing streak. Chicago has enjoyed a solid run at the sportsbook, covering seven of its past 10 outings against the spread. The team has defended its home turf poorly, though, with a 4-6 showing at the United Center in its last 10 home games on NBA odds.
The Bulls are desperate while the Cavs are biding their time till playoffs. Cleveland will get the win, but Chicago can keep it close enough to cover.
Pick: Chicago
Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets – Thursday at 10:30 p.m. ET
The Lakers (55-22, 32-43-2 ATS) are struggling down the stretch. They've lost four of their last six games, including an embarrassing 100-81 home loss to the Spurs last weekend. The slump has killed all the momentum from a recent seven-game winning streak. Los Angeles has been rather lacklustre on NBA betting lines, covering just four times in its pats 10 games. The Lakers are just 1-3 against the spread in their last four road games.
After a brutal 1-5 run, Denver (50-27, 32-39-6 ATS) has strong together back-to-back wins. The Nuggets haven't played since Saturday, when they knocked off the Los Angeles Clippers 98-90. Denver has been a horrific nightmare for sports betting fans, though; the team is a pathetic 1-8-1 in its last 10 games against the spread. Denver hasn't been much better at home, covering just once in its last five games at the Pepsi Center.
It's hard to believe Kobe Bryant will let the Lakers flounder for long. He'll pick up LA and get things back on track against Denver.
Pick: Los Angeles
