A massive day of NBA action with 11 games set for tip off.
We’ve scoured through all the headline matches and found the best bets for Friday’s blockbuster schedule.
No better way to head into the weekend!
detroit @ charlotte
march 12th 11:00am
The Hornets and Pistons square off on Friday for the first time this season.
The Hornets are 9-9 in conference fixtures and have a 6-3 record in games decided by three points or less.
The Pistons are 7-15 in Eastern Conference play. Detroit is 4-11 when committing more turnovers than opponents and averages 14.6 turnovers per game.
Rozier leads the Hornets with 3.4 made 3-pointers, and is averaging 20.5 points while shooting 43.9% from beyond the arc. LaMelo Ball is averaging 19.7 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting 48.7% over the last 10 games for Charlotte.
Mason Plumlee is averaging 10.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Pistons. Bey is averaging 12.4 points and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 41.3% over the last 10 games for Detroit.
With the Pistons season all but over the Hornets have much more to play for in this game.
Should be a comfortable victory in favour of the home team.
Suggested Bet: Charlotte Hornets to cover the -5.5 point spread at $1.91
boston @ brooklyn
march 12th 11:30am
The Boston Celtics are on the road as they make the trip to face the Brooklyn NetsThursday night.
Boston comes in off a 132-125 home victory over Toronto in their final game before the All-Star break last Thursday.
Brooklyn ran to a 132-114 road victory over Houston in their final game before the All-Star break last Wednesday.
The Celtics own a 131-70 edge in the all-time regular season series between the teams but the Nets claimed a 123-95 road victory in the first meeting this season back on December 25, 2020.
Boston will likely be without its premier perimeter defender Marcus Smart.
Look for the Nets to continue their hot streak as they come up with the victory at home here.
Suggested Bet: Brooklyn Nets to cover the -2.5 point spread at $1.92
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Brooklyn Nets to cover the -2.5 point spread
Leg 2: Total points scored over 233.5
Leg 3: James Harden over 24.5 points
Combined Odds = $4.5
atlanta @ toronto
march 12th 11:30am
The Atlanta Hawks face the Tampa Bay Raptors in an Eastern Conference battle on Friday.
The Raptors are just on the positive side of the ledger against Eastern Conference teams with a 12-11 record.
They average 13.7 turnovers a game but do have a solid 6-2 in games when losing they turnover battle.
Meanwhile, the Hawks sit on an 11-12 record in conference match ups and ninth overall in the Eastern Conference with 34.4 defensive rebounds per game led by Clint Capela averaging 9.2.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Hawks won 132-121 in the last meeting on Feb. 6. Trae Young led Atlanta with 28 points, and Chris Boucher led Toronto with 29 points.
This is going to be a close game and the value lies with the Raptors here as the outsiders.
Suggested Bet: Toronto Raptors head to head at $2.07
orlando @ miami
march 12th 12:00pm
The second half of the NBA season begins for the Orlando Magic and the Miami Heat on Friday evening, as they do battle in Miami.
The Magic, who lost in last season’s first round of the playoffs to the Milwaukee Bucks, ended the first half of the season with their fifth straight loss, a 115-112 setback at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks on March 3.
Last season’s runner-up, the Heat, defeated the New Orleans Pelicans by a score of 103-93 on March 4.
This is the second meeting of the season between these two teams, with Orlando defeating Miami on opening day by a score of 113-107.
The Heat and Magic will now play twice within the next four days, as the two teams play in Orlando on Monday, concluding the Floridian season series.
Miami Heat will be looking to find some of that brilliant basketball that almost led them to glory last season.
There have been signs over the last few weeks it has been creeping and they should get the job done against the Magic.
Suggested Bet: Miami Heat head to head at $1.38
philadelphia @ chicago
march 12th 12:00pm
2020-21 NBA Eastern Conference leaders Philadelphia 76ers will take on the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on Thursday.
In Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers have one of the most dominant centers in the NBA. He has been well-supported by the likes of Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris, who has emerged as the Philadelphia 76ers’ second-most prolific scorer this season.
Seth Curry has been a revelation from the 3-point zone and is currently shooting at 44.8%. The likes of Shake Milton and Dwight Howard have been impressive off the bench for the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Chicago Bulls, meanwhile, come into this match after an impressive victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, where their guard -pairing of Zach LaVine and Coby White combined for a whopping 61 points.
However, the Chicago Bulls have missed some key players to injury this season and are currently ninth in the Eastern Conference after a 16-18 start to their campaign.
It will be a tough ask for the Bulls to get over the line here but the absence of All Stars Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid (Covid Protocols) should help them turn the tables.
Suggested Bet: Chicago Bulls head to head at $1.76
new york @ milwaukee
march 12th 12:00pm
Milwaukee Bucks sit 3rd on the East Conference table with 22 wins and 14 losses as they prepare to face the New York Knicks at home.
The Bucks have won six of their last seven matches with its most recent fixture being a pulsating 112-111 win on the road against the Memphis Grizzlies.
With scores locked at 84-84, the Bucks showed their concentration and poise to secure victory as Giannis Antetokounmpo tallied up 26 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists, while Khris Middleton had 22 points and ten boards.
Meanwhile the Knicks are 5th on the East Conference table with 19 wins and 18 losses and have a losing 8-11 road record.
The Knicks do come into this game having won four of the last five matches following a 114-104 victory at home against the Detroit Pistons. The home team dominated from the onset as Julius Randle was the pick of the bunch for his side with 27 points, 16 rebounds, and seven dimes, while RJ Barrett had 21 points.
The Knicks will serve it up to the Bucks in this one but Giannis and his troopers should prove the superior squad.
The Milwaukee Bucks are one of the best team in the league and should notch up another victory here but the line does look a bit generous.
Suggested Bet: New York Knicks to cover the -10.5 point spread at $1.91
