The Los Angeles Clippers back up after accounting for the Milwaukee Bucks yesterday and it’s a big cross-conference clash between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Denver Nuggets.
Despite a day of close calls that didn’t go the way of our selections, we’re determined to bounce back with a positive collect for the punters today.
Alley-oop!
Charlotte @ Washington
March 31st 10:00am
The Eastern Conference fourth ranked Charlotte Hornets hit the road to face the Western Conference 12th ranked Washington Wizards from the Capital One Arena on Wednesday.
The Hornets were denied a four-match winning streak by the Phoenix Suns who dealt them painstaking 101-97 overtime loss on Sunday, while the Washington Wizards made it back-to-back wins with a bucket fest 132-124 win over the Indiana Pacers.
Russell Westbrook stepped up big time in the absence of NBA leading scorer for 2020/21 Bradley Beal.
The star point guard in notched up his 16th triple double for the season – this one arguably his best – in the eight-point win over the Pacers.
Westbrook would finish with 35 points, 21 assists and 14 rebounds in a game where Washington should have been renamed Washington Westbrook given his ‘put the team on the shoulders’ attitude on Tuesday.
In what is the second clash between the Hornets and Wizards this season, it was the Hornets who came away with the spoils on February 8 following a comprehensive 119-97 defeat of the Wizards.
Terry Rozier (26 points) and Gordon Hayward (25 points) combined on offence to hand the Hornets the 22-point rout and it will be these two alongside Devonte Graham who the Wizards defence needs to contain.
The only knock on the Wizards is playing with very little rest after an intense shootout and might just see the Hornets come into this one with a bit more energy and petrol in the tank.
Suggested Bet: Charlotte Hornets head to head at $1.70
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Charlotte Hornets head to head
Leg 2: T. Rozier over 21.5 points
Leg 3: Total points scored under 231.5
Combined odds = $5.25
Philadelphia @ Denver
March 31st 12:00pm
The Philadelphia 76ers will be without Joel Embiid against the Denver Nuggets for the second time this season when they go head to head at the Ball Arena.
Embiid missed the first contest early this year due to COVID protocols, but this time it is due to bone bruising suffered on his knee.
The 76ers will have the talent of Ben Simmons on show after he too missed out on taking the court against the Nuggets on January 10.
With only seven players to pick from in that game, the 76ers were unable to reel in the Nuggets scored a 115-103 victory thanks to Nikola Jokic’s 15 points and 12 assists.
Jokic will again be the main man for the Nuggets after a near triple-double display in the win over Atlanta on Monday.
Jokic managed 16 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in the 126-102 result and without having to face Embiid, he looks set to replicate what he did back in January against the 76ers.
While the inclusion of Simmons should be able to bridge that 12-point gap from earlier in the year, it will unlikely be enough to cover the point spread here.
Suggested Bet: Denver Nuggets to cover the -4.5 point spread at $1.90
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Denver Nuggets to cover the -4.5 point spread
Leg 2: N. Jokic under 22.5 points scored
Leg 3: N. Jokic over 7.5 rebounds
Combined Odds = $6.25
Orlando @ Los Angeles Clippers
March 31st 1:00pm
The Orlando Magic make one of the toughest trips in the NBA when it faces the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staple Centre.
The Clippers come into this game fresh off a 24-point thrashing of the Milwaukee Bucks yesterday as it looks to extend its current six-game winning streak.
The Magic have faced a tough schedule in the last week having to face up against playoff contenders the Denver Nuggets, the Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Lakers.
While the Magic only managed one win from those fixtures (112-111 over the Suns), they have shown good form despite the losses.
It’s evident by where both franchises are at that the Magic will be playing for pride and development into next season, while the Clippers attempt to go glory in the finals.
With that in mind, expect the Magic to be competitive in this game but the Clippers just have too much class and talent to be throwing in this one away and will make it a clean sweep of the Orlando Magic this year even with minimal rest.
Suggested Bet: Los Angeles Clippers to cover the -11.5 point spread at $1.92
Atlanta @ Phoenix
March 31st 1:00pm
After a close call against the Charlotte Hornets, the Phoenix Suns now play host to the Atlanta Hawks in a bid to take its overall season record to 32-14.
The Suns needed overtime to outlast the Hornets as it went on to register a 101-97 win on Sunday to finish off its four-game road trip.
The return home for the Suns is greeted with a Hawks team at the back end of its own seven-game road trip which has so far tallied two wins and three losses.
Devin Booker leads the Suns scoring this season with 25.1 points per game, and is averaging 4.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists and he’s been well supported by Deandre Ayton is shooting 65.7% and averaging 15.9 points over the last 10 games.
The Hawks have had mixed fortunes in its travels this season and are 12-14 on the road.
Atlanta is third in the league with 11.1 offensive rebounds per game led by Clint Capela averaging 4.9, and it will be an aspect of its game that it will try to gain the upper hand in against the Suns. Any cheap points they can get off the offensive glass will be vital.
Suggested Bet: Phoenix Suns head to head at $1.41
