Nets at Bulls: Prediction, point spread, odds, over/under, betting picks

Our prediction and best bet for Sunday’s Nets-Bulls game.

The Brooklyn Nets play the Chicago Bulls on Sunday, and if you’re looking to do some last-minute betting research, you’re in luck! We’ll give you the latest point spread, moneyline odds and over-under number, as well as the information you’ll need to make the smartest bet on BetMGM.

The game tips off at 2:00 p.m. and can be seen on YES 2 and NBC Sports Chicago.

The lines, courtesy of BetMGM

  • Point spread: Nets -2.5
  • Money line: Nets -145 / Bulls +115
  • Over-under: 224.5

Place your legal, online sports bets in VA, CO, IA, IN, NJ, PA, TN and WV at BetMGM.

Advice and prediction

The Brooklyn Nets are slowly getting healthier again, which is weird to say considering they have been dealing with injuries all season long. The addition of Landry Shamet last game after his ankle injury showed how valuable he is to the offense. The new kid on the block in LaMarcus Aldridge only amplified the offensive system Nash and the coaching staff have in place, making things look easy. More importantly, he adds a defensive component that the Nets were lacking all season. Expect another blowout by Brooklyn, take the Nets -2.5, even without James Harden.

Prediction: Nets 108, Bulls 90

Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire. Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Hornets vs. Celtics: Prediction, point spread, odds, over/under, betting picks

With bodies dropping like flies, the Hornets (25-23) head to Boston (24-25) looking to salvage the remainder of their road trip.

With bodies dropping like flies, the Hornets (25-23) head to Boston (24-25) looking to salvage the remainder of their road trip, and if you’re looking to do some last-minute betting research, you’re in luck! We’ll give you the latest point spread, moneyline odds and over-under number, as well as the information you’ll need to make the smartest bet on BetMGM.

Already down LaMelo Ball and Malik Monk, Charlotte lost Gordon Hayward on Friday for potentially the remainder of the season. Now, they will look to hold onto their playoff spot to finish the season.

The lines, courtesy of BetMGM

  • Point spread: Hornets +9
  • Moneyline: Hornets +310 / Celtics -400
  • Over-under: 216.5

Place your legal, online sports bets in CO, IN, MI, NV, NJ, PA, TN and WV at BetMGM.

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Advice and prediction

There is no question the Hornets are down and out right now, both physically and mentally. Sunday will be their fourth game on a five-game road trip, and Charlotte has lost a key player in each of the last two contests.

Even for this Hornets team, it’s a steep mountain to climb to replace Hayward’s scoring given the current situation. For now, take Boston minus-9 until Charlotte can attempt to figure out a solution.

Prediction: Celtics 112, Hornets 101

Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

Pelicans at Rockets: Betting odds, point spread for Sunday night

There’s uncertainty in the line, since New Orleans has two recent All-Stars (Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson) who are questionable.

The Houston Rockets will host the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night at Toyota Center. With only a few hours remaining until tipoff, what’s less clear is whether many of the biggest marquee names will play.

The Pelicans (21-27), who enter coming off two straight losses, have three big names who are listed as questionable to play on the official injury report: Zion Williamson (right thumb sprain), Brandon Ingram (right toe inflammation), and Lonzo Ball (right hip flexor strain). Ingram was an NBA All-Star in 2020, while Williamson earned the honor this year.

Meanwhile, the Rockets (13-35) — who have lost their last three straight — will be without John Wall (left knee effusion) for a third consecutive game. Christian Wood is not listed on Houston’s injury report, which indicates that he will play despite limping off late Friday in Boston.

The Pelicans are 1.5 games behind Golden State for the No. 10 spot in the Western Conference, which is the final berth in the West’s play-in tournament to qualify for the 2021 playoffs. Thus, they should be highly motivated to snap their recent slide against a weaker opponent on paper.

The lines, courtesy of BetMGM

  • Point spread: Rockets +5 (-110), Pelicans -5 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Rockets +165/Pelicans -200
  • Over-under: 222.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
  • Player O/U Scoring Props: TBD, given injury reports

Place your legal, online sports bets in CO, IN, MI, NV, NJ, PA, TN, and WV at BetMGM.

If the “questionable” names play, New Orleans will likely start Lonzo Ball, Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, and Steven Adams. Meanwhile, with Wall sidelined, Houston will apparently start Kevin Porter Jr., Sterling Brown, Danuel House Jr., Jae’Sean Tate and Christian Wood for a third consecutive game.

In addition to Wall, Houston’s injury report includes Eric Gordon (groin), David Nwaba (wrist) and Dante Exum (calf), who all remain sidelined by longer-term injuries. Besides the questionable names, New Orleans is listing Josh Hart as out (right thumb sprain) and Kira Lewis Jr. (right calf strain) as doubtful for Sunday night at Toyota Center.

Advice and prediction

The point spread is lower than it would normally be between these teams, reflecting the injury uncertainty with the Pelicans. Thus, if you believe that New Orleans will play at least one of their injured star players, there’s potential value in a lower-than-expected line.

Given their high sense of urgency to make the playoffs and this being a game they know they should win, expect Stan Van Gundy to allow Ingram and/or Williamson to play, if at all possible. If that’s the case, the spread being as low as it is could be a gift.

Prediction: 119-110, Pelicans

Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship, and there is no influence on news coverage.

Note: This post first appeared on Rockets Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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Rockets at Celtics: Prediction, point spread, odds, over/under, betting picks

Our prediction and best bet for Friday’s Rockets-Celtics game.

Victor Oladipo and the Houston Rockets visit Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics on Friday night, and if you’re looking to do some last-minute betting research, you’re in luck! We’ll give you the latest point spread, moneyline odds and over-under number, as well as the information you’ll need to make the smartest bet on BetMGM.

The game tips off at 7:30 p.m. ET and can be seen on NBC Sports Boston and AT&T SportsNet Southwest.

The lines, courtesy of BetMGM

  • Point spread: Celtics -11.5
  • Money line: Celtics -750 / Rockets +525
  • Over-under: 222.5

Place your legal, online sports bets in VA, CO, IA, IN, NJ, PA, TN and WV at BetMGM.

Advice and prediction

The Celtics will be welcoming a visit from a 13-win team, as Brad Stevens’ team is mired in a run of mediocre play, with seven losses in their last ten games. The Rockets won’t be a pushover, though. With Christian Wood back in the lineup, Houston has been a tougher out for many teams. On Wednesday, the Rockets built an 18-point lead over the East-leading Brooklyn Nets before eventually falling behind.

Boston last played the Rockets on March 14th, and blew out Houston 134-107. I don’t feel great about laying double-digits with this Celtics team, but the Rockets are overmatched and on the road. We should see a similar result, but the Celtics are going to have to play hard throughout the game – something this team has struggled with – to avoid a Rockets backdoor cover. Take the Celtics -11.5.

Prediction: Celtics 121, Rockets 106

Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Rockets at Celtics: Betting odds, point spread for Friday night

Houston (13-34) is understandably a significant underdog in Boston, but the Rockets have shown signs of improved play in recent games.

The Rockets wrap up a two-game East Coast road trip on Friday night in Boston. The Celtics (23-25) enter with back-to-back losses and seven in their past 10, so they should be very incentivized versus the rebuilding Rockets (13-34) to try and get a disappointing season back on track.

The Celtics came into the 2020-21 season with goals of contending, but they’re currently below .500 and in the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference — which would force them to win a play-in tournament game just to qualify for the playoffs. Needless to say, for a team led by an All-Star duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, that’s not where general manager Danny Ainge and head coach Brad Stevens expected to be.

Boston won convincingly last month in Houston, but the Rockets were without Christian Wood, Danuel House Jr., and John Wall in that game due to various injuries. Wood and House are expected to start Friday, while Wall is questionable with left knee effusion. Thus, even with the Rockets now in something of a rebuilding mode, they should be a tougher opponent for Boston than the version seen in mid-March. (At the time, Houston was in the middle of its historic 20-game losing streak.)

Wall did practice on Thursday, but head coach Stephen Silas indicated that he was operating at roughly three-quarters of his usual speed.

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The lines, courtesy of BetMGM

  • Point spread: Rockets +10.5 (-110), Celtics -10.5 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Rockets +400/Celtics -550
  • Over-under: 223.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
  • Player O/U Scoring Props: Jayson Tatum 23.5 (-110 O, -115 U), Jaylen Brown 22.5 (-105 O, -130 U), Kemba Walker 18.5 (+100 O, -130 U), Marcus Smart 12.5 (-125 O, -110 U); Houston TBD

Place your legal, online sports bets in CO, IN, MI, NV, NJ, PA, TN, and WV at BetMGM.

Boston’s probable starters are Kemba Walker, Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Moritz Wagner. Meanwhile, Houston would like to start John Wall, Kevin Porter Jr., Danuel House Jr., Jae’Sean Tate and Christian Wood — but Wall’s playing status is up in the air. When Wall sat out in Brooklyn, Sterling Brown started in his place, with Porter taking on additional point guard and floor general duties.

In addition to Wall, Houston’s injury report includes Eric Gordon (groin), David Nwaba (wrist) and Dante Exum (calf), who all remain sidelined by longer-term injuries. For the Celtics, Tristan Thompson (health and safety protocols) and Semi Ojeleye (left side strain) are out.

Advice and prediction

The Rockets covered a large number on Wednesday in Brooklyn, and with a day of rest between games, there’s a good chance to do it again on Friday. They likely lack the starpower and late-game execution to actually win it, but don’t be surprised if it’s competitive in the fourth quarter.

Prediction: 112-105, Celtics

Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship, and there is no influence on news coverage.

Note: This post first appeared on Rockets Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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Titans’ QB Ryan Tannehill ‘challenges’ Derrick Henry workout

Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill challenges former Alabama running Derrick Henry on workout.

This story originally appeared on Touchdown Wire.

The offseason is a fun time, especially, it seems, for the Tennessee Titans

Star running back and two-time NFL leading rusher Derrick Henry has been putting on quite a display with his workouts while staying in incredible shape.

The Heisman winner from Alabama combines strength, speed, and agility in these training sessions.

That led to some creative challenges by quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

Not to be, um, topped, Tannehill decided to show off his skills in the weight room. A little different style but the former Texas A&M star is impressive in his own right until ….

the chain is added around his neck in the form of a purse.

Well, played, by all.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.

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Bellator 255 predictions: What are our four unanimous picks on the main card?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the Bellator 255 main card, featuring featherweight champ Patricio Freire vs. Emmanuel Sanchez.

Freire
vs.
Sanchez
Gracie
vs.
Jackson
Fortune
vs.
May
Hamel
vs.
Nurmagomedov
Lara
vs.
Watanabe
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2021: 27-25
freire2021
Freire
(74%)
gracie2021
Gracie
(76%)
fortune2021
Fortune
(89%)
usmannurmagomedov2021
Nurmagomedov
(97%)
watanabe2021
Watanabe
(52%)
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2021: 32-20
trophy copy 2020 Champion
freire2021
Freire
gracie2021
Gracie
fortune2021
Fortune
usmannurmagomedov2021
Nurmagomedov
lara2021
Lara
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2021: 32-20
freire2021
Freire
gracie2021
Gracie
fortune2021
Fortune
usmannurmagomedov2021
Nurmagomedov
lara2021
Lara
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2021: 31-21
freire2021
Freire
gracie2021
Gracie
fortune2021
Fortune
usmannurmagomedov2021
Nurmagomedov
lara2021
Lara
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2021: 30-22
freire2021
Freire
gracie2021
Gracie
fortune2021
Fortune
usmannurmagomedov2021
Nurmagomedov
watanabe2021
Watanabe
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2021: 30-22
trophy copy 2017 Champion
freire2021
Freire
gracie2021
Gracie
fortune2021
Fortune
usmannurmagomedov2021
Nurmagomedov
lara2021
Lara
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2021: 30-22
freire2021
Freire
gracie2021
Gracie
fortune2021
Fortune
usmannurmagomedov2021
Nurmagomedov
watanabe2021
Watanabe
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2021: 30-22
trophy copy 2018 Champion
freire2021
Freire
gracie2021
Gracie
fortune2021
Fortune
usmannurmagomedov2021
Nurmagomedov
watanabe2021
Watanabe
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2021: 29-23
freire2021
Freire
gracie2021
Gracie
fortune2021
Fortune
usmannurmagomedov2021
Nurmagomedov
lara2021
Lara
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2021: 28-24
freire2021
Freire
gracie2021
Gracie
fortune2021
Fortune
usmannurmagomedov2021
Nurmagomedov
watanabe2021
Watanabe
Simon Head
@simonhead
2021: 28-24
trophy copy 2019 Champion*
freire2021
Freire
gracie2021
Gracie
fortune2021
Fortune
usmannurmagomedov2021
Nurmagomedov
watanabe2021
Watanabe
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2021: 26-26
freire2021
Freire
gracie2021
Gracie
fortune2021
Fortune
usmannurmagomedov2021
Nurmagomedov
lara2021
Lara
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2021: 26-26
trophy copy 2014 Champion
freire2021
Freire
gracie2021
Gracie
fortune2021
Fortune
usmannurmagomedov2021
Nurmagomedov
lara2021
Lara
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2021: 24-28
freire2021
Freire
gracie2021
Gracie
fortune2021
Fortune
usmannurmagomedov2021
Nurmagomedov
lara2021
Lara
BetMGM
Betting Favorites
freire2021
Freire -250
jackson2021
Jackson -120
fortune2021
Fortune -700
usmannurmagomedov2021
Nurmagomedov -800
lara2021
Lara -185

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Bellator is back for the first time in 2021, and the featherweight title is on the line at the top of the card.

Bellator 255 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Showtime and MMA Junkie following prelims on MMA Junkie.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, lightweight and featherweight champion [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] (31-4 MMA, 19-4 BMMA) puts his 145-pound title on the line against [autotag]Emmanuel Sanchez[/autotag] (20-4 MMA, 12-3 BMMA) in a rematch. Freire won the first fight by unanimous decision and is a -250 favorite at BetMGM in the rematch, which also is a semifinal fight in the featherweight tournament. Our 13 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts are taking Freire unanimously – one of four 13-0 nods on the main card.

In the co-feature, the welterweight fight between [autotag]Neiman Gracie[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) and [autotag]Jason Jackson[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) nearly is a pick’em – Jackson is just a slight favorite. But our pickers are going with Gracie unanimously.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Tyrell Fortune[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 9-1 BMMA) runs things back with [autotag]Jack May[/autotag] (11-7 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) after their first heavyweight meeting ended in a no contest. Fortune is a massive favorite at 7-1, and not surprisingly he’s a unanimous pick at 13-0.

Our fourth unanimous nod is [autotag]Usman Nurmagomedov[/autotag] (11-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), a cousin of former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. The -800 favorite is a 13-0 pick from our staff members in his lightweight fight against [autotag]Mike Hamel[/autotag] (7-4 MMA, 0-1 BMMA).

And to open the main card, we have our only contentious fight from a picking standpoint. [autotag]Alejandra Lara[/autotag] (9-3 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) takes on [autotag]Kana Watanabe[/autotag] (9-0-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) in a women’s flyweight bout. Lara nearly is a 2-1 favorite, and she has an 8-5 lead in the picks.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Freire (74 percent), Gracie (76 percent), Fortune (89 percent), Nurmagomedov (97 percent) and Watanabe (52 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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Hornets vs. Nets: Prediction, point spread, odds, over/under, betting picks (April 1)

Charlotte (24-22) makes one of its two appearances on national television on Thursday when they travel to Brooklyn (33-15).

Charlotte (24-22) makes one of its two appearances on national television on Thursday when they travel to Brooklyn (33-15), and if you’re looking to do some last-minute betting research, you’re in luck! We’ll give you the latest point spread, moneyline odds and over-under number, as well as the information you’ll need to make the smartest bet on BetMGM.

The Hornets own a win over the Nets this season but one on Thursday would be potentially even bigger with the playoff race looming. The Hornets enter Thursday as the four seed with a game advantage on the fifth-seed Knicks.

The lines, courtesy of BetMGM

  • Point spread: Hornets +3.5
  • Moneyline: Hornets +135 / Nets -160
  • Over-under: 224.5

Place your legal, online sports bets in CO, IN, MI, NV, NJ, PA, TN and WV at BetMGM.

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Advice and prediction

It’s hard to bet on the Nets too far ahead of time given the injury issues right now. Kevin Durant is out. James Harden left Wednesday’s game with a hamstring injury. A number of role players are questionable.

It would be worthwhile to grab the Hornets plus-3.5 as that line may change with Harden potentially being out. Outside of that, Hornets plus-135 feels like a good value bet for many of the same reasons.

Prediction: Nets 114, Hornets 110

Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

Tennessee Titans dueling 7-round 2021 NFL mock drafts 2.0

Our writers took part in a second duel of mock drafts for the Tennessee Titans.

Happy April Fools Day! With the calendar turning over to a new month, we are yet another step closer to seeing who the Tennessee Titans take in the 2021 NFL draft, which begins on April 29.

A lot has changed since the start of free agency for the Titans in terms of their biggest draft needs. Before they began making moves, the Titans were often pegged with taking an EDGE in the first round.

While it’s still possible that will be the case, some key departures on both sides of the ball — especially at cornerback and wide receiver — have made taking an EDGE on Day 1 far less of a sure bet.

With the dust having settled a bit and knowing what we know now, our staff wanted to take part in an updated duel of mock drafts after we went to battle back in March. In case you missed those mocks, you can check them out here.

Without further ado, here’s what our staff came up with using different mock draft simulators. Make sure to vote in our Twitter poll at the end to tell us who you think has the best one.

Mavericks at Celtics: Prediction, point spread, odds, over/under, betting picks

Our prediction and best bet for Wednesday’s Mavs-Celtics game.

Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics host Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night, and if you’re looking to do some last-minute betting research, you’re in luck! We’ll give you the latest point spread, moneyline odds and over-under number, as well as the information you’ll need to make the smartest bet on BetMGM.

The game tips off at 7:30 and can be seen on ESPN.

The Mavericks have lost two of their last three games, but just thumped the Thunder on the road. The Celtics are hoping to bounce back from a six-point loss to the Pelicans, though they were without Jaylen Brown in that game.

Brown has been upgraded to available for the Celtics on Wednesday, while Willie Cauley-Stein and JJ Redick are both out for Dallas.

The lines, courtesy of BetMGM

  • Point spread: Celtics -2
  • Money line: Celtics -130 / Mavericks +105
  • Over-under: 222.5

Place your legal, online sports bets in VA, CO, IA, IN, NJ, PA, TN and WV at BetMGM.

Advice and prediction

The Mavs edged the Celtics 110-107 in their first meeting early this season in Dallas, but Boston will get a big boost from Brown’s return.

Prior to their loss to the Pelicans, the Celtics had reeled off two impressive wins including a win over the Bucks on the road, and new arrival Evan Fournier can’t possibly have a worse outing than he did in his debut. I’m taking the home advantage and the Celtics -2 to win in a close one.

Prediction: Celtics 113, Mavericks 109

Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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