Bryan Bash delivered a strong performance on April 5, 2026, posting an 8-3 record across eleven NBA picks. The handicapper found success with several underdog plays and demonstrated solid line value throughout the slate, overcoming three losses to finish comfortably above .500 on the day.
Hornets at Timberwolves
Bash’s day began with a loss on Minnesota +2.0, as the Timberwolves fell 122-108 to Charlotte. LaMelo Ball paced the Hornets with 35 points and went 7-for-14 from deep in his league-leading eighth game with at least seven 3-pointers this season. Miles Bridges contributed 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as Charlotte shot 48.9% from the floor compared to Minnesota’s 45.8%. The Hornets also dominated the glass with a 46-39 rebounding advantage and dished out 31 assists to the Timberwolves’ 24, controlling the game despite Julius Randle’s 26 points for Minnesota.
Rockets at Warriors
Bash bounced back with a win on Golden State +4.0 in a thrilling 117-116 Houston victory. Despite the one-point loss, the Warriors easily covered the spread. Alperen Sengun made the go-ahead layup with 11 seconds remaining on a pass from Kevin Durant, who finished with 31 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Rockets. Stephen Curry, returning after being sidelined more than two months, missed a long 3-pointer in the final seconds and finished with 29 points. The Warriors shot an impressive 50.0% from the field and 90.0% from the free-throw line while dishing out 34 assists.
Raptors at Celtics
Boston -9.5 delivered a comfortable win as the Celtics defeated Toronto 115-101. Jaylen Brown scored 26 points and Jayson Tatum added 23 points with 13 rebounds for Boston, which won its third straight game. The Celtics shot 53.4% from the field and controlled the fourth quarter, outscoring Toronto 35-24 to pull away and cover the spread. Nikola Vucevic returned after missing a month, providing additional depth for the Celtics’ playoff push.
Magic at Pelicans
New Orleans +5.0 cashed as a winner despite the Pelicans falling 112-108 to Orlando. Desmond Bane scored 27 points for the Magic, who overcame a 15-point second-half deficit. Trailing 94-84 early in the fourth quarter, Orlando used a late rally to secure the victory, but the four-point margin kept the Pelicans comfortably inside the spread. The Magic dominated the boards with a 57-47 rebounding advantage, though New Orleans shot a respectable 41.7% from the field.
Suns at Bulls
Chicago +10.5 provided another winning underdog play as Phoenix won 120-110. Devin Booker scored 30 points and Jalen Green added 25 for the Suns, who ended the game on an 11-2 run after the Bulls had rallied from a 13-point deficit. Chicago was clinging to a 109-108 deficit with three minutes remaining before Phoenix pulled away. The Suns shot 50.6% from the field and 40.6% from three-point range, but the Bulls covered comfortably despite Tre Jones’ 29 points going for naught.
Lakers at Mavericks
Dallas +1.5 resulted in a win as the Mavericks defeated the depleted Lakers 134-128. Cooper Flagg exploded for 45 points to end Dallas’ longest home losing streak in 32 years at 14 games. LeBron James had 30 points and 15 assists for Los Angeles, which was without injured stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. The Mavericks shot 52.3% from the field and 43.8% from three-point range, controlling the game from the opening tip as the Lakers led for just 13 seconds in the opening minutes.
Grizzlies at Bucks
Milwaukee -6.0 delivered a win as the Bucks cruised past Memphis 131-115. Ryan Rollins scored 24 points for Milwaukee, which shot an outstanding 60.2% from the field and 50.0% from three-point range. Rayan Rupert recorded a career-high triple-double with 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Grizzlies, but the Bucks’ offensive efficiency proved too much. Milwaukee snapped an eight-game skid in the series with the dominant performance.
Clippers at Kings
Sacramento +12.5 resulted in a loss as the Clippers dominated 138-109, winning by 29 points. Kawhi Leonard scored 26 points, including 13 in the first quarter as Los Angeles raced out to a double-digit lead. The Clippers shot 53.3% from the field and an exceptional 48.8% from three-point range while making 95.2% of their free throws. The Kings were playing out the string of a lost season and couldn’t keep pace despite shooting 52.9% from the field themselves.
Pacers at Cavaliers
Cleveland -16.5 came up short as a loss when the Cavaliers won 117-108, covering by just 9 points. Donovan Mitchell scored 38 points with 23 coming in the second half, while James Harden added 28 points and seven assists. The Cavaliers didn’t take their initial lead until the third quarter and went ahead for good early in the fourth at 99-96. Cleveland eventually led by 15 late, but the injury-plagued Pacers stayed competitive enough to prevent the large cover.
Jazz at Thunder
Oklahoma City -23.0 provided a winning blowout as the Thunder demolished Utah 146-111, winning by 35 points. Chet Holmgren scored 21 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 20 before sitting out the fourth quarter. The Thunder shot a remarkable 58.7% from the field and 53.3% from three-point range while dishing out 40 assists. Oklahoma City dominated every quarter, building a 15-point first-quarter lead and never looking back despite Brice Sensabaugh’s 34 points for Utah.
Wizards at Nets
Brooklyn -3.5 closed out the day with a win as the Nets defeated Washington 121-115. Nolan Traore hit five 3-pointers and finished with 23 points and seven assists, while Jalen Wilson added 19 points. The Wizards, who have lost six straight and 22 of their past 23 games, got 30 points from Will Riley but couldn’t overcome Brooklyn’s balanced attack. The Nets shot 48.9% from the field and 87.0% from the free-throw line to secure the six-point victory.
Bash’s 8-3 performance demonstrated strong handicapping across multiple game types, with particular success on underdog spreads and one large favorite. The three losses came on Minnesota, Sacramento and Cleveland, with the Cavaliers failing to cover the large 16.5-point spread despite winning comfortably. Overall, it was a profitable day for those following Bash’s selections.
