One of the matchups of the night in the NBA sees Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs host Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.
San Antonio is on an incredible run, winning 16 of their last 17 games, going 12-4-1 ATS. Denver is getting healthy, but will its defense continue to be its Achilles heel?
My Nuggets vs. Spurs predictions and NBA picks explain why San Antonio is a legit contender in the West and why we can attack this spread for tonight's matchup.
The Denver Nuggets are getting healthy, and the offense is great, but their effort at the other end of the floor is holding them back, ranking 21st in defensive rating.
Additionally, the Nuggets are playing their second game in as many nights, and that means some of their recently recovered guys, like Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray, could be on limited minutes.
Nuggets vs Spurs same-game parlay
The Spurs will take advantage of some tired legs from the Nuggets and try to run them out of the gym. Denver has already allowed 125+ points in five of its last nine games, while San Antonio has topped 125 in four of its last seven. Give me the Spurs over their team total of 121.5.
Meanwhile, Wemby has taken his defense to the next level since the All-Star break. He’s averaging 4.3 blocks and 1.2 steals in 11 games since the break, and his steals + blocks prop is set at 4.5, a number he’s topped eight times during that span.
Nuggets vs Spurs SGP
Spurs -4.5
Spurs team total Over 121.5
Victor Wembanyama Over 4.5 steals + blocks
Our "from downtown" SGP: A New MVP in Town!
With so many MVP candidates not being able to qualify for the award due to too many missed games, Wemby can seize an opportunity here, and will state his case against the two-time winner by stuffing the stat sheet.
Nuggets vs Spurs SGP
Victor Wembanyama Over 25.5 points
Victor Wembanyama Over 10.5 rebounds
Victor Wembanyama Over 2.5 assists
Victor Wembanyama Over 4.5 steals + blocks
Nuggets vs Spurs odds
Spread: Nuggets +4.5 | Spurs -4.5
Moneyline: Nuggets +145 | Spurs -200
Over/Under: Over 240 | Under 240
Nuggets vs Spurs betting trend to know
The Spurs have covered the first-half spread in 33 of their last 50 games for +13.35 units and a 23% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Nuggets vs. Spurs.
How to watch Nuggets vs Spurs
Location
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Date
Thursday, March 12, 2026
Tip-off
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
Altitude, FDSN-Southwest
Nuggets vs Spurs latest injuries
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Kentucky (21-12) advances to play No. 1 seed and fourth-ranked Florida in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Kentucky led by 16 points with 14:33 left in the second half. But the Wildcats went nearly five minutes without a field goal as Missouri used a 10-2 run to get within 60-57 at the 8-minute mark.
Missouri's second-half rally was led by Mark Mitchell, who scored 23 of his 32 points after the break. His basket with 2:34 left gave the Tigers their first lead of the second half at 70-69, but they did not make another field goal the rest of the game.
After Kentucky forced an airball on a baseline jumper, Oweh drove into the lane at the other end for a 73-70 lead with 1:13 left. Then Oweh forced a turnover when he knocked the ball off the leg of Mitchell.
Aberdeen received a pass with the shot clock winding down and he used a pump fake to get into the lane before banking in a contested shot for a 75-70 lead. He added two free throws in the closing seconds to seal it.
Missouri (20-12) also got 13 points, seven rebounds and seven assists from T.O. Barrett.
Up next
Kentucky lost both regular-season meetings with Florida — a 92-83 contest on the road and 84-77 at home.
Bam Adebayo and the red-hot Miami Heat are this week’s biggest NBA story, and they’ll go for a seventh straight win tonight as they host the Milwaukee Bucks.
Bam lit up the Wizards on Tuesday in a stunning 83-point outburst, and my Bucks vs. Heat predictions signal more home cooking for this dangerous Miami squad.
This March 12 clash is the last thing a struggling Milwaukee team needs, and my NBA picks break down the action.
Erik Spoelstra’s men enter with a 22-11 record at Kaseya Center, and they’re 8-2 ATS in their last 10 overall.
Despite key absences, Miami has scored 120+ points in five straight contests, and this spread feels even better with Kel’el Ware — and possibly Tyler Herro — returning here.
But this pick is equally about the Milwaukee Bucks' woes. They are 3-7 ATS in their past 10 and 12-19 SU on the road.
There’s only so much that Giannis Antetokounmpo can do to elevate a roster with major holes.
Bucks vs Heat same-game parlay
Even after Bam Adebayo’s historic scoring effort this week, defense remains his calling card. He averaged 10.1 RPG in March, and the Heat will need his hustle on the glass tonight to combat the Bucks’ size.
I’ll round out my SGP with a wager on Davion Mitchell, who’s been a great story in South Beach this year. His steady guard play has translated to 6.7 APG, and he’s dished a combined 17 dimes in two matchups against Milwaukee this season.
Bucks vs Heat SGP
Heat -6.5
Bam Adebayo Over 9.5 rebounds
Davion Mitchell Over 5.5 assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: Bam and the boards
Venture into the paint at your own risk tonight. With Giannis and Kevin Porter Jr. on one end and Adebayo and Ware at the other, we could see a lot of jump shots and some healthy rebounding totals — plus Bam has recorded a block in five straight games.
Bucks vs Heat SGP
Bam Adebayo Over 9.5 rebounds
Bam Adebayo Over 0.5 blocks
Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 9.5 rebounds
Kevin Porter Jr. Over 4.5 rebounds
Bucks vs Heat odds
Spread: Bucks +6.5 | Heat -6.5
Moneyline: Bucks +215 | Heat -260
Over/Under: Over 234.5 | Under 234.5
Bucks vs Heat betting trend to know
The Heat are 6-0 ATS in their past six games. Find more NBA betting trends for Bucks vs. Heat.
How to watch Bucks vs Heat
Location
Kaseya Center, Miami, FL
Date
Thursday, March 12, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Wisconsin, FDSN Sun
Bucks vs Heat latest injuries
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CHICAGO (AP) — Bruce Thornton had 24 points, John Mobley Jr. scored all 12 of his points in the second half, and No. 8 seed Ohio State held off a late rally by No. 9 seed Iowa for a 72-69 victory Thursday in the third round of the Big Ten Tournament.
Ohio State (21-11) advances to play top-seeded and third-ranked Michigan in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Thornton had a personal 10-0 run to give Ohio State its largest lead of the game at 51-35 with 13:55 remaining.
But Iowa rallied down the stretch to get within 70-69 with 38.7 seconds left.
Ohio State worked the clock down before Thornton drove into the lane for a shot that rolled off the rim. Amare Bynum's putback attempt did not go, but Ohio State secured the rebound, and Mobley was fouled before making two free throws for a three-point lead with 8 seconds left.
Iowa got past midcourt to call a timeout with 7.2 left. Brendan Hausen's 3-point attempt from the corner did not hit the rim, but Iowa got another chance after Ohio State missed the front end of a 1-and-1.
Iowa forward Alvaro Folgueiras missed a free throw in the closing seconds, but Isaia Howard stole the rebound and ran out to the 3-point arc for a shot that hit off the back of the rim as time expired.
Bennett Stirtz led Iowa (21-12) with 17 points.
Up next
Ohio State lost both regular-season meetings with Michigan by double figures, most recently an 82-61 contest at home on Feb. 8.
Dwight Howard has not stepped on an NBA court since 2022 and has already been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
But he never officially retired from the NBA. Until today.
Woke up today on the 12th of this month and I figured it’s time to move on from Superman! Im no super human… I cry ! I struggle! I feel like everyone else. Through the lies, the media and the hate I still show love and Smile Through The Storm.
Howard had a legendary 18-year NBA career, and younger fans who only saw Howard near the end (like his Lakers years) had no idea what they missed. Howard was the best defender of his generation, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, an eight-time All-NBA player, and an eight-time All-Star who won an NBA ring in the bubble with the Lakers. For his career, he averaged 15.7 points and 11.8 rebounds a game, shooting 58.7% from the floor.
He's deserving of his spot in the Hall of Fame and of the respect of NBA fans.
The potential mayhem from league tournaments allows lower-seeded teams knocking off regular-season champs to clinch a berth to the Big Dance. And for one-bid leagues, that can be a brutal end to standout season.
According to ESPN, 51 of the 63 conference tournaments in 2023 and 2025 were won by Nos. 1 or 2 seeds. Could this year be different?
Here's a look at the No. 1 seeds that have been toppled in conference tournaments so far:
No. 1 seeds to lose in conference tournament
As of 2 p.m., Thursday, March 12, 11 No. 1 seeds have been knocked out of their respective conference tournaments.
The number can grow, with a handful of No. 1 seeds in some of the major conferences playing in their first conference tournament games over the next couple of days.
Winners of 11 of their last 13, the Thunder are hosting the Boston Celtics Thursday, March 12, just three days after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put away the Denver Nuggets with a game-winning 3 in the final seconds. With the win, Gilgeous-Alexander created separation in the race for NBA Most Valuable Player, and the Thunder maintained their hold on the top seed in the West.
And, Thursday's game presents the chance for SGA to make history. He can break the NBA record for consecutive games with at least 20 points. He tied Wilt Chamberlain for most all-time, with 126 in a row, against Denver.
The Celtics, meanwhile, have gotten a massive boost since Jayson Tatum returned from his Achilles tendon rupture surgery. Boston has been rolling lately and is just 3½ games back of the Detroit Pistons for the No. 1 seed in the East.
Here’s everything you need to know about Thursday night’s Celtics-Thunder game:
How to watch Celtics vs. Thunder: TV channel, live stream
Start time: 9:30 p.m. ET
Location: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City)
TV channel: N/A
Live stream: Amazon Prime
Celtics vs. Thunder injury report
Boston Celtics
Payton Pritchard, probable (neck spasm)
Baylor Scheierman, available (left thumb fracture)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 10: Trendon Watford #12, Joel Embiid #21, and Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers sit on the bench during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 10, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Sixers are cursed. I don’t know what led us all on to this path, but it happened. The fervent dedication of the Process era that was filled with promises of titles and parades has only been matched by a series of blunders and setbacks, each one more inexplicable than the last. The Sixers, and, sadly, the fan base, have become Wile E. Coyote. No matter the schemes to get this team to a true level of contention, we’re left holding a stick of dynamite as the Road Runner and Eastern Conference Finals appearances dart away.
I’m left wondering if we all tempted fate with the basketball gods when we cheered on the Process. Do I have any regrets? No. Was it the right decision to take tanking to its logical endpoint in a league with an out-0f-whack incentive structure? Of course. Has it delivered the Sixers to the Promised Land? Clearly not. Did we fly too close to the sun? Maybe!
The Sixers, in a vague sense at least, have an MVP, a future Hall of Famer, an in-prime, multiple-time All-Star and a dude set to make the All-Rookie Team. It has culminated in a season that’s had fleeting moments of fun that have neither moved the needle in terms of immediate playoff success nor in terms of true, long-term contention. I remember being home after my freshman year of college when the Sixers hired Sam Hinkie in May 2013. Nearly 13 years later, even with the pure talent, in a vacuum, on this roster, an NBA title feels further away now than it did back then.
No Etsy witch requests nor prayer circles in FDR Park with candles bearing Hinkie’s face can fix that.
What can?
It sounds terrible, but a part of me thinks this city just needs a total basketball reboot. It’s obviously not going to happen with a new arena on the way and the market that Philadelphia is, but what if the Sixers moved to, say, Seattle or Las Vegas? Give the city about a half-decade off from the NBA, watch the Big 5 and the WNBA team that’s on the way and then have a do-over with an expansion team. I love the Sixers’ name, logos, history, etc. Would I be willing to trade that away for competent management that this fan base can trust in even if the team had a pathetically generic name like the Philadelphia Flames? Sure, as long as they didn’t do any Boathouse Row-themed uniforms.
There’s no fix for the Sixers right now. There is no way for this fan base to shift the luck that has befallen this franchise for four decades aside from the outlier that was the 2001 campaign. We will endure this for as long as the NBA exists. It sucks, but at least we’re not Wizards fans? That’s the only silver lining I can concoct at the moment.
The top seed in the conference looked like they were cruising toward a victory when it took an 11-point lead with eight minutes left in the game, but the Minutemen got hot. They went on a 13-2 run to tie the score with five minutes to go and it was back-and-forth the rest of the way.
UMass took a three-point lead with less than three minutes left and Miami (Ohio) was able to tie it in the final minute. The Minutemen’s Daniel Hankins-Sanford hit the go ahead bucket with 29 seconds left and the RedHawks weren’t able to tie it.
The biggest differential was UMass' dominance on the boards. It had 17 offensive rebounds, resulting in 23 second chance points.
With the loss, there are no more undefeated teams left in the country.
Now, the rest of the week will be spent debating if Miami (31-1) should be in March Madness. While it was the only undefeated team in the country, it didn’t have a strong resume as it ranked near the bottom of several strength of schedule metrics. It is ranked 269th in KenPom in strength of schedule and has an overall ranking of 93.
In the all important NET rankings, Miami (Ohio) is No. 54, a spot that isn't ideal for an at-large spot.
The RedHawks didn’t have a Quad 1 win and just a 2-0 Quad 2 mark, while the majority of its games were Quad 4 opportunities.
What didn’t help was the loss to Massachusetts was a Quad 4 loss, as the Minutemen were the eighth seed in the conference tournament and were 16-15 coming into the contest. It's a mark teams cannot afford just days before Selection Sunday.
Despite the ugly mark on the resume, Miami (Ohio) athletic director David Sayler previously told USA TODAY Sports the team should have already punched its ticket to the Big Dance.
“An undefeated season, it has to matter, right?” Sayler said. “Otherwise, why wouldn't we just play three days in (the MAC tournament) and the winner goes to the (NCAA) tournament and forget the regular season if you're not going to take an undefeated team?"
“It should cement it,” he added.
Even with all the arguments for and against the inclusion of Miami (Ohio), now all the RedHawks can do is wait and see if they will be in the bracket when it is announced on Sunday, March 15.
The Phoenix Suns will look to continue their march up the Western Conference standings as they visit the Indiana Pacers tonight.
Indiana has lost 10 straight and shows no signs of turning things around, so I’m taking Phoenix to cover in my Suns vs. Pacers predictions and NBA picks below.
Suns vs Pacers prediction
Suns vs Pacers best bet: Suns -8.5 (-110)
Not only have the Indiana Pacers lost 10 straight games, but they're 0-10 ATS during that streak. Indiana is also dealing with a slew of injuries, with Obi Toppin on a minutes restriction and Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, and TJ McConnell all missing time recently.
The Phoenix Suns have won five of their last six and have found some offensive rhythm behind Devin Booker. They’ve always been solid on defense, holding opponents to 111.0 ppg on the year.
I’m taking Phoenix to cover tonight against a Pacers team that looks completely uncompetitive right now.
Suns vs Pacers same-game parlay
Along with taking the Suns to cover, I’m going with two of the better-looking Phoenix props on the board tonight for my SGP. That includes taking Jalen Green to go Over 20.5 points for a fourth straight game, as well as backing Collin Gillespie to grab 5+ boards, something he’s done in four of his last five games.
Suns vs Pacers SGP
Suns -8.5
Jalen Green Over 20.5 points
Collin Gillespie Over 4.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: Booker time
Booker has been on fire during Phoenix’s current three-game winning streak. I’m backing him to hit all his major prop totals tonight after he put up a 30-point double-double on Sunday and recorded seven assists and five rebounds on Tuesday against the Bucks.
Suns vs Pacers SGP
Suns -8.5
Devin Booker Over 27.5 points
Devin Booker Over 4.5 rebounds
Devin Booker Over 5.5 assists
Suns vs Pacers odds
Spread: Suns -8.5 | Pacers +8.5
Moneyline: Suns -400 | Pacers +300
Over/Under: Over 224 | Under 224
Suns vs Pacers betting trend to know
The Pacers are 0-10 ATS in their last 10 games overall. Find more NBA betting trends for Suns vs. Pacers.
How to watch Suns vs Pacers
Location
Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Date
Thursday, March 12, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
KTVK, FDSN-Indiana
Suns vs Pacers latest injuries
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 11: Jordan Clarkson #00 of the New York Knicks talks to the media after the game against the Utah Jazz on March 11, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
I started to watch Wednesday’s game and thought about quitting for a minute.
Only then did I realize we had Jordan Clarkson sitting on the bench, so it was just a matter of time for the Knicks to flip the script.
Here’s the latest from your superheroes in a JC-heavy chapter of the bulletin.
On Clarkson’s play after going through the Jazz’s tribute video:
“It was awesome. I don’t know the Jazz organization. For them to play that video, that was awesome that was unexpected for me. I don’t know if Jordan knew about it, that was a cool touch. And then for him to go out and perform the way he did, you couldn’t ask for anything better, And it says a lot about him. It goes to show he’s not just keeping his body right but his mind his mind is in a good spot to go do that when you’re down 20 in the first half. So just to see that, you couldn’t ask for anything better. Especially from him, who is a veteran who hasn’t been playing or in the rotation and all of a sudden we need.”
On assistant Maurice Cheeks’ advice to bring JC in:
“Mo said earlier today, he said, we got to find a way to get Jordan in the game because he can have a big one for us tonight, we may need it. And Mo is the prophet. He was right on target with it. We needed it every single thing that Jordan brought to the table tonight.”
On the comeback victory against the Jazz:
“Really good comeback win.”
On cleaning up turnovers at halftime:
“We committed eight turnovers for 14 points in the first half and a lot of them were unforced. A lot of those turnovers led to easy baskets in transition for Utah. They had 27 fast-break points in that first half, the way we calculate it. We cleaned both those areas at halftime. We had just four turnovers in the second half, giving up four points off those turnovers, and then we gave up just five fast-break points in the second half. And that was the difference in the game. We gave ourselves an opportunity to shoot the basketball. And when we did, it obviously went in.”
On Clarkson’s all-around performance:
“Jordan Clarkson was huge for us, and we had a lot of guys that played the right way in the second half, including Jalen, but Clarkson kept us in the game when we were down. And then definitely helped us get over the hump with the performance he had. And on top of the 27 points, he had five offensive rebounds, and that helped slow their transition game down. So, he was our defensive player of the game. But just a whale of a game by Jordan in a lot of different areas, his physicality too on the ball was good. He just gave us a spark on both ends of the floor.”
On defensive accountability:
“Everybody’s a lot better with the accountability aspect of it too. Not just making sure we’re holding each other accountable but being OK with being held accountable”
"We started off slow––good halftime for us to all kinda get at each other and let us know we gotta pick it up…Good win"
– Jordan Clarkson on Knicks comeback after 2.5 bad games as he returns to Utah with best stat line since leaving (27-5-3 off bench) pic.twitter.com/HTErk0XfJG
“I spent six years in this arena so the rims are pretty familiar to me. It’s not the first time I’ve been hot in this arena. Just being able to start the flame and keep it going.”
On the emotional return to Utah:
“It was amazing. Just being back here, being back in Utah, feeling the love, this city, this organization, everybody man, showing me love, accepting me when I got here. I still feel the love now. I mean, that was pretty heartwarming. I tried to hold my tears in, just feeling the love it was amazing.”
On the halftime message from Brown leading to the comeback win:
“Get our s–t together.”
On holding each other accountable at halftime:
“It was our halftime speech, in terms of how we came at each other, where we tried to hold each other accountable. And then just came out here and wanted to win.”
On the slow start and second-half response:
“As a team, we started off slow. Good halftime for us to kind of get at each other and let us know we gotta pick it up. Just a good win. It’s not the first time I’ve been high in this building, and I’m just glad it happened here. Continue to keep working and get the next win.”
On staying professional amid a challenging season:
“It’s really not about rotations right now. We got one goal and one goal in mind, and that’s to win each game. As always, next, man up, man. We just trying to compete and win every game.”
“It’s who he is. He comes in & works every single day…I love him…Example for anybody: Doesn’t matter where you are in your career–things may not be going your way–continue to work…Persevere"
– Jalen Brunson on Jordan Clarkson (27 in 26-most minutes since Christmas)
“It’s just who he is. He comes in and works every single day. It’s just who he is, what he’s been able to do throughout his career. Just being able to talk to him all the time has been a joy to have him as a teammate and I love him. It can be an example for anybody. It doesn’t matter where you are in your career. Things may not be going your way. Continue to work and continue to persevere. You never know when things are going to fall into place.”
On the advice he’s given Mikal Bridges as he navigates another slump:
“Tell him to keep shooting. Tell him to keep playing. He’s out there. So he has to continue to be who he is.”
“If that’s what the numbers say, I don’t think the numbers are wrong. I think what we’re doing is a great attention to detail and a level of physicality. I think we can sustain that. We have good players, smart players. You see the formula that it takes for us to be successful. Now we just have to sharpen that.”
On whether aggression is the issue affecting his game of late:
“The aggression thing is not an issue at all. I don’t think that’s the issue at all. Even if I miss a couple, there’s nothing wrong with that. Nah, I don’t think that’s the issue.”
On why he’s struggling to put the ball in:
“I don’t know. I think it’s just the game of basketball. Sometimes you try to get open and sometimes it doesn’t find me. Just try to find ways to stay aggressive. That’s it.”
On Brown’s offensive system and not having many plays called:
“It’s got its pros and cons. You try to have the feel of the game sometimes.”
On adjusting to a reduced role:
“It’s all right. I’m just trying to do whatever it takes to win, trying to find opportunities, try to do all the right things and be aggressive. Sometimes doesn’t come my way. Just try to do other things.”
"Hurry the f*ck up 😆"
–– Jalen Brunson as Jordan Clarkson hugs everyone postgame in Utah from the team owner to the mascot pic.twitter.com/J4btHYkDjB
We’ve got a great night of hoops action. The Celtics take on the Thunder, the Nuggets face the Spurs, and what will Bam Adebayo do for an encore after his 83-point performance?
That means there are plenty of great player props on the board, and my favorites for the day include a play in that Heat game, while Paolo Banchero will pull a magic trick on the glass against the Wizards.
Those and more NBA picks for Thursday, March 12, below.
The Orlando Magic are playing their best basketball of the season. They have climbed to fifth in the East and enter tonight’s matchup vs. the Washington Wizards, as winners of five in a row.
Paolo Banchero is a big reason why. The Magic forward is putting up 25.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in his last 10 games.
I want to focus on the rebounds. Washington ranks dead last in rebounding rate and opponent rebounds per game. With Banchero hitting double-digit boards five times during that span, I like him to do it again and record a double-double in the process.
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Monumental, FanDuel Sports Network-Florida
Well, I’m actually more interested in another aspect of that performance. The Heat took 90 shots in that game. Which has been their M.O. all season long. Miami leads the NBA in pace and field goal attempts per game.
That means lots of rebounds, where they allow the third-most per game.
So, let’s go Kevin Porter Jr. Over 4.5 rebounds. Porter is questionable, but it’s a number he’s topped in four of his last five, including hauling down seven in a February 24 meeting against Miami.
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network-Wisconsin, FanDuel Sports Network-South
Prop #3: Victor Wembanyama Over 4.5 steals & blocks
Wembanyama is averaging 4.3 blocks in 11 games since coming out of the break. Now, obviously, books have caught on, generally putting a lot of juice on the Over. But with him also averaging 1.3 steals over that stretch, there’s still value in his steals & blocks prop.
It’s sitting at 4.5 with the Over at plus money for tonight’s game vs. the Denver Nuggets. A number he’s topped in eight times during those 11 games.
Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Alt, FanDuel Sports Network-Southwest
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The Detroit Pistons visited the Philadelphia 76ers back in April 2024 and were 15-point underdogs. In 2026, it’s the Pistons who are the 15-point chalk.
Now, that’s a big number for a Detroit team that hasn’t covered much lately, but with all of Philly’s injuries, my 76ers vs. Pistons predictions have found some value in a player prop.
That and more NBA picks for this Eastern Conference clash set to tip off at 7 pm ET at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Thursday, March 12.
76ers vs Pistons prediction
76ers vs Pistons best bet: Tobias Harris Over 5.5 Rebounds (+102)
The Philadelphia 76ers were always going to be underdogs in this matchup, but all the injuries are why the number is so big.
Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Kelly Oubre Jr. are all out. And more recently, Andre Drummond has been downgraded to questionable.
Philly already struggled on the glass, ranking 22nd in rebounding rate and 19th in opponent rebounds per game. The Detroit Pistons have the third-highest rebounding rate in the NBA.
So, give me Tobias Harris Over 5.5 rebounds. He’s hauling down 6.5 rebounds per game over his last 12, topping this number seven times.
76ers vs Pistons same-game parlay
With all those injuries, somebody's going to have to score for the Sixers. My best bet in this case is Cam Payne. The journeyman guard showed he can still get buckets after coming off a 32-point performance against the Memphis Grizzlies.
With not many other options to take shots, over 12.5 points looks like a solid bet here.
However, that doesn’t mean Philly will score consistently. The Pistons are one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, ranking second in defensive rating. They’ll keep the Sixers under their team total in this one.
76ers vs Pistons SGP
Tobias Harris Over 5.5 rebounds
Cameron Payne Over 12.5 points
76ers TT Under 103.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Bad Boys on the Boards
Just carrying on the theme that the Sixers will be bullied on the boards tonight. Isaiah Stewart has snagged five or more boards in three of his previous five, while Cunningham has snared six or more rebounds in three of his last six contests.
76ers vs Pistons SGP
Tobias Harris Over 5.5 rebounds
Jalen Duren Over 10.5 rebounds
Cade Cunningham Over 5.5 rebounds
Isaiah Stewart Over 4.5 rebounds
76ers vs Pistons odds
Spread: 76ers +15.5 (-110) | Pistons -15.5 (-110)
Moneyline: 76ers +750 | Pistons -1200
Over/Under: Over 221.5 (-110) | Under 221.5 (-110)
76ers vs Pistons betting trend to know
The Pistons have hit the Game Total Under in 25 of their last 40 games for +9.60 Units and a 22% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for 76ers vs. Pistons.
How to watch 76ers vs Pistons
Location
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date
Thursday, March 12, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
76ers vs Pistons latest injuries
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Jaylen Brown is in the midst of the best season of his career — which is saying something for a five-time All-Star who not only has a championship ring but also a Finals MVP trophy to pair with it. With Jayson Tatum out most of the season in Boston, Brown has stepped up as the No. 1 option, has career highs in points (28.3), rebounds (7.1) and assists (5.1) and has the Celtics looking like the favorites to come out of the East.
However, after his third season in the league in 2019, Brown questioned whether that success would ever come in Boston alongside Tatum, and whether he should push for a trade. In an appearance on the "Cousins” podcast with Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady, Brown revealed it was McGrady who talked him out of asking for a trade back in 2019. After that season, Brown went to live with McGrady in Houston for part of the offseason.
"Right around that time after that season that we lost in a second round to the Bucks (2019). I came right after that to Houston to get some work in. And I'm so grateful for that time and I'm I'm grateful to this day for you opening up your crib to me and just coming to be able to kick it with the fam and just ask questions and get some good advice about how I should look at the next couple years and how I should think about and where my mind should be at at the time. And you told me the potential that I have and what I needed to do if I needed to make it work and I followed those instructions to achieve and fast forward I became an NBA champion...
"Coming and sitting down with T-Mac. We spent a couple days just working out and talking, having some food, and he's telling me like, I'm thinking like one thing and he's thinking like, nah, you need to stay, it's going to be you. He's telling me all the stuff that all just manifested itself. So, I can't even like, it's crazy looking back on it now."
That next season, Brown made a leap — he was not just taking more shots but was far more efficient — and he scored 20.3 points a game, his first time breaking 20 (and he has never been below that number since).
This season, Brown's play has earned him MVP ballot consideration, as he has reached yet another level when his team needed him. However, we may never have seen that if seven years earlier, McGrady had not talked Brown out of the idea of leaving Boston.
The Pistons got back on track in a huge way on Tuesday against the Brooklyn Nets. It was overshadowed by other happenings in the NBA, but the Pistons were able to end their season-long four game slide with a 38 point win against the lowly Nets. It was clear from the opening tip that the Pistons were not going to be blowing a 23-point lead against the Nets again.
Now, they have a chance to continue the positive momentum they have going against a Philadelphia 76ers team that will be without Paul George, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid. It won’t be a walk in the park, but it will be much easier for the Pistons to impose their will defensively when the big offensive threats for the Sixers are missing.
The Pistons will once again be without Ausar Thompson, but they might get Caris LeVert back from his wrist injury which I am not sure is a good or bad thing at this point.
Game Vitals
Where: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI When: Thursday, March 12 at 7 pm EST Watch: Prime Video Odds: Pistons (-14.5)
Analysis
There isn’t a whole lot to say about the Philadelphia 76ers given the current state of their roster. They are coming off a win over the Memphis Grizzlies, but given the season the Grizzlies are having that isn’t saying a ton about their ability to play without Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George.
Maxey is the biggest loss out of the three as he is 4th in the NBA in scoring while also leading in minutes played. He has been their engine this season and the star that has been consistently available, so his loss for the next 3 weeks with a finger injury is a huge one. The 76ers currently hold the 8th spot in the East and aren’t really in danger of falling out of the Play-In Tournament at least, but the Charlotte Hornets and Atlanta Hawks have been playing some good basketball the last couple weeks and very well could catch them if the 76ers are unable to string together a few wins without their best players.
With their “Big 3” missing, the 76ers are forced to rely a lot on rookie VJ Edgecombe, Quentin Grimes, and Kelly Oubre to carry most of the scoring load. They were able to do it against the Grizzlies on Tuesday with some help from Cam Payne, but they definitely are not on the level of Maxey, Embiid, and George in terms of consistently carrying the scoring load for a competitive team.
Kelly Oubre will be out tonight as well, so that is one less offensive threat the Pistons have to deal with. Oubre, in particular, always seems to have his better games against the Pistons so it will be a pretty big loss for the Sixers.
I just don’t see anywhere the Sixers are going to get the necessary offensive punch that they need to win this game, unless Cam Payne replicates what he did against the Grizzlies where he had 32 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the field and 8-8 from beyond the arc.
Tuesday’s win against the Nets was an important one for the Pistons as they got the monkey off their back of the 4-game losing streak, but more importantly, got back on track as a team defensively. The Pistons are never going to be great in their halfcourt offense with their current roster, but they can score enough through tough defense and scoring in transition and both of those things went away during the losing streak. Obviously, the Nets are not a great team, but seeing yourself put together a dominant performance on defense after struggling for over a week does a lot for confidence as a team.
The Pistons don’t really blow out teams a ton, but they have been able to get the job done this year against lesser teams, especially when those teams are short-handed. So, I would expect a similar level of engagement as what the Pistons had against the Nets. The 76ers have a bit more experience in the backcourt than the Nets, so turnovers will be tougher to come by, but it is the Pistons’ bread and butter so they will find a way.
I could see a game where the 76ers hang tough early-on, but the Pistons ultimately overwhelm them and take control during the 2nd half.
Lineups
Detroit Pistons (46-18): Cade Cunningham, Marcus Sasser, Duncan Robinson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren
Philadelphia 76ers (35-30): VJ Edgecombe, Quentin Grimes, Trendon Watford, Dominick Barlow, Adem Bona
Question of the Day
Does the Pistons losing streak concern you or was it just a late-season lull that many teams deal with during a long season?
Paolo Banchero
Kevin Porter Jr.
Victor Wembanyama