NBA picks: Clippers vs. Thunder, 76ers vs. Rockets

The NBA playoffs are set, and Friday night’s primetime games will have zero impact on those seeds or matchups. That doesn’t mean that there won’t still be a winner or a loser, however, so let’s try and determine where money can be made in these matchups between backups.

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder came back from a 22-point fourth quarter deficit in their last game to beat the Miami Heat, and the key players in that comeback will presumably play a large role in Friday night’s game as well. Mike Muscala hit two three-pointers in the last minute to take the final lead, and it will be interesting to see if the career 36% three-pointer shooter gets to capitalize on more open looks.

The real key backups for the Thunder, however, are Darius Bazley, who poured in 21 against the Heat, and former Clipper, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who will undoubtedly have a little extra motivation against his former team despite the lack of stakes in this matchup.

The Clippers, meanwhile, have the No. 2 seed locked up after defeating the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night. The starters, therefore, are set to spend the game on the bench, making this one a particularly easy game to handicap.

Expect the Thunder to make plenty of noise tonight as Gilgeous-Alexander and Co. roll over L.A.

NBA pick: Thunder moneyline

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Houston Rockets

The Sixers, of all teams heading into the playoffs, are the ones with the least momentum. Ben Simmons is out for an undetermined time, and fellow All-Star Joel Embiid is banged up as well. Both will be out vs the Rockets on Friday, and for a team that showed flashes of promise in the regular season, the Sixers appear to be limping into the postseason after five months of rest.

The Rockets, with a playoff matchup against the Thunder already locked up, will also sit several starters, but one player that is expected to play is Eric Gordon, who scored 13 points against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday in his first game in Orlando. He'll get the chance to have his number called upon as much as he can handle in his second game back.

Former Sixer Robert Covington will also presumably get some minutes, and should have a little extra motivation to show up his old team. The Rockets defeated the Sixers 118-108 in the regular season, and against a Sixers team missing both Embiid and Simmons I expect them to have similar success.

NBA pick: Rockets moneyline