The NBA regular season continues with a full day of action, featuring 11 matchups. Don't let the packed slate intimidate you, our team of basketball betting experts has analyzed the latest odds and pinpointed the best value on the board.
Our betting experts have reviewed the odds and made 7 NBA picks for tonight's games. Continue reading for our best bets and predictions for Wednesday, March 19.
NBA Best Bets Today
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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. | ||
Rockets vs. Magic
These teams are pretty similar with the level of intensity on the defensive end being the primary component of their identities.
The difference is the Rockets can score in bunches, while the Magic may struggle to reach 100 points. The combination of Jalen Green, a healthy Fred VanVleet, Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith is enough to space the flor and win against the Magic.
I foresee a matchup advantage for Houston and feel it's worth playing them to -3.
Pick: Houston -2.5
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Rockets vs. Magic
By Bruce Marshall
Houston pulled one out of the fire on Monday night in overtime vs. the depleted Sixers to stretch its win streak to seven, but it hasn't been easy lately. Prior to the Philly escape, the Rockets were pushed to the wall, also at home, by the Bulls, and two of the wins in the current uptick came vs. lowly New Orleans.
Another win in the streak came at home vs. Orlando (97-84) on March 10 — when the Magic shot only 32.6% from the floor. However, Jamahl Mosley's team looks to be rediscovering a bit of its mojo with recent wins at Milwaukee and Cleveland as Orlando shoots for the No. 7 seed in the East and the most favorable play-in path to the postseason.
Paolo Banchero shared the scoring load with Franz Wagner and three others who scored double-digits vs. the Cavs after Banchero had erupted for a combined 77 points in the two preceding games. This seems like a spot where Houston's win streak could get put to the test. Back the Magic.
Pick: Orlando Magic +3
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Pistons vs. Heat
If you watch the Heat enough, you know Malik Beasley shreds this team. He's only gone over this in one of five, but against Miami specifically, he's gotten to 15+ in eight of 12.
More narrowly, he's gotten this in four of five going back to the 2023-24 season, when he was in Milwaukee, and this year, he's scored 21 and 28 across the past two Heat-Pistons meetings.
The Heat are broken now. Their defense is 12th, the worst it has rated since the 2014-15 season — the year after LeBron James left.
Pick: Malik Beasley Over 14.5 points
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Pistons vs. Heat
By Bruce Marshall
In a clash between an overachiever and an underachiever, give me the overachiever.
So it goes tonight in Miami, where the Pistons have given us every reason to back them all season, and reminded on Monday what they could do vs. a lesser foe when blowing away the Pels in New Orleans. It was the third time in four games that Detroit has scored 123 or more, and the latest showcase for Cade Cunningham, who led a balanced Detroit effort with 24 points as the Pistons hit 55% from the floor. The Pistons are also on 15-6-1 spread surge.
Meanwhile, all the Heat are doing is losing, eight straight, the longest slump of Erik Spoelstra's career.
Pick: Detroit Pistons -5
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76ers vs. Thunder
By Bruce Marshall
Some odd dynamics for this one in Oklahoma City tonight.
First, note a near-reserve Thunder lineup … no SGA, no Jalen Williams, no Lu Dort and maybe no Isaiah Hartenstein. Yet the last time Oklahoma City fielded an under-strength lineup, with all its starters sitting out, the Thunder cruised by then-hot Portland 107-89 back on March 7.
One other curiosity tonight is Oklahoma City holding the Sixers' first-round pick, which is top-six protected. Philly enters tonight effectively tied with the Raptors and Nets for the fifth-worst record in the league, so twisted logic suggests OKC could benefit by losing, except that the Thunder are waging war with Cleveland for the best overall record. Without full firepower, however, clearing 230 might be a big ask. Bet the under.
Pick: Under 230.5 Total Points
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76ers vs. Thunder
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Lu Dort won't play for Oklahoma City. Those happen to be the Thunder's top two scorers and best defensive player. Yet the Thunder still are a bargain even laying this many points.
How's that?
Not only do the Thunder have perhaps the deepest roster in the NBA, but the 76ers will be without their three best players as Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey are all out again.
Even being on the verge of clinching the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference with 14 games still to play, the Thunder have kept their focus and will to win. Oklahoma City has won 10 of their past 11 games. The Thunder have the best ATS in the NBA at 43-21-4, an amazing 67%.
The 76ers are due for a flat performance after consecutive strong games during the first two games of their road trip, which opened with an upset victory against the decimated Mavericks and taking the Rockets to overtime as huge underdogs. This marks Philadelphia's third game in four days.
The Thunder haven't played since Sunday and won't be in action again until Friday, when they host the Hornets. Matchup-wise, the Thunder rank as the top defensive team in the league by a wide margin, while the 76ers are 25th in scoring.
Oklahoma City also has a league-best 18.4-point victory margin when playing at home. It actually is in the 76ers' best interest to lose since their first round draft pick will go to the Thunder unless that pick falls among the bottom-six. The Raptors are just one-half game away from being tied with the 76ers for having the sixth-worst record in the league.
Pick: Oklahoma City Thunder -11
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Nuggets vs. Lakers
By Joe Dellera
The Lakers face off against the Denver Nuggets in a critical game for the Western Conference playoff picture. One player we are targeting is Luka Dončić, who has been insane since he joined the Lakers, and his game has stepped up unevenly without LeBron James.
I think one of the keys here is that without James on the floor, the Lakers can play more conventional Luka-Ball, and it’s a scenario in which he feels more comfortable. Not only that, but given the lack of size the Lakers have without both James and Rui Hachimura, Doncic is seeing more rebounding opportunities.
In four games without both James and Hachimura, Doncic has averaged 10.8 rebounds with 9+ in all four games. He has also seen some absurd offensive volume, taking at least 20 shots in each of those games.
The Lakers have given him the reins. His PR line is set at 40.5, a number he has exceeded in five of his past six games against Denver. I expect a big game with plenty of minutes tonight for Doncic.
Pick: Luka Doncic Over 40.5 PR
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