Is Kevin Durant going to be out of the lineup for an extended absence after suffering a thigh contusion on Sunday? Are the streaking Boston Celtics legitimate contenders in the Eastern Conference? Can the Utah Jazz stay in first place in the Western Conference until superstar guard Donovan Mitchell returns form an ankle injury?
Are Chris Paul, Devin Booker and the rest of the revamped Phoenix Suns out legitimate contenders to win the Western Conference crown? With the 2020-21 NBA regular season rolling right along into Week 18, it’s time to identify this week’s must-bet matchups. Let’s get right to it so you can get ready to make your bets against their NBA odds.
Brooklyn, Utah, Philly and Boston Highlight Must Bet Games in NBA Week 18
Utah at LA Lakers at 10:00 PM ET
- When: Monday, April 19
- TV: ESPN
The Jazz (42-15) lost on the road against LA 127-115 on Saturday, but will get a shot at redemption in this instant rematch. Utah is definitely a different team without its best player in Donovan Mitchell. The Lakers are trying to stay afloat until Anthony Davis and LeBron James are back in action. The Jazz are 0-4 ATS in their last four road games against the Lakers and 1-6 ATS in the last seven meetings overall. Utah is 16-12 on the road this season while LA has gone 17-12 at home.
Brooklyn at New Orleans at 7:30 PM ET
- When: Tuesday, April 20
- TV: TNT
Brooklyn (38-19) is in second place in the Eastern Conference, but has gone a modest 6-4 over its last 10 games. The Nets saw Kevin Durant exit Sunday’s crushing 109-107 road loss at Miami and right now, n one knows how long he’ll be out of the lineup. New Orleans (25-32) is in 11th place out west, but has gone 4-6 over its last 10. The Pelicans have dropped three straight coming into the new week including a 122-112 overtime loss against the Knicks on Sunday. Brooklyn is 3-1 ATS over its last four while New Orleans is 0-3 ATS over its last three and 2-6 ATS over its last eight games overall.
Denver at Portland at 10:00 PM ET
- When: Wednesday, April 21
Denver (36-20) is in fourth place in the Western Conference while Portland (32-24) sits in sixth place in the conference standings. The Nuggets have won two straight and a blistering eight of 10 coming into the new week including an emphatic 128-99 smackdown of Denver on Friday. Portland has gone 4-6 over its last 10 games and comes into the new week fresh off a 109-101 road loss at Charlotte on Sunday. Denver is 15-12 ATS on the road this season while Portland is 11-17 ATS at home.
Philadelphia at Milwaukee at 7:00 PM ET
- TV: TNT
- When: Thursday, April 22
Philadelphia (39-17) is in first place in the Eastern Conference, 1.5 games in front of Brooklyn. The Sixers hit the new week riding a four-game winning streak while going 7-3 over its last 10 games overall. Milwaukee (35-21) is in third place in the East standings, four games behind Philly and 2.5 games behind Brooklyn. The 76ers have gone 16-11 ATS on the road while the Bucks have gone 13-14 ATS at home.
Boston at Brooklyn at 7:30 PM ET
- When: Friday, April 23
- TV: ESPN
Boston (31-26) is in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, but enters the new week tied with New York as the hottest teams in the association by winning six straight. The C’s recorded a thrilling, playoff-like, 119-114 win over Golden State on Saturday.
Brooklyn (38-19) has gone an uninspiring 14-16 ATS at home this season but could be without Kevin Durant in this affair.
Toronto at New York at 1:00 PM ET
- When: Saturday, April 24
- TV: ESPN
Toronto (24-34) is in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, but has has won three straight and six of 10 overall including a 112-106 win over Oklahoma City on Sunday. New York (31-27) is in sixth place in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks have won six straight coming into the new week including a thrilling 122-112 overtime home win over New Orleans on Sunday.
Phoenix at Brooklyn at 3:30 PM ET
- When: Sunday, April 25
- TV: ESPN
Phoenix (40-16) is in second place in the Western Conference standings, 1.5 games behind Utah. The Suns have won an impressive eight of their last 10 games but comes into the new week fresh off a 111-85 home loss against San Antonio on Saturday. The Suns have gone an impressive 15-9 ATS on the road this season. Brooklyn (38-19) has won 16 of its last 19 games against teams from the Western Conference.
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