[University of Sportsbooks]

University of Sportsbooks NBA April 2nd Picks

Seattle SuperSonics -4.5

The Sonics are clearly a disappointment this year but they are still playing hard and those are the teams you want to back during the final stages of the season if they have no shot at the playoffs. One bad quarter doomed Seattle on Sunday against Sacramento but it should bounce back here against a team that started slow, never recovered and packed it in long ago.
The Clippers were supposed to be a solid team in the Western Conference but when Elton Brand hurt his Achilles in August, it was a bad sign. Los Angeles started the season with four straight wins but a 2-11 run knocked the wind out and the Clippers never recovered. It has been an absolutely dreadful run as they have gone 3-19 over their last 22 games. This includes a 1-10 run on the road with the lone win coming in Miami by just a point. The 10 road losses have been by an average of 15.5 ppg.

Taking Seattle in the role of the favorite might seem a little daunting but the Sonics are favored for a reason. Injuries continue to pile up on the Clippers as Chris Kaman is the latest casualty and he will miss the remainder of the season. In all, Kaman has been sidelined for 18 games with the Clippers going 2-16 without him. The return of Elton Brand is the talk of the team but the anticipated return is not going to happen until Thursday against Sacramento. Cuttino Mobley is hurting but will hobble around.

Seattle has actually been favored five times this season, going 4-1 ATS in those games so putting down the chalk is not so scary after all. The Clippers have won just nine road games all season long and the offense has been pretty anemic with the injuries taking place. That is the best news for Seattle who gave up an average of 114.3 ppg in March and 12 times this season the Sonics have allowed 120 points or more. They have allowed just 101 ppg during this homestand and the defense will have enough tonight to get it done.

Toronto Raptors @ Atlanta Hawks o204.5

The Atlanta Hawks enter into this tilt against the Toronto Raptors , playing some solid basketball winning , 8 of their L/10 overall, including , 4 in a row. Much of the Hawks , successes are centered around what is fast becoming an explosive offense that has averaged 109.1 PPG during the above mentioned span. Their opponents , the Raps are playing very inconsistently, losing 6 of their L/10, behind a lackluster , defense, that remains their achilles heel , as is evident by allowing 97.2 PPG this season and just under the 100 point plateau in the visitors role. The one constant for the Raptors has been an offense that averages 100.1 PPG on the season. Considering the current form of both teams, and overall study of the statistical data , recommending a wager on this contest , going over the set total , will be an easy decision. Final notes & Key Trends: Over is 10-1 in Raptors last 11 vs. a team with a losing record . Atlanta has gone Over in 7 of their L/9 home games. Play on the Over

Golden State Warriors +4

Warriors look to bounce back off last night's 24-point thumping at San Antonio knowing they are 22-5-1 ATS in this series, including 11-1 when playing off a SU and ATS loss.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks take an 11-game losing streak against winning teams into tonight's contest. The bottom line is yo can't lay points with a team in Dallas' current condition, especially in to an opponent that has their number. Grab the points with the Warriors.