Wednesday’s schedule features nine games featuring 60% of the NBA’s clubs in action. Two of the games pit the Golden State Warriors against the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers against the Sacramento Kings feature all four of the teams currently participating in the Western Conference play-in tournament. Five of the games feature two teams that would both be in the postseason if the season ended today. To identify some strategies and chances to outperform the book, let’s take a deeper look at these and the other games this evening.
To receive a triple-double (+150) is Luka Doncic.
In seven consecutive games, Doncic has recorded a triple-double with 25 points. He didn’t play the entire game in his most recent game, a 35-point rout of the Chicago Bulls, which is the only reason that streak isn’t good for 30-point triple-doubles.
The Mavericks must defeat the Warriors, a fellow play-in team, in order to secure a playoff berth, and I predict Doncic will perform well. In his 17 games since the beginning of February, he has averaging 34.2 points per game, 10.6 assists, and 10.1 steals.
Over 22.5 points, Miles Bridges (-125)
Before playing poorly against the Orlando Magic on March 5, Bridges averaged 23.2 points per game over a 13-game stretch from February 5 to March 3. He has, nevertheless, recovered in the three games that have passed, averaging 26.7 PPG and scoring at least 24 points every time out. On Wednesday, he takes on the Memphis Grizzlies, a team that has given up the ninth-most points (24.0 PPG) to opponents’ power forwards.
Los Angeles Lakers -2.5 vs. Sacramento Kings
The Lakers have won 12 of their last 17 games and are playing fantastic basketball right now, but the Kings have their number. This season, the Kings have defeated the Lakers 3-0, with a 10-point victory being in Los Angeles just last week.
De’Aaron Fox has given them fits on the perimeter, while Domantas Sabonis has had success going inside against Anthony Davis. I anticipate a close game as the Kings are playing the second half of a back-to-back, but I’ll take the points. The Kings should be favoured by 1.7 points and have a 59.4% chance of winning the game outright, according to the BPI game predictor.
Challenge of the Men’s Tournament
Choose the winners of each game in the 2024 men’s NCAA tournament to complete your bracket. Take on the Men’s Tournament Challenge.
Cavaliers against. New Orleans Pelicans (-6.5)
The Pelicans are currently within striking distance of overtaking the LA Clippers for the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference thanks to their impressive play. They have won four games in a row by an average of 22.3 points. The Cavaliers, on the other hand, have struggled lately, especially with most of their starting five out with injuries. After missing seven games, Donovan Mitchell is classified as questionable to return on Wednesday, but the Pelicans are playing well enough that I’ll give them the victory.
Indiana Pacers vs. Chicago Bulls (-3.5)
The Bulls have struggled in the last week, while the Pacers have picked up the pace. In their last four games, Indiana has destroyed three teams deserving of a trip to the playoffs, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder, Magic, and Mavericks by double digits away from home. The Minnesota Timberwolves were their lone opponent during that time, losing by two points. The Mavericks and Clippers have defeated the Bulls in their last two games by a combined score of 45 points. Chicago defeated Indiana in October, while the Pacers prevailed 16 points in the most recent meeting between the two clubs in December.
Forecasts and reporting on injuries
Rotowire.com injury aggregate of the Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics.
Detroit Pistons vs. Toronto Raptors
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, 7 p.m. Records (Contrary to the Spread)
Raptors: (31-34-0) 23-42
Pistons: (32-31-1)-11-53
Line: -3.5 Pistons Sum total: 233.5
Cash Line: Pistons (-150), Raptors (+130).
BPI Forecast: 230.2 total points, straight up 70%, and 5.7 points for the Pistons.
Report on Injury:
Raptors: Chris Boucher (OUT – Knee); Jakob Poeltl (OUT – Finger); Scottie Barnes (OUT – Hand); D.J. Carton (OUT – Ankle); RJ Barrett (OUT – Personal); Gary Trent Jr. (GTD – Groyne); Immanuel Quickley (GTD – Hip)
Ausar Thompson, the Piston (GTD – Illness)
Brooklyn Nets versus Orlando Enchantment
7 p.m. Recordings (Against the Spread) at Amway Centre in Orlando
26–39 nets (29–33–3)
37–28 (41-24-0) Magic
Magic (-7.5) is the line. 205.5 dollars in total Line: Magic (-280), Nets (+230)
BPI Projection: 221.9 total points, straight up 68%, magic by 5.
Report on Injury:
Nets: Ben Simmons (OUT – Back); Dariq Whitehead (OUT – Lower Leg); Cameron Johnson (GTD – Ankle); Jacob Gilyard (OUT – Undisclosed).
Magic: Nothing to report
Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, 7:30 p.m. Chicago Bulls vs. Indiana Pacers Records (Contrary to the Spread)
Bulls: 33-31-1 (31-34).
Pacers: 35-29-2, 37-29
Line: -3.5 for the Pacers 229.5 dollars in total Line: Pacers (-165) vs Bulls (+140)
BPI Projection: 237.0 total points, straight up 62%, Pacers by 3.6.
Report on Injury:
Bulls: Lonzo Ball (OUT – Knee), Patrick Williams (OUT – Foot), Zach LaVine (OUT – Foot), Julian Phillips (GTD – Foot), and Torrey Craig (GTD – Ankle).
Pacers: Bennedict Mathurin (OUT – Shoulder); Doug McDermott (GTD – Calf); James Johnson (GTD – Illness).
Dallas Nuggets versus Miami Heat Kaseya Centre, Miami, 7:30 p.m. Records (Contrary to the Spread)
45-20 Nuggets (29-34-2)
Heat: 31-32-1, 35-29
Nuggets (-3.5) in queue 214.5 dollars in total Line: Heat (+140), Nuggets (-165).
BPI Projection: 220.9 total points, straight up 53%, and nuggets by 0.7.
Report on Injury:
Vlatko Cancar’s nuggets (OUT – Knee)
Heat: Josh Richardson (OUT – Shoulder), Tyler Herro (OUT – Foot), Jimmy Butler (GTD – Illness), and Kevin Love
Memphis Grizzlies at Charlotte Hornets, 8 p.m. FedExForum, Records in Memphis (Contrary to the Spread)
Hornets: 26–39–0, 16–49
Grizzlies: 33-35–43.
Line: -1.5 Hornets 203.5 dollars in total Line: Grizzlies (+100), Hornets (-120).
BPI Projection: 225.3 total points, straight up 58%, Grizzlies by 2.3.
Report on Injury:
Hornets: Mark Williams (OUT – Back); Seth Curry (OUT – Ankle); LaMelo Ball (OUT – Ankle); Cody Martin (OUT – Ankle); Tre Mann (GTD – Groyne).
Grizzlies: Marcus Smart (OUT – Finger); Derrick Rose (OUT – Groyne); Ziaire Williams (OUT – Hip); Scotty Pippen Jr. (GTD – Back); Vince Williams Jr. (GTD – Knee); Yuta Watanabe (GTD – Wrist); Brandon Clarke (OUT – Achilles); Desmond Bane (OUT – Ankle); Marcus Jackson Jr. (GTD – Quadriceps);
Cavaliers of Cleveland versus New Orleans Pelicans 8 p.m. at the New Orleans Smoothie King Centre Records (Contrary to the Spread)
41–24 Cavaliers (31-33-1)
Pelicans: 35-28-1) 39-25
Line: -6.5 Pelicans Sum total: 215.5
Cash Line: Pelicans (-270), Cavaliers (+220).
Pelicans by 5.9, straight up 71%, 226.6 total points according to the BPI projection.
Report on Injury:
Cavaliers: Evan Mobley (OUT – Ankle), Ty Jerome (OUT – Ankle), Tristan Thompson (OUT – Suspension), Max Strus (OUT – Knee), and Donovan Mitchell (GTD – Knee).
Dyson Daniels, (OUT – Knee) with the Pelicans
8 p.m. at American Airlines Centre in Dallas, Texas, between the Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks Records (Contrary to the Spread)
Fighters: 34–30 (34–28–2)
Mavericks: 36–29–0 (37–28)
Mavericks (-6.5) in line Sum total: 233.5
Cash Line: Mavericks (-270), Warriors (+220)
Mavericks by 6.6, 72% straight up, 232.8 total points according to the BPI projection.
Warriors’ injury report: Stephen Curry (OUT, ankle)
Brandon Williams of the Mavericks (OUT – Wrist)
10 p.m. at Portland Trail Blazers against. Atlanta Hawks at Moda Centre in Portland Records (Contrary to the Spread)
Hawks: 22-42-0, 29-35
Blazers: 30-34-0; 18-46
Line: -3.5 for the Hawks Total: 218.5; Hawks (-165), Blazers (+140) on the money line
BPI Projection: 230.5 total points, straight up 52%, Hawks by 0.5.
Hawks: Onyeka Okongwu (OUT – Toe); Saddiq Bey (OUT – Knee); Jalen Johnson (GTD – Ankle); Seth Lundy (GTD – Back); Kobe Bufkin (OUT – Toe); Trae Young (OUT – Finger);
Blazers: Malcolm Brogdon (OUT – Elbow); Shaedon Sharpe (OUT – Abdomen); Robert Williams III (OUT – Knee); Jerami Grant (GTD – Hamstring); Rayan Rupert (GTD – Ankle); Jabari Walker (OUT – Hip)
10 p.m., Golden 1 Centre, Sacramento Records, Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings (Contrary to the Spread)
Lakers: 30-36-0, 36-30
Kings: 33-30-1; 37-27
Line: Lakers (-2.5) Sum total: 238.5
Cash Line: Kings (+110), Lakers (-130).
BPI Kings are predicted to win by 2.7, straight up 59%, and 243.8 points overall.
Report on Injury:
Lakers: Christian Wood (OUT – Knee), Gabe Vincent (OUT – Knee), Colin Castleton (OUT – Wrist), Jarred Vanderbilt (OUT – Foot), Anthony Davis (GTD – Achilles), LeBron James (GTD – Ankle), Cam Reddish (OUT – Ankle).
Kings: Trey Lyles (GTD – Knee); Sasha Vezenkov (OUT – Ankle); Keegan Murray (GTD – Ankle).
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