The 2025-26 NBA regular season is winding down, as the campaign comes to a close on April 12. As a result, teams are battling for playoff seeding, while others are attempting to avoid the Play-In Tournament.
As a result, these playoff races provide several opportunities to make NBA predictions on PrizePicks Team Picks.
Let’s look at the nine-game NBA slate on Wednesday, April 1, and highlight two matchups with NBA predictions and expert picks.
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Best NBA Predictions and Expert Picks: 4/1/26
Wednesday's schedule gets underway with the Hawks and Magic at 7:00 p.m. ET and wraps up with the Warriors hosting the Spurs for a 10:00 p.m. ET tip-off on ESPN.
The Atlanta Hawks (43-33) take on the Orlando Magic (40-35) in the opening game on Wednesday’s slate, tipping off at 7:00 p.m. ET, and PrizePicks Team Picks has tabbed the Hawks as 3.5-point favorites.
Meanwhile, the Miami Heat (40-36) will host the Boston Celtics (50-25) in the first game of ESPN’s doubleheader at 7:30 p.m. With two talented offenses going head-to-head, there’s an opportunity for a high-scoring affair.
Stay tuned to the Playbook’s NBA coverage for continued predictions and picks throughout the NBA postseason and NBA Finals. Let’s break down our favorite NBA predictions and expert picks for Wednesday, April 1, on PrizePicks Team Picks.
Payouts are live as of publishing. All are subject to change.
Atlanta Hawks vs. Orlando Magic Prediction on Spread – 4/1/26
NBA Spread Pick: Atlanta Hawks -3.5 (1.78x) | Orlando Magic +3.5 (2.04x)
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
TV: NBA League Pass
- The Hawks are 2-1 against the spread when facing the Magic this season. Atlanta has won all three meetings outright.
- Atlanta averages 118.2 PPG, which ranks sixth in the NBA.
- According to NBA Advanced Stats, the Hawks lead the league in assist ratio (20.5), just edging out the Toronto Raptors (20.4) and Denver Nuggets (20.2).
- The Hawks have a 7-6 ATS record as a road underdog, producing a 53.9% cover rate.
- The Magic have surrendered 122.0 PPG, a significant increase from their 115.1 PPG average that they gave up throughout the 2025-26 season.
- Hawks F Jalen Johnson leads the team in points (22.9), rebounds (10.2), and assists (8.1) per game and has averaged 23.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG, and 3.6 APG over his last five contests.
Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat Prediction on Over/Under – 4/1/26
Over/Under Pick: Over 228.5 (1.88x) | Under 228.5 (1.88x)
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
- The over is 7-3 in the Heat’s last 10 games. Meanwhile, the over has cashed in two of the last four matchups between the Celtics and Heat.
- According to NBA Advanced Stats, the Heat have the quickest pace in the league (104.44).
- Miami averages the second-most PPG (120.2) in the NBA, trailing only the Nuggets (121.3).
- The Celtics average the third-most 3-point attempts per game (42.0), ranking third in the NBA.
- Boston also connects on 36.2% of its shots from beyond the arc (10th in the NBA).
- The Heat share the basketball extremely well, ranking seventh in the NBA with 28.6 assists per game.
- After missing Monday’s game vs. the Hawks, Celtics F Jayson Tatum isn’t listed on the injury report for Wednesday’s game.
- The Celtics allow their opponents to shoot 35.6% from beyond the arc this season (15th in the NBA).
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Celtics G Payton Pritchard vs. Heat Projection: 15.5 Points
- Pritchard has averaged 17.9 points per game over his last 10 games.
- The Celtics guard is shooting 51.4% (18-of-35) from beyond in his last five contests, including a 4-of-6 performance from deep vs. the Hawks on Monday.
- The Heat are allowing their opponents to connect on 13.8 three-point shots per game, ranking 22nd in the NBA.
- Pritchard has scored at least 16 points in five of his last seven games.
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Will the Hawks be able to sustain their winning ways against the Magic? Meanwhile, the Celtics and Heat could use their elite offenses, leading to a high-scoring Eastern Conference affair.
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