NBA Best Bets Today, 3/23: Picks, Predictions & Player Props - Sunday
Fantasy Alarm NBA best bets has been looking at the data and telling everyone, the Chicago Bulls are better than people want to give them credit for. The prediction was for them to cover a +10.0 spread on the road, and they backed it up with a 31 point victory against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Unfortunately the Golden State Warriors fell behind by 20 points in the first half and were never able to recover against the Atlanta Hawks. Giannis Antetokounmpo only had nine rebounds to begin the fourth quarter, but ended up taking the game over. He finished with 17 rebounds (ruining the under 12.5 rebound ticket) as he helped the Milwaukee Bucks overcome the Sacramento Kings with a 114 - 108 victory.
NBA Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 3/23
There are eight games in the Association today, with one nationally televised match on NBATV. That game is between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Clippers. For more information on that match check out our in depth look at Thunder vs Clippers Predictions, Picks & Odds: NBA on NBATV, 3/23.
The first NBA best bet today comes from a match north of the border.
Spurs vs Raptors Prediction: SA Moneyline (+105 on Bet365) *BET OF THE NIGHT
The San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors square off at 6:00 PM ET, and this is a battle of teams competing for a high lottery draft pick. Both teams did not experience the success they wanted, but are poised for a much improved season next year. The game is projected to be a close one with only a -2.0 point spread in favor of the Raptors.
The Spurs have been playing better and although they lost their superstar they are still giving veterans and rookies valuable playing time. The Raptors are also looking to next year but have been alternating players with rest and nagging injuries. Neither will be able to make a play-in push.
The Raptors are still 5.0 games back from the Miami Heat, who have lost ten in a row. The Spurs have six more wins than the Raptors this season, and are 3.0 games back from the play-in. However the Western Conference is brutal, and the Spurs are ranked 13th, with an opportunity to grab another great player via the draft.
Chris Paul, Harrison Barnes, and other veterans care very little about that, and play for the love of the game. Who knows how many more games those two have left, but they have been playing with effort, and leading by example. It has led to two wins in a row, meanwhile the Raptors have lost three in a row. The Spurs have the better offense with 114.4 points per game compared to Toronto’s 110.7. Put a unit on San Antonio to win this match at Scotiabank Arena.
Nuggets vs Rockets Prediction: Christian Braun Over 13.5 Points (-110 on DraftKings Sportsbook)
The Houston Rockets host the Denver Nuggets at the Toyota Center. The game begins at 7:00 PM ET, and Nikola Jokic will be out for his fourth consecutive match. It is such a pivotal match between the second and third place Western Conference teams, and the winner has an opportunity to secure second in a tightly contested ranking battle.
The Rockets are on a nine game win streak and currently 2.0 games ahead of the Nuggets. Denver is +7.5 point underdogs going into the match, and if they are going to win Christian Braun will need to be more involved with the offense. He is currently listed as probable with a left foot strain, and he has not been the same person without Jokic.
In Colorado, Jokic and Braun are known as big buddy/little buddy… and Braun is missing his buddy. He has played seven of his last nine matches with Jokic, and the numbers are staggeringly different. With Jokic Braun has attempted 10 or more field goals in all but one game.
The one game he did not attempt 10 or more field goals, was the loss against the Washington Wizards. In the games without Jokic Braun has six and eight attempts. The Nuggets have lost all three games in which Braun has attempted less than 10 field goals, and that must change if they have a chance against the Rockets.
Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray are also listed as questionable, but should play. The Nuggets will have to play better defense and get transition points, something Braun excels at. The Rockets have one of the best half court defenses in the Association, and getting down court before they can get set gives Braun a major advantage tonight.
He averages 15.1 points per game this season, and Coach Malone will put him in opportunities Put a unit on Braun to cover his 13.5 points, and if you are a new customer to DraftKings Sportsbook, make sure to take advantage of Fantasy Alarm’s promotional offer.
Best NBA Prop Bets & Other Picks Today, 3/23
The last NBA best bet today comes from a player who has really shown integrity and great play late in the season.
Hornets vs Heat Prediction: Mark Williams Over 10.5 Rebounds (+110 on Bet365) *2.0 Units
The Miami Heat host the Charlotte Hornets with a 6:00 PM Et tip off. The Hornets are surprisingly the hotter team in this match, as they have won four of their last ten matches. The Heat have lost ten in a row, in what has been the worst losing streak of Head Coach Erik Spoelstra’s career. They have fallen from seventh and a chance to get into the playoffs into some weird NBA version of purgatory.
The Heat are 3.5 games away from the eighth place Orlando Magic, and 5.0 games ahead of the Toronto Raptors. No chance to get out of the play-in, and no chance to get a high draft pick. It is difficult to tell what the mindset of the locker room is, and they will have a difficult time stopping Mark Williams from dominating the glass.
Williams has been a frequently mentioned player in NBA best bets, and plus odds to earn near his average is too sweet to pass up. He sat out the most recent match against the Oklahoma City Thunder and should be well rested for this match. Williams has covered this prop in three of his last five matches, and is averaging 10.1 rebounds per game this season.
The Heat allowed 55 rebounds in their most recent match, and Bam Adebayo is questionable with a knee sprain. Even if he does play he won’t be 100% healthy, and Williams is 7 foot tall, and 240 pounds. His knee won’t be able to apply as much pressure when Williams is blocking out.
Put two units on Williams to earn 11 or more rebounds today, and make sure to take advantage of the Bet365 offer below for this plus odds wager.
Get $150 in Bonus Bets Today At Bet365 Sportsbook When You Sign Up
Ready to jump into the action? New users can score a fantastic deal with Bet365 Sportsbook without even needing a Bet365 promo code. Sign up today, place a $5 wager, and instantly receive $150 in bonus bets—win or lose! It’s one of the best offers out there, giving you extra firepower to follow our NBA best bets today.
Whether you’re fading or following our NBA best bets today, this promo reduces the risk and boosts your potential payout. Head to Bet365 now to claim your $150 in bonus bets and get in on the NBA excitement! With these NBA predictions and options in hand, you’re set for a profitable night.
Player News
Ivica Zubac had a productive outing, finishing with 27 points (11-of-15 FGs, 5-of-8 FTs), five rebounds, one assist and two blocks in the Game 5 loss to the Nuggets on Tuesday.
Zubac continued to score the ball well, finishing with a series-high in points on efficient shooting. However, Zubac’s usual impact on the glass was absent as he secured just five rebounds in Game 5 after tallying at least nine in the previous four, with his one assist also tying his lowest output of the series. Down in the series 3-2, the Clippers head back to Los Angeles for Game 6 on Thursday, where they face a must-win situation to keep their season alive.
James Harden concluded Tuesday’s Game 5 loss to the Nuggets with 11 points (3-of-9 FGs, 5-of-8 FTs), eight rebounds, five assists and two steals in 35 minutes.
Harden had a quiet night on Tuesday, barely cracking double figures in scoring and failing to register double-digit shot attempts. The 2018 NBA MVP has faced a stifling Nuggets defense that, over the last few games, has forced the ball out of his hands, leading to inferior performances compared to earlier games in the series. Harden will look for a bounce-back performance on Thursday as he tries to lead the Clippers to a season-saving victory in Game 6.
Kawhi Leonard stuffed the stat sheet in Tuesday’s Game 5 loss to the Nuggets, posting 20 points (8-of-15 FGs, 3-of-7 FTs), nine rebounds, 11 assists, one steal, two blocks and one three-pointer.
Leonard did a little bit of everything for the Clippers in Game 5. The two-time NBA Finals MVP posted a series-high in assists and also hit the glass hard, resulting in a near-triple-double. Leonard has scored at least 20 points in all five games of this series. However, the Clippers may need even more from him going forward as they look to extend their season beyond Thursday’s Game 6 at the Intuit Dome.
Nikola Jokic earned a triple-double in the Nuggets’ Game 5 win on Tuesday over the Clippers, finishing with 13 points (4-of-13 FGs, 4-of-5 FTs), 10 rebounds, 12 assists, one steal, two blocks and one three-pointer.
The three-time NBA MVP had a relatively quiet game by his standards, but still came away with his third triple-double of the series. Jokic struggled with shooting efficiency, and his scoring output was the lowest of the series. Yet, his points were not as necessary in this game, given how well the rest of the Nuggets shot the ball. Nevertheless, Jokic will be in line for another big performance on Thursday when the Nuggets face the Clippers in Game 6.
Russell Westbrook came off the bench and produced 21 points (8-of-15 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), one rebound, one assist and three three-pointers in the Nuggets’ Game 5 win over the Clippers on Tuesday.
Westbrook was electric in his first game back in the lineup following a foot injury that kept him out of Game 4. His second-quarter scoring ignited the crowd and helped set the table for what would be his highest-scoring game of the postseason. The 2017 NBA MVP has had himself a nice series thus far from a scoring standpoint and will have a chance to end his former team’s season on Thursday in Game 6.
Jamal Murray had a dominant Game 5 performance in the Nuggets’ win over the Clippers on Tuesday, tallying 43 points (17-of-26 FGs, 1-of-1 FTs), five rebounds, seven assists, three steals, one block and eight three-pointers.
Fresh off a series-low 13 points in Game 4, Murray exploded for a series-high on Tuesday. He totaled nearly as many three-pointers in this game as he had in the previous four combined, while still managing to dish out seven assists. Murray got hot early in this one and never cooled off, and now has provided his Nuggets the opportunity on Thursday in Game 6 to eliminate the Clippers for the second time in the last five seasons.