FanDuel Promo Code: Score $250 in Bonuses for NBA Hawks-Cavs & MLB Games - April 8th

Best Bets for NBA & MLB - Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Wednesday's slate is loaded with late-season stakes on both courts and diamonds. In the NBA, with only four days of regular season remaining, several of tonight's games carry direct playoff seeding implications — none more so than Hawks-Cavaliers on ESPN, a probable first-round preview that BPI gives a 66.1% chance of happening. On the MLB side, Aaron Nola takes the ball in the series finale at Oracle Park against a Giants squad that is historically bad early against right-handed pitching, making this a sharp pitching-matchup-driven spot. Between injury volatility in Cleveland and a deeply lopsided starter quality gap in San Francisco, tonight offers genuine value across multiple markets.

Atlanta Hawks at Cleveland Cavaliers

• 7:00 PM ET - ESPN

Atlanta Hawks (45-34, 5th East) at Cleveland Cavaliers (50-29, 4th East) — potential first-round playoff preview with Cleveland 1 game back of NY for the 3 seed

Atlanta enters as the hotter team, having won 17 of their last 20 games, though their four-game win streak was snapped by the Knicks on Monday. The Hawks have covered the spread in 10 of their last 11 road games after losing as favorites, a powerful situational ATS trend. Cleveland is dealing with a loaded injury report headlined by Donovan Mitchell (questionable, ankle) and Thomas Bryant (out, calf), leaving them potentially short-handed. ESPN's BPI gives these teams a 66.1% chance of meeting in the first round, which should significantly elevate national interest and betting handle for this game.

Injuries

🟢 Donovan Mitchell (ankle) — QUESTIONABLE

🟢 Dean Wade (ankle) — QUESTIONABLE

🟢 Jaylon Tyson (toe) — QUESTIONABLE

🔴 Thomas Bryant (calf) — OUT

🔴 Jock Landale (ankle) — OUT

Picks for NBA

1. Hawks +2.5-113

Atlanta has covered 10 of 11 road games after a loss as a favorite, and Cleveland's injury situation — particularly Mitchell's questionable ankle — creates line value on the underdog. The Hawks also beat CLE 130-123 in their last meeting.

2. Over 236.5-110

Each of the Hawks' last 6 games as underdogs following a home loss has gone Over; the Cavaliers' last 4 games against Atlanta following a road win have also gone Over. Both teams average north of 120 points in recent form.

3. Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 23.5 Points-115

Alexander-Walker is averaging 26.6 points over his last 5 games and erupted for 36 points in Monday's loss to the Knicks. He's the Hawks' primary offensive engine on the road and should see heavy usage.

Philadelphia Phillies at San Francisco Giants

• 3:45 PM ET - NBCS-BA / NBCS-PH

Philadelphia Phillies (6-5, 3-3 Away) at San Francisco Giants (4-8, 2-7 Home) — SF is 2-8 ATS on the season, worst in MLB; PHI is 6-4 ATS

Aaron Nola takes the hill at 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA and a scorching 12.7 K/9 through 11.1 innings this season, facing a Giants lineup that owns the lowest OPS (.540) and worst slugging (.282) against right-handed pitching in all of MLB. Tyler Mahle counters at 0-2 with a 7.00 ERA, having allowed 7 earned runs and 2 homers in just 9 innings. San Francisco is 2-8 ATS on the year and has been shutout in three consecutive home games before getting their first shutout win of Tuesday — but that was against Phillies southpaw Cristopher Sanchez, not Nola. The pitching matchup heavily favors Philadelphia, and the Giants are clearly pressing as they rapidly fall behind the front-running Dodgers in the NL West.

Injuries

🔴 Zack Wheeler (thoracic outlet surgery) — OUT/IL

🟢 Kyle Schwarber (not hitting for average, healthy) — ACTIVE

🟢 Bryce Harper (batting under .200, healthy) — ACTIVE

Picks for MLB

1. Phillies Moneyline -136-136

Nola's 12.7 K/9 paired against Giants hitters whose 42% of strikeouts come on 95+ mph fastballs — highest in MLB — is an overwhelming edge. Mahle's 7.00 ERA and 3.97 xERA offer no stabilization; this is a clear pitching advantage matchup.

2. Under 8.0-110

Nola is a ground-ball-inducing righty who limits hard contact; the Giants rank last in MLB in run-scoring. The Phillies' team total Under has hit in 41 of their last 59 away games, and Oracle Park has been graded as a pitcher-friendly venue for most of the early season.

3. Aaron Nola Over 5.5 Strikeouts-115

Nola is generating a 12.7 K/9 through his early starts, and the Giants own an MLB-worst OPS of .540 against RHP this season. This is among the most favorable strikeout spots of the entire early-season slate.