NBA betting: Seven picks for Saturday’s slate
Saturday’s NBA slate will feature the heaviest workload of the week with nine games, including a primetime matchup of the Golden State Warriors at the Los Angeles Lakers on ABC at 8:30 p.m.
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The other big game on Saturday is the late game when the New York Knicks visit the Sacramento Kings at 10:00 p.m. While there are some playoff teams in action on Saturday, most of the matchups feature big spreads as several bad teams will be heavy underdogs against better teams, like when the Brooklyn Nets visit the Indiana Pacers (-8.5), the Charlotte Hornets travel to Philadelphia for a bout with the Sixers (-11.5), and the Portland Trail Blazers visit the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans are favored by 13.5 points in the slate’s most lopsided game of the day.
The Warriors at Lakers game has the highest over/under total at 237.5 points and the Lakers are favored by 3.5 points in that one. ABC will be a popular channel at sports bars in what is easily the game of the night and the BPI gives the Lakers a 53.2% chance of winning. Stephen Curry (ankle) and Anthony Davis (Achilles) are expected to play in this one, while LeBron James (ankle) should try to play despite being listed as a game-time decision. Curry has missed three straight games for the Warriors but it sounds like he’s going to give a go tonight.
The Kings are favored over the Knicks by 3.5 points and that game carries an over/under of 220.5 points with the Kings getting a BPI 62% chance of winning. Let’s take a look at the Best Bets for Saturday. OG Anunoby is questionable for New York after playing in two straight after elbow surgery but my guess is he’ll try to play tonight.
Los Angeles Lakers (-3.5) vs. Golden State Warriors (+135): With the Lakers at home and bringing a healthy lineup to face a possibly rusty Curry after a three-game layoff the Lakers are set up to get a big win on Saturday night. And if James, Davis and D’Angelo Russell all play well, they could end up winning this one easily.
Sacramento Kings (-3.5) vs. New York Knicks (+130): I like the BPI 62% chance to light the beam in Sacramento and the Kings look even better if Anunoby happens to sit this one out for the Knicks. The Kings are 19-12 at home and while the Knicks are a solid 17-14 on the road, the Kings are going to try to run them out of the gym. De’Aaron Fox will have to play well in this one for the Kings to get it done and he’s scored at least 20 points in 10 of his past 11 games and has a couple 40-point games over that stretch. The Fox vs. Jalen Brunson point-guard matchup should be a blast to keep an eye on in this one. Brunson is coming off a 45-point explosion against the Blazers on Thursday.
Cam Thomas over 22.5 points: The Pacers usually give up a monster scoring night to the opposition’s best scorer and DeMar DeRozan torched them for 46 points on Wednesday night. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander got them for 30 points on Tuesday, and Anthony Edwards scored 44 against them last Thursday. Thomas has scored 21, 29 and 31 points in each of his last three games and if his shot is falling he shouldn’t have much of a problem scoring at least 23 points. In fact, if his shot is falling early, a 40-point effort would not be surprising, even if the Pacers win the game fairly easily. The Pacers just don’t have anyone who can stop Thomas if he gets it going.
Tyrese Haliburton over 11.5 assists: He’s had 12 or more assists in three of his last four games, leads the league in that category (11.4) and shouldn’t face much in the way of defense from the Nets, who will likely start Dennis Schroder against him. The home court should treat Haliburton and the Pacers well in this one.
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Tyrese Haliburton under 2.5 3-pointers made: Haliburton’s only hit more than 2.0 3-pointers in one of his seven March games and has hit one or zero triples in four of those. His 3-point shot hasn’t looked as sharp as it did before the All-Star break and he’ll hopefully be more focused on passing than shooting from long range in this one. Haliburton has hit just 19.1% of his 3-point attempts in seven March games and went 0-for-12 from deep in his first two games of the month.
Austin Reaves over 16.5 points: He’s hit the over in five of his last six games and scored exactly 16 points in his one miss. He’s getting big minutes and is taking 13.7 shots per game in March, connecting on 43% of them. He’s averaged 19.7 points over his last six games and should get plenty of opportunities even if James, Davis and Russell are all playing. Reaves has averaged 35.3 minutes in March thus far.
D’Angelo Russell over 5.5 assists: He’s had at least six assists in three straight games and should have LeBron, Davis and a hot Reaves as targets tonight. LeBron will be running the point at times but Russell genuinely enjoys getting his teammates involved and has plenty of great options to pass to. And one of James, Davis or Reaves will generally be wide open when he gets them the ball.
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com.
Cleveland Cavaliers at Houston Rockets
5:00 p.m. Toyota Center, Houston
Records (Against the Spread)
Cavaliers: 42-24 (32-33-1)
Rockets: 31-35 (35-29-2)
Line: Cavaliers (-4.5) Total: 214.5
Money Line: Cavaliers (-195), Rockets (+165)
BPI Projection: Cavaliers by 2.3, straight up 58%, 222.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Cavaliers: Max Strus, (OUT – Knee); Evan Mobley, (OUT – Ankle); Ty Jerome, (OUT – Ankle)
Rockets: Cam Whitmore, (OUT – Knee); Alperen Sengun, (OUT – Ankle); Steven Adams, (OUT – Knee); Tari Eason, (OUT – Lower Leg)
Brooklyn Nets at Indiana Pacers
7:00 p.m. Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
Records (Against the Spread)
Nets: 26-40 (29-34-3)
Pacers: 37-30 (35-30-2)
Line: Pacers (-8.5) Total: 228.5
Money Line: Nets (+300), Pacers (-380)
BPI Projection: Pacers by 5.3, straight up 68%, 234.8 total points.
Injury Report:
Nets: Jacob Gilyard, (GTD – Undisclosed); Ben Simmons, (OUT – Back); Dariq Whitehead, (OUT – Lower Leg)
Pacers: Doug McDermott, (OUT – Calf); Bennedict Mathurin, (OUT – Shoulder)
Charlotte Hornets at Philadelphia 76ers
7:00 p.m. Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia
Records (Against the Spread)
Hornets: 17-50 (27-40-0)
76ers: 36-30 (34-32-0)
Line: 76ers (-10.5) Total: 208.5
Money Line: Hornets (+425), 76ers (-550)
BPI Projection: 76ers by 10.2, straight up 82%, 229.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Hornets: Bryce McGowens, (GTD – Knee); LaMelo Ball, (GTD – Ankle); Cody Martin, (OUT – Ankle); Mark Williams, (OUT – Back); Seth Curry, (OUT – Ankle)
76ers: Tobias Harris, (GTD – Ankle); De’Anthony Melton, (OUT – Back); Robert Covington, (OUT – Knee); Joel Embiid, (OUT – Knee)
Portland Trail Blazers at New Orleans Pelicans
7:00 p.m. Smoothie King Center, New Orleans
Records (Against the Spread)
Blazers: 19-47 (32-34-0)
Pelicans: 40-26 (36-29-1)
Line: Pelicans (-13.5) Total: 213.5
Money Line: Blazers (+650), Pelicans (-1000)
BPI Projection: Pelicans by 12.5, straight up 87%, 226.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Blazers: Anfernee Simons, (GTD – Knee); Jabari Walker, (GTD – Hip); Jerami Grant, (GTD – Hamstring); Matisse Thybulle, (NA – Ankle); Rayan Rupert, (GTD – Ankle); Malcolm Brogdon, (OUT – Elbow); Shaedon Sharpe, (OUT – Abdomen); Robert Williams III, (OUT – Knee)
Pelicans: Dyson Daniels, (OUT – Knee)
Washington Wizards at Chicago Bulls
8:00 p.m. United Center, Chicago
Records (Against the Spread)
Wizards: 11-55 (30-35-1)
Bulls: 32-35 (34-32-1)
Line: Bulls (-10.5) Total: 225.5
Money Line: Wizards (+400), Bulls (-525)
BPI Projection: Bulls by 8.3, straight up 77%, 228.3 total points.
Injury Report:
Wizards: Deni Avdija, (GTD – Knee); Richaun Holmes, (GTD – Toe); Tyus Jones, (GTD – Back); Landry Shamet, (OUT – Calf); Marvin Bagley III, (OUT – Back); Isaiah Livers, (OUT – Hip)
Bulls: Coby White, (GTD – Hip); Julian Phillips, (OUT – Foot); Lonzo Ball, (OUT – Knee); Patrick Williams, (OUT – Foot); Zach LaVine, (OUT – Foot)
Oklahoma City Thunder at Memphis Grizzlies
8:00 p.m. FedExForum, Memphis
Records (Against the Spread)
Thunder: 46-20 (39-26-1)
Grizzlies: 23-44 (31-36-0)
Line: Thunder (-10.5) Total: 219.5
Money Line: Thunder (-450), Grizzlies (+360)
BPI Projection: Thunder by 12.7, straight up 87%, 228.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Thunder: None reported
Grizzlies: Desmond Bane, (GTD – Ankle); Jaren Jackson Jr., (GTD – Quadriceps); Santi Aldama, (GTD – Elbow); Scotty Pippen Jr., (GTD – Lower Leg); Vince Williams Jr., (GTD – Knee); Brandon Clarke, (OUT – Achilles); Lamar Stevens, (OUT – Thigh); Yuta Watanabe, (OUT – Wrist); Marcus Smart, (OUT – Finger); Derrick Rose, (OUT – Groin)
Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers
8:30 p.m. Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles
Records (Against the Spread)
Warriors: 34-31 (34-29-2)
Lakers: 36-31 (30-37-0)
Line: Lakers (-2.5) Total: 233.5
Money Line: Warriors (+115), Lakers (-135)
BPI Projection: Lakers by 0.9, straight up 53%, 236.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Warriors: Draymond Green, (GTD – Back); Stephen Curry, (GTD – Ankle)
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)
Minnesota Timberwolves at Utah Jazz
9:30 p.m. Delta Center, Salt Lake City
Records (Against the Spread)
Timberwolves: 45-21 (32-31-3)
Jazz: 29-37 (35-30-0)
Line: Timberwolves (-7.5) Total: 223.5
Money Line: Timberwolves (-320), Jazz (+260)
BPI Projection: Timberwolves by 4.8, straight up 66%, 235.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Timberwolves: Kyle Anderson, (GTD – Shoulder); Monte Morris, (GTD – Hamstring); Rudy Gobert, (GTD – Ribs); Jaylen Clark, (OUT – Achilles); Karl-Anthony Towns, (OUT – Knee)
Jazz: Jordan Clarkson, (GTD – Groin); Kris Dunn, (GTD – Rest); Lauri Markkanen, (GTD – Quadriceps)
New York Knicks at Sacramento Kings
10:00 p.m. Golden 1 Center, Sacramento
Records (Against the Spread)
Knicks: 39-27 (34-31-1)
Kings: 38-27 (34-30-1)
Line: Kings (-3.5) Total: 218.5
Money Line: Knicks (+135), Kings (-155)
BPI Projection: Kings by 3.4, straight up 62%, 236.0 total points.
Injury Report:
Knicks: OG Anunoby, (GTD – Elbow); Julius Randle, (OUT – Shoulder); Mitchell Robinson, (OUT – Ankle)
Kings: Kevin Huerter, (GTD – Leg); Sasha Vezenkov, (OUT – Ankle); Trey Lyles, (OUT – Knee)