The NBA regular season resumes with a relatively light slate this Saturday, with a total of only 6 matchups on the docket scheduled for today. However, our staff of basketball betting experts still dug into the latest odds and identified all the best value on the board.
Our betting experts have looked over the odds and made NBA picks for all 6 of tonight's contests. Continue below for our NBA best bets and predictions for Saturday, March 1.
NBA Best Bets, Predictions, Picks, Odds: Saturday, March 1
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 6 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 8:30 p.m. | |
  | 8:30 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NBA Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Nets vs. Pistons
By Joe Dellera
The Pistons will play their second game in as many days against the Nets tonight.
Brooklyn has a bottom-10 defense in the league, and they allow their opponents to shoot at a top-10 percentage from beyond the arc, an area where Malik Beasley thrives.
Beasley is averaging 16.7 points per game this season, including 18.4 over his last 10. He’s exceeded this mark in 63% of games this season and 7 of his last 10.
On back-to-backs, he's been even better, averaging 18 points per game.
This is a matchup against a Nets team that he has scored 18 and 23 points against this season. I’ll grab over 14.5 points.
Pick: Malik Beasley Over 14.5 Points (-110)
| | | | | |
Wizards vs. Hornets
Only the NBA diehards will be tuning into this one, but I think there might be an angle worth exploring.
Not that the Washington defense is anything special, or anything about the Wizards very special for that matter, but they're probably good enough to contain the Charlotte offense that is plumbing some new depths in the current five-game losing streak, failing to reach 100 points in four of those outings.
At only 91 points per game in their last four, the Hornets are presenting a strong Under case because they simply can't score, even more of an issue with iffy status of top point-producer LaMelo Ball (26.3 ppg, but missed last two games with sore ankle).
These teams recently played a 124-114 game (Wizards win) on February 3, but recent Hornets trends suggest this one will have a hard time climbing above 220. Play Wizards-Hornets Under.
Pick: Under 219 (-110)
| | | | | |
Spurs vs. Grizzlies
With Brandon Clarke potentially missing the Grizzlies' second night of a home back-to-back after catching a Karl-Anthony Towns elbow to the face, Santi Aldama could see an increase in minutes. And this is Aldama's favorite matchup in the NBA, so I expect he will force Taylor Jenkins' hand to play him extended minutes, even if Clarke can give it a go.
Aldama has averaged just shy of 17 points and 10 rebounds per game on a 54/43/85 shooting split in his past six outings against the Spurs. And now, the Spurs' frontcourt is decimated after losing Victor Wembanyama for the remainder of the season.
Aldama could have another huge night, with San Antonio's defensive focus inevitably on Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson, and Ja Morant.
Pick: Santi Aldama Over 11.5 Points (-120)
| | | | | |
Bucks vs. Mavericks
After making his debut off the bench with Milwaukee following the trade from Washington, Kyle Kuzma started his next eight games with the Bucks, during which they went 6-2. It’s easy to forget that Kuzma is still a quality player after enduring nothing but misery as a member of the Wizards.
Despite the short sample size, Kuzma’s numbers with Milwaukee are comparable to what he produced in Washington. He’s averaging 15.3 points (up from 15.2) and his assists (2.8) are also up from 2.5 per game. However, his industry on the glass has resulted in the biggest improvement, with his rebounding jumping from 5.8 to 7.4.
Although Kuzma grabbed nine boards in a 121-112 victory over the Nuggets, Saturday’s away game against the Mavericks is the perfect time to fade his rebounds + assists prop of 10.5.
Only once in eight chances this season has the Bucks forward had back-to-back games where he exceeded that projection. Kuzma has also stayed under the number in 15 of his last 19 road games, and three straight meetings against Dallas.
I’ll never shy away from the opportunity to play contrarily, and this zig-zag approach offers a great spot to put our theory to the test.
Pick: Kyle Kuzma Under 10.5 Rebounds + Assists (-130)
| | | | | |
