NBA betting: Five picks for Wednesday slate
Luka Doncic to get a triple-double (+150)
Doncic has produced a 25-point triple-double in seven straight games. The only reason that streak isn’t for 30-point triple-doubles is because he didn’t play full minutes in his last game, a 35-point blowout of the Chicago Bulls. This is a game the Mavericks need to win for playoff seeding against a fellow play-in squad in the Warriors, and I expect Doncic to play well. He has averaged 34.2 PPG, 10.6 APG, 10.1 RPG over his past 17 games since the start of February.
Miles Bridges over 22.5 points (-125)
Bridges has averaged 23.2 PPG over a 13-game span from Feb. 5 to March 3, before turning in a clunker against the Orlando Magic on March 5. However, he has bounced back in the three games since, averaging 26.7 PPG with at least 24 points in each game. He faces a Memphis Grizzlies squad on Wednesday that has allowed the ninth-most points to opposing power forwards (24.0 PPG).
Sacramento Kings (+2.5) over Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers are playing excellent ball of late, winners of 12 of their past 17 games, but the Kings have had their number. The Kings are 3-0 against the Lakers this season, including a 10-point win over them a week ago in Los Angeles. Domantas Sabonis has had his way inside against Anthony Davis, and De’Aaron Fox has given them fits on the perimeter. The Kings are on the second half of a back-to-back, and I expect this to be a competitive game, but I’ll take the points. According to the BPI game predictor, the Kings have a 59.4% chance to win outright and should be favored by 1.7 points.
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New Orleans Pelicans (-6.5) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Pelicans have won four straight games by an average of 22.3 points, and their strong play has them within striking range of catching the LA Clippers for the No. 4 seed in the West. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers have struggled of late, particularly with the majority of their starting five injured. Donovan Mitchell is listed as questionable to return Wednesday after a seven-game absence, but the Pelicans are playing at a high enough level that I’ll give them the points.
Indiana Pacers (-3.5) vs. Chicago Bulls
The Pacers have stepped on the gas in the last week while the Bulls have struggled. Indiana has thrashed three playoff-caliber teams in their past four games, beating each of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Magic and Mavericks by double-digits on the road. Their only loss in that span was a two-point defeat against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Meanwhile, the Bulls have lost their past two games to the Mavericks and Clippers by a total of 45 points. Chicago beat Indiana back in October, but the Pacers won the most recent game between these two teams in December by 16 points.
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com.
Toronto Raptors at Detroit Pistons
7 p.m. Little Caesars Arena, Detroit
Records (Against the Spread)
Raptors: 23-42 (31-34-0)
Pistons: 11-53 (32-31-1)
Line: Pistons (-3.5) Total: 233.5
Money Line: Raptors (+130), Pistons (-150)
BPI Projection: Pistons by 5.7, straight up 70%, 230.2 total points.
Injury Report:
Raptors: Gary Trent Jr., (GTD – Groin); Immanuel Quickley, (GTD – Hip); D.J. Carton, (OUT – Ankle); RJ Barrett, (OUT – Personal); Chris Boucher, (OUT – Knee); Jakob Poeltl, (OUT – Finger); Scottie Barnes, (OUT – Hand)
Pistons: Ausar Thompson, (GTD – Illness)
Brooklyn Nets at Orlando Magic
7 p.m. Amway Center, Orlando
Records (Against the Spread)
Nets: 26-39 (29-33-3)
Magic: 37-28 (41-24-0)
Line: Magic (-7.5) Total: 205.5
Money Line: Nets (+230), Magic (-280)
BPI Projection: Magic by 5, straight up 68%, 221.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Nets: Cameron Johnson, (GTD – Ankle); Jacob Gilyard, (OUT – Undisclosed); Ben Simmons, (OUT – Back); Dariq Whitehead, (OUT – Lower Leg)
Magic: None reported
Chicago Bulls at Indiana Pacers
7:30 p.m. Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
Records (Against the Spread)
Bulls: 31-34 (33-31-1)
Pacers: 37-29 (35-29-2)
Line: Pacers (-3.5) Total: 229.5
Money Line: Bulls (+140), Pacers (-165)
BPI Projection: Pacers by 3.6, straight up 62%, 237.0 total points.
Injury Report:
Bulls: Julian Phillips, (GTD – Foot); Torrey Craig, (GTD – Ankle); Lonzo Ball, (OUT – Knee); Patrick Williams, (OUT – Foot); Zach LaVine, (OUT – Foot)
Pacers: Doug McDermott, (GTD – Calf); James Johnson, (GTD – Illness); Bennedict Mathurin, (OUT – Shoulder)
Denver Nuggets at Miami Heat
7:30 p.m. Kaseya Center, Miami
Records (Against the Spread)
Nuggets: 45-20 (29-34-2)
Heat: 35-29 (31-32-1)
Line: Nuggets (-3.5) Total: 214.5
Money Line: Nuggets (-165), Heat (+140)
BPI Projection: Nuggets by 0.7, straight up 53%, 220.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Nuggets: Vlatko Cancar, (OUT – Knee)
Heat: Jimmy Butler, (GTD – Illness); Kevin Love, (OUT – Heel); Tyler Herro, (OUT – Foot); Josh Richardson, (OUT – Shoulder)
Charlotte Hornets at Memphis Grizzlies
8 p.m. FedExForum, Memphis
Records (Against the Spread)
Hornets: 16-49 (26-39-0)
Grizzlies: 23-43 (31-35-0)
Line: Hornets (-1.5) Total: 203.5
Money Line: Hornets (-120), Grizzlies (+100)
BPI Projection: Grizzlies by 2.3, straight up 58%, 225.3 total points.
Injury Report:
Hornets: Tre Mann, (GTD – Groin); Bryce McGowens, (OUT – Knee); LaMelo Ball, (OUT – Ankle); Cody Martin, (OUT – Ankle); Mark Williams, (OUT – Back); Seth Curry, (OUT – Ankle)
Grizzlies: Jaren Jackson Jr., (GTD – Quadriceps); Lamar Stevens, (GTD – Hip); Scotty Pippen Jr., (GTD – Back); Vince Williams Jr., (GTD – Knee); Yuta Watanabe, (GTD – Wrist); Brandon Clarke, (OUT – Achilles); Desmond Bane, (OUT – Ankle); Marcus Smart, (OUT – Finger); Derrick Rose, (OUT – Groin); Ziaire Williams, (OUT – Hip)
Cleveland Cavaliers at New Orleans Pelicans
8 p.m. Smoothie King Center, New Orleans
Records (Against the Spread)
Cavaliers: 41-24 (31-33-1)
Pelicans: 39-25 (35-28-1)
Line: Pelicans (-6.5) Total: 215.5
Money Line: Cavaliers (+220), Pelicans (-270)
BPI Projection: Pelicans by 5.9, straight up 71%, 226.6 total points.
Injury Report:
Cavaliers: Donovan Mitchell, (GTD – Knee); Dean Wade, (OUT – Personal); Max Strus, (OUT – Knee); Tristan Thompson, (OUT – Suspension); Evan Mobley, (OUT – Ankle); Ty Jerome, (OUT – Ankle)
Pelicans: Dyson Daniels, (OUT – Knee)
Golden State Warriors at Dallas Mavericks
8:30 p.m. American Airlines Center, Dallas
Records (Against the Spread)
Warriors: 34-30 (34-28-2)
Mavericks: 37-28 (36-29-0)
Line: Mavericks (-6.5) Total: 233.5
Money Line: Warriors (+220), Mavericks (-270)
BPI Projection: Mavericks by 6.6, straight up 72%, 232.8 total points.
Injury Report:
Warriors: Stephen Curry, (OUT – Ankle)
Mavericks: Brandon Williams, (OUT – Wrist)
Atlanta Hawks at Portland Trail Blazers
10 p.m. Moda Center, Portland
Records (Against the Spread)
Hawks: 29-35 (22-42-0)
Blazers: 18-46 (30-34-0)
Line: Hawks (-3.5) Total: 218.5
Money Line: Hawks (-165), Blazers (+140)
BPI Projection: Hawks by 0.5, straight up 52%, 230.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Hawks: Jalen Johnson, (GTD – Ankle); Seth Lundy, (GTD – Back); Kobe Bufkin, (OUT – Toe); Onyeka Okongwu, (OUT – Toe); Trae Young, (OUT – Finger); Saddiq Bey, (OUT – Knee)
Blazers: Jerami Grant, (GTD – Hamstring); Rayan Rupert, (GTD – Ankle); Jabari Walker, (OUT – Hip); Malcolm Brogdon, (OUT – Elbow); Shaedon Sharpe, (OUT – Abdomen); Robert Williams III, (OUT – Knee)
Los Angeles Lakers at Sacramento Kings
10 p.m. Golden 1 Center, Sacramento
Records (Against the Spread)
Lakers: 36-30 (30-36-0)
Kings: 37-27 (33-30-1)
Line: Lakers (-2.5) Total: 238.5
Money Line: Lakers (-130), Kings (+110)
BPI Projection: Kings by 2.7, straight up 59%, 243.8 total points.
Injury Report:
Lakers: Anthony Davis, (GTD – Achilles); LeBron James, (GTD – Ankle); Cam Reddish, (OUT – Ankle); Christian Wood, (OUT – Knee); Gabe Vincent, (OUT – Knee); Colin Castleton, (OUT – Wrist); Jarred Vanderbilt, (OUT – Foot)
Kings: Keegan Murray, (GTD – Ankle); Trey Lyles, (GTD – Knee); Sasha Vezenkov, (OUT – Ankle)