NBA Best Bets for Tuesday: Matchups, Odds, Picks, and Predictions

There are three Game 5s being played on Tuesday’s NBA Playoffs slate. We break down the action with our best NBA bets for Tuesday, April 26.

The Miami Heat are at home with a chance to dismiss the Atlanta Hawks from the NBA Playoffs on Tuesday. In the Western Conference, the Minnesota Timberwolves visit the Memphis Grizzlies, and the Phoenix Suns host the New Orleans Pelicans with each of those series tied 2-2.

Here are our best bets for Tuesday’s NBA slate (pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Tuesday’s NBA Schedule and Odds

(odds via DraftKings Sportsbook)

• Atlanta Hawks) vs. Miami Heat -6.5 (-110)
• Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Memphis Grizzlies -6 (-110)
• New Orleans Pelicans vs. Phoenix Suns -6 (-110)

Tuesday’s NBA Best Bets

• Spread: Heat -7 (-110 via FanDuel Sportsbook) ★★★★★
• Total: Timberwolves-Grizzlies Under 233 (-110 via PointsBet) ★★★
• Player prop: Jae Crowder 3+ made threes (+194 via FanDuel) ★★★★

Tuesday’s NBA Top Picks

Spread: Heat -7 (-110)

If not for a game-winning floater from point guard Trae Young in the final seconds of Game 3, Miami would have already closed this series out with a clean sweep. The Heat won Games 1 and 4 by 24 points each and took Game 2 by 10. This hasn't been a competitive affair at all.

These teams have played eight total times in the regular season and playoffs, and the Heat have covered in six of them. Atlanta is no match for Miami, and this series should end tonight in South Beach. The Hawks' worst ATS record has come as road underdogs, where the team is just 6-20. I'll take the Heat and the points, especially if the line moves down at all.

Hawks vs. Heat Game 5 NBA Picks made by Zachary Hanshew.

Total: Timberwolves-Grizzlies Under 233 (-110)

One cannot help but feel for those who bet the Under in Game 4. If not for the Timberwolves' constant parade to the free-throw line, that side of the NBA betting total was a surefire winner. Rather than overreact to the fact that Game 4 ultimately cashed the Over by 4.5 points, bettors are wise to come back on the Under for Game 5.

The totals for this series have consistently been higher than those of other first-round matchups. This can largely be attributed to the fact that the Timberwolves and Grizzlies were among the three fastest teams in the league this season. Minnesota’s pace factor of 103.5 led the league while the Grizz rank third in this metric with an average of 103.1 possessions per game.

While the pace of both teams is duly noted, there have been several instances throughout this series in which the tempo has gotten extremely bogged down. Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch has openly implored his team to run and push the pace to maintain rhythm on the offensive end. Thus, it is Memphis that has been attempting to slow down the pace of play.

The fact that the Grizzlies are the team more comfortable with slowing things down makes the Under very appealing for Game 5. With the belief that Memphis will emerge victorious at home, one has to believe that the script of the game will also largely unfold in favor of the home team. Reduced shooting percentages from one or both teams along with a less suffocating whistle are two additional components that figure to favor the Under.

Timberwolves vs. Grizzlies Game 5 NBA Picks made by Henry John.

Player prop: Crowder 3+ made threes (+194)

Someone in Phoenix has got to start making their 3-pointers, right? Forward Jae Crowder is 1-for-17 from deep this series, good for a 5.8% 3-point percentage. But the 31-year-old veteran made 34.8% of his long-range looks in the regular season and averaged 1.9 per game. He averaged 5.4 attempts per game, but that jumped to 5.8 in the 11 games that Devin Booker missed.

I like this prop because the juice is friendly and the volume has been there for Crowder. The forward has attempted at least three triples every game this series, and we've seen him attempt five threes without a make twice. His teammates are still willing to pass him the ball even when he can't make a shot, which is reassuring.

I am confident that regression is in store because New Orleans' perimeter defense isn't the cause of Phoenix's struggles. The Pelicans allowed their opponents to make 36.5% of their triples in the regular season, which ranked fifth-worst. They let opposing power forwards rack up 2.3 triples per game, which ranked ninth-worst.

Crowder was streaky in last year's playoffs, but he made at least three treys in 12 of Phoenix's 22 postseason games. He has the talent to cash this prop. His open looks have to start falling eventually.

Pelicans vs. Suns Game 5 NBA Picks made by Isaiah Sirois.

Where to Bet on NBA Best Bets

Here are our top-rated sportsbooks:

• FanDuel Sportsbook
• Caesars Sportsbook
• DraftKings Sportsbook
• PointsBet
• BetMGM

SEE ALSO: All picks, odds, and sports betting news. Be sure to check out SportsbookReview.com’s community forums and betting tools.

NBA odds and best bets from 4/26/2022.

The post NBA Best Bets for Tuesday: Matchups, Odds, Picks, and Predictions appeared first on Picks.