Our experts break down all the action ahead of another cracking day of NBA action.
The surging Knicks face off with the struggling Wizards, Zion and the Pelicans host the injured Lakers and Phoenix bring their talents to South Beach.
Let’s score some bets!
Denver @ Orlando
March 24th 10:00am
Nikola Jokic and his Denver Nuggets hit the road and travel to Orlando for a clash against Nikola Vucevic and his Orlando Magic at the Amway Centre.
In what is the first of two fixtures between the teams, the Nuggets are sitting pretty in fifth spot of the Western Conference, while the Magic sit second last in the East.
Three home wins in a row had the Nuggets in a fine vein of form heading into this clash prior to a 113-108 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Magic, meanwhile, produced an inspiring 121-113 upset win over the Brooklyn Nets to break an eight game losing run but thudded back to earth with a 112-96 loss against the Boston Celtics on Sunday.
If the Magic can produce some of the form it showed against the Nets plus the home court advantage, then there could be another upset in the midst.
Suggested Bet: Orlando Magic to cover the +7.5 point spread at $1.90
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: M. Porter Jr over 15.5 Points
Leg 2: N. Jokic Points + Rebounds + Assists over 40
Leg 3: Magic + 7.5
Combined odds = $4.75
Washington @ New York
March 24th 10:30am
Bradley Beal, the scoring machine of the NBA, takes to the court again when the Washington Wizards face off against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.
Beal has scored at a prolific rate this season and was a glaring omission for the Wizards in their 109-91 against the Knicks earlier this season.
The Wizards shooting guard has averaged 32.1 points per game to lead all point scorers in the league in the 2020/21 campaign, while being well supported by Russell Westbrook who is nearly averaging a triple double (22 points, 10.2 assists and 9.7 rebounds per game).
However, it has been left to few for the Wizards this year as they have limped along to a 15-26 win-loss tally with a playoffs berth all but quashed.
The Knicks are on the opposite end of the spectrum with a playoffs spot a live possibility despite a losing record.
Tom Thibodeau’s men are camped in seventh spot of the Eastern Conference with Julius Randle continuing to produce big numbers.
Randle has averaged 23 points, 11 rebounds and six assists this season and will again prove a pivotal player in the outcome of this game against the Wizards.
With Beal back in the side to face the Knicks this time, that might just be enough to flip the result in the Wizards’ favour.
Suggested Bet: Washington Wizards head to head at $2.08
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: J. Randle over 23.5 Points
Leg 2: Total Points under 227.d
Leg 3: Wizards Win
Combined Odds: $6.25
LA Lakers @ New Orleans
March 24th 10:30am
The Los Angeles Lakers continue on its way without LeBron James and Anthony Davis when it battles the New Orleans Pelicans.
Davis has been sidelined with injury since the 16th of February, while James injured his right ankle in the 99-94 loss to Atlanta.
The Pelicans look set to swoop on the injury ravaged Lakers after a 113-108 triumph over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.
In only his second NBA season, Pelicans forward Zion Williamson, the number one pick of the 2019 draft, has lived up to the hype.
Williamson has averaged 25.7 points per game this season to go with seven rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.
Without Davis and James, the Lakers struggled in its 111-94 loss over the Phoenix Suns on Monday as they attempt re-jig and come up with different avenues to the basket.
Pelicans should be able to go to 19-24 and continue its climb away from 11th spot in the West.
Suggested Bet: New Orleans Pelicans to cover the -5.5 point spread at $1.87.
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: New Orleans Pelicans to cover the -6.5 point spread
Leg 2: Z. Williamson to score under 29.5 points
Leg 3: Z. Williamson over 4.5 rebounds
Leg 4: Total points scored under 222.5
Combined odds = $6.25
Phoenix @ Miami
march 24th 11:00am
Following a comprehensive 111-94 over the Los Angeles Lakers, the Phoenix Suns now pay their attention the Miami Heat when it travels to Florida.
The Suns have been sensational on the road this year with its current six game winning streak on the road underpinning a 13-5 away record and a 28-13 season ledger.
A combination of youth and experience has proved fruitful for Phoenix this year with 24-year-old Devin Booker leading the charge for the Suns to average 25.2 points per game, while 35-year-old veteran Chris Paul had proved pivotal with his 15.9 points per game and 8.8 assists per game (fifth in the NBA).
Meanwhile, after a sluggish start to the season, the return of Jimmy Butler to the Heat line-up after injury has been a blessing.
Butler and the Heat managed to pull out of an 11-17 record on February 18 to now sit on 22-21 and fifth in the Eastern Conference.
It’s the first encounter this season between these two squads
The away momentum possessed by the Suns is hard to ignore at the moment but the Miami Heat look the value in this one.
Suggested Bet: Miami Heat head to head at $2.07
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Miami Heat head to head
Leg 2: J. Butler over 20.5 points
Leg 3: C. Paul over 6.5 assists
Leg 4: Total points scored under 215.5
Combined odds = $7.5
Philadelphia @ Golden State
march 24th 1:00pm
Two teams with injury issues face each other on Tuesday night as the Philadelphia 76ers do battle with the Golden State Warriors.
This was supposed to be a matchup of Steph Curry against his brother Seth, but both are dealing with injuries and are not expected to play.
Philadelphia has won eight of their last nine games, despite losing All-Star center Joel Embiid on March 12 due to a knee injury. The Warriors are coming off a split of two road games in Memphis.
They are looking to find some sort of rhythm considering they sit in ninth place, one game behind Dallas for the eighth spot in the Western Conference.
With both teams missing their star players, it’s tough to really pick either side with a huge amount of confidence.
However, the value lies with Golden State at the head to head even without Curry.
Suggested Bet: Golden State Warriors head to head at $2.47
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Golden State head to head
Leg 2: A. Wiggins to score over 19.5 points
Combined odds = $4
Brooklyn @ Portland
march 24th 1:00pm
It is a battle of East vs. West on Wednesday when the Brooklyn Nets take on the Portland Trail Blazers.
Both Kyrie Irving and James Harden are all but certain to miss the game for the Nets due to injury.
Despite the injury concerns, Brooklyn comes in as winners of 15 of their last 17 games, including a 113-106 victory over Washington on Sunday.
Portland saw its three-game winning streak come to an end when they lost to Dallas on Sunday, 132-92.
The last time these two teams met was back in August 2020 when the Trail Blazers defeated the Nets 134-133.
Portland is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings between these teams and that record is likely to extend today.
Suggested Bet: Portland Trail Blazers to cover the -3.5 point spread at $1.91
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Portland Trail Blazers to cover the -3.5 point spread
Leg 2: Total points scored under 231.5
Leg 3: D. Lillard over 27.5 points
Combined odds = $5.25
