Another day of NBA previews and best bets.
Eastern Conference contenders abound as the Nets face the Pacers while the Embiid-less Sixers take on the two time reigning MVP Giannis.
Let’s make it rain!
Brooklyn @ Indiana
march 18th 10:30am
The Nets face the Pacers for the second time this season when they meet on Wednesday night in Indianapolis.
This will be Caris LeVert’s third game playing as a Pacer after being traded from the Nets as a part of the James Harden trade.
LeVert has missed the majority of his stint thus far with Indiana after cancer was discovered on his left kidney during a physical before the trade was completed.
It’s kept him out of action from mid-January until last weekend and during that time the Pacers endured a 104-94 loss to the Nets.
Indiana started the ever so slight favourite in that game and now, with a return to its home court as well as the timely return of LeVert, they are a genuine chance to overturn that result.
The Pacers are coming off of a 121-106 loss to the Nuggets in Denver, but will be guided by the expectation set upon last time they played Brooklyn.
The Nets will be looking for their sixth straight win after beating the Knicks 117-112 on Monday.
They have won 13 of their last 14 overall.
The Nets remain without Kevin Durant as he deals with a hamstring injury while Blake Griffin (left knee injury management) also is out.
Even without Durant, the Nets still have the best offence in the NBA but it will need to pull out all stocks to get the victory here.
Indiana look great value to win this one.
Suggested Bet: Indiana Pacers head to head at $2.36
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Indiana Pacers head to head
Leg 2 : Total points scored under 233.5
Combined Odds = $4.2
Milwaukee @ Phildadelphia
18th march 10:00am
The Bucks face the 76ers for the first time this season when they meet on Wednesday night in Philadelphia.
This is a matchup between two of the hottest teams in the NBA as the Bucks have won nine of their last ten games while the 76ers have won 10 of their last 12.
The Bucks will be looking for their fifth straight win after beating the Wizards 133-122 on Tuesday in Washington.
The 76ers are looking for their seventh consecutive victory after beating the Knicks 99-96 on Wednesday without Joel Embiid.
The star MVP prospect remains out for an indefinite period after he sustained a deep knee bruise.
Speaking of MVP’s, Giannis Antetokounmpo has played incredible basketball lately as he is averaging 31.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game over a 15-game span.
If the Bucks win and cover, they will need Khris Middleton to continue playing his best basketball alongside the two-time reigning MVP.
Given how well the Bucks are playing, it would be wrong to go against them here even if they have to travel.
Suggested Bet: Milwaukee Bucks to cover the -5.5 point spread at $1.89
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Milwaukee Bucks to cover the -5.5 point spread
Leg 2: Giannis to score 29.5 points or more
Combined Odds = $3.10
sacramento @ washington
march 18th 10:00am
The Washington Wizards will continue their current five-game homestand on Wednesday evening as they get set to host the Sacramento Kings at Capital One Arena.
Washington enters this game in 12th place in the Eastern Conference standings with an unsightly 14-24 overall record.
Meanwhile, the Kings haven’t been much better, going 15-24 in 39 games, good for 13th place in the West.
Sacramento was unable to get back on the winning track on Monday night, losing on the road 122-116 versus the Charlotte Hornets.
De’Aaron Fox scored a team-high 29 points and handed out eight assists while Buddy Hield chipped in 23 points for the Kings, who blew a 15-point lead in the second half.
The Wizards dropped their fourth consecutive game on Monday, losing 133-122 at home versus the Milwaukee Bucks.
Bradley Beal scored 37 points while Rui Hachimura continued to flash improvement with 22 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in the loss.
Russell Westbrook chipped in 23 points and 17 assists for the Wizards, who couldn’t keep up with the Bucks despite shooting 16-for-38 from 3-point range (42.1 percent) as a team.
The Wizards performed admirably in back-to-back losses against the Bucks and appear ready to snap their current four-game slide.
Washington should have enough firepower to keep up with the Kings, who happen to the NBA’s worst defensive team.
Suggested Bet: Washington Wizards head to head at $1.69
Suggested Game Multi:
Leg 1: Washington Wizards head to head
Leg 2: Bradley Beal over 29.5 points
Leg 3: Total points scored under 247.5
Combined odds = $4.75
golden state @ houston
march 18th 11:00am
The Golden State Warriors are on the road as they make the trip to face the Houston Rockets Wednesday night.
Golden State was clobbered 128-97 at home in the second game of a back-to-back situation Monday night by the Lakers.
Meanwhile, the disastrous losing run for Houston was extended to 17 games when it was back in action at home against the Atlanta Hawks.
A 119-107 loss added further misery to what has been a February and March to forget for coach Stephen Silas.
Despite the dire straights faced by the Rockets, in the all-time regular-season series, the Rockets own a 126-96 advantage and they took two of three meetings last season.
That included a 135-105 road victory in the most recent matchup on February 25, 2020.
Fast forward to this season, the Warriors do look in a much better nick than the Rockets, but the inconsistency showed by Steph Curry and his inexperienced Warriors might just leave the door ajar for Houston.
Expecting a close one despite the huge gap in odds at the head to head markets.
Suggested Bet: Houston Rockets to cover the +12.5 point spread at $1.91
