NBA betting: Four picks for Wednesday
As always, let’s dig deeper into the matchups to identify some good candidates to outperform expectation.
Oklahoma City Thunder +10.5 (-115) at Boston Celtics (on ESPN)
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Even for a team as great as the Celtics, this is a huge number to lay against a Thunder team that has battled for the top spot in the Western Conference all season. Part of this might be due to both Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (GTD, quad) and Jalen Williams (GTD, ankle) being questionable after having missed Tuesday’s game. Without any inside information, my hunch is that both are back to play the Celtics on Wednesday. Williams went through shoot-around on Tuesday, and it’s possible one or both may have sat on Tuesday for maintenance purposes. The Thunder won the first matchup between these teams in January in a close, high-scoring affair, and I expect Wednesday’s game to be similarly competitive.
Indiana Pacers -7.5 (-110) at Brooklyn Nets
The Nets have lost two straight and eight of their last 11 as they settle into their lottery status to end the season. Two of the losses during that span came at the hands of the Pacers — both by at least 21 points. The Pacers still have a lot to play for as they battle with the Heat for the last playoff spot ahead of the play-in, so they should be motivated to have another strong game Wednesday.
Dalano Banton over 20.5 points (-110)
The Blazers-Hornets game could produce some big performances, with two teams deep in the lottery going at it and plenty of young players getting the chance to shine late in the season. Banton has taken advantage of his increased opportunities, averaging 24.3 PPG in his last four outings with at least 26 points in three of those four games. He should continue to get plenty of opportunities Wednesday with both Anfernee Simons and Matisse Thybulle out.
Atlanta Hawks -10.5 (-115) vs. Detroit Pistons
The Hawks are within a half-game of the Bulls for the ninth seed in the East, which comes with home-court advantage for the first play-in tournament game. They are thus still motivated to win and come in playing well, with five wins in their last six games. All five of those wins were either by at least 12 points or were over the top-seeded Celtics. The Pistons come in having lost nine of their last 10, with seven of those nine losses by more than 10.5 points.
Odds provided by ESPN BET. Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com.
Portland Trail Blazers at Charlotte Hornets
7 p.m. Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
Records (Against the Spread)
Blazers: 19-56 (36-39-0)
Hornets: 18-57 (30-45-0)
Line: Hornets (-1.5) Total: 212.5
Money Line: Blazers (+100), Hornets (-120)
BPI Projection: Hornets by 0.3, straight up 51%, 226.8 total points.
Injury Report:
Blazers: Jerami Grant, (GTD – Hamstring); Malcolm Brogdon, (GTD – Elbow); Anfernee Simons, (OUT – Knee); Matisse Thybulle, (OUT – Ankle); Shaedon Sharpe, (OUT – Abdomen); Robert Williams III, (OUT – Knee); Toumani Camara, (OUT – Ribs)
Hornets: Brandon Miller, (GTD – Ankle); Grant Williams, (GTD – Ankle); Miles Bridges, (GTD – Wrist); Vasilije Micic, (GTD – Shoulder); Cody Martin, (OUT – Ankle); LaMelo Ball, (OUT – Ankle); Mark Williams, (OUT – Back); Seth Curry, (OUT – Ankle)
Los Angeles Lakers at Washington Wizards
7 p.m. Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
Records (Against the Spread)
Lakers: 43-33 (36-40-0)
Wizards: 15-61 (34-40-2)
Line: Lakers (-12.5) Total: 233.5
Money Line: Lakers (-900), Wizards (+600)
BPI Projection: Lakers by 9.9, straight up 81%, 236.7 total points.
Injury Report:
Lakers: Cam Reddish, (GTD – Personal); Gabe Vincent, (GTD – Knee); Jarred Vanderbilt, (GTD – Foot); Christian Wood, (OUT – Knee); Jalen Hood-Schifino, (OUT – Back)
Wizards: Kyle Kuzma, (GTD – Heel); Landry Shamet, (GTD – Calf); Marvin Bagley III, (GTD – Knee); Richaun Holmes, (GTD – Toe); Tyus Jones, (GTD – Back); Bilal Coulibaly, (OUT – Wrist); Isaiah Livers, (OUT – Hip)
Detroit Pistons at Atlanta Hawks
7:30 p.m. State Farm Arena, Atlanta
Records (Against the Spread)
Pistons: 13-62 (37-37-1)
Hawks: 35-40 (28-47-0)
Line: Hawks (-10.5) Total: 224.5
Money Line: Pistons (+400), Hawks (-550)
BPI Projection: Hawks by 10.4, straight up 82%, 233.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Pistons: Cade Cunningham, (GTD – Knee); Marcus Sasser, (GTD – Illness); Taj Gibson, (GTD – Hamstring); Simone Fontecchio, (OUT – Toe); Ausar Thompson, (OUT – Illness); Isaiah Stewart, (OUT – Hamstring); Quentin Grimes, (OUT – Knee); Stanley Umude, (OUT – Ankle)
Hawks: Mouhamed Gueye, (OUT – Elbow); Trae Young, (OUT – Finger); AJ Griffin, (OUT – Ankle); Onyeka Okongwu, (OUT – Toe); Saddiq Bey, (OUT – Knee)
Oklahoma City Thunder at Boston Celtics
7:30 p.m. TD Garden, Boston
Records (Against the Spread)
Thunder: 52-23 (42-32-1)
Celtics: 59-16 (40-32-3)
Line: Celtics (-8.5) Total: 231.5
Money Line: Thunder (+300), Celtics (-400)
BPI Projection: Celtics by 12.1, straight up 86%, 243.0 total points.
Injury Report:
Thunder: Jalen Williams, (GTD – Ankle); Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, (GTD – Quadriceps)
Celtics: Jaden Springer, (GTD – Knee); Jaylen Brown, (GTD – Hand)
Indiana Pacers at Brooklyn Nets
7:30 p.m. Barclays Center, New York
Records (Against the Spread)
Pacers: 43-33 (41-33-2)
Nets: 29-47 (32-41-3)
Line: Pacers (-7.5) Total: 230.5
Money Line: Pacers (-300), Nets (+250)
BPI Projection: Pacers by 4.4, straight up 65%, 235.8 total points.
Injury Report:
Pacers: Myles Turner, (GTD – Finger); Bennedict Mathurin, (OUT – Shoulder)
Nets: Cameron Johnson, (GTD – Toe); Dennis Smith Jr., (GTD – Hip); Ben Simmons, (OUT – Back); Dariq Whitehead, (OUT – Lower Leg); Keita Bates-Diop, (OUT – Lower Leg)
Memphis Grizzlies at Milwaukee Bucks
8 p.m. Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee
Records (Against the Spread)
Grizzlies: 25-50 (35-40-0)
Bucks: 47-28 (33-42-0)
Line: Bucks (-13.5) Total: 220.5
Money Line: Grizzlies (+700), Bucks (-1200)
BPI Projection: Bucks by 11.6, straight up 84%, 233.7 total points.
Injury Report:
Grizzlies: John Konchar, (GTD – Heel); Desmond Bane, (OUT – Back); Vince Williams Jr., (OUT – Knee); Yuta Watanabe, (OUT – Personal); Marcus Smart, (OUT – Finger); Derrick Rose, (OUT – Groin); Ja Morant, (OUT – Shoulder); Ziaire Williams, (OUT – Hip)
Bucks: Damian Lillard, (GTD – Groin); Patrick Beverley, (GTD – Ankle)
Toronto Raptors at Minnesota Timberwolves
8 p.m. Target Center, Minneapolis
Records (Against the Spread)
Raptors: 23-52 (32-43-0)
Timberwolves: 52-23 (38-34-3)
Line: Timberwolves (-15.5) Total: 214.5
Money Line: Raptors (+900), Timberwolves (-1800)
BPI Projection: Timberwolves by 16.8, straight up 93%, 226.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Raptors: Bruce Brown, (GTD – Knee); D.J. Carton, (GTD – Ankle); Gary Trent Jr., (GTD – Rest); Ochai Agbaji, (GTD – Hip); Jakob Poeltl, (OUT – Finger); Scottie Barnes, (OUT – Hand); Chris Boucher, (OUT – Knee); Jontay Porter, (OUT – Personal)
Timberwolves: Jaylen Clark, (GTD – Achilles); Karl-Anthony Towns, (OUT – Knee)
Orlando Magic at New Orleans Pelicans
8 p.m. Smoothie King Center, New Orleans
Records (Against the Spread)
Magic: 44-31 (47-28-0)
Pelicans: 45-30 (40-34-1)
Line: Pelicans (-3.5) Total: 208.5
Money Line: Magic (+145), Pelicans (-170)
BPI Projection: Pelicans by 5.4, straight up 69%, 223.8 total points.
Injury Report:
Magic: Caleb Houstan, (GTD – Ankle)
Pelicans: Jose Alvarado, (OUT – Oblique); Brandon Ingram, (OUT – Knee)
Cleveland Cavaliers at Phoenix Suns
10 p.m. Footprint Center, Phoenix
Records (Against the Spread)
Cavaliers: 46-30 (35-40-1)
Suns: 44-31 (33-41-1)
Line: Suns (-5.5) Total: 226.5
Money Line: Cavaliers (+185), Suns (-220)
BPI Projection: Suns by 4.1, straight up 65%, 228.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Cavaliers: Craig Porter, (GTD – Illness); Donovan Mitchell, (GTD – Knee); Isaac Okoro, (GTD – Toe); Ty Jerome, (GTD – Ankle); Dean Wade, (OUT – Knee)
Suns: Grayson Allen, (GTD – Hip); Damion Lee, (OUT – Knee)