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Tides’ Takes: Free NHL & NBA Picks For Today (3/31/22)

Timothy Buell Thu 3/31 12:26pm PT
Utah Jazz maks today's best NBA bets.
(Image Credit: Imagn)

ScoresAndOdds analyst Timothy Buell gives betting advice and free expert picks for Thursday’s NHL and NBA betting slates. Use our Caesars promo code for $1100 first-bet insurance!

Happy Thursday everyone! Welcome to this new article for ScoresAndOdds, where we will offer betting picks and advice for multiple sports that are happening on a given day.

For now we’ll focus on NHL and NBA odds and props. We will also be throwing in some traditional parlays and some same game parlays when opportunities arise. 

As always, make sure to use our tools at ScoresAndOdds to find the best lines at your favorite legal sportsbook! 

Today we have five NBA and nine NHL games. Let’s get started with the best bets!

Free NBA Betting Picks For Today

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Atlanta Hawks

The Cavs have been hit by the injury bug at the wrong time of the season and now will be without Evan Mobley for tonight’s game against the Hawks.  Trae Young has a pretty considerable home/road splits and averages 4 PPG more at home than on the road.  The Hawks are 7-3 in their last 10 games while the Cavs are 4-6 in their last 10.  I think the lack of rim protection for the Cavaliers will be too much to overcome and even though Caris LeVert is back in the mix he won’t help them enough on the defensive end.  Atlanta has the second best offensive rating in all of basketball and without key defensive pieces, the Hawks should be able to score at will.

Editor’s note: Betting lines are subject to change and the picks and corresponding lines referenced are accurate at the time this article was written.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Utah Jazz

Let’s face it, as a fan of the NBA I don’t want to watch this game and to be honest I probably won’t. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t money to be made on it.  The Utah Jazz are not the defensive juggernaut that they once were, but it’s actually their offense that’s rank as the number one offensive rating in the whole league.  They should be able to do what they want, when they want, and however they want against this defeated Lakers squad.  The Lakers will once again be without LeBron James and will depend on a washed up Russell Westbrook to keep this game competitive, I just don’t see this happening.  The Jazz are getting a couple of bodies back with Bogdanovich and House already ruled in for tonight’s game.  That will just add to the Jazz depth.  The only thing we are fading in this game in some sort of backdoor cover by the Lakers in the closing minutes of the game.  The Jazz have every reason to take this game seriously as they are currently in the 6 seed in the West and can’t afford to miss out on opportunities like this and risk falling to the 7 seed play-in tournament.

Best NBA Prop: Antetokounmpo O/U 13.5 Rebounds

I currently have Giannis projected for around 11.5 rebounds. In the 12 career games that he has faced Durant (since Durant has been on the Nets) Giannis has gone under this total in nine of those 12 games.  Very few players can match up with Giannis’ size, Durant is one of them.  In their last matchup in Brooklyn, Giannis had seven rebounds.  I realize there is some variance with this pick and if this close spread game goes into overtime we might be facing a loser.  I am willing to face that risk and believe this bet is a positive ROI proposition in the long run. It’s my NBA prop of the day.

Free NHL Betting Picks For Today

New Jersey Devils vs. Boston Bruins

The Bruins have been one of the best teams in the month of March and then put up a massive dud against the Leafs on home ice and were thoroughly dominated in all facets of the game.  Tonight I think the Bruins respond in a big way after their embarrassing loss and despite starting Linus Ullmark in net and not Jeremy Swayman I think they come out super focused for a bounce back game.  The Bruins top line should be able to control play and limit any kind of scoring chances that the Devils can manage.  The Bruins depth should be able to the Devils depth pretty easily.  If you want to make this a moneyline wager instead of the puckline than by all means, but I think there is good value on the puckline at around even money.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Minnesota Wild

This is the best game of the night in terms of two really solid playoff bound teams going head to head in what should be a really exciting game to watch. The Penguins are 21-8-5 on the road this season which is one of the best road records in the NHL.  The Wild have a seven game win streak and Cam Talbot has been red hot as a goaltender. Tonight he and his teammates get to go up against the Penguins backup goaltender Casey DeSmith.  This is a really tough spot for a backup and especially tough for a back up of DeSmith’s caliber.  This is what gives me the edge to the Wild. I don’t see DeSmith being able to outmatch this Wild offense.  Kirill Kaprizov has goals in four straight games and we are really starting to see a true superstar in the making.  The Wild are the better overall team and get the home ice and the far superior goaltender.  I will be wagering two units on the Wild this evening