Thursday, April 2, features six matchups on the NBA schedule, including a doubleheader televised by Prime Video. Today’s action tips off with a pair of games at 7:00 p.m. ET, while a West Coast battle at 10:30 p.m. ET caps the slate.
Among Thursday’s six NBA games, which point spreads, totals, and more stand out on PrizePicks Team Picks? Let’s dive into our top NBA predictions and expert picks for Thursday, April 2, including a player projection for PrizePicks.
{{nba_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}
Best NBA Predictions and Expert Picks: 4/2/26
As mentioned, today’s primetime doubleheader begins at 7:00 p.m. ET between the Timberwolves vs. Pistons, followed by the Lakers vs. Thunder at 9:30 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
With the playoffs drawing near, plenty of intriguing storylines will be on display. For example, the Hornets look to stay hot vs. a struggling Suns squad, while the Lakers and Thunder collide with 9-1 records over their last 10 games.
But which matchups catch our eye for NBA expert picks? Below, we’ll highlight the Cleveland Cavaliers (47-29) vs. the Golden State Warriors (36-40) and the New Orleans Pelicans vs. the Portland Trail Blazers (39-38) — each tipping off at 10:00 p.m. ET.
Stay tuned to the Playbook’s NBA coverage for continued predictions and picks throughout the playoffs and NBA Finals. Let’s break down our favorite NBA predictions and expert picks for Thursday, April 2, on PrizePicks Team Picks.
Payouts are live as of publishing. All are subject to change.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors Prediction on Over/Under – 4/2/26
Over/Under Pick: Over 226.5 (1.78x) | Under 226.5 (2.04x)
Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
TV: NBA League Pass
- While Warriors G Stephen Curry last appeared on January 30 and is not expected to return until Sunday, Golden State has continued to shoot 3-pointers in bulk during his absence.
- The Warriors record 15.9 triples (second) and 44.6 3-point attempts per game (first), plus they totaled 14.6 treys per contest over their last five games.
- According to Dunks & Threes, the Cavaliers give up a 42.4% 3-point shot distribution (21st) and 13.9 triples per game (22nd).
- On the other side of the court, Cleveland totals 51.7 points in the paint per game (11th), and Golden State cedes 50.9 paint points per contest (17th), per NBA Advanced Stats.
- Opponents shoot 35.6% from 3-point land (16th) vs. the Warriors, and the Cavs record 14.4 triples per game (ninth).
- Cleveland (13th) and Golden State (15th) each rank in the top half of the Association for the quickest paces
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Portland Trail Blazers Prediction on Spread – 4/2/26
NBA Spread Pick: Pelicans +7.5 (1.75x) | Trail Blazers -7.5 (2.08x)
Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
TV: NBA League Pass
- The Pelicans are on a five-game losing streak and carry a 1-4 against the spread (ATS) record during the stretch.
- Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers are 4-1 outright and ATS over their past five matchups.
- Adding to New Orleans’ trouble, Pelicans F Trey Murphy III (ankle) is questionable, per NBA.com.
- Murphy leads the Pels with 21.7 points per game (PPG) and has missed the last three games. In this split, New Orleans is 0-3 ATS while logging only 105.3 PPG compared to 115.1 PPG for the season (17th).
- NBA Advanced Stats rank the Pelicans 22nd in defensive rating, and they give up a 44.2% 3-point shot distribution (25th).
- The Trail Blazers love the 3-ball with 42.0 attempts per game (fourth) and a 46.7% shot distribution from deep (third).
{{nba_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}
Trail Blazers F Toumani Camara vs. Pelicans Projection: 14.5 Points
- Trail Blazers F Toumani Camara leads Portland with 7.1 3-point shots per game.
- In his last six games, the third-year wing has made 24 of 45 3-point attempts (53.3%).
- That’s elevated his usage to 7.5 attempted triples per game in the split, too.
- Camara is red-hot with 18.2 PPG while shooting 55.4% from the field in his last six games, surpassing his 13.1 PPG and 43.7% season-long marks.
- After launching 9 3-point attempts in each of his last two games, Portland’s forward could expose this weak Pelicans perimeter defense.
Make NBA Picks on PrizePicks
For tonight’s West Coast NBA action, the Cavaliers-Warriors could be bound for a high-scoring affair. Plus, the scorching hot Trail Blazers may keep it up vs. a potentially thin Pelicans rotation.
You can make your picks on PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks and earn real money. Just pick players, predict More or Less on their projected stats, and cash in if you’re correct. With Team Picks, make predictions on winners, spreads, and over/unders, now available in 35 states.
Stick around with the Playbook for continued NBA predictions, picks, and news.
