Free NBA Picks for Friday April 9, 2010
Free NBA picks for Friday April 9, 2010 are courtesy of PreGame.com. Get free NBA picks and more here now.
The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Phoenix Suns in what should he a high scoring shootout. Playoff implications are on the line as well, so this will be an exciting game. The Thunder are 3.5 favorites, with a total of 221 points expected tonight. This game tips at 8:00 EDT.
Oklahoma City could be starting to feel the pressure of the upcoming NBA Playoffs. The Thunder have lost their past 2 games SU, both in agonizing fashion. The Thunder have lost 2 close games to conference rivals Utah and Denver, showing their youth down the stretch. The Thunder are currently 48-30 SU and 46-32 ATS overall this season. Oklahoma City is in 8th place right now in the Western Conference, and would face the Lakers in the 1st Round if the playoffs started today. The Thunder could still move up in the standings though, as they are tied with both San Antonio and Portland heading into the final few games of the regular season. The Thunder are 25-14 SU and 20-19 ATS in home games this season. Oklahoma City has actually lost their past 3 home games ATS entering tonight's contest. The Thunder were held under 109 PTS offensively for the first time in 5 contests. The Thunder average 101.3 PPG this season, and are led by the F Kevin Durant. Durant leads the NBA in scoring, averaging exactly 30 PPG this season.
The Thunder are 11-4 ATS in their last 15 games against a team with a winning percentage above .600%. The Over is 5-1 in the Thunders last 6 games overall. The Thunder are injury free as they get ready for the playoffs.
Phoenix continues their improbable run up the playoff standings in the Western Conference. The Suns were considering breaking up their roster at the All-Star break, yet here they are tied for 2nd in the Western Conference. Phoenix has won 11 of their past 12 games SU entering tonight. Phoenix is 51-27 SU and 45-32-1 ATS overall this season. The Suns are 21-18 SU and 22-17 ATS away from home this season. The Suns are 6-4 ATS in their past 10 games as the listed underdog this season. Phoenix keeps winning thanks to the most prolific offense in the NBA. The Suns are the only team in the NBA that average 110 PPG or more this season. Phoenix leads the NBA in a number of offensive categories including: FG%, 3PT FG%, and of course PPG. F Amar'e Stoudemire has been amazing this season, averaging team highs of 23 PPG and 8.8 RPG. Stoudemire has been so efficient this season in his scoring production, shooting better than 55% from the field this year. Credit PG Steve Nash, as he's the floor general for this prolific offense. Nash is averaging 16.6 PPG and an NBA high 11 APG this season.
The Suns are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 road games against a team with a winning home record. The Under is 13-6 in the Suns last 19 games against a team with a winning percentage above .600%. Center Robin Lopez continues to nurse a bad back, and he has been ruled out for tonight's contest.
Pregame.com projects the final score to be 116-114 in favor of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Over 221 is the Total of the Day!
Next of our two free NBA picks...
The Portland Trailblazers host the Dallas Mavericks in a Western Conference battle with major playoff implications. This battle tonight is one of the most important games left in the regular season, so all eyes will be on the city of Portland. The Trailblazers are 4 point favorites, with a total of 191.5 points expected tonight. This West Coast special starts at 10:00 EDT.
Portland has a way of flying under the radar, despite the fact they might be playing their very best basketball of the season right now. Portland has won 8 of their past 10 games SU, as they attempt to climb up the Western Conference playoff standings. Portland is 48-30 SU and 42-34-2 ATS overall this season. The Blazers are battling 2 other teams for the final 3 spots in the West. The Blazers are 25-13 SU and 19-19 ATS in home games this season. The Blazers are 28-20 ATS as the listed favorite this season, including 3-3 ATS as a home favorite between 3.5 and 6 PTS. Portland plays their best basketball against bad defenses, going 14-7 ATS against teams that allow more than 99 PPG this season. The Blazers have played 5 of their last 6 games away from home, so they will be happy to play in front of the best home crowd in the NBA. G Brandon Roy has been brilliant this season in leading the Blazers with 22 PPG. Roy has no weakness in his game, and is the
player Portland depends on in the 4th quarter. F LaMarcus Aldridge is also having a good year, averaging 17.7 PPG and a team high 8.1 RPG this season.
The Blazers are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games against the NBA Southwest. The Under is 6-0 in the Blazers last 6 home games against a team with a winning road record. The Blazers are dealing with yet another injury to one of their Centers. Marcus Camby is listed as Questionable with a hamstring injury.
Projected Score: 94
Dallas continues to prove that they are a force to reckon with, as everyone in the Dallas organization expects to contend for the NBA Championship. Dallas is trying to lock up the #2 seed in the Western Conference, as they would like to avoid playing the Lakers until the Western Conference Finals. Since their mid-season trade, Dallas is playing with a ton of confidence knowing they match up well with any team in the NBA. Dallas is 51-27 SU and 33-44-1 ATS overall this season. The Mavericks have proved how great of a team they are by their road record of 24-14 SU this season. The Mavericks are also 23-15 ATS on the road this season. Dallas is 11-10 ATS as the listed underdog this season, despite losing their past 2 contests SU in this scenario. The most surprising factor of this game is the revenge factor for Dallas. The Mavericks have lost all 3 meetings with Portland this season, both SU and ATS. Revenge will clearly be on the minds of Dallas, despite
the fact they are only 10-15 ATS in this revenge mode this year. F Dirk Nowitzki leads the Mavericks in scoring at 24.7 PPG, which places him 7th in the NBA
The Mavericks are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 road games. The Under is 6-1 in their last 7 games after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Forward Shawn Marion is listed as Questionable with an oblique injury. Forward Tim Thomas has been ruled out tonight, as he deals with a personal issue.
Johnny Detroit, Gambling911.com
