Author: NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

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Clippers vs. Cavaliers Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends, and best bets for March 30

It’s Sunday, March 30, and the Los Angeles Clippers (42-31) and Cleveland Cavaliers (59-15) are all set to square off from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland.

The Clippers are currently 17-20 on the road with a point differential of 4, while the Cavaliers have an 8-2 record in their last ten games at home. These squads met on March 18 and the Clippers won 132-119 in the only matchup of the season.

Cleveland is coming off a loss against Detroit, which snapped a three-game winning streak, while Los Angeles won the past two and seven of the previous eight games.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Clippers vs. Cavaliers live today

  • Date: Sunday, March 30, 2025
  • Time: 3:30PM EST
  • Site: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
  • City: Cleveland, OH
  • Network/Streaming:

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Clippers vs. Cavaliers

The latest odds as of Sunday:

  • Odds: Clippers (+205), Cavaliers (-250)
  • Spread:  Cavaliers -6
  • Over/Under: 231 points

That gives the Clippers an implied team point total of 114.52, and the Cavaliers 117.64.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Sunday’s Clippers vs. Cavaliers game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans Evan Mobley to go Over his 2.5 blocks and steals prop:

"At +120 odds, I lean Evan Mobley to go Over his 2.5 blocks and steals prop versus the Clippers. Mobley is in a neck-and-neck race for Defensive Player of the Year against Draymond Green and I think it's Mobley's award to lose, which is currently trending that way. Despite money coming in on Green and nothing but support for the guy chirping for the award, Mobley has recorded four straight games with two-plus blocks and has 12 combined steals and blocks in that span. For +100 or better value, I think Mobley Over his steals and blocks (stocks) is a fun prop to play down the stretch of the regular season."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Clippers & Cavaliers game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Los Angeles Clippers at +6.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 231.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Clippers vs. Cavaliers on Sunday

  • The Clippers have won 4 straight road games
  • Each of the Cavaliers' last 4 home games against the Clippers have gone over the Total
  • The Clippers have failed to cover in 21 of their 37 road games this season
  • The Clippers are 16-20 on the road this season but have won their last 3 games

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Lakers bounce back from Chicago heartbreak to earn important win over Memphis

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) and forward LeBron James (23) greet each other.
Lakers stars Luka Doncic, left, and LeBron James celebrate during a 134-127 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night. (Brandon Dill / Associated Press)

If Saturday felt like a big game, the crowd booming while the music thumped in the fourth quarter, it’s because the teams treated it like one with the final two weeks of the season on their doorstep.

Pushing to the finish line, both the Lakers and the Grizzlies needed some momentum. The Lakers were coming off a heartbreaking loss at the buzzer in Chicago and Memphis was playing its first game after firing longtime coach Taylor Jenkins in a surprise move.

And once the regular season ends, it's very possible the Lakers and the Grizzlies will meet in the first round of the playoffs for the second time in three years.

Read more:Lakers crumble in stunner, losing to Bulls on Josh Giddey's half-court shot at buzzer

An early lead didn’t matter much, the Grizzlies quickly catching up in a game where neither team could ever stop the other.

But in the fourth quarter, Dorian Finney-Smith fought off Zach Edey and Jaren Jackson Jr. for rebounds. Luka Doncic slid his feet to stay in front of Desmond Bane. LeBron James cleaned the glass and Austin Reaves crashed into the paint and put Memphis away with a three-point play, stamping it with an animated air punch.

If there was any emotional damage done by Josh Giddey’s half-court buzzer-beater or James’ late-game gaffes against the Bulls, it never showed, the Lakers fighting off the Grizzlies in a 134-127 win.

“I said before the game that we'll be ready to play. ... I'm not surprised at how hard we played and how well we played tonight,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “I made sure the group knew that I believed still, and that the coaching staff believed and they were resolute in their belief in this team.”

The Lakers’ three stars turned in high-impact games to end their road trip with a win. Reaves had 31 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. Doncic had 29 points, eight rebounds and nine assists, and James scored 25 to go with six rebounds and eight assists.

Redick met with his three stars Saturday morning in an effort to improve how his three stars work together. Against the Grizzlies, the trio dominated.

“I think the meeting was just still trying to build that chemistry amongst the three of us to help the team be successful,” Reaves said. “And I think tonight it just showed that when we play the right way and trust one another, especially offensively, we can have open looks on almost every possession.”

Read more:Team LeBron or Team Stephen A? Charles Barkley and others weigh in on the heated feud

Bane scored 29 points, Jackson had 24 points and Ja Morant, playing for the first time in two weeks, had 22 points for Memphis (44-30). The Lakers made stops when necessary and never got flustered by Memphis making shots.

“You're not gonna play a perfect game,” Reaves said. “But late game, you had to be really locked in to what you were trying to do and I felt like we did that tonight. Obviously, giving up, like you said, 127, it's not how many points we want to give up. So, obviously, we can do better. But when we needed it, we got stops.”

The Lakers got key contributions from their role players, Gabe Vincent making four threes and Rui Hachimura and Finney-Smith each making three as well.

“I think we can get all wide-open shots every time,” Hachimura said.

It’s the third time this season the Lakers (45-29) have beaten the Grizzlies, assuring them of any tiebreaker between the teams in the tight Western Conference playoff race.

And as far as the Grizzlies’ energy was after replacing their coach, Vincent said the Lakers couldn’t afford to concentrate on its impact.

“I feel like we were desperate for a win, so I didn't really give a damn about how they were,” he said.

Saturday’s win pushed the Lakers a game ahead of Memphis for the No. 4 seed in the West. The Lakers host No. 2 Houston on Monday.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things Lakers.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Nets end six-game losing streak with last-second win over Wizards, 115-112

WASHINGTON (AP) — Drew Timme scored the go-ahead basket on a cutting layup with 7.7 seconds left and the Brooklyn Nets beat the NBA-worst Washington Wizards 115-112 on Saturday night to end a six-game losing streak.

After Timme — playing his second NBA game after signing with the Nets on Friday — gave Brooklyn a 113-112 lead, Washington’s Colby Jones threw the ball out of bounds, and Jalen Wilson hit two free throws to finish the scoring.

Wilson and Tyrese Martin each scored 20 points to help the Nets — 2-9 in their last 11 and 3-16 in their last 19 — avoid a season sweep against the Wizards. Timme finished with 19 points, and Cam Johnson added 18.

Jones and AJ Johnson each had 20 points for Washington. The Wizards were coming off the most-lopsided loss in franchise history, a 162-109 drubbing against Indiana on Thursday night.

Takeaways

Nets: Timme was 9 for 14 from the field and had six rebounds and three assists in about 29 minutes. On Friday at home in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, he had 11 points and 10 rebounds in 25 minutes to become the fifth player in franchise history with a double-double in his NBA debut. The former Gonzaga player averaged 23.0 points in 29 games this season for Long Island in the NBA G League.

Wizards: Washington overcame terrible three-point shooting with 20 first-half free throws to take a 59-51 lead into the break. The Wizards were 1 of 13 on threes in the half, while the Nets went 10 of 30. Brooklyn had 14 fouls in the half.

Key moment

Timme scored the go-ahead basket, with JT Thor called for goaltending.

Key stat

Cam Johnson also had nine rebounds and seven assists.

Up next

Both teams play Monday night. The Nets are at Dallas, and the Wizards host Miami.

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Grizzlies GM Zach Kleiman on firing Taylor Jenkins: 'This is in the best interest of the team'

He spoke to the media for less than three minutes and was intentionally vague about his reasoning, but Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman took ownership of the surprise coaching change, firing Taylor Jenkins just nine games before the playoffs.

"I came to the conclusion that this is in the best interest of the team, and urgency is a core principle of ours, so I decided to go on with the move," Kleiman told reporters at the Grizzlies' shootaround Saturday, before the team has a critical game against the Lakers.

Pressed for a better explanation of the reasoning behind firing the winningest coach in Memphis franchise history, Kleiman steered clear of the topic.

"In this case, I'm going to leave it that I of course gave this real thought and came to the conclusion that this is in the best interests of our team going forward," he said.

Kleiman did say several times that he did not consult the players on this move, "This decision is mine and mine only."

What shocked others around the league was less the firing and more the timing, just weeks before the playoffs, while the Grizzlies were 44-29 and tied for fourth in the West (with the Lakers, who the Grizzlies face Saturday night). A league source told NBC Sports that star guard Ja Morant has been unhappy with the team's move away from more pick-and-rolls to more of a motion-based offense, but that was something pushed by Kleiman and why he brought in assistant coach Tuomas Lisalo, who is now the interim head coach in Memphis.

Does Kleiman think firing his coach now will help the team come the playoffs?

"I'm focused on how we operate. I'm responsible for everything. I'm responsible for coaching, I'm responsible for the roster, I'm not trying to absolve myself of anything," Kleiman said. "I'm excited to see what this team can do the rest of the way, but this is the conclusion that I came to, that this is in the best interest of the team and we push forward with this group."

Kleiman and the Grizzlies enter this offseason with a lot of tough questions. Is this team really a new coach away from contending? Will there need to be roster changes? Can a core led by Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. contend?

Before all that, we have to see how the Grizzlies' coaching change plays out the rest of this season.

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3 observations after Sixers fall to their 7th consecutive loss

3 observations after Sixers fall to their 7th consecutive loss  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

With eight regular-season games remaining, the Sixers’ losing streak sits at seven.

Their latest loss came Saturday night at Wells Fargo Center against the Heat, who earned a 118-95 victory.

Jared Butler posted 19 points and 10 assists for the 23-51 Sixers.

All-Star Heat guard Tyler Herro had 30 points and seven assists for the Heat, who moved to 33-41.

The Sixers had eight players out with injuries. Andre Drummond (left toe sprain) will miss at least the next five games and be re-evaluated in approximately one week, according to a team official. 

The Sixers will play the Raptors on Sunday night in Philadelphia. Here are observations on their defeat to the Heat: 

An even 50 lineups 

The Sixers added yet another unit to their ever-growing tally of starting lineups. They’re up to 50 after Butler, Quentin Grimes, Justin Edwards, Guerschon Yabusele and Adem Bona opened Saturday’s game. 

A Butler-to-Bona alley-oop got the Sixers off to a bright start. Butler then drilled a jumper to give the Sixers a 5-0 lead. 

Miami soon surged in front. Both the Sixers and Heat had identical first quarters shooting-wise — 55 percent from the field, 54.5 percent from three-point range — but the Heat drew more free throws. 

Miami also did far greater damage on the offensive glass, scoring the night’s first 16 second-chance points. The Sixers entered Saturday ranked 24th in offensive rebounding rate and 30th rebounding rate, per Cleaning the Glass. They’re very familiar with the challenges of being undersized and undermanned. 

Grimes finally held under 20  

The Sixers mitigated some of their rebounding struggles with success in transition. 

At halftime, they held an 18-6 advantage in fast-break points. Ricky Council IV (13 points, six rebounds, four assists) had several explosive, effective drives before the Heat’s defense could set up. 

Bona (16 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks) was also eager to both start and join fast breaks. He tried to swat just about every Miami shot inside, ran the floor hard, and finished well around the rim. 

The Sixers still trailed by nine points at halftime, in part because Grimes went scoreless in the second quarter after an 11-point first. Rookie Pelle Larsson played physical, solid defense against him, limiting Grimes’ chances to take comfortable jumpers or generally operate with much breathing room. 

Grimes’ streak of consecutive outings with 20 or more points ended at nine games. He recorded 15 points on 6-for-14 shooting, four rebounds and three assists in 30 minutes.

Strong showing by Butler

Butler matched up at times with former Baylor teammate Davion Mitchell.

He played a high-quality game as the Sixers’ lead ball handler, running the show with confidence, hitting open teammates in the pick-and-roll, and making all four of his long-distance attempts.

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said pregame that he plans to give Grimes more point guard reps in the final stretch of the season, since the Sixers envision him as a player who can handle some backup ball handler minutes when everyone’s healthy. That makes perfect sense. Butler looks like he might be in the future backup point guard mix, too.

After a Butler runner cut the Sixers’ deficit to 72-69, the Heat took control of the game.

Former Sixer Alec Burks drained four three-pointers late in the third quarter, including a buzzer-beater that built Miami’s lead to 21 points.

The Heat cruised to victory from there. Miami’s poised to be a play-in tournament team. The Sixers, meanwhile, were officially eliminated from postseason contention with Saturday’s loss.

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Memphis Grizzlies fired their coach, now where do they go from here?

What shocked the NBA world was not so much that coach Taylor Jenkins was fired in Memphis — things had been trending that way since last summer when Jenkins was forced to fire his assistants and replace his entire staff — but the timing. The Grizzlies are 44-29, tied for a top-four seed in the West, and have just nine games remaining in the season.

The reaction around the league was primarily "why now?" Also, "How is this making the team better heading into the playoffs?"

All of that led to the next question: Where do the Grizzlies go from here?

There's no clear answer to that question. Let's break it down.

• For its next head coach, Memphis is going to look for its Kenny Atkinson — a head coach who can come in, change the system, empower the right players, and turn a good team (the Cavaliers had been the No. 4 seed two years running) into a contender.

Good luck with that. Cleveland made the leap this season partly because of changes to its offense (more Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, more motion). Memphis already changed its offense this season at the request of the front office, moving away from one heavily reliant on pick-and-rolls to more of a motion offense. Tuomas Iisalo, the interim coach for the remainder of this season, was one of the coaches brought in to lead this new offense (it is similar to what he had run and been successful with in Europe).

• Ja Morant has been frustrated with changes in the offense, a league source told NBC Sports.

That was illustrated well by this quote from a story in The Athletic by Sam Amick, Fred Katz, and Joe Vardon. They talked about Morant's frustration with an offense taking the ball out of his hands.

One league source who has seen Morant work out with the Grizzlies recently said, “Some days he looks like he’s ready to play, and some days he looks like he doesn’t want to be there … because he hates the offense.”

• Morant also understood these changes came from executive vice president of basketball operations Zach Kleiman and the front office, through the new assistant coaches. With that, Morant had Jenkins back, even though he argued with him at points about the offense, the Athletic reports.

• Morant is the face of the Grizzlies, an electric and popular All-Star and All-NBA player, but one who has battled injuries throughout his career (plus had multiple suspensions). Morant has played in just 43 games this season (including missing the last six) but when he does he's averaging 22.3 points and 7.4 assists a game.

Morant is in the second year of a five-year, $197 million max contract. He has three years, $126.5 million remaining on that deal after this season.

• Morant also is most comfortable in the pick-and-roll, which is why it seemed drafting 7'4" Zach Edey was a good fit — a big pick setter who can be a threat rolling to the rim. Memphis' front office has shown that is not the direction it wants the offense to go.

• All this leads to a natural question: Could the Grizzlies trade Morant this offseason? Don't bet on it, for a couple of reasons. Plus, Kleiman shot this idea down around the trade deadline. From The Athletic.

“I can’t blame other ‘executives’ for fantasizing about us trading Ja,” Kleiman said at the time. “But it’s just that — fantasy. We are not trading Ja... I’m not going to give this nonsense further oxygen and look forward to getting back to basketball.”

At least two league executives, however, questioned the demand for Morant in the trade market.

There would be interest in Morant, but it might not be that robust He's an expensive point guard with a lengthy injury history who is locked in for north of $40 million a season for three more years and needs the ball in his hands (running a lot of pick-and-roll) to be effective — Morant is not exactly plug-and-play. Morant's athleticism and ability to get into the paint are unquestioned, but he doesn't fit everywhere.

• Which leads us back to the coaching search coming this offseason. Kleiman is a smart basketball mind, but he has now played the "fired the coach" card, and if the roster continues to struggle, the issue may not be the coach.

There is unquestionably talent on this roster with Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, promising young players such as Jaylen Wells (one of the leading candidates for Rookie of the Year), Zach Edey and Scottie Pippen Jr. Whether all that talent fits together — and whether there is an Atkinson-esqe coach who can make that happen — are the big questons.

Ones that will be answered this offseason.

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Kings vs. Magic Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 29

It’s Saturday, March 29, and the Sacramento Kings (36-37) and Orlando Magic (35-39) are all set to square off from Kia Center in Orlando.

The Kings are currently 17-18 on the road with a point differential of 0, while the Magic have a 2-8 record in their last ten games at home. Orlando won 130-111 in the only meeting of the season.

Sacramento is 1-4 over the last five games and coming off a seven-game homestand where they went 3-4. Orlando won three of the past four games and four of the last six.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Kings vs. Magic live today

  • Date: Saturday, March 29, 2025
  • Time: 5:00PM EST
  • Site: Kia Center
  • City: Orlando, FL
  • Network/Streaming:

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Kings vs. Magic

The latest odds as of Saturday:

  • Odds: Kings (-112), Magic (-107)
  • Spread:  Kings -1
  • Over/Under: 218 points

That gives the Kings an implied team point total of 109.26, and the Magic 108.74.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Saturday’s Kings vs. Magic game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Magic to win:

"Sacramento is starting a six-game East Coast road trip after playing the last seven at home (3-4 record). I don't like the travel or setup for Sacramento tonight, so I lean toward the Magic who are a streaky team to bet, but they are 3-1 in the last four and 4-2 in the past six."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Kings & Magic game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Orlando Magic on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Orlando Magic at +1.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 218.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Kings vs. Magic on Saturday

  • The Kings are 1-4 in their last 5 games
  • The Under is 43-31 in Magic's games this season
  • The Kings are 3-7 against the spread in their last 10 games
  • The Magic have won 5 of their last 7 games, while the Kings have lost 4 straight on the road

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Kings rookie Carter exits game vs. Magic with right shoulder injury

Kings rookie Carter exits game vs. Magic with right shoulder injury originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Kings were dealt another tough blow.

Rookie guard Devin Carter officially is ruled out of Sacramento’s game against the Orlando Magic on Saturday with an apparent shoulder injury.

Carter’s injury occurred late in the second quarter of Saturday’s game at Kia Center, with the rookie guard holding his right shoulder as he exited the court.

It’s important to note that the apparent injury is not to the same shoulder that Carter had offseason surgery on, a procedure that forced the No. 13 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft to miss a significant chunk of his rookie season.

Carter is averaging four points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 29 games during the 2024-25 NBA season, but has provided some highlight reel moments, including this poster dunk against the Cleveland Cavaliers last week.

Hopefully Carter’s injury isn’t serious, as Sacramento can use all the help it can get as the Kings fight to remain in the Western Conference playoff picture as the season winds down.

Download and follow The Deuce & Mo Podcast

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Nets vs. Wizards Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 29

It’s Saturday, March 29, and the Brooklyn Nets (23-51) and Washington Wizards (16-57) are all set to square off from Capital One Arena in Washington.

The Nets are currently 12-26 on the road with a point differential of -7, while the Wizards have a 2-8 record in their last ten games at home.

Washington lost six of the past seven games and eight of the last 11. For Brooklyn, the Nets have dropped six straight games and nine of the previous 10.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Nets vs. Wizards live today

  • Date: Saturday, March 29, 2025
  • Time: 7:00PM EST
  • Site: Capital One Arena
  • City: Washington, DC
  • Network/Streaming:

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Nets vs. Wizards

The latest odds as of Saturday:

  • Odds: Nets (-120), Wizards (+100)
  • Spread:  Nets -1.5
  • Over/Under: 219 points

That gives the Nets an implied team point total of 109.91, and the Wizards 109.13.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Saturday’s Nets vs. Wizards game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Under between the Nets and Wizards:

"I am not sure how anyone can bet this game and feel confident in either side. I lean the Under in what should be the worst game on the slate."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Nets & Wizards game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Brooklyn Nets on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Washington Wizards at +1.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 219.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Nets vs. Wizards on Saturday

  • The Wizards have lost 7 of their last 10 games
  • The Over is 4-1 in the Wizards' last 5 games
  • The Wizards have covered the Spread in their last 4 matchups with the Nets
  • The Nets have lost 4 of their last 5 games against teams with losing records

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Heat vs. 76ers Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 29

It’s Saturday, March 29, and the Miami Heat (32-41) and Philadelphia 76ers (23-50) are all set to square off from Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

The Heat are currently 13-22 on the road with a point differential of -1, while the 76ers have a 2-8 record in their last ten games at home. Miami has won both meetings versus Philly this season. This is the third of four scheduled matchups.

Miami has won three straight games after suffering 10 consecutive losses, while Philadelphia lost six straight themselves and nine of the past 10.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Heat vs. 76ers live today

  • Date: Saturday, March 29, 2025
  • Time: 7:30PM EST
  • Site: Wells Fargo Center
  • City: Philadelphia, PA
  • Network/Streaming:

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Heat vs. 76ers

The latest odds as of Saturday:

  • Odds: Heat (-299), 76ers (+240)
  • Spread:  Heat -7.5
  • Over/Under: 221 points

That gives the Heat an implied team point total of 113.31, and the 76ers 109.4.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Saturday’s Heat vs. 76ers game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the 76ers to cover:

"Now that the Miami Heat have won three in a row and beat a team like the Warriors, more people will be inclined to bet them here versus a struggling 76ers team, but the reality of the situation is that these are two of the worst 10 teams in the NBA right now, so giving Philly +7 to +7.5 points is too much. I lean the 76ers to cover and wouldn't be shocked if they won outright."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Heat & 76ers game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Philadelphia 76ers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Philadelphia 76ers at +7.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 221.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Heat vs. 76ers on Saturday

  • The Heat have lost 7 of their last 10 games
  • The Over is 4-1 in the Heat's last 5 matchups against Eastern Conference teams
  • The Heat are 1-4 against the spread in their last 5 games on the road
  • The Over is 4-1 in the Heat's last 5 matchups against Eastern Conference teams

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Mavericks vs. Bulls Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 29

It’s Saturday, March 29, and the Dallas Mavericks (36-38) and Chicago Bulls (33-40) are all set to square off from United Center in Chicago.

The Mavericks are currently 16-22 on the road with a point differential of 0, while the Bulls have a 4-6 record in their last ten games at home. Dallas won the only meeting of the season versus Chicago, 119-99 on November 6.

Chicago has won four straight games and nine of the last 11 contests for the best stretch of the season. Dallas took three of the last four games but lost 12 of the previous 17 contests.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Mavericks vs. Bulls live today

  • Date: Saturday, March 29, 2025
  • Time: 8:00PM EST
  • Site: United Center
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming:

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Mavericks vs. Bulls

The latest odds as of Saturday:

  • Odds: Mavericks (+121), Bulls (-145)
  • Spread:  Bulls -3
  • Over/Under: 237 points

That gives the Mavericks an implied team point total of 117.82, and the Bulls 119.39.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Saturday’s Mavericks vs. Bulls game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Mavericks to cover against the Bulls:

"Chicago is coming off an insane half-court buzzer-beater from Josh Giddey to upset the Lakers and continue the hot 9-2 stretch for the Bulls. While Dallas isn't an overall good team anymore, they have won three of the past four and with Anthony Davis playing minutes helps. While Chicago looks like an easy bet and more than likely will be the most public bet team, I would take a hard look at Dallas or live bet them."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Mavericks & Bulls game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Dallas Mavericks at +3.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under on the Game Total of 237.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Mavericks vs. Bulls on Saturday

  • The Mavericks have won 3 straight games against the Bulls
  • The Mavericks' last 3 versus the Bulls have stayed under the Total
  • The Mavericks have covered the Spread in their last 3 matchups with the Bulls
  • The Mavericks have won 3 straight games against the Bulls

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Kuminga's Warriors importance on display in win vs. Pelicans

Kuminga's Warriors importance on display in win vs. Pelicans originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

In a muddied win for the Warriors on Friday night, beating the lowly New Orleans Pelicans 111-95 at Smoothie King Center, they needed someone who could, well, get it out the mud. 

Steph Curry’s return of course was vital, scoring 23 points in 34 minutes after missing the previous two games – two losses to teams with losing records – because of a pelvic contusion. His second-quarter barrage of 13 points and making three 3-pointers proved to be huge on a night where the rest of the Warriors combined to go 8 of 39 (20.5 percent) from deep. Those are the kinds of games the Warriors need someone to put their head down and get to the rim.

That’s where Jonathan Kuminga always has been the X-factor that can lift the Warriors or be a chess piece trying to fit a jigsaw puzzle.

Kuminga scored 16 points in 23 minutes, leading all reserves, going 5 of 9 from the field. His seven rebounds also were his most since missing over two months to a bad ankle injury.

“Jonathan was good,” Kerr said to reporters after the win. “He gives us the attack to the rim. He got to the foul line eight times, rebounded well, so I thought he had a good night.”

It was the way Kerr used Kuminga offensively that really stood out. Not by mistake, the Warriors coach took advantage of the way Kuminga and Curry can complement each other with their differing skill sets.

A little over a minute after entering the game for Jimmy Butler, Kuminga had his first bucket of the night. Curry took the inbounds pass from a made free throw, darted past his man to the left wing where Kuminga met him. There, Kuminga set a screen for Curry, making both defenders guard the sharpshooter, and immediately rolled to the hoop. Curry found him and after taking one dribble, Kuminga jump stopped off two feet for a left-handed layup.

He surveyed the defense, found his way to the paint and pulled up for a 10-foot floater for his first bucket of the second quarter. Kuminga’s next basket was an alley-oop layup finish off a pretty pass from Draymond Green, but it began with him again being a screener for Curry, making two guys follow Steph, leaving a lane for Kuminga to attack and for Green to hit him with a dime.

The next time, Curry was used as an inverted screener for Kuminga. Curry set a screen on Kelly Olynk, leaving Jordan Hawkins 1-on-1 with Kuminga, who powered his way to a layup. Kuminga’s final made shot came from him simply backing his man down and making a turnaround seven-foot jumper. All power, exactly what was required Friday night.

“The dive to the rim when JK sets that ball screen for Steph puts a lot of ball pressure on the defense,” Kerr said. “That was really key tonight. The two of them connected for three or four of those, and that was helpful.”

All five of Kuminga’s made shots were within 10 feet. Both of his misses were 3-pointers. He also went 6 of 8 from the free-throw line, making his first six before missing his last two after banging knees with Yves Misssi in the fourth quarter.

“He’s a force when he gets in the paint and gets a mismatch or gets downhill,” Curry said. “If I can create some attention, get him in the pocket – he’s really gotten better at seeing the angle and the lane if he doesn’t have anything and getting off of it. And it’s something we need to utilize depending on matchups. I can get going off his pick and roll, or I can get him in the pocket with an advantage and he can take over.”

Additionally, Kuminga also had three impressive assists. Just two minutes into his first stint he split the defense with a perfectly placed bounce pass, leading to a Quinten Post dunk. Kuminga also led Curry free for a fastbreak layup and later found Post at the top of the arc for three points.

While his 95 defensive rating for the game was tied for a team-best alongside Green, the eye test didn’t show Kuminga having as big of an impact there as the Warriors would like, especially with Gary Payton II out to a thumb injury. But the positives can’t be ignored.

Kuminga still hasn’t fit next to Butler. He’s still a weapon with Curry.

The playoffs can come down to power-on-power at times, and nobody is more of a wick waiting to be ignited and explode than Kuminga. Kerr doesn’t have to cater to him, but getting Kuminga in rhythm and finding the best ways to use him in the final two weeks of the regular season can be the special sauce of pushing the Warriors over the top.

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What Draymond told LeVert after heated Kuminga exchange

What Draymond told LeVert after heated Kuminga exchange originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors forward Draymond Green did not know that his trash-talking towards Atlanta Hawks forward Caris LeVert was captured by a microphone.

LeVert got into it with Jonathan Kuminga, and the always outspoken Green could not help but lay into the Atlanta forward by pointing out that he had been traded so many times throughout his NBA career. And on the latest “The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis,” Green revealed why he got involved.

“I butted in because all I heard was he looked at JK at the free-throw line and was like, ‘You were this close to getting traded.’ That’s all I heard,” Green said. “I didn’t hear anything else that was said. Which was why my response was, ‘Bro, you’ve been traded seven times.’ How you going to talk to him about almost being traded and you’ve been traded seven times?

Green shared that Hawks star guard Tre Young also shared a comment, playfully telling Green to “chill.”

“JK must’ve said to him something about him getting traded, but I didn’t hear all that,” Green said. “But the last thing you’re going to do to one of my guys is talk about you were this close to getting traded. I can’t go with that.”

Green also admitted he didn’t know the microphone picked up his remarks to LeVert, and said he learned from a group chat with his friends that the broadcast audio got it.

“And they said yeah, the TV caught it for sure so I was like ‘Dang, my bad.’ And some of my boys in the group chat from Michigan State were like, ‘F–k that, he’s from the other side anyway,’ but some of my boys in the group chat also went to Michigan, so it started some sparks.

“I know Caris through one of my boys in the group chat that went to Michigan. Caris is a good dude. Man, you know we banter back and forth on the court. That’s just what it is. That’s what happens in the game. It’s just fun and games.”

The hotly contested game between Atlanta and Golden State ended with the Hawks pulling away for the 124-115 victory as the Warriors could not contain Georges Niang and Trae Young.

Green has become known for his smack talk, so it’s not a surprise that he unloaded on LeVert. That’s just part of his passionate playing style.

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Why Draymond believes Spurs' Castle deserves Rookie of the Year

Why Draymond believes Spurs' Castle deserves Rookie of the Year originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors icon Draymond Green has made his choice for the 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year.

In Friday’s edition of his “Draymond Green Show” podcast with co-host and ex-Golden State guard Baron Davis, the four-time champion explained why he believes San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle is worthy of the honor.

“I think he should,” Green told Davis about Castle deserving Rookie of the Year. “After we played them, I was saying, ‘I think that kid is going to be real.’ When I look at the rookie class, he’s been the most consistent player all year. I think everybody else has been up and down, he’s been extremely consistent.”

“Stephon Castle has had games that jump off the page. But I mean the whole body of work, there’s no rookie averaging 20 points; you haven’t seen that. His consistency all year is what makes him the Rookie of the Year.”

They say consistency is key.

Castle’s averages are solid across the board; over 71 games, he’s averaged 14.2 points, 3.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 26 minutes. He quietly has had 21 games of 20-plus points and two of 30-plus.

Just one day before Green’s podcast episode was released, Castle also became the first rookie to reach 1,000 points scored this season, after scoring 22 points in San Antonio’s 124-116 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Not too many rookies have caught Green’s eye. But Green believes Castle – who was selected No. 4 overall by the Spurs in the 2024 NBA Draft – will be an All-Star in the near future.

“You give this Rookie of the Year to Stephon Castle, you’re going to look back in two years like, ‘Well, he’s an All-Star. Guess we got it right,’” Green said. “So he’s got that potential, he will reach that potential. That’s the guy. He should be Rookie of the Year, 1,000 percent.”

Green has a basketball eye unlike any other. His bet surely is a safe one.

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Nets have no answers for Clippers in 132-100 loss

NEW YORK (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points and the Los Angeles Clippers overwhelmed the Brooklyn Nets 132-100 on Friday night for their second straight victory and 10th in 12 games as they fight to hold on to sixth place in the Western Conference.

Leonard was 5 of 6 from 3-point range, 10 of 14 overall from the field and made all six of his free throws. He also had six rebounds, four steals and two blocks in just under 27 minutes.

Ivica Zubac scored 21 points on 9-for-9 shooting and had 12 rebounds for Los Angeles. James Harden added 17 points.

Keon Johnson had 13 points for Brooklyn. The Nets have lost six straight and are 1-9 in last 10 and 2-16 in last 18.

Takeaways

Clippers: Los Angeles rebounded from a home loss to Oklahoma City to sweep the New York teams. The Clippers beat the Knicks on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.

Nets: Drew Timme had 11 points and 10 rebounds in 25 minutes after signing a multiyear contract Friday. The former Gonzaga player is averaging 23.0 points in 29 games this season for Long Island in the NBA G League.

Key moment

Down 27-26 after one quarter, the Clippers outscored the Nets 42-21 in the second and 37-21 in the third to take a 105-69 lead.

Key stat

Zubac passed Swen Nater for sixth place on the Clippers’ career rebounds list.

Up next

The Clippers are in Cleveland on Sunday.

The Nets are in Washington on Saturday night.