NBA Best Bets: Basketball Picks, Predictions to Consider on DraftKings Sportsbook for May 16

We’ve officially made it! Sunday is the final day of the regular season, and all 30 teams will be in action. That includes a 10-game main slate starting at 7 p.m. ET. Let’s dive into some of my favorite wagers on DraftKings Sportsbook for Sunday’s NBA main slate.

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Houston Rockets @ Atlanta Hawks (-7.5):

Rockets +7.5

There’s a good chance that this game means nothing for the Hawks. They’ve dropped to fifth place in the Eastern Conference, and the Knicks are playing earlier in the day vs. the Celtics. If the Knicks take care of business in this matchup – they’re 12.5-point favorites with the Celtics resting multiple players – then the Hawks are locked into the fifth seed.

With that in mind, it would not be surprising to see them rest a bunch of players in this matchup. They have listed several players — including Trae Young (toe; probable) and Clint Capela (Achillies; questionable) — on their injury report and this could be an interesting spot for them to ensure their top guys are fresh heading into the playoffs.

They should still be able to compete with the Rockets even without guys like Young in the lineup, but this game could be closer than expected.

Houston Rockets @ Atlanta Hawks (-7.5):

Bogdan Bogdanovic Under 17.5 points (-113)

Sticking with this contest, I’m going to be backing some unders for the Hawks in the player prop market. If they do play their starters, expect them to be heavily limited. Bogdanovic has averaged 19.9 points per 36 minutes this season, so it’s going to be tough for him to hit the over on 17.5 if he plays less than 30. It should also be noted that he is also currently listed as questionable for tonight’s game with a hamstring issue.

The unders for the other starters are appealing as well, so make sure to monitor the updates to find out who’s in and who’s out.

It is worth mentioning again that these plays are dependent on the Knicks winning this afternoon. As long as that happens, it’s all systems go.

Denver Nuggets @ Portland Trail Blazers (-9):

Trail Blazers -9.0

This is another game where motivation could be a major factor.

The Blazers still have everything to pay for on the last day of the season. They currently control their own fate for a guaranteed playoff spot. If they win, they secure the No. 6 seed in the West, but a loss opens the door for the Lakers to jump them in the standings. That means the Blazers should bring their A-game to this contest.

On the other side, the Nuggets are pretty much locked in as the No. 4 seed. They could jump up to third if the Clippers lose to the Thunder, but the Clippers are expected to take care of business. Regardless, the difference between three and four is not nearly as large as the difference between six and seven.

I’m expecting Nikola Jokic to barely break a sweat in this contest, and the Nuggets could be without some of their other regulars. They’ve dealt with a lot of injuries recently, so it doesn’t make sense to push them on Sunday.

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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is mlamarca) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.

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