Spread, triple-double play in NBA: Best Bets for April 16

Each day, one of our experts at bet.NOLA.com will offer up a best bet (or two or three) that mobile sportsbooks in Louisiana are offering. It might be a traditional spread bet, a player prop or one of the various odds boosts that books offer.

A reminder for those who haven’t signed up yet: New users can get a risk-free bet at Caesars Sportsbook, meaning that if your first bet loses, you get a bonus bet for the same amount up to $1,250. New users also get 1,000 Caesars Rewards points to redeem for hotel or casino credit.

Here are our best bets for Sunday, April 16:

TOP PLAY

The play: NBA: Denver Nuggets -7.5 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

The odds/bet: -110 ($33 to win $30)

The book: Caesars Sportsbook

Time/TV: 9:30 p.m. (TNT)

Our take: Oh, goody, we get to have the "rest vs. hot streak" debate to start the playoffs again. The Denver Nuggets are a mediocre 5-5 in their last 10 games, but they're more well-rested having locked up their playoff seeding weeks ago. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves emphatically beat the Oklahoma City Thunder to stake their claim to the last remaining playoff position.

The Timberwolves have been playing good basketball over the last couple of weeks. Minnesota managed to put the boneheaded scuffle between Kyle Anderson and Rudy Gobert last Sunday behind it, come together and play good basketball when it meant the most.

Denver has been dominant in the Western Conference this year. Despite this reality, the Nuggets don't have much to show for it against the Timberwolves. These teams split the season series at two a piece with the home team winning each contest. Oddsmakers see the trend continuing this evening with the hosts favored by 7.5 points.

The Nuggets are well-rested and they beat Minnesota by 34 points the last time these two teams met in Ball Arena. Denver gets it done and covers in Game 1.

THE GREEK FREAK WILL GO OFF IN GAME 1

The play: NBA: Giannis Antetokounmpo to record a triple-double vs. Heat

The odds/bet: +750 ($4 to win $30)

The book: FanDuel Sportsbook

Time/TV: 4:30 p.m. (TNT)

Our take: The Miami Heat earned the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference by the hair on their chinny chin chin. What is Miami's reward for making it this far? A 7-game series against a juggernaut in the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Bucks' superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo, is enjoying perhaps the best season of his career to date. He's tallied six triple-doubles this season, one of which came in his only full game against the Heat.

Antetokounmpo was also on pace to record another triple-double against Miami earlier in the season (four points, assists and rebounds) but he exited the game after just six minutes on the court. Antetokounmpo also has two postseason triple-doubles, so he's proven he can perform at his best under the brightest lights.

Two of the Greek Freak's triple-doubles this season have come in the last four games he's played. Therefore, there's simply too much value from FanDuel Sportsbook here to pass up with Antetokounmpo at +750 to record one in Game 1 against the Heat.

HOW WE’VE FARED

NBA: Golden State Warriors at Sacramento Kings UNDER 238.5 (LOST $33)

EPL: Manchester City to win, both teams to score (WON $10)

Saturday's profit/loss: -$23 (1-1)

Total for the week: -$98.30 (5-6, 1 pending)

Total for April: -$255.70 (12-17, 1 pending)

Total for 2023: -$289.80 (77-87, 1 pending)

If a line or odds are minus, it considers the juice one must lay to place the bet. Ex: Team A is -160 on the money line, one would have to bet $160 to win $100 (or $16 to win $10). OR Team B is a 5-point favorite at -110, one would have to bet $110 to win $100 (or $11 to win $10.)

Conversely, on positive lines, if Team C is +140 on the money line, $100 would bring in $140 (or $10 to win $14).