A little more than a week remains in the NBA regular season, which means games will finally regain meaning very soon.
Until then, fans will be relegated to cheering for teams “fighting for playoff positioning,” which is not a banner hanging in any of the 30 NBA arenas. Still, that’s exactly what’s at stake on Friday when the Philadelphia 76ers and Minnesota Timberwolves collide at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.
The 76ers (42-34) currently own the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference, which is the final guaranteed playoff spot in the East. But they actually have the same record as the seventh-place Raptors and will be highly motivated to stay out of the play-in tournament, which features seeds 7 through 10.
Like Philadelphia, the Timberwolves (46-30) are the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference but are only one game behind the Rockets (47-29) for the fifth spot. The No. 5 seed could come down to the teams’ penultimate regular season game on April 10 when they square off in Houston.
For Friday night, the 76ers are 2.5-point favorites against Minnesota, which is playing the second half of a back-to-back. On Thursday the Timberwolves lost, 113-108, to the East-leading Pistons.
While Philadelphia vs. Minnesota is the marquee attraction on Friday, there are other options on a sporting landscape that includes eight other NBA matchups and a full MLB schedule. Below is a snapshot of what to watch and bet for Friday, April 3. All times Eastern.
NBA best bets, where to watch
Timberwolves at 76ers
Time: 7 p.m. | Location: Philadelphia | TV: NBA League Pass | Stream: Fubo (Try for free)
SportsLine pick — Model: Timberwolves +117
Note: Joel Embiid (illness) has been upgraded from doubtful to probable for Friday’s game. That’s an enormous development, because the 76ers are 23-13 when he plays but just 19-21 when he doesn’t. Meanwhile, Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, who returned Monday after a two-week absence but sat out last night’s loss in Detroit, is questionable. His situation is obviously worth monitoring prior to the opening tip. The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, says the Timberwolves have a 57.0% chance to win and assigns a strong A grade to the Minnesota money line (+117).
Bulls at Knicks
Time: 7:30 p.m. | Location: New York | TV: NBA TV | Stream: Fubo (Try for free)
SportsLine pick — Model: Knicks -14.5 | Expert: Jalen Brunson Over 25.5 total points -118 (Mike Barner)
New York’s Jalen Brunson missed the team’s game Wednesday but has since been removed from the injury report, which means he’s good to go against a Bulls team that has lost five in a row. That’s good news for New York, because Brunson has scored at least 26 points in seven of his last 10 games. Barner also notes that Brunson averages 27.3 points per game at home. “It’s also a great matchup [for Brunson] against the Bulls, who play at the third-fastest pace,” he says. Meanwhile, the SportsLine Projection Model says the Knicks have a 64.0% chance to cover and gives a B grade to New York -14.5.
Pelicans at Kings
Time: 10 p.m. | Location: Sacramento | TV: NBA TV | Stream: Fubo (Try for free)
SportsLine pick — Model: Kings +5.5
What happens when a resistible force meets a movable object? We’ll find out when New Orleans and Sacramento meet on Friday. The Kings (20-57) own the worst record in the Western Conference and the fourth-worst in the NBA. They’re one game in the loss column ahead, or behind depending on your point of view, the Pacers and Nets for the second- and third-worst records in the NBA, which would increase Sacramento’s lottery odds. Meanwhile, the Pelicans (25-52) have the seventh-worst record in the league and have lost six in a row. The SportsLine Projection Model says there’s a 68.0% chance the Kings cover and assigns a strong A grade to Sacramento +5.5.
MLB best bets, where to watch
Brewers at Royals
Time: 7:40 p.m. | Location: Kansas City, Mo. | TV: Apple TV | Stream: Fubo (Try for free)
SportsLine pick — Model: Brewers -110 | Expert: Brewers -110 (Adam Thompson)
Luinder Avila went 1-1 with a 1.29 ERA in 13 appearances out of the bullpen last season for Kansas City, but on Friday he makes his first career start. He struggled in his lone start this season at Triple-A Omaha, giving up two runs on four hits and two walks in three innings. Meanwhile, just seven teams have scored fewer runs (23) this season than the Royals. Thompson notes that Milwaukee starter Chad Patrick was solid in his season debut (one run in 4⅓ innings against the White Sox). “Milwaukee always has a top-tier bullpen, and so far this year’s no exception, with its 1.50 ERA,” he says. The SportsLine Projection Model agrees. It says the Brewers have a 63.0% chance to cover and gives a B grade to the Milwaukee money line (-110).
Braves at Diamondbacks
Time: 9:40 p.m. | Location: Phoenix | TV: Apple TV | Stream: Fubo (Try for free)
SportsLine pick — Model: Diamondbacks +1.5
Arizona lefty Eduardo Rodriguez has had quite the month. In the final of the World Baseball Classic he started for Venezuela against the mighty United States and did not allow a run in 4⅓ innings as the Venezuelans captured the title. Then, in his MLB season debut against the reigning World Series champion Dodgers, he gave up only one run and four hits while striking out five in five innings. The SportsLine Projection Model likes Rodriguez’s chances to keep this game close. It says the Diamondbacks have a 67.0% chance to cover and assigns a B grade to the Arizona run line (+1.5).
