NBA Best Bets for April 2: Can the Knicks Make a Statement Against the Cavaliers?
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Spread Astaire
- April 2, 2025
Top NBA Pick: Knicks-Cavaliers Under 231.5 (-110) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
The NBA season is winding down, and playoff position is on the line when these teams take the court. Taking a look at two nationally televised battles, we have excellent matchups to break down.
First, the New York Knicks will travel to Cleveland to take on the Cavaliers. These teams could potentially meet in the playoffs, and tonight’s showdown will be important for each team to try to gain momentum going into that battle.
Then the Detroit Pistons travel to Oklahoma City to take on the red hot Thunder. Can the Pistons make a statement against the NBA’s top team? When these games tip off, who should you back to make winning NBA picks?
New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Wednesday, April 02, 2025 – 07:00 PM EDT at Rocket Arena
Can the Knicks Keep Pace Without Brunson?
The New York Knicks come into this contest as winners of four of their last five games. The Knicks will try to keep this momentum going as they try to secure the third position in the East. The Knicks have suffered injuries but are starting to get healthy at the right time. Unfortunately, the Knicks will still be missing star guard Jalen Brunson for tonight’s contest.
The Knicks have been known for their ferocious defense, but this year they are turning into a more of an offensively oriented team. The Knicks are currently averaging 116.4 points per game. They will want every one of those points going against the league’s top scoring team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavaliers are first in the league, averaging 122.3 points per game.
The Cavaliers are also winners of four of their last five games. The most recent outing they had was a 127-122 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Cleveland is still in the running for the best record in the NBA. Both teams are motivated to put on a strong performance tonight.
When teams are motivated against each other, it can often lead to better defensive effort. That has been the case in this budding rivalry, as these teams have gone under 9 out of the last 10 times they face each other.
Ty Jerome’s Return Could Swing It for Cleveland
The Cavaliers will be hoping that star reserve guard Ty Jerome will be back in the lineup. When Donovan Mitchell missed games, Jerome was able to step in and put up plenty of strong performances. Jerome has scored 10Â or more points in his last 7 outings. Jerome being in the lineup would be huge for the Cavaliers.
When looking at this game, I believe the under is the safest way to approach it. The Knicks have had problems scoring without Jalen Brunson lineup and we should be able to take advantage of that. This game should have a playoff style atmosphere as both teams look to make a statement against a potential playoff foe. A playoff atmosphere means a low score; give me the under.
NBA Pick: Knicks-Cavaliers Under 231.5 (-110) at BetOnline
Detroit Pistons vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Wednesday, April 02, 2025 – 09:30 PM EDT at Paycom Center
Pistons Stay Hot—Can They Handle OKC?
The Detroit Pistons come into this matchup against the NBA’s top team on a hot streak. The Pistons have won five of their last seven games, including an important victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers last Friday night. The Pistons will try to get another statement win on national TV tonight.
The Thunder have been playing even better. They only lost once in the month of March. Now, they enter the final stretch of games ready to try and secure the top record in the league. Also, Thunder star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is gunning for the MVP award, giving him motivation to put forth solid performances night in and night out.
The Thunder have one of the best defenses in the league. They are second in the league in points allowed at 107.1 points per game. This stat is not a product of slow pace because they are fourth in the league in points scored at 120.4 points per game. This gives them an impressive point differential of +13.3 points per game. In contrast, the Detroit Pistons have a point differential of +2.4 points per game.
Detroit’s Road Resilience
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a well oiled machine, and the Detroit Pistons are trying to become that. The Thunder are one year ahead in their development. The Thunder built upon last year’s strong regular season to become one of the top teams in the league. The Pistons are hoping to do the same thing.
Pistons star Cade Cunningham will have to become a top player the way Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has for the Detroit Pistons to achieve this goal. However, Cunningham appears to have all the tools to make the same impact that Alexander does. The Pistons hope that Cunningham continues to improve, and if so, they can try to ascend to the top of the league.
The Pistons have played well on the road this season, going 22-14 ATS on the road. The Pistons are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 against Oklahoma City. Detroit is also 4-1 ATS in their last five visits to Oklahoma City. Although the Thunder will get the win, the Pistons will keep it close. Take the Detroit Pistons.
NBA Pick: Detroit Pistons +12.5 (-110) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
