Bryan Bash endured a difficult night on April 01, 2026, finishing with a 2-6-1 record across nine NBA picks. The handicapper managed just two winning selections against six losses and one push, as several favorites covered comfortably and underdogs failed to keep contests competitive.
Celtics @ Heat
Bash’s selection of the Miami Heat +5.0 was buried early as the Boston Celtics delivered a dominant 147-129 victory. Boston’s franchise-record 53-point first quarter—tied for the second-highest opening quarter in NBA history—set the tone immediately, with the Celtics building a 53-33 advantage. Jaylen Brown led the way with 43 points while Jayson Tatum posted his first triple-double of the season with 25 points, 18 rebounds, and 11 assists. The Celtics shot an impressive 58.3% from the field and 47.7% from three-point range, dominating the glass with a 48-37 rebounding edge. Despite Bam Adebayo’s 29 points and 10 rebounds for Miami, the Heat never recovered from that opening-quarter avalanche. Result: Lost
Hawks @ Magic
The Orlando Magic +4.5 pick fared no better in a 130-101 blowout loss to Atlanta. The Hawks seized control with a devastating 47-26 second quarter that turned a close game into a rout. Orlando’s offensive struggles were evident in their dismal 18.8% shooting from three-point range and 39.8% overall field goal percentage. Nickeil Alexander-Walker paced Atlanta with 32 points, while the Hawks dominated the boards 52-36. Wendell Carter Jr. managed just 14 points to lead Orlando in a forgettable performance. Result: Lost
Spurs @ Warriors
Bash caught a break with the Warriors +14.0 selection, pushing as San Antonio won 127-113. Victor Wembanyama delivered his second consecutive 41-point performance, adding 18 rebounds and three blocks while shooting an efficient 16-for-22 from the field. The Spurs jumped ahead 17-3 early and never looked back, extending their winning streak to 10 games. The injury-plagued Warriors got 17 points from Omer Yurtseven but couldn’t overcome San Antonio’s balanced attack, which featured 34 assists. The 14-point margin landed exactly on the number. Result: Push
Knicks @ Grizzlies
The Grizzlies +14.0 provided Bash’s first victory of the night despite Memphis falling 130-119 to New York. The Knicks’ massive 48-30 first quarter created an 18-point cushion, but Memphis battled back to keep the final margin within the number. OG Anunoby posted 25 points and 13 rebounds while Karl-Anthony Towns recorded his fourth triple-double of the season with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists. The Grizzlies shot 51.3% from the field and 44.4% from beyond the arc, with GG Jackson leading the way with 20 points. Result: Won
Bucks @ Rockets
Houston’s 119-113 victory over Milwaukee fell well short of covering the Rockets -17.0 spread that Bash backed. Reed Sheppard’s career-high nine three-pointers powered him to 27 points, while Alperen Sengun added 25 for Houston’s fourth straight win. However, the short-handed Bucks stayed competitive behind Ousmane Dieng’s impressive 36-point, 10-assist performance. The Rockets’ 30 assists on 41 field goals demonstrated ball movement, but they couldn’t pull away from Milwaukee down the stretch. Result: Lost
Nuggets @ Jazz
Bash secured his second winner with the Utah Jazz +17.0 in Denver’s 130-117 victory. Jamal Murray’s spectacular 37-point performance included 10 three-pointers and a half-court heave at the first-quarter buzzer, while Nikola Jokic recorded his fifth triple-double in six games with 15 points, 17 rebounds, and 12 assists. Despite the Nuggets’ seventh consecutive win and dominant 53-44 rebounding advantage, the Jazz kept the margin at 13 points. Kyle Filipowski contributed 25 points and 12 rebounds for Utah in the losing effort. Result: Won
Pacers @ Bulls
The Chicago Bulls -4.5 selection backfired as Indiana cruised to a 145-126 victory in their highest-scoring game of the season. The injury-ravaged Pacers shot an outstanding 56.9% from the field and dished out 49 assists, overwhelming Chicago’s defense. Pascal Siakam led with 25 points, while Ethan Thompson added 24 in Indiana’s effort to climb out of the NBA basement. The Pacers built their advantage with a 44-33 second quarter and never looked back, improving to 18-58. Result: Lost
Kings @ Raptors
Toronto failed to cover the Raptors -13.5 line in a 123-115 loss to Sacramento. DeMar DeRozan scored 14 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter while making NBA history, passing Dominique Wilkins for 17th place on the all-time scoring list. Precious Achiuwa dominated with 28 points and a season-high 19 rebounds for the Kings. Sacramento’s 93.1% free throw shooting proved crucial, and despite Toronto shooting 54.5% from the field, the Raptors couldn’t generate enough separation. Result: Lost
76ers @ Wizards
The final loss came on the Wizards +16.0 as Philadelphia demolished Washington 153-131. Paul George erupted for a season-high 39 points on 15-of-22 shooting despite Joel Embiid’s absence due to illness. The 76ers shot a blistering 61.6% from the field and 48.6% from three-point range, with a dominant 47-32 third quarter breaking the game open. Philadelphia’s 37 assists reflected exceptional ball movement, and the 22-point margin easily exceeded the spread. Result: Lost
Bash’s 2-6-1 performance highlighted the challenges of handicapping on a night when favorites largely dominated and underdogs struggled to stay competitive. The two covers came on double-digit spreads where underdogs kept games respectable, while several smaller spreads and favorite selections failed to materialize as anticipated.
