NBA Thursday preview

Tonight’s slate in the NBA will be slightly different as we only have two games. The matchups don’t have much impact on the playoff contention, since three of the four teams playing tonight are already guaranteed there. However, despite that, we will get to see the best teams of the season so far. It is time for the NBA Thursday preview, brought to you by ThePicks.

Boston Celtics (52-24) @ Milwaukee Bucks (55-21) – 7:30 PM

Starting off our NBA Thursday preview, we have a great matchup in the East. The #1 seed Milwaukee Bucks host the #2 seed Boston Celtics in a game that could basically decide who will win the conference. With six games left for both teams in the regular season, the Celtics are currently three games behind the Bucks.

If the Celtics win, they will keep the dispute alive as the difference will fall to only two games with five left. However, if the Bucks win, they will practically confirm the title as they will open a four-game advantage with only five left. With all that taken into consideration, the favourites tonight are the home team, by 2.5 points.

• Spread: BOS Celtics +2.5/MIL Bucks -2.5
• Over/under: 236.5 points
• Pick: MIL Bucks -2.5 and over 236.5

New Orleans Pelicans (38-38) @ Denver Nuggets (51-24) – 10:00 PM

The second and last game of the night will have the best team in the West, the Denver Nuggets, hosting the #9 seed Pelicans. While the home team is coming from four straight wins, the visitors just lost a five-win streak last game. And they also have distinct goals at this point of the season.

For the Denver Nuggets, the goal now is to clinch the conference title ASAP as they have only seven games left in the regular season. And for the Pelicans the goal now is to make it to the post season, most likely through the play-in tournament. After analyzing all this, the sportsbooks decided that Denver is the favourite by 5.5 points tonight.

• Spread: NO Pelicans +5.5/DEN Nuggets -5.5
• Over/under: 226.5 points
• Pick: DEN Nuggets -5.5 and over 226.5