NBA Picks

The Orlando Magic will be playing the second leg of a back-to-back situation when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night. Orlando had won 7 games in a row before losing at Atlanta 124-112 on Monday. The Magic have been rolling offensively and fatigue often becomes more of a factor on the defensive end of the floor, so my Thunder vs Magic pick is Over 222.5. Orlando had scored at least 121 points in 4 consecutive contests prior to Monday’s setback against the Hawks — a game that still soared over the total. Four different players have led the Magic in scoring over the past 7 games. Paolo Banchero (22.3 ppg) has scored 25 points or more in 4 of the last 6.

OKC is the best defensive outfit in the Western Conference, but it has held only 2 of its last 11 opponents under the 100-point mark. It’s not like the defending champions are completely shutting teams down. At the other end of the court, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has scored 35 points in 2 of the last 3 games and has dished out at least 9 assists in 3 straight. SGA is 7-for-16 from deep in those 3 contests. The over is 5-0 in Orlando’s last 5 overall. Look for that trend to continue.

Thunder vs Magic prediction: Over 222.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

The Detroit Pistons will look to bounce back from a 119-108 loss against the Toronto Raptors when they travel to take on the Washington Wizards Tuesday night. The Wizards should be an opponent the Pistons can beat handily. Washington has lost 12 straight games, with 8 of those losses coming by double-digits. Detroit is the top team in the Eastern Conference, but it has been shaky down the stretch — only winning 3 of their last 8 games. The Pistons will be without Isaiah Stewart in this matchup, while the Wizards will be without Kyshawn George and Anthony Davis. Trae Young and Alex Sarr are both currently listed as questionable.

Whoever suits up for the Wizards, it’s no secret that this team is not going to give a good effort defensively. They rank 29th in the NBA in defensive rating and 25th in opponent fast-break points. The over has hit in 7 of the Wizards’ last 9 games. Cade Cunningham, who ranks second in the NBA with 10.1 assists per game, will be looking to help his team put a big number on the scoreboard in Washington. The Pistons boast one of the top offenses in the NBA, which has also resulted in the over hitting in their last 4 games. Before the loss to the Raptors, the Pistons had won 3 straight games in which they averaged 131.7 points. If Cunningham can continue to get his teammates involved, it could be another high-scoring night for Detroit.

Pistons vs Wizards prediction: Over 233 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

The Miami Heat travel to face the Charlotte Hornets in a key Eastern Conference matchup featuring two teams trending in opposite directions. Miami enters around 34-29, averaging 120 points per game, one of the top offensive marks in the league, while playing at the fastest pace in the NBA, leading to high possession games. Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo continue to lead the offense, with Herro recently scoring 33 points in a win over Charlotte. Despite a strong 37-26 ATS record, Miami has been less consistent on the road and can struggle defensively in up tempo matchups, which could be a concern against a surging opponent.

The Charlotte Hornets have been one of the hottest teams in the league, winning six straight games during a recent stretch while consistently outperforming expectations. Charlotte is 40-23 ATS overall and 18-12 ATS at home, including 8-2 ATS in its last 10 home games, where it has outscored opponents by over 8 points per game. Led by LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, the Hornets average 116.5 points per game while holding opponents to 103 per, showcasing a strong two way profile. With home court advantage and superior recent form, Charlotte appears well positioned to dictate the pace and capitalize on Miami’s defensive vulnerabilities.

Heat vs Hornets prediction: Hornets -4 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to -5.

It feels like a lifetime ago since the Indiana Pacers defeated the New York Knicks in 6 games in the Eastern Conference Finals. Fast forward to present day and the Pacers have a league-worst 15-53 record and have lost 13 straight games. These 2 teams will have their final opportunity tonight to renew this rivalry, which has stayed competitive throughout the season despite the Pacers’ struggles. The Knicks lead the season series 2-1, but both wins were only by single-digits. The last time these teams played in New York was on February 10, when the Pacers took home the win 137-134 in overtime. They just faced each other 4 days ago in Indiana, where they Knicks won 101-92 and each team shot below 42% from the field. The Pacers’ roster is filled with players listed as questionable for this game, including Andrew Nembhard, TJ McConnell and Obi Toppin — so it is difficult to get an early read on who will suit up for Indiana.

All of these injuries should lead me to the Knicks to cover — but based on their recent game against Golden State, I have my doubts. The Knicks were in a similar scenario where the Warriors were missing their top 4 players to injury, but they still allowed Golden State to jump out to a 20-point advantage in the second quarter. Instead, I think the over is the best play for this game. I believe this number is a little bit lower due to these 2 teams’ low-scoring game last Friday. With the Pacers rated as the 25th-worst team according to defensive rating, I do not foresee another poor shooting night from the Knicks — especially not on their home floor. The Pacers are also in the top 10 in the NBA in pace. If the Knicks once again follow suit and this game turns into a track meet like it did the last time these teams met in New York, we could see this game go well above the total.

Pacers vs Knicks prediction: Over 223.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Milwaukee Bucks in a key Eastern Conference matchup featuring 2 teams trending in different directions. Cleveland has been one of the more consistent teams this season, averaging 119.1 points per game while allowing 115 per — supported by strong ball movement with over 28 assists a night. Donovan Mitchell leads the offense at 28.2 points per game, while Evan Mobley provides interior presence with 9 rebounds and 2 blocks per game. The Cavaliers have also had success in this matchup, including a 118-113 win earlier this season behind Mitchell’s scoring.

The Milwaukee Bucks have been more inconsistent, averaging 111.2 points per game while allowing 115 points — largely due to defensive issues and injuries. Giannis Antetokounmpo remains the focal point with 27.6 points per game, but has dealt with recent injury concerns that have impacted his availability. Without consistent 2-way production, Milwaukee may struggle to match Cleveland’s efficiency and tempo control. With the Cavaliers’ balanced offense, defensive stability and prior success in the matchup, they appear well positioned to control this game from start to finish.

Cavaliers vs Bucks prediction: Cleveland -10.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to -12.

The Suns made a valiant effort last night in Boston, but unfortunately they just ran into a better team and succumbed to an 8-point defeat. They were within striking distance for most of the game thanks to a 40-point night from Devin Booker. Not having their starting center Mark Williams once again cost them the rebounding battle, so they will have to figure out a way to compensate for his absence on Tuesday against Rudy Gobert and the Timberwolves. The good news for the Suns is that they have won the 2 meetings so far this season — albeit by just 1 and 3 points. Phoenix is only 5-7 SU in 12 games with no rest this season.

This past week or so of basketball has not been kind to the Timberwolves, who have just 1 win to show for over their last 5 outings. The defense has been suspect during this stretch, the 153 points they allowed to the Clippers a couple of games ago wasn’t a good look at all. Sunday saw them squander a double-digit lead against the defending champs, ultimately falling by 13 on the road. If there is a silver lining they can take from that game, it’s the fact that Julius Randle scored 32 points while knocking down 3 triples. That’s very encouraging for a player who has shot the deep ball just 20% over his last 10 outings, averaging 15.2 points per game.

I’m expecting yet another tight game between these 2 f0llowing the 2 close finishes already this season. If that’s the case, I would side with Phoenix. The Suns have more wins in clutch games this season — plus without a closer like Ant Man (out with right knee soreness), the T-Wolves could struggle scoring if it comes down to the final possession. Let’s roll with Phoenix.

Suns vs Timberwolves prediction: Phoenix +4.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

Only 1 point separated the 76ers and Nuggets in the first meeting this season, but Tuesday’s game could be a stark contrast to that game since Philadelphia enters this contest as a +15.5 underdog. That’s mainly due to most star power being out. Tyrese Maxey is dealing with a finger injury, Joel Embiid is out with an oblique issue and Kelly Oubre Jr.’s elbow will cause him to sit this one out. Paul George still has a week left on his suspension, so the Sixers could struggle to find enough points against a superior Nuggets team.

Denver’s last game saw them lose a thriller in LA against the Lakers 127-125 in OT. The team looked very gassed in the extra 5 minutes of play; they just weren’t able to overcome Luka Doncic in that game. Aaron Gordon is improving day by day; he is expected to ramp up his production in this final stretch of regular-season games. Winning this game is a priority for the Nuggets, who are still very much in contention for the third seed. However, the Lakers now have a 2-game edge. With the 2 teams in front of Denver battling again on Wednesday, a win here would do wonders for the confidence of the Nuggets — who are just 5-5 SU in their last 10 games.

On paper you would think Philadelphia is in fine form given its 3 wins in 4 games, but those were against Memphis, Brooklyn and Portland — which isn’t exactly a good measuring stick. This should be all Denver as long as it guards against complacency. The Nuggets have won 6 of 7 at home against Philly and they are also 5-1 SU in 6 meetings overall. I’ll back them despite the big spread they have to cover.

76ers vs Nuggets prediction: Denver -15.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

This will be the third meeting this season between the San Antonio Spurs and Sacramento Kings. The Spurs have come out on top with each of the first 2 contests, winning both by 13 or more points. The Kings have won 5 of their last 10 games, and 4 of those were against teams with losing records. Against an opponent that is sixth over those 10 games in net offensive and defensive rating, we should see the Kings struggling once more. Malik Monk is also questionable to play for the Kings, which could leave them short of firepower off the bench.

The Kings have had real issues from the perimeter of late. They are 28th in 3-point percentage over the last 10 games and dead last in both 3-pointers made and 3-point attempts. A team with a non-existent threat from deep will have real issues facing Victor Wembanyama. The Frenchman has helped the Spurs allow the sixth-fewest paint points over the last 10 games. Taking away inside scoring from the hosts should see them struggling to stay competitive. The Kings have been in the top 10 in points off opponent turnovers during that stretch, but the Spurs gave up the third-fewest points in that category. Their defense should help them cover the spread on the road.

Spurs vs Kings prediction: San Antonio -13.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to -15.