Worldwide Sports News

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

History will remember the 2025-26 Utah Jazz, even if most of us already want to forget about them. The Denver Nuggets may be guilty of forgetting about Utah, too, as the March grind wears out Nikola Jokic & Co.

My Jazz vs. Nuggets predictions and NBA picks welcome some value on the Jazz first-half moneyline, even if it is a bit of a long shot, on Friday, March 27.

Jazz vs Nuggets prediction

Jazz vs Nuggets best bet: Jazz moneyline 1H (+525)

The 2025-26 Utah Jazz will change the NBA.

No, really.

Their tanking approaches have been so egregious that the NBA is now actively considering changes to the draft lottery system. 

Some might argue that is an overreaction, but Utah has so much talent that it continues to be vaguely competitive even after shutting down Isaiah Collier, Lauri Markkanen, and Keyonte George in March, even with Brice Sensabaugh and Kyle Filipowski currently day-to-day due to rest and illness, respectively.

And that does not even mention the trio of big men on the injured list in Jusuf Nurkic, Jaren Jackson Jr, and Walker Kessler.

The Jazz are starting Ace Bailey, Cody Williams and Elijah Harkless … and are still sometimes playing too well.

Utah drew so much attention because it would often bench its starters in competitive fourth quarters. The Jazz no longer need to do that, but they do sometimes still hang tougher than anticipated.

Utah is 3-10 outright in March, but it has won six of 13 first halves, including on March 2 against the Denver Nuggets despite the Jazz being 11.5-point underdogs.

With the Nuggets on their third game in four nights, a similar early surprise is far more plausible than these odds suggest.

Jazz vs Nuggets same-game parlay

Utah should cover this full-game spread if indeed leading at halftime. Adding that leg to a first-half moneyline bet started the same-game parlay payout at +600, already some unexpected value in that uptick.

Nikola Jokic should still control the boards tonight. And while some may worry this is too lofty a prop for a tired night, a competitive first half will only mean more minutes for the Nuggets’ superstar.

Jazz vs Nuggets SGP

• Jazz moneyline 1H
• Jazz +18.5
• Nikola Jokic Over 13.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: Denver eventually

What a delight to include a leg that on its own is -2000 in a four-leg same-game parlay and still reach odds of +2000. A double-result so often brings such value.

Remember, Utah is 3-10 outright in March. Those wins came against the Bucks, Warriors, and Wizards. Suffice it to say, the Nuggets should prevail no matter how awkward the first half is.

Jazz vs Nuggets SGP

• Jazz moneyline 1H
• Denver moneyline
• Jazz +18.5
• Nikola Jokic Over 13.5 rebounds

Jazz vs Nuggets odds

• Spread: Jazz +18.5 | Nuggets -18.5
• Moneyline: Jazz +1000 | Nuggets -2000
• Over/Under: Over 248.5 | Under 248.5

Jazz vs Nuggets betting trend to know

Utah is 6-7 against the spread in March. In those six ATS wins, the Jazz were 4-2 outright in the first half. Find more NBA betting trends for Jazz vs. Nuggets.

How to watch Jazz vs Nuggets

Jazz vs Nuggets latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

A lot can change in just a few days, especially when it comes to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Back on Monday, the Sixers were without five main rotation players — Joel Embiid (oblique), Paul George (suspension), Tyrese Maxey (finger), Quentin Grimes (illness) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (elbow) — in their loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. By Wednesday, the long hiatuses of both Embiid and George came to an end, and Grimes returned from illness. Philadelphia dominated the Chicago Bulls that night, putting up 157 points, notching their highest single-game point total in 56 years. Embiid and George had the best returns you could probably ask for after their stints sidelined, with Embiid scoring 35 points in just over 28 minutes played and PG adding 28 points in 26:20.

Now, it looks like the Sixers are on their way to getting yet another piece of the puzzle back. At practice on Friday, Oubre told reporters that he was ready to return for Saturday’s contest after an elbow injury has kept him sidelined since March 10.

Reinforcements are coming at the right time for Philadelphia, who face a tough opponent on Saturday with a visit to Rookie of the Year candidate Kon Knueppel and the red-hot Charlotte Hornets riding a six-game win streak. They have gone 13-5 since the All-Star break.

Head coach Nick Nurse told reporters after practice on Friday that he’s “pretty sure” Oubre will play on Saturday, but some question remains on what exact role he would play in the contest.

Nurse also added that Embiid came out “pretty good” after his first contest in just about a month.

The optimistic news out of Friday continued in a way I am not really used to with this team. Tyrese Maxey, who has been out since March 7 with a tendon injury in his pinky, was throwing up shots alongside Embiid after practice. Nurse told reporters that Maxey has become “a lot more involved” in the last few days and that the guard has been focusing on keeping himself conditioned while the hand continues to heal.

No word on a potential return timetable for Maxey just yet, but it certainly sounds like things are headed in the right direction with him as well.

It’s a very good time for things to go right for the Sixers, too. As of Friday afternoon, the Sixers are seventh in the Eastern Conference at 40-33, but there is a lot of room for movement — up or down — around them right now. Numbers 8 through 10 in the East right now (Orlando Magic, Hornets and Miami Heat) are all 39-34, just a single game behind Philadelphia. Atop the Sixers are the Toronto Raptors, a half a game ahead in sixth, and the Atlanta Hawks, one game ahead in fifth.

We are entering the final push, with just nine regular season games remaining for the Sixers. Buckle up.

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The shorthanded Memphis Grizzlies host the struggling Houston Rockets on Friday night at FedExForum.

Memphis’ frontcourt is decimated with injuries, and my Rockets vs Grizzlies predictions expect Amen Thompson to have a tremendous showing on the glass.

Here are my best free NBA picks for this Western Conference showdown on Friday, March 27.

Rockets vs Grizzlies prediction

Rockets vs Grizzlies best bet: Amen Thompson Over 7.5 rebounds (-135)

Amen Thompson is one of the Houston Rockets' best rebounders, pulling down a career-high 7.9 boards per game. He's recorded at least eight rebounds in 36 of 70 games overall, going for exactly seven rebounds 13 more times.

Thompson has corralled 8.3 rebounds on the road compared to 7.4 at home, and he's gone for 8+ in 21 of 36 away from Toyota Center.

Since the All-Star break, Thompson has pulled down 8.7 rebounds per game and recorded 8+ in nine of 18 appearances. He leads the team in rebounds over the Rockets' last seven games at 10.3, and he's hit the Over on this line five times in that span.

Alperen Sengun has taken a step back as a rebounder, grabbing just 7.7 boards per game across his last 10 outings, allowing Thompson to take a significant step forward in that department.

The Memphis Grizzlies sport one of the thinnest and smallest frontcourt lineups in the NBA, and the team has been highly vulnerable to opposing rebounders.

Over the last 10 games, Memphis has surrendered a league-high 49.7 rebounds, including the third-most offensive rebounds at 13.8. Thompson has been surging as a rebounder, and he should be even better in such a favorable road matchup.

Rockets vs Grizzlies same-game parlay

Thompson recorded 10 dimes in his last game out, and he’s reached that mark in five of his last 11. He’s dished 6+ dimes in 32 of 70 appearances, including 18 of 36 on the road. Thompson finished with 14 and seven assists in two matchups with the Grizzlies.

Tonight’s game should be a great bounce-back opportunity for the Rockets, but Houston has been disappointing as of late. After losing to the Chicago Bulls, they gave up a 13-point lead in overtime.

The Rockets could win in a blowout, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the shorthanded Grizz keep things close. Instead, I’ll bet the Over. Both teams are ranked in the bottom 10 in defense across their last 10 appearances, and buckets should come easily.

Rockets vs Grizzlies SGP

• Amen Thompson Over 7.5 rebounds
• Amen Thompson Over 5.5 assists
• Over 227.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: Durant from Downtown!

Across the last 10 games, Memphis has allowed the fourth-most triples and the eighth-highest three-point percentage to opponents. Thompson should have ample opportunities to drive and kick out to Kevin Durant and Reed Sheppard or corral offensive rebounds and find shooters for second-chance buckets.

Durant has hit 3+ triples in three of his last four games, and he hit four in his last matchup with the Grizzlies. Sheppard has knocked down just 5-of-24 three-pointers across his last two games, but he’s due for a rebound performance in this favorable matchup.

Rockets vs Grizzlies SGP

• Amen Thompson Over 7.5 rebounds
• Amen Thompson Over 5.5 assists
• Reed Sheppard Over 3.5 three-pointers
• Kevin Durant Over 2.5 three-pointers

Rockets vs Grizzlies odds

• Spread: Rockets -12.5 | Grizzlies +12.5
• Moneyline: Rockets -900 | Grizzlies +600
• Over/Under: Over 227.5 | Under 227.5

Rockets vs Grizzlies betting trend to know

The Houston Rockets have only covered the Spread in 16 of their last 50 games (-21.40 Units / -39% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Rockets vs. Grizzlies.

How to watch Rockets vs Grizzlies

Rockets vs Grizzlies latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The Los Angeles Lakers are finally back in La-La Land after a successful road trip, and waiting for them inside Crypto.com Arena are the lowly Brooklyn Nets. 

Brooklyn sits near the bottom of the Eastern Conference and brings a nine-game losing skid to Los Angeles, which has bookies listing the Lakers as hefty home favorites.

My Nets vs. Lakers predictions dig into how that opens up LeBron James’ potential as a playmaker.

Read more in my NBA picks for Friday, March 27. 

Nets vs Lakers prediction

Nets vs Lakers best bet: LeBron James Over 6.5 assists (-125)

With little threat of losing tonight, the Los Angeles Lakers are thinking about sitting Luka Doncic tonight. Doncic has put in a ton of minutes during the Lakers’ 10-1 SU run, and he's also been fighting through a tender hamstring.

He’s questionable against the Brooklyn Nets, which would leave a ton of touches on the table for Los Angeles. Doncic is a primary ball handler, and his absence slides LeBron James into that role. 

The veteran forward has averaged 67.5 touches during that 11-game span (Doncic is getting 90.5), with his potential assists sitting at 11.6. That’s produced 6.5 actual assists per contest during the streak.

An increase in ball-handling duties instantly juices LeBron’s playmaking prowess, which we see in his season production when Doncic is sidelined. In the past four games with Doncic out and James in, he’s averaged 10 assists per game. 

The Nets aren’t providing much in the way of defense as it tries to tank for a Top 3 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. Brooklyn has allowed more than 118 points against since the All-Star break and is among the worst teams in opponent assist-to-FGM rate (24th), with foes handing out over 27 assists an outing.

James’ projections all sit north of seven assists — and that’s with Doncic in the lineup. Should Luka sit, LeBron’s passing prop soars.

Nets vs Lakers same-game parlay

The No. 3 seed in the Western Conference is still up for grabs, so while Los Angeles may sit Luka, it doesn’t take the Nets lightly. Brooklyn is closing out a road trip in L.A. tonight, which probably has this losing team more concerned with off-court plans.

With James stepping up as a passer, Austin Reaves can be more of a scorer and pick up the slack with Doncic potentially out. Given the expected game script, Reaves could also get extra rest once L.A. pulls away in the second half.

Nets vs Lakers SGP

• Lakers +16
• LeBron James Over 6.5 assists
• Austin Reaves Under 5.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: The King's Court

The possibility of a Luka-less Lakers rotation puts LeBron in the spotlight. He’s projected to top his assists, triples, and rebound props tonight.

In the last four games without Doncic, LeBron has pulled down 6+ boards in each game while hitting two or more 3-pointers in two of those outings.

Nets vs Lakers SGP

• Lakers +16
• LeBron James Over 6.5 assists
• LeBron James Over 1.5 threes
• LeBron James Over 5.5 rebounds

Nets vs Lakers odds

• Spread: Nets +16 (-110) | Lakers -16 (-110)
• Moneyline: Nets +900 | Lakers -1600
• Over/Under: Over 222.5 (-110) | Under 222.5 (-110)

Nets vs Lakers betting trend to know

Brooklyn is 5-24 SU and 11-17-1 ATS (39.7%) in non-conference games this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Nets vs. Lakers.

How to watch Nets vs Lakers

Nets vs Lakers latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

The Boston Celtics host the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night in a game Boston needs to win to stay ahead of the New York Knicks for second place in the Eastern Conference. Here are three big questions entering the matchup.

Will Boston be emotionally ready for surging Atlanta?

The last two games Boston played came against Western Conference contenders were a tale of two cities. First, it was the Minnesota Timberwolves, where the Celtics lost 102-92. Then on Wednesday, Boston welcomed Oklahoma City Thunder to TD Garden and, in an emotional game that was close throughout, prevailed 119-109.

The key will be whether Boston can shift its focus from two of the West’s best to a fifth-place Hawks team that has won three in a row. Atlanta is coming off an overtime win over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, after beating the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors.

Sometimes, the drop-off from high-profile games to a more routine conference matchup can open the door for an upset. Boston needs to stay sharp to protect home court and maintain its edge over New York who own the tiebreaker.

Who will step up if Jaylen Brown is unable to play

At the time of this writing, Jaylen Brown is questionable with left calf tightness. He’s appeared in 65 games this season and has carried a heavy load offensively, especially while Jayson Tatum was out.

If Brown is out, keep an eye on Payton Pritchard. He’s been a steady scoring option, though his last 20-point game came March 2 against the Milwaukee Bucks, when he dropped 25. With Tatum still finding rhythm and potentially no Brown, this sets up as a spot where Pritchard could take on a bigger offensive role.

That said, this is a game against his hometown team, so it wouldn’t be a shock if Brown ultimately suits up.

Who will guard Jalen Johnson? 

The last time these teams met in Boston, the Celtics had no answer for Jalen Johnson, who led Atlanta to a 117-106 win. He finished with 19 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists, impacting the game on both ends.

Boston tried multiple looks defensively. Brown, Derrick White and Anfernee Simons all saw time on Johnson. Against smaller matchups, Johnson attacked the paint and used his 6-foot-8 frame effectively, while also knocking down 3 of 5 from deep. He’s shooting 34.9% from beyond the arc this season.

Atlanta may not have a clear No. 1 option, but it has a roster full of players who can heat up quickly. It’s a young, scrappy group, and if Boston doesn’t come out locked in, this could turn into a longer night than expected.

WASHINGTON, DC -- The East Region is the gift that keeps on giving.

Michigan State and UConn should have a high-intensity feel driven by two of the top coaches and defenses remaining in the tournament. Friday's Sweet 16 game just might not be aesthetically pleasing.

According to KenPom, the UConn defense ranks 11th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency and the Spartans rank 13th. And both offenses look to get into transition but will focus on frontcourt play in the halfcourt set, with the Huskies led by Tarris Reed Jr. and Alex Karaban and Michigan State centered on Jaxon Kohler, Carson Cooper and high-flying forward Coen Carr.

These programs aren't foreign to March success.

The Spartans are in the Sweet 16 for the third time in four seasons and 17th in the past 28 years under Tom Izzo.

The Huskies are back in the Sweet 16 after winning back-to-back national titles in 2023, '24.

"I'm just excited," Huskies coach Dan Hurley said Thursday. "I feel like it's an honorable game for UConn, Michigan State. It's a great crazy Sweet 16 game. Excited to be in it."

Earlier this week, ESPN.com released a list covering the 10 best and 10 worst transactions since last offseason. To nobody’s surprise, the Dorian Finney-Smith signing was on the list coming in at number seven. So far this season, Finney-Smith is averaging just 3.2 points per game and has yet to score in double digits in any game.

At first the DFS signing seemed like a perfect deal for Houston, as he recently ended a season as one of the best role players in the NBA. His +14.2 on/off differential was third in the league behind only Nikola Jokic and Christian Braun on the Denver Nuggets. This is a big deal for a player who’s not a star. He looked to be the perfect wing for a team relying on star players like Kevin Durant. So what went wrong?

After undergoing ankle surgery in the offseason, Dorian Finney-Smith’s debut kept getting delayed. The whole process was really weird, as the Rocket’s front office nor head coach Ime Udoka gave many updates. Finally, on December 25, Dorian made his debut for the Rockets. At that point, the season was about a third of the way through, as Houston had played 34 percent of their games. Additonally, Dorian likely missed out on a full training camp and pre-season with the roster due to limited mobility after surgery. It is important to note that usually, when it comes to role players, their rhythm matters more than anything.

Perhaps what is the most frustrating aspect of everything is that Houston needed a player like Dorian Finney-Smith. They thought they were finding somewhat of a replacement for Dillon Brooks, but instead, the Rockets have had to put more stress on other players, such as Amen Thompson and Kevin Durant.

Reading everything so far, it seems like the situation is hopeless, but thankfully, that is not the case. Ime Udoka, the coach of the Rockets, is obviously attempting to integrate him before the postseason, even though the output is still lacking. Additonally, with Finney-Smith’s contract being a multi-year deal, there’s a possibility that next season could be better for him, as he will be coming into the year fully healthy.

Dorian Finney-Smith and the Rockets look to get back on track tonight as they face the Memphis Grizzlies at 7:00pm CST in Memphis. You can catch the game on Space City Houston, and as always, be sure to check back at The Dream Shake for pre and post-game content.

Alabama guard Aden Holloway, who was arrested on felony drug charges, was granted permission by a judge to leave the state on Friday as his team prepares to face Michigan in the Sweet 16 in Chicago.

The Crimson Tide say “nothing has changed with regard to Aden’s status with the team." Alabama listed Holloway as out on the availability report given to the NCAA on Thursday. That report is allowed to be amended up to two hours before the game.

The university removed him from campus last week “pending further investigation by the UA Office of Student Conduct.”

Holloway, Alabama’s No. 2 scorer, was arrested March 16 after authorities found 2.1 pounds of marijuana in his apartment. He was suspended indefinitely following the arrest, but coach Nate Oats has not ruled out the possibility of his return in the NCAA Tournament.

Holloway's attorney, Jason Neff, had requested his client be allowed to travel “on a trip out of the state" — without specifying where — departing Friday and returning Tuesday. Tuscaloosa County District Court Judge Joanne Jannik approved that travel Friday morning, according to court documents.

If Alabama were to win Friday night, it would play in the Elite Eight on Sunday.

Holloway's sister, Mila Holloway, is set to play for Michigan in the women's Sweet 16 on Sunday in Fort Worth, Texas, and could be playing in an Elite Eight game there on Monday.

Among the charges Aden Holloway faces is a count of first-degree marijuana possession, not for personal use, which is a Class C felony and carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $15,000. The amount of marijuana authorities said they found was just below the 2.2-pound threshold for a drug trafficking charge.

Neff has said there is no proof his client was selling the drugs.

___

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

As NBA MVP debates continue to intensify, the heavy favorite, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, is slipping.

Both Victor Wembanyama and Luka Doncic have made up substantial ground on Gilgeous-Alexander, who seemed like a shoo-in to win the award.

Key Takeaways

• Gilgeous-Alexander had been shorter than -1000.
  
  
• Wembanyama recently shared three reasons why he felt he was the MVP of the league.
  
  
• Doncic averaged nearly 40 points per game over the last three weeks.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, is still a sizable favorite to win the league’s most prestigious individual award. However, after being shorter than -1000 at top online sportsbooks, his NBA MVP odds have dropped to as low as -500 (83.3% implied chance) at DraftKings. 

As SGA’s odds have declined, both Wembanyama and Doncic have experienced jolts in their odds to win the MVP.

Wembanyama could become the youngest MVP winner if he earns the confidence of the voters, assuming the mantle currently held by former Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose (22 years and 191 days old). He recently said that “it is still reasonable that there is a debate” as to who deserves the honor, before listing three reasons why he felt that he deserved it over his peers:

• He is the most impactful defensive player in the league
• The Spurs won four of five matchups against the Oklahoma City Thunder
• His offensive impact goes beyond points

Asked Wemby to provide his 3 campaign bullet points for why he should be MVP https://t.co/HjRppaPLfYpic.twitter.com/FHXrFMjAi3

— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) March 24, 2026

With odds as short as +500, Wembanyama has at best an implied 16.7% chance—still a long way to go to catch the lead dog.

Doncic, the NBA’s leading scorer, finds his shortest odds at Caesars at +1100 (8.3% chance). While he was always among the top 10 candidates for the award, he never made substantial headway until recently.

The Los Angeles Lakers are in the middle of an excellent stretch that caused them to rise from +8000 to +3000 in FanDuel’s NBA Finals odds just over the past couple of weeks. Their Slovenian superstar also played at an extraordinarily high level during that time, averaging 39.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.3 assists on 48% shooting over his last 11 games, eight of those coming against projected playoff teams.

Luka Doncic is the first player to average 40 points over a six-game span — all on the road — since MJ in 1986 😳

Luka Magic 🪄 pic.twitter.com/1TuT78Yu1T

— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) March 26, 2026

Breaking down the NBA MVP race

While both Wembanyama and Doncic are making the MVP race a compelling storyline over the final weeks of the season, Gilgeous-Alexander is not going out of his way to lose the award.

Since returning from a right abdominal strain at the end of November, last year’s Finals MVP averaged 30.3 points, 7.4 assists, and 4.3 rebounds on 57.2% shooting in 12 games, 11 of those being wins. The Thunder also have the best record in the NBA, leading the Spurs by two games and the Lakers by 10 in the race for the first seed in the Western Conference.

Here’s a look at the players’ relevant stats:

• Gilgeous-Alexander: 31.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.4 steals, 55.7% FG, 39.3% 3PT, +7.8 on/off net rating
  
  
• Victor Wembanyama: 24.2 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.1 blocks, 1.1 steals, 50.5% FG, 35.1% 3PT, +16.9 on/off net rating
  
  
• Luka Doncic: 33.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.6 steals, 47.4% FG, 36.4% 3PT, +5.0 on/off net rating

A team's regular-season record has been an important part of determining the MVP in years past. That could spell trouble for Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder, who finish the year with a tough run of games.

OKC will face off against the New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Lakers (twice), Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, and Phoenix Suns between now and their final game on April 12. Tankathon ranks that as the second-toughest remaining schedule, while the Spurs are only 20th, and the Lakers 22nd.

The head-to-head matchups between the Lakers and Thunder could also give Doncic a platform to vault in MVP odds if he puts together great performances and helps his team take down the conference leaders.

Sportsbooks get it wrong?

Sportsbook odds are not always perfect, but they are usually indicative of what is going to happen. However, there have been notable exceptions.

One recent case of sportsbooks getting their award odds completely wrong came in 2023.

Buffalo Bills safety, Damar Hamlin, who went into cardiac arrest during a game, was an enormous favorite to win the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. He ended up losing it to then 39-year-old Joe Flacco, who only played in five games for the Cleveland Browns.

The Thunder, Spurs, and Lakers all have exactly nine games left in their regular seasons. The Thunder and Lakers will be in action on Friday night, and the Spurs will kick off the Saturday afternoon slate.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.