NBA Best Bets Today: Expert NBA Betting Picks for 04/13/2025

The Chicago Bulls have been one of the East's hottest teams since early March, and they're carrying that form into the final day of the regular season. Having already locked up the 9th seed, they've been covering spreads at an impressive clip – 14 of their last 19 games overall and 8-1 ATS in their last 9 against Eastern Conference opponents. This momentum gives them a massive edge against a Philadelphia team that's simply playing out the string.

The 76ers' season has been an absolute disaster, particularly after the All-Star break when injuries derailed what started as a promising campaign. They enter this game with just one win in their last 14 contests (against the Wizards, no less), and they've dropped seven straight at home. More concerning is their 1-19 record against Eastern Conference teams during this brutal stretch.

When these teams met recently, Chicago absolutely demolished Philadelphia by 32 points on the road. That kind of dominant performance isn't an outlier – it's indicative of the gulf in motivation and execution between these squads. With the Bulls still playing their regular rotation while Philly gives minutes to deep bench players, this matchup heavily favors Chicago.

While some might worry about a potential letdown with Chicago's playoff position secured, Billy Donovan's team has shown remarkable consistency down the stretch. They've been driven by strong performances from Coby White, Nikola Vucevic, and Josh Giddey, who've shouldered heavy minutes but continue to deliver. Philadelphia, meanwhile, looks completely checked out at this point in the season.

The spread might seem large for a road team, but context matters here. The Bulls have consistently covered as favorites recently, and Philadelphia has been an automatic fade for smart bettors for weeks now. With Chicago playing solid basketball and the Sixers fielding what amounts to a G-League roster, the Bulls should handle this number comfortably, making the spread a strong play for the final day of the regular season.

The Indiana Pacers enter this final regular season contest with their playoff position locked up. Already secured as the 4th seed in the East, they'll be resting their stars – no Pascal Siakam or Tyrese Haliburton expected today. This completely changes the dynamic of what might otherwise be a competitive game between two quality Eastern Conference teams.

Cleveland, despite having already wrapped up the top seed in the East weeks ago, has shown remarkable competitiveness when fielding their reserves. Just earlier this week, the Cavs' bench unit nearly upset these same Pacers, losing by just two points as double-digit underdogs. That performance demonstrated the quality depth Cleveland has built throughout the season.

What's particularly interesting is how the Cavaliers followed that close loss – they brought back Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen for their next game and staged a dramatic 23-point comeback against the Knicks. While those starters will likely sit today, that win reflects the winning culture that permeates the entire Cleveland roster, right down to their deep bench.

The home court advantage shouldn't be overlooked either. Cleveland has been dominant at Rocket Arena, posting a 10-2 record in their last 12 home games. They've also gone 15-3 against Eastern Conference opponents during that stretch. Even with reserves playing, that home court edge matters, especially on the final day of the regular season when motivation can be questionable.

With both teams likely fielding backup-heavy lineups, the 5.5-point spread seems oddly misaligned. Indiana's reserves haven't shown the same competitive fire as Cleveland's bench unit, who have consistently played above expectations when given opportunities. In what should be a relatively even matchup of second-unit players, getting the home team with points is simply too good to pass up.

The Atlanta Hawks will host the Orlando Magic in what serves as a preview of their upcoming Eastern Conference 7th vs 8th play-in matchup. While Tuesday's rematch in Orlando will carry actual consequences, today's game offers valuable insights into how these teams match up. What makes this contest particularly interesting is that both teams have little incentive to show their full hand with the more important game just around the corner.

Roster management will be crucial, with Orlando likely to rest their entire starting lineup. The Magic's injury report is packed with questionables including Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr., and Franz Wagner. Atlanta is in a similar position with Trae Young, Caris LeVert, and other key contributors possibly sitting out. This essentially turns the game into a battle of bench units.

The Hawks hold a significant advantage playing at home in State Farm Arena, where they've won eight straight against the Magic. This home court edge becomes even more pronounced in a game featuring mostly reserves and end-of-bench players. Atlanta's second unit has shown flashes of excellence lately, particularly in their comfortable win over Philadelphia where bench players stepped up significantly.

While Orlando enters on a five-game winning streak, including an impressive road victory over Indiana, there's reason to believe that momentum won't translate today. The Magic have struggled as road underdogs following road wins, losing seven straight in such situations. This peculiar scheduling spot doesn't favor a team that might already be looking ahead to the more meaningful matchup.

In these end-of-season contests where starters play limited minutes or sit entirely, coaching adjustments and bench depth become decisive factors. Atlanta coach Quin Snyder will want to build confidence heading into the play-in tournament, while maintaining some strategic secrecy. Expect the Hawks to execute a simplified game plan that showcases their depth without revealing too much of their Tuesday strategy, ultimately securing a narrow home victory.

The Charlotte Hornets visit the Boston Celtics on the final day of the regular season in what appears at first glance to be a massive mismatch. Boston, having secured the top overall seed in the NBA weeks ago, has little incentive to play their starters heavy minutes – if at all. The Celtics dominated the Hornets by 36 points just days ago, but that game featured a completely different context than what we'll see today.

Critically, Boston has already ruled out nearly all their key players for this contest. Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, and Jaylen Brown won't suit up, leaving the Celtics with a dramatically depleted roster. While Charlotte is dealing with its own injury issues – most notably the season-long absence of LaMelo Ball – they'll likely field a more competitive lineup than they did in Friday's blowout loss.

End-of-season games often produce surprising results, particularly when playoff-bound teams rest starters. The Celtics' remaining roster still contains talent with Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, and Xavier Tillman likely to see expanded roles, but the cohesion and chemistry will inevitably suffer without the team's core players. This creates an opportunity for a more competitive game than the recent matchup would suggest.

The betting market has already adjusted for Boston's planned absences, dropping the line significantly from where it would normally sit when these teams meet. Still, double-digit spreads remain difficult to cover even in favorable circumstances. The Celtics' reserves played well in extended minutes on Friday, but sustaining that level of dominance for a full game presents a different challenge.

While Charlotte has struggled mightily down the stretch, losing 11 of their last 12 games, this represents one final opportunity to end their season on a positive note. Against Boston's bench unit, the Hornets should be able to keep this game within the spread, even if an outright victory remains unlikely. In what projects to be a lower-stakes contest with unusual rotations on both sides, taking the points with the underdog appears to be the smart play.

The Denver Nuggets find themselves in a must-win situation on the final day of the regular season. With the 4th seed in the Western Conference at stake – and with it, home-court advantage in the first round – Nikola Jokic and company have everything to play for in Houston. The reigning MVP just made history by becoming the first center ever to average a triple-double for a season, but that personal achievement won't mean much if Denver can't secure this critical victory.

On the other side, the Houston Rockets have nothing at stake, having already locked up the 2nd seed in the West. Coach Ime Udoka has taken the sensible approach with his young squad, resting his starters in their previous game against the Lakers. That strategy resulted in a lopsided 140-109 loss, but protecting key players ahead of the playoffs is clearly the priority. Expect a similar approach today, with most if not all Rockets starters watching from the sidelines.

When these teams met about three weeks ago, Denver secured a victory with both squads at full strength. Now, facing what's likely to be a Rockets team comprised mostly of bench players and end-of-rotation guys, the Nuggets should have a much easier time. Denver's offense runs through Jokic regardless of who else is on the floor, which gives them a consistent advantage even if Murray sits due to his hamstring concern.

The difference in motivation cannot be overstated. Denver needs this win to avoid falling to the 6th seed and a potential first-round matchup without home court. Meanwhile, Houston's remarkable season turnaround is already complete – they've gone from lottery team to the 2nd seed in just one year. The Rockets' 9-1 record in their last 10 home games is impressive, but those games featured their regular rotation fighting for playoff positioning.

Everything points to a comfortable Denver victory. The Nuggets are playing for something tangible, they have the best player on the court in Jokic, and they'll be facing a depleted Rockets squad. While covering a spread approaching double digits is never easy in the NBA, this particular situation – with playoff seeding on the line against a team resting its starters – creates the perfect storm for Denver to not just win, but win big.