Dwight Howard should be the sportsbetting favorite to win his second straight Defensive Player of the Year award, and he proved why by dominating Orlando’s Game 1 win over Charlotte. If the player they call “Superman” can avoid foul trouble and add a few more points on the offensive end, the Magic may rout the Bobcats in their Game 2 matchup on Wednesday.

Bobcats vs Magic odds – Wednesday, April 21, 7:00 PM ET

The Bobcats held their own in a 98-89 loss in Game 1, but they failed to get out on Orlando’s three-point shooters, allowing the Magic to go 13-of-30 from beyond the arc. Gerald Wallace had a huge night with 25 points and 17 rebounds, while Stephen Jackson netted 18 points, but he played through a sore knee as he banged legs with Wallace in the second quarter, and coach Larry Brown sat an unhappy Jackson for the last few minutes of the game. An MRI revealed that Jackson had a bone bruise on his knee and while he’s sore, he expects to start in Game 2. Bringing Jackson to Charlotte ranks as one of the best moves of the season as he is a great two-way player, and his defensive ability (along with Wallace) allows the Bobcats to do a lot of different things.

Howard had just five points and seven rebounds, but four of those boards were on the offensive glass, and he swatted nine shots, including eight in the first half. Howard changes the way a team attacks, and you can bet that he was in the Bobcats’ heads. However, Howard got in foul trouble, which was how Charlotte managed to claw back from a 22-point deficit, but the Magic got 32 points from Jameer Nelson, who missed most of last year’s playoff run with a shoulder injury, and then he was clearly less than 100% for the Finals.

The Magic should be the NBA betting favorites in this contest, and the Bobcats have now dropped 11 of their last 13 in Orlando. The Magic should be a little worried that they let such a big lead slip away, and Howard has to do a better job of being disciplined. If he stays on the floor, the Magic are a much more effective team at both ends of the floor. The Bobcats are also fouling Howard instantly as they know that he shot 61.2% from the free-throw line this season, and he either needs to start converting those chances, or getting to the hoop quicker. It’ll be interesting to see how healthy Jackson is, because he did a good job on Vince Carter, who was just 4-of-19 from the field.

NBA playoffs betting pick: Orlando

Boston’s NBA playoff odds have dropped after a lackluster second half to the season, and the Celtics have lost seven of their last 10 overall as they head into their first-round series with Miami, who have won nine of their last 10 games. Can the Celtics get their head on straight?

Heat vs Celtics odds – Saturday, April 17, 8:00 PM ET

The Heat went on a tear to end the season, but there are still questions about Miami being a one-man team, but when your one man is Dwyane Wade, it’s a pretty good deal. Wade ended the season with 26.6 points, 6.5 assists and 4.8 rebounds, and he also added 1.84 steals and 1.06 blocks. They’re doing it with defense as they allowed 100 points or more in two of their last 13 games. This is key as the Heat don’t score much outside of Wade, who was rested for the finale. Udonis Haslem and Jermaine O’Neal were also rested due to soreness, but they should be in the lineup on Saturday, which is a boost to the Heat’s sportsbook odds.

The Celtics’ usually-strong defense took a big hit down the stretch as they gave up 100 points or more in eight of their last 10 games, and what’s more, the team just doesn’t look interested. There are rumors that Doc Rivers is leaving after the season, there are questions about the age and durability of the Big Three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, and the signing of Rasheed Wallace may have been the worst of the season.

NBA betting odds should favor the Celtics in this contest, and this may have been the best possible draw for Boston to get as they won all three of their meetings with the Heat this season, and nine of their last 10 overall against Miami, who have lost five straight in Boston. People have been saying that the Celtics won’t get it going until the playoffs, but that’s a risky thing to do, and they’re going to have to get together soon. Wade has averaged 33.7 points and 8.7 assists against the Celtics this season, but he’s going to need some help. Where it comes from, we don’t know, because no one is sold on Michael Beasley. The Heat’s defense will keep them in this series, and they have a solid shot to win it, but the Celtics are a proud bunch, and they may want to come out and make a statement to all of their doubters in the first game of the series, which is why we’re taking the Boston Celtics in our sports betting picks on Saturday.

While NBA championship betting isn’t in Charlotte’s cards, they are in the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, and they’ll have a chance to put a huge dent in Chicago’s postseason chances when they host the Bulls in their season finale on Wednesday.

Bulls vs Bobcats odds – Wednesday, April 14, 8:00 PM ET

The Bulls still have a tough game against Boston at home on Tuesday, and they’re coming off a crucial 104-88 win in Toronto against the team they are jockeying with for the final spot in the Eastern Conference. Derrick Rose, who said it would be his team in the playoffs and not Toronto, backed up his talk with 26 points and seven assists, but the real star of the game was Joakim Noah. The forward had 18 points and 19 rebounds, and he had a couple of offensive boards in the fourth quarter when the Raptors were trying to put something together. The Bulls will be watching the scoreboard in this contest as Toronto plays host to the New York Knicks, but they just need to focus on beating a very good team at home in Charlotte.

The Bobcats have won four of their last five after a 105-95 victory in New Jersey on Monday, and Stephen Jackson was one of seven Charlotte players in double figures with 17 points, with to go with nine rebounds. The Bobcats shot 49.4% from the field while holding the Nets to 39.3%, and if Charlotte is going to pull off an upset in your best online sportsbook, they’re going to have to continue to play defense as they have all season as they have allowed the fewest points in the league.

The Bobcats should be the favorite when you bet NBA on Wednesday, and they still have a chance of pulling into the sixth seed in the East if Milwaukee loses to Boston, which would create a first-round series with Atlanta as opposed to Orlando. The Bulls have lost three in a row in Charlotte, but they have won two of their three meetings with the Bobcats this season. The problem is that those wins have come at home, and they’re going to have to figure out a way to win in North Carolina against a team that is now owned by the man who put their franchise on the map, Michael Jordan. Both of these teams are good defensively, and they don’t score a lot of points, yet two of their three meetings have gone over the posted total, so keep your eye on that number. We can’t see the Bulls figuring out their problems in Charlotte, and it could cost them a shot at the playoffs.

Sports betting pick: Charlotte

If Masters 2010 odds are as close as the Western playoff race is right now, then players will have a tough time selecting a winner. On Friday, Dallas will head to Portland, and both are facing battles at the opposite end of the playoff spectrum.

Mavericks vs Trailblazers odds – Friday, April 9, 10:00 PM ET

The Mavericks snapped a two-game skid with a 110-84 rout of Memphis at home on Wednesday, and Dallas started and ended strong, outscoring the Grizzlies 65-38 in the first and fourth quarters. Caron Butler was one of six Mavericks in double figures with 23 points, while Dirk Nowitzki was next with 22 points for Dallas, who shot an outlandish 55.3% from the field, and they harassed the Trailblazers into 19 turnovers. The Mavericks’ bench outscored their Memphis counterparts 49-7, and if the subs play that well in the playoffs, Dallas will be a top NBA betting consideration for the postseason. The problem is consistency on the defensive end, where the Mavericks have been shaky down the stretch.

The Trailblazers have now won two straight and eight of their last 10 overall after a 93-85 win in Los Angeles over the Clippers on Wednesday, led by 27 points and 12 boards from LaMarcus Aldridge, who has picked up his game lately. Brandon Roy had 23 points for the Trailblazers, who outrebounded the Clippers 40-34, and they now sit in sixth place in the West, but San Antonio and Oklahoma City are also right there. The Trailblazers could have easily given up on this season after a number of injuries, especially to their big men, but they never gave up, and they could end up playing the Mavericks in the playoffs now.

Sports book odds should have the Trailblazers as the favorites at home, but the Mavericks have won seven of their last 10 games in Portland, even though they fell 101-89 at the Rose Garden on March 25^th. The Trailblazers have won all three meetings with the Mavericks this season, and Portland will be happy to go for the season sweep on their homecourt. However, Butler is starting to mesh better with the Mavericks, and even though he hasn’t been scoring as many points, he’s hitting the boards, which frees up Nowitzki to get in position for a good shot. The Trailblazers have been heroic all season, but they’ve also been streaky, and while they’re hot right now, their two-game winning streak has come at the expense of Sacramento and the Clippers. Dallas owner Mark Cuban recently said that his team is ready for the playoffs, and they’ll want to make a statement against a possible opponent on Friday.

Online sports betting pick: Dallas

Portland Trail Blazers/Los Angeles Clippers (Over 193.5) points at (  1.909)

Statistic: 147/295 49,8%

St. Louis Blues/Chicago Blackhawks (Under 5.5) goals at (  1.833)

Statistic:

182/319 57%

Take a step back from your Masters betting odds for a minute and check out this intriguing matchup in the NBA on Wednesday, when Denver will head to Oklahoma City in a possible preview of a first-round matchup. The last seven spots in the Western postseason picture are separated by three games as of Tuesday, and this game could go a long way in figuring out who will play where.

Nuggets vs Thunder odds – Wednesday, April 7, 8:00 PM ET

The Nuggets fought back from a 21-point deficit to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 98-90 at home on Sunday, and they did it with defense, forcing 20 turnovers. Carmelo Anthony had 24 points to lead the way, while Nene added 18 points for the Nuggets, who held a 10-7 edge on the offensive glass. The Nuggets have just received word that coach George Karl will miss the remainder of the regular season due to his cancer treatments, so they’re going to have to look to the leaders on their team, namely Anthony and Chauncey Billups to step up, but they also need Kenyon Martin to return from the disabled list.

The Thunder will play in Utah on Tuesday, coming off a 116-108 win over Minnesota at home on Sunday, and Kevin Durant had a game-high 40 points to go with nine rebounds. Online sports betting players would probably be right if they bet on LeBron James to win the MVP award for the second straight year, but you have to think that Durant would probably be next, if not, in the top three. The Thunder outrebounded the Timberwolves 47-34 and shot 51.7% from the field, and it’s incredible that they have been able to stay in the playoff hunt all season given how young they are.

Most sportsbooks should favor the Thunder at home in this one, as the Nuggets are 18-21 away from home this year. The home team has won all three meetings this year, and Anthony and Durant have staged their own personal duels, with Anthony dropping 30.5 points in two meetings with the Thunder, while Durant has countered with 27.0 points. The Nuggets have a bit of an edge as the Thunder will have to travel from Utah after their Tuesday night game, while the Nuggets have been off since Sunday, but Denver’s shaky road record isn’t very encouraging. The Nuggets recently went 1-4 on a five-game road trip, while the Thunder had won six of their last seven overall prior to their game against the Jazz. The Thunder are a good team in the second half of back-to-backs, and with their youth, fatigue isn’t an issue with them. Take the Oklahoma City Thunder in your basketball betting picks.

San Jose Sharks/Calgary Flames (Under 5.5) goals at ( 1.690)
Statistic:

182/319 57%

Montreal Canadiens vs Philadelphia Flyers Philadelphia Flyers to win at ( 1.714)
Statistic:

182/318 57,2%