NBA Sunday Playoff Preview (April 27, 2025)

Sunday’s playoff slate features four pivotal Game 4 matchups, each with a team leading 2-1 in the series. The New York Knicks (up 2-1) visit the Detroit Pistons (1:00 PM ET, ABC), Minnesota Timberwolves (up 2-1) host the Los Angeles Lakers (3:30 PM ET, ABC), the Boston Celtics (up 2-1) face the Orlando Magic (7:00 PM ET, TNT), and the Indiana Pacers (up 2-1) go to Milwaukee to play the Bucks (9:30 PM ET, TNT). In each preview below we give a confident expert pick, a recommended bet (spread, moneyline or total), and a top player prop to watch.

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New York @ Detroit (1:00 PM ET, ABC)

Expert Prediction: The Knicks should push Detroit to the brink. New York’s offense – led by Jalen Brunson (nearly 34 PPG in this series) with help from Karl-Anthony Towns (21 PPG) and two-way forwards OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges – has been explosive. Detroit has Cade Cunningham (26 PPG) and a balanced supporting cast, but New York’s attack and depth give it the edge. Even on the road, New York is likely to outscore Detroit. Expect the Knicks to win and take a 3-1 lead (Desjunct: Knicks 116, Pistons 112).
Best Bet (Over/Under): Over 217.5 points. Both teams can light up the scoreboard. Detroit is a slim 1.5-point favorite at home, but recent games have featured high scoring and fast pace. With Brunson and Towns drawing attention, Detroit’s shooters (Hardaway, Harris, Beasley) will have room to bomb away. The trends suggest a high total, so taking Over 217.5 is the sharp play.
Top Player Prop: Jalen Brunson Over 32.5 Points. Brunson has been a one-man offense, averaging around 33–34 points per game this series. With Detroit’s defense stretched thin and Mitchell Robinson (Knicks’ big man) possibly out, Brunson will face plenty of scoring opportunities. Expect Brunson to finish with 33+ points again, as New York leans on his scoring in crunch time.

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Los Angeles @ Minnesota (3:30 PM ET, ABC)

Expert Prediction: The star power of the Lakers should prevail. Minnesota leads 2-1, but home-court may not be enough to stop Los Angeles. The Lakers boast Luka Dončić (28.3 PPG, 9.0 APG) and LeBron James (26.0 PPG) – arguably the two best players in the game right now – plus sharpshooter Austin Reaves (17.3 PPG). The Timberwolves counter with Anthony Edwards (25.3 PPG), Julius Randle (21.7 PPG) and Jaden McDaniels (21.0 PPG), but Los Angeles has more high-end firepower. On balance, the Lakers’ elite scorers should carry them to victory. Expect the Lakers to upset at Minnesota (Lakers win by 5).
Best Bet (Spread): Lakers +3.5. Minnesota is a 3.5-point favorite, but the Lakers’ offense has been too hot to ignore. Dončić and James can carry the scoring load even without an energized home crowd. Take the Lakers against the spread – they should keep it within four points or win outright.
Top Player Prop: Luka Dončić Over 27.5 Points. Dončić is averaging nearly 30 PPG in this series. With Karl-Anthony Towns now on New York, Minnesota’s interior defense is less dominant, so Dončić will have room to operate. Count on Luka to pour in 28–30 points to carry the Lakers’ attack again.

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Boston @ Orlando (7:00 PM ET, TNT)

Expert Prediction: Boston should secure the series with a road win – if healthy. The Celtics are heavy 6.5-point favorites and up 2-1, but they are bruised. Jaylen Brown is questionable with a knee issue and playmaker Jrue Holiday (Boston’s new guard) is out, leaving the bench short-handed. Still, Boston’s core (led by presumably Jayson Tatum) is talented enough to overcome Orlando. Expect the Celtics to win a close one, pushing the Magic to the brink (Boston wins by 4).
Best Bet (Spread): Magic +6.5. Take Orlando to cover the number. Boston’s missing pieces make this closer than the line suggests. Orlando has home-court and confidence after getting a win in Boston already. With the Celtics’ key guards struggling, expect Orlando to keep it tight. Betting Orlando +6.5 offers value if Boston’s offense slows down.
Top Player Prop: Jayson Tatum Over 30.5 Points. (Assuming Tatum is Boston’s primary star.) With Holiday and Brown sidelined, Tatum will have to do even more. He’s the focal point of the offense and has a green light to shoot. Tatum has been scoring efficiently all series, and with Orlando focused on one-on-one defense, Tatum should eclipse 31 points again.

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Indiana @ Milwaukee (9:30 PM ET, TNT)

Expert Prediction: Milwaukee evens the series at home. The Bucks are 4.5-point favorites and have game-breakers Giannis Antetokounmpo (35.7 PPG) and Damian Lillard (6.0 APG) carrying the offense. Indiana’s Pascal Siakam (25.7 PPG) and Tyrese Haliburton (15.0 PPG) are strong, but Giannis is virtually unstoppable. The Bucks should ride home-court energy and Giannis’s dominance to a win in Game 4 (Milwaukee wins by ~10).
Best Bet (Moneyline): Milwaukee Bucks to win (moneyline). Backing the Bucks straight-up is the play here. They need a bounce-back after falling behind 2-1, and all signs point to Giannis having a huge game. Pick Milwaukee to win at home rather than worrying about the spread.
Top Player Prop: Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 34.5 Points. Giannis is averaging nearly 36 PPG this series – an absurd rate. In Game 3 he exploded for over 30 already, and there’s no reason to think he will ease up with the Bucks on the ropes. Expect Giannis to top 35 points again as he carries Milwaukee’s offense.

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FAQ

Q: What are the best NBA picks today? A: For Sunday’s games, our top NBA picks today align with the previews above: we favor the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks to win their games. Each selection is based on recent team form, health and matchup advantages.
Q: What are the best NBA bets today? A: The best NBA bets today include taking the Over on New York–Detroit (217.5) and backing home dogs Boston (Orlando +6.5) and road dogs Los Angeles (Lakers +3.5). These bets exploit advantageous lines given injuries and game script, as discussed above.
Q: What NBA player props should I consider? A: Look at the high-scoring stars highlighted: Jalen Brunson, Luka Dončić, Jayson Tatum, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. These players have been averaging monster numbers and should continue to carry their teams, making their point-over props (all discussed above) strong NBA player props for Sunday.
Q: What are the NBA playoff predictions for Sunday? A: Our NBA playoff predictions for April 27 are Knicks win in Detroit, Lakers win at Minnesota, Celtics win in Orlando, and Bucks win in Milwaukee. These picks incorporate home-court effects and recent performances – they represent our best guess at who will prevail in each Game 4.

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