Contributing Writer

Maple Leafs props vs. Sabres April 15: Back Matthews and Tavares to produce

The Toronto Maple Leafs can lock up first place in the Atlantic Division on Tuesday when they play the Buffalo Sabres.

The pregame narrative: The magic number is one point, as the Leafs need to win or lose in overtime to lock up the division. I expect a big performance and am taking prop bets for John Tavares and Auston Matthews.

Check out my Maple Leafs prop picks vs. Sabres for April 15.

Maple Leafs prop picks vs. Sabres

Best Bet: Tavares to score 1+ points (-139)

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I took this pick at this exact price on Sunday, and Tavares came through, scoring a goal against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Now, the Leafs play the Sabres, a much worse defensive team than the Hurricanes.

Buffalo allows the fourth most goals (3.49) and 11th most shots (28.9) per game.

The side is expected to start James Reimer tonight. His .898 SV% is less than impressive.

Tavares is rolling ahead of the playoffs, recording a point in four straight games and in 10 of his last 12.

Key stat: The former captain has five points in two games against the Sabres this season.

Quick pick

Matthews over 3.5 shots (+105): Matthews may not be producing at the same rate as last year, but he’s had a really good campaign, nonetheless.

75 points in 65 games (31 goals)
3.91 shots per game (fourth-most in NHL)

As mentioned before, the Sabres rank in the bottom half of the league for shots against.

Matthews is accustomed to big shooting nights and doesn’t get a plus-money price on this line often. Maybe it’s because he’s fallen short in three of the past four games, but I’m willing to look past that.

Mattews recorded five shots on goal in both games against Buffalo earlier this season.

Maple Leafs vs. Sabres prop picks made at 9:23 a.m. ET 04/15/2025.

Champions League quarterfinal prop bets: Picks on Kylian Mbappe and Lautaro Martinez

The second leg of the Champions League quarterfinal continues this week, and I have picks for both of Wednesday’s games.

The pregame narrative: Real Madrid needs a few goals at home for a comeback over Arsenal. I’m picking Kylian Mbappe to contribute to the cause by scoring. I also have eyes on Lautaro Martinez’s shot prop when Inter Milan hosts Bayern Munich.

Check out the best Champions League prop bets for the quarterfinal second leg.

Champions League prop bets

Go to full Champions League betting markets.

Best Bet: Mbappe to score (-134)

Mbappe is in a bit of a slump, going scoreless in his past four matches and in seven of his last nine.

That doesn’t change his underlying stats as an elite goal scorer:

La Liga: 22 goals in 29 games
UCL: 7 goals in 13 games

He’s always going to have opportunities. He’s recorded 18 shots on target over the past six games in which he played the full 90 minutes.

That’ll surely be the case on Wednesday as Real Madrid needs to win big to stay in the competition.

Mpabbe will spearhead an attack that is desperate for goals. I expect the defending champions to go down swinging, led by their star forward.

The side will need three goals at home, and that’s where the French attacker has been at his best for Los Blancos.

Key stat: Mbappe has 18 goals in 23 games played at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium across all competitions this season.

Quick pick

Martinez over 2.5 shots (-118): Martinez leads a potent Inter Milan offence that has scored at least a goal in 12 straight matches.

The Italian side holds a 2-1 lead on aggregate, but I don’t expect it to hold back and invite pressure against a squad as talented as Bayern Munich.

Bayern has recorded the most xG in the Champions League (32.6) this season, per FotMob. In other words, the German giants could score at any time and level the score.

That’s why it’ll be important for Inter to continue to play with the mindset of winning this match rather than not conceding.

Enter, Martinez. Dating back to the start of 2025, he is 15-3 against this line across all competitions, averaging 3.7 shots per game.

The offence flows through its Argentinian striker. I expect him to continue to let it rip in the second leg of the quarterfinal.

Martinez cleared this line on the road in the first leg with three shots.

Champions League picks made at 1:35 p.m. on 04/14/2025.

Champions League quarterfinal prop bets: Picks on Kylian Mbappe and Lautaro Martinez

The second leg of the Champions League quarterfinal continues this week, and I have picks for both of Wednesday’s games.

The pregame narrative: Real Madrid needs a few goals at home for a comeback over Arsenal. I’m picking Kylian Mbappe to contribute to the cause by scoring. I also have eyes on Lautaro Martinez’s shot prop when Inter Milan hosts Bayern Munich.

Check out the best Champions League prop bets for the quarterfinal second leg.

Champions League prop bets

Go to full Champions League betting markets.

Best Bet: Mbappe to score (-106)

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Mbappe is in a bit of a slump, going scoreless in his past four matches and in seven of his last nine.

That doesn’t change his underlying stats as an elite goal scorer:

La Liga: 22 goals in 29 games
UCL: 7 goals in 13 games

He’s always going to have opportunities. He’s recorded 18 shots on target over the past six games in which he played the full 90 minutes.

That’ll surely be the case on Wednesday as Real Madrid needs to win big to stay in the competition.

Mpabbe will spearhead an attack that is desperate for goals. I expect the defending champions to go down swinging, led by their star forward.

The side will need three goals at home, and that’s where the French attacker has been at his best for Los Blancos.

Key stat: Mbappe has 18 goals in 23 games played at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium across all competitions this season.

Quick pick

Martinez over 2.5 shots (-127): Martinez leads a potent Inter Milan offence that has scored at least a goal in 12 straight matches.

The Italian side holds a 2-1 lead on aggregate, but I don’t expect it to hold back and invite pressure against a squad as talented as Bayern Munich.

Bayern has recorded the most xG in the Champions League (32.6) this season, per FotMob. In other words, the German giants could score at any time and level the score.

That’s why it’ll be important for Inter to continue to play with the mindset of winning this match rather than not conceding.

Enter, Martinez. Dating back to the start of 2025, he is 15-3 against this line across all competitions, averaging 3.7 shots per game.

The offence flows through its Argentinian striker. I expect him to continue to let it rip in the second leg of the quarterfinal.

Martinez cleared this line on the road in the first leg with three shots.

Champions League picks made at 11:51 a.m. on 04/14/2025.

Maple Leafs props vs. Hurricanes April 13: Take overs for John Tavares and Matthew Knies

The Toronto Maple Leafs head on the road to face the Carolina Hurricanes.

The pregame narrative: The Leafs need three more points to clinch the division and can continue their pursuit on Sunday. I’m backing John Tavares and Matthew Knies to contribute on the offensive end.

Check out my Maple Leafs prop picks vs. Hurricanes for April 13.

Maple Leafs prop picks vs. Hurricanes

Best Bet: Knies over 1.5 shots (-154)

This was one line I couldn’t pass on when exploring the markets for this game.

Knies is at the end of a breakout season where he became an integral part of the Leafs’ offence.

He plays left wing on the first line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.

Knies also sees time on the top power-play unit, featured alongside John Tavares and William Nylander. That’s a premium spot for offensive production.

As a result, he has enjoyed a career-high in points (55) and, more importantly for this wager, shots (149).

Carolina provides a woeful matchup as the side allows the fewest shots per game (24.9), but this line is simply too low for the 22-year-old.

Key stat: Knies has cleared this total in 10 of the past 13 games, averaging 2.9 shots per game.

Quick pick

Tavares to score 1+ points (-138): I love jumping on this wager when the price makes sense, and I believe that’s the case here.

The former captain is having a great contract year, tallying 73 points in 72 games.

Since the all-star break, Tavares has at least a point in 18 of 25 games (72.0%).

In the Leafs’ last game against Carolina, just after the break, Tavares scored a goal and bagged an assist in a 6-3 Toronto win.

If I narrow it down even further, Tavares has 13 points in his last 10 games and is 8-2 against this wager.

Other top Toronto forwards carry a price tag ranging from -165 (Nylander) to -235 (Matthews), so I’d much rather bet on Tavares, who’s been the best of the bunch recently.

Maple Leafs vs. Hurricanes prop picks made at 1:53 p.m. ET 04/13/2025.

Maple Leafs props vs. Hurricanes April 13: Take overs for John Tavares and Matthew Knies

The Toronto Maple Leafs head on the road to face the Carolina Hurricanes.

The pregame narrative: The Leafs need three more points to clinch the division and can continue their pursuit on Sunday. I’m backing John Tavares and Matthew Knies to contribute on the offensive end.

Check out my Maple Leafs prop picks vs. Hurricanes for April 13.

Maple Leafs prop picks vs. Hurricanes

Best Bet: Knies over 1.5 shots (-130)

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This was one line I couldn’t pass on when exploring the markets for this game.

Knies is at the end of a breakout season where he became an integral part of the Leafs’ offence.

He plays left wing on the first line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.

Knies also sees time on the top power-play unit, featured alongside John Tavares and William Nylander. That’s a premium spot for offensive production.

As a result, he has enjoyed a career-high in points (55) and, more importantly for this wager, shots (149).

Carolina provides a woeful matchup as the side allows the fewest shots per game (24.9), but this line is simply too low for the 22-year-old.

Key stat: Knies has cleared this total in 10 of the past 13 games, averaging 2.9 shots per game.

Quick pick

Tavares to score 1+ points (-139): I love jumping on this wager when the price makes sense, and I believe that’s the case here.

The former captain is having a great contract year, tallying 73 points in 72 games.

Since the all-star break, Tavares has at least a point in 18 of 25 games (72.0%).

In the Leafs’ last game against Carolina, just after the break, Tavares scored a goal and bagged an assist in a 6-3 Toronto win.

If I narrow it down even further, Tavares has 13 points in his last 10 games and is 8-2 against this wager.

Other top Toronto forwards carry a price tag ranging from -165 (Nylander) to -235 (Matthews), so I’d much rather bet on Tavares, who’s been the best of the bunch recently.

Maple Leafs vs. Hurricanes prop picks made at 1:53 p.m. ET 04/13/2025.

Clippers vs. Warriors SGP predictions April 13: Back Kawhi Leonard, fade Steph Curry at +400

The most important game in the NBA on the final day of the regular season is between the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors.

The pregame narrative: With a Game 7 vibe, I’m backing the defensively sound Clippers to cover an alternate spread on the road. This +400 SGP includes a pick on Kawhi Leonard and a fade on Steph Curry.

Check out my Clippers vs. Warriors SGP predictions for April 13.

Clippers vs. Warriors predictions

Parlay: Clippers +7.5 | Leonard over 23.5 points | Curry under 25.5 points (+400)

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Clippers +7.5 (-210): L.A. is red-hot right now, winning nine of its past 10 games.

It’s also worth noting that the Clippers have covered this spread in 24 straight games.

The Warriors have also been great since they acquired Jimmy Butler, going 23-6 since the trade.

But the Clippers have the upper hand in this head-to-head matchup, having won all three meetings this season — despite Kawhi Leonard not playing in any of those games.

Their defence held the Warriors to an average of 98.3 points in those games.

Now insert both Kawhi and Butler into the conversation, and I think the Clippers should still have the advantage, especially against a lofty spread.

NBA SGP legs

Leonard over 23.5 points (-106): This is as important as it gets for a regular season game, and Toronto Raptors fans should be very knowledgable of how Leonard plays when the lights are the brightest.

Plus, he continues to lean into those robotic tendencies by returning from a lengthy injury recovery to play like he’s in his prime.

Leonard has played 30 or more minutes in 20 games now. Take a look at his averages in that scenario:

23.5 points
48.6 FG%
39.1 3PT%

He’s hyper-efficient, so this leg will come down to volume. But Leonard should be the No. 1 option when the Clippers need a bucket today.

Curry under 25.5 points (-106): It feels wrong to fade Curry as a scorer, but there are two reasons for it.

Curry is listed as questionable after suffering a thumb sprain on Friday. He managed to return in that game but was held to 14 points on 6-of-14 shooting (2-of-8 from deep).

The Clippers are an elite defensive team, owning the third-best defensive rating (112.2).

I fully expect Curry to suit up for this must-win game, but I expect he’ll be limited once again by the lingering thumb issue.

Look for the superstar guard to tap into his playmaking roots while leaving the majority of the scoring to Golden State’s secondary options.

Clippers vs. Warriors predictions made at 10:50 a.m. ET 04/13/2025.

Best NBA prop bets April 13: Picks on Zach LaVine and Anthony Edwards

Only a few games have meaning on the final day of the NBA regular season. I’m targeting two starters from those matchups.

The pregame narrative: Anthony Edwards has the chance to avoid the play-in, so expect him to carry the offensive load for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Elsewhere, bet on Zach LaVine to shine.

Check out the best NBA prop bets for April 13.

NBA prop bets

Best Bet: Edwards over 25.5 points (-108)

The Timberwolves have a wide range of outcomes today. But one thing is certain: If they win, they’ll avoid the play-in tournament.

That shouldn’t be too much to ask against the lowly Utah Jazz — especially with a red-hot Edwards leading the charge.

Over his last seven games, Edwards averaged 28.9 points and scored 25+ six times.

He’s taking a ton of shots, attempting 19.6 field goals per game during that time, while shooting above 50%.

Plus, he’s been lighting it up from deep, attempting 11.0 3-pointers and making 4.3 a night (39.0%).

This is practically a playoff game for the T-Wolves, and Edwards has proven to be the go-to guy for them.

The Jazz have the worst defensive rating in the NBA (121.1). They also allow the second-most points per game to shooting guards (24.14), per Fantasy Pros.

Key stat: Edwards has scored 30-plus points against Utah in six straight games dating back to 2023.

Best NBA picks

LaVine over 23.5 points (-106): Like the T-Wolves, the Sacramento Kings can decide their fate as well.

No matter what, the Kings will play the Dallas Mavericks in the play-in, but Sacramento can guarantee that the contest is played at home with a win over the Phoenix Suns.

Phoenix will be without Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, so this is a prime spot for the Kings to grab a win.

And that effort should be spearheaded by LaVine with how he’s played over the last five games:

31.6 PPG
22.2 FGA
53.2 FG%
55.1 3PT%

What piques my interest the most, though, is his 5.4 made 3s per night over that timeframe.

His immense volume and MVP-calibre efficiency provide a very reliable floor at the moment.

NBA prop picks made at 11:02 a.m. ET on 04/13/2025.

Best NBA prop bets April 13: Picks on Zach LaVine, Anthony Edwards and Nikola Jokic

Only a few games have meaning on the final day of the NBA regular season. I’m targeting three starters from those matchups.

The pregame narrative: Anthony Edwards has the chance to avoid the play-in, so expect him to carry the offensive load for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Elsewhere, bet on Zach LaVine and Nikola Jokic to shine.

Check out the best NBA prop bets for April 13.

NBA prop bets

Best Bet: Edwards over 25.5 points (-108)

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The Timberwolves have a wide range of outcomes today. But one thing is certain: If they win, they’ll avoid the play-in tournament.

That shouldn’t be too much to ask against the lowly Utah Jazz — especially with a red-hot Edwards leading the charge.

Over his last seven games, Edwards averaged 28.9 points and scored 25+ six times.

He’s taking a ton of shots, attempting 19.6 field goals per game during that time, while shooting above 50%.

Plus, he’s been lighting it up from deep, attempting 11.0 3-pointers and making 4.3 a night (39.0%).

This is practically a playoff game for the T-Wolves, and Edwards has proven to be the go-to guy for them.

The Jazz have the worst defensive rating in the NBA (121.1). They also allow the second-most points per game to shooting guards (24.14), per Fantasy Pros.

Key stat: Edwards has scored 30-plus points against Utah in six straight games dating back to 2023.

Best NBA picks

LaVine over 22.5 points (-118): Like the T-Wolves, the Sacramento Kings can decide their fate as well.

No matter what, the Kings will play the Dallas Mavericks in the play-in, but Sacramento can guarantee that the contest is played at home with a win over the Phoenix Suns.

Phoenix will be without Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, so this is a prime spot for the Kings to grab a win.

And that effort should be spearheaded by LaVine with how he’s played over the last five games:

31.6 PPG
22.2 FGA
53.2 FG%
55.1 3PT%

What piques my interest the most, though, is his 5.4 made 3s per night over that timeframe.

His immense volume and MVP-calibre efficiency provide a very reliable floor at the moment.

Jokic to record a triple-double (+116): The last team I’ll highlight is the Denver Nuggets.

They can secure the fourth seed by simply beating the Houston Rockets. That task would usually be difficult, but the Rockets should be resting a lot of their key players to prepare for the postseason.

This could also go really poorly for Denver. A loss and an unlucky mixture of results around the league would drop the squad into the play-in tournament.

That’s why I expect Jokic to step up and have a big game for his team.

Well, actually, he would only need a standard performance; the big man averages a triple-double (29.8 points, 12.8 rebounds, 10.3 assists).

That includes cashing this wager in five of the past eight games. Two of the three times he fell short, he finished one assist shy.

NBA prop picks made at 9:37 a.m. ET on 04/13/2025.

NBA schedule, odds and betting lines April 13: Winner of Clippers vs. Warriors secures top-six seed

It’s the final day of the NBA regular season, and all 30 teams are in action.

The latest: There is little chance for movement in the standings besides a jam-packed Western Conference. The winner of the Los Angeles Clippers vs. Golden State Warriors game claims a top-six seed, while the loser could be in danger of missing the playoffs.

Check out our basketball betting lines and NBA schedule for April 13.

NBA schedule: April 13

Visit all of tonight’s NBA markets. Click on game odds below to bet now.

Indiana Pacers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

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Charlotte Hornets vs. Boston Celtics

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Washington Wizards vs. Miami Heat

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New York Knicks vs. Brooklyn Nets

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Detroit Pistons vs. Milwaukee Bucks

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Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks

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Chicago Bulls vs. Philadelphia 76ers

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Toronto Raptors vs. San Antonio Spurs

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Los Angeles Clippers vs. Golden State Warriors

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Denver Nuggets vs. Houston Rockets

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Phoenix Suns vs. Sacramento Kings

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Dallas Mavericks vs. Memphis Grizzlies

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Oklahoma City Thunder vs. New Orleans Pelicans

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Utah Jazz vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

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Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers

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Betting insights

On the final day, there is still tons of room for movement in the Western Conference. Five teams have between 47 and 49 wins (Warriors, Timberwolves, Grizzlies, Nuggets, Clippers).

The most intriguing of those games is between the Clippers and the Warriors. It should be an intense matchup, as the winner clinches a playoff position, while the loser could end up in the play-in.

Memphis is locked into one of those play-in spots and will close out the season against another play-in team, the Mavericks. This could be a preview of a future game that would decide the final playoff spot.
The Eastern Conference is completely set, so there’s nothing on the line in those matchups. This could result in a lot of resting players from East teams.

Champions League quarterfinal picks and predictions: Take Barcelona to win, the under in Aston Villa vs. PSG

There are two spots in the Champions League semifinal on the line Tuesday. I’ve got picks for both games.

The pregame narrative: It’s the second leg of the quarterfinal, and my best bet is on Barcelona to win. I also like the under on the game total at plus money in Aston Villa vs. PSG.

Check out the best Champions League predictions for the quarterfinal second leg.

Champions League predictions

Go to full Champions League betting markets.

Best Bet: Barcelona to win (-120)

Borussia Dortmund is at home and has everything to play for but I can’t get behind the squad with how this season went.

The German side is usually at the top of the Bundesliga leaderboard … not this year.

Dortmund sits in ninth place and is in danger of missing out on Champions League qualification for next year.

The side squeaked through the Round of 16 with a 2-1 win (on aggregate) over the French side LOSC Lille.

Barcelona is on a different tier, and that showed in the first leg. The Spanish giant dominated from start to finish and won 4-0 off the back of two goals from Robert Lewandowski.

It’s also worth noting that Barca is first in La Liga and is undefeated in 2025.

Key stat: During that time, Barcelona had a record of 19-4-0, winning 16 of those games by multiple goals.

Quick pick

Aston Villa/PSG under 2.5 goals (+125): Whichever way this match goes, I like the under.

PSG can lose this match, 1-0 or 2-0 and still advance on aggregate. That makes me believe the French side will come out with a safe defensive strategy.

That will allow Les Parisiens to control the pace, which would, more importantly, keep Aston Villa away from its goal.

My prediction is that PSG wins this game, holding strongly until the final whistle. But, if Aston Villa comes out hungry to score, it will be on the Ligue 1 champs to limit chances and control the possession.

PSG should take minimal risks here looking for offence, and that has me very interested in the under at this price.

Champions League predictions made at 2:20 p.m. on 04/12/25.