Lakers sign Jordan Goodwin, waive Cam Reddish

Los Angeles, CA - March 20: Lakers guard Jordan Goodwin, #30, center, steals a loose ball from Bucks forward Taurean Prince, #12, left, and guard Kevin Porter Jr., #3, right, in the first half at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Lakers guard Jordan Goodwin gathers a loose ball between Milwaukee forward Taurean Prince, left, and guard Kevin Porter Jr. during a game earlier this season. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The Lakers have signed guard Jordan Goodwin, who has been on a two-way contract since Feb. 7, for the rest of the season Thursday with a team option for next season.

To make room on the roster, the Lakers waived forward Cam Reddish.

Goodwin, 26, recently cemented himself in the Lakers' rotation. He used up all of his allotted days with the Lakers under the two-way deal as of Wednesday's win over Indiana.

The 6-foot-5 guard has averaged 6.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.2 steals in 20.5 minutes a game. In his 19 appearances with the Lakers, he shot 47% from the field, 41.3% from three-point range and 81.8% from the foul line.

Undrafted coming out of college in 2021, Goodwin in four NBA seasons has averaged 6.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 18.3 minutes a game with Memphis, Phoenix, Washington and the Lakers.

Reddish played in 33 games this season with the Lakers, averaging 3.2 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 17.9 minutes.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Warriors' Gary Payton II out indefinitely with torn ligament in left thumb

Gary Payton II has become a solid part of the Warriors' rotation since Jimmy Butler arrived in the Bay Area. In his last 10 games, Payton has averaged 20.8 minutes a game off the bench, adding 11.1 points a game and shooting 50% on the 2.6 3-point attempts he takes a game, plus he is a quality perimeter defender Steve Kerr leans on in certain matchups.

Now the team will be without Payton indefinitely due to a torn ligament in his left thumb, a story broken by Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Payton had already been playing through an injury, wearing a mask since suffering a non-displaced nose fracture against the Hornets on March 3. The thumb injury is not something he can simply play through. Expect Steve Kerr and the Warriors to lean into Gui Santos and Pat Spencer for the team's remaining 10 regular-season games, or at least until Payton can return.

This is a rough time for Golden State to lose a key rotation player as it needs wins. The Warriors and Clippers are currently tied for the No. 6 seed in the West and avoiding the play-in, with the Timberwolves half-a-game back of both (Minnesota is one game back in the loss column). Whichever teams finish 7-8 will face each other in the first round of the play-in, and the loser of that game will need to beat the winner of the 9-10 game to advance as the No. 8 seed and face Oklahoma City in the first round.

NBA owners to discuss launching new league in Europe as early as 2026, would challenge EuroLeague

"While Europe continues to develop some of the best players in the world, many of our most recent MVPs, of course, are European, we think that the commercial opportunity has not kept pace with the growth of the game," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in January of a potential NBA-affiliated league in Europe. "What we do at the NBA is we run leagues. We, of course, run the WNBA; we have the league in Africa I mentioned; we have the G League; and we have a 2K video league, so we operate five different leagues, and we think it's an expertise we have.

"So we are looking very closely to see if there's an opportunity to professionalize the game to another level here, to create a larger commercial opportunity."

Thursday, the NBA board of Governors will hear more about those plans in detail, according to multiple reports. Silver is not seeking a formal vote from the owners but is seeking guidance to move forward with the discussions. Nothing is yet official, but the plan is picking up steam.

The plans for the new league include:

• There could be between eight and 16 teams, some existing and some new. It could launch as early as 2026, although it likely is later than that.

• This league would be a direct challenge to the existing EuroLeague structure. According to The Athletic, there is potential interest from four existing EuroLeague teams: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Fenerbahce (from Istanbul), and ASVEL (the team from Lyon, France, where Tony Parker is president).

• The league would have new "permanent" teams, and potentially, there would be a chance for some clubs to play their way into the league in a sort of promotion system (not unlike the current EuroLeague model).

• New teams would be a 50/50 owned proposition with the league and new investors, including sovereign wealth funds (which are limited in how much they can invest in an NBA team).

• The buy-in for those teams would be around $500 million.

• This is a partnership between the NBA and FIBA, the latter of which has been trying to break the EuroLeague's current grip on the top teams.

• The goal is to ultimately have teams in major cities around the globe, often tied to major European soccer clubs. Markets mentioned include London, Manchester, Berlin and Munich. For example, Qatar Sports Investments could own a new team in Paris, tied to its soccer powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain, the Athletic reports.

The goal behind all this is money — both expanding the NBA brand and bringing in new revenue to the league. While the domestic market is still the primary revenue driver for the NBA, especially with the new television deal kicking in, the biggest growth opportunities for the league are international.

While they will have questions, it's difficult to imagine NBA owners telling Silver anything other than to go forward with this effort — there are no real downsides for them at this point.

Lakers vs. Bulls Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 27

It’s Thursday, March 27, and the Los Angeles Lakers (44-28) and Chicago Bulls (32-40) are all set to square off from United Center in Chicago.

The Lakers are currently 16-19 on the road with a point differential of 1, while the Bulls have a 4-6 record in their last ten games at home. Chicago beat Los Angeles 146-115 on Saturday, March 22, so this will be a revenge spot for the Lakers.

Los Angeles is coming off a buzzer-beating tip-in by LeBron James last night to beat Indiana that snapped a three-game losing streak. For Chicago, they are 8-2 over the last 10 games and riding a three-game winning streak.

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 Lakers vs. Bulls live today

  • Date: Thursday, March 27, 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 Lakers vs. Bulls

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Odds: Lakers (-163), Bulls (+138)
  • Spread:  Lakers -3.5
  • Over/Under: 239 points

That gives the Lakers an implied team point total of 120.58, and the Bulls 118.76.

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 Thursday’s Lakers vs. Bulls game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

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

"The Lakers are coming off a buzzer-beating win over the Pacers thanks to a LeBron James tip, so this is a letdown spot as they travel to Chicago the following day. The Bulls aren't a juggernaut or a team to watch out for, but they've been playing better over the last 10 games with an 8-2 record, and with their tempo and age, they can outrun opponents who fall into their pace. That was shown against the Lakers in the last meeting (146-115 win for Chicago). The Lakers will likely be one of the heaviest public bets today, so I do like the Bulls for that reason too. It's Chicago or pass, but I'd rather live bet this game."

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 Lakers & 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 Chicago Bulls at +3.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under on the Game Total of 239.

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 Lakers vs. Bulls on Thursday

  • The Bulls have won four of their last five matchups against Western Conference teams
  • The last seven matchups between the Bulls and the Lakers have gone over the expected total
  • The Bulls have covered in four of their last five home games
  • The Bulls have won 8 of their last 10 games, while the Lakers have lost 5 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)

Hawks vs. Heat Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 27

It’s Thursday, March 27, and the Atlanta Hawks (35-37) and Miami Heat (31-41) are all set to square off from Kaseya Center in Miami.

The Hawks are currently 16-19 on the road with a point differential of -2, while the Heat have a 3-7 record in their last ten games at home. Atlanta has won two of the three meetings versus Miami, but the Heat won the previous matchup.

Miami is coming off a win versus Golden State whereas Atlanta is coming off a loss against Houston. The Hawks are 3-1 in the past four games, while the Heat are on a two-game winning streak, but are also 2-10 in the past 12 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 Hawks vs. Heat live today

  • Date: Thursday, March 27, 2025
  • Time: 7:30PM EST
  • Site: Kaseya Center
  • City: Miami, 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 Hawks vs. Heat

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Odds: Hawks (+104), Heat (-124)
  • Spread:  Heat -1.5
  • Over/Under: 227 points

That gives the Hawks an implied team point total of 113.13, and the Heat 113.92.

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 Thursday’s Hawks vs. Heat game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Hawks to cover and win against the Heat:

"Miami is coming off that emotional and motivated win against Jimmy Butler and the Warriors, which now sets them up for a letdown spot against an Atlanta team that is playing well and sporting a 3-1 record over the past four. The Hawks are in a bounce-back spot after losing to Houston on the road and have had MImai's number with two wins out of three meetings. It's Atlanta or pass for me."

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 Hawks & Heat game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Miami Heat on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Miami Heat at -1.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under on the Game Total of 227.

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 Hawks vs. Heat on Thursday

  • The Hawks have won 4 of 5 games at divisional opponents
  • The Over is 4-1 in the Hawks' last 5 matchups against Eastern Conference teams
  • The Heat have covered in 4 of their last 5 home games
  • The Heat have covered in 4 of their last 5 home 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)

Pacers vs. Wizards Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 27

It’s Thursday, March 27, and the Indiana Pacers (42-30) and Washington Wizards (16-56) are all set to square off from Capital One Arena in Washington.

The Pacers are currently 17-19 on the road with a point differential of 1, while the Wizards have a 2-8 record in their last ten games at home. Indiana has won both meetings versus Washington this season and has one more matchup remaining after tonight.

Indiana lost 120-119 on a buzzer-beater by LeBron James last night, but this is a good spot to get a bounce-back win after that loss snapped a five-game losing streak. Washington is 1-5 in the past six games and coming off a 119-114 win over the 76ers last night.

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 Pacers vs. Wizards live today

  • Date: Thursday, March 27, 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 Pacers vs. Wizards

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Odds: Pacers (-546), Wizards (+402)
  • Spread:  Pacers -11
  • Over/Under: 236 points

That gives the Pacers an implied team point total of 122.65, and the Wizards 116.9.

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 Thursday’s Pacers vs. Wizards game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Pacers on the spread and Tyrese Haliburton to double-double once again:

"Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers earned the push last night, but the loss to the Lakers snapped a five-game winning streak, while the Wizards earned a win in Philly over the 76ers to snap a five-game losing streak. I'd imagine the Pacers have the motivation edge and the Wizards would like to avoid winning two straight games in favor of tanking. It's Pacers or pass and once again, Tyrese Haliburton to double-double is a good play considering he has now done so in 12 consecutive games."

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 Pacers & Wizards game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Indiana Pacers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Washington Wizards at +11.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 236.

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 Pacers vs. Wizards on Thursday

  • The Pacers have won 6 of their last 8 games against the Wizards
  • 13 of the Pacers' last 16 road trips to the Wizards have gone over the Total
  • The Wizards have covered the Spread in their last 3 home matchups with the Pacers
  • The Pacers are 2-8 against the spread in their last 10 games as a favorite

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)

Spurs vs. Cavaliers Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 27

It’s Thursday, March 27, and the San Antonio Spurs (31-40) and Cleveland Cavaliers (58-14) are all set to square off from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland.

The Spurs are currently 11-23 on the road with a point differential of -2, while the Cavaliers have an 8-2 record in their last ten games at home. This is the first of two meetings over the next seven days between the two teams. They have not met yet this season.

Cleveland has won two straight games after dropping four in a row against playoff teams. San Antonio is 3-1 over the last four games, but coming off a 26-point loss to Detroit.

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 Spurs vs. Cavaliers live today

  • Date: Thursday, March 27, 2025
  • Time: 7:00PM 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 Spurs vs. Cavaliers

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Odds: Spurs (+612), Cavaliers (-917)
  • Spread:  Cavaliers -13.5
  • Over/Under: 238 points

That gives the Spurs an implied team point total of 118.05, and the Cavaliers 125.09.

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 Thursday’s Spurs vs. Cavaliers game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Cavaliers to cover:

"While San Antonio is 3-1 over the last four games, the wins came against the 76ers, Knicks, and Raptors, who are all playing some of their worst stretches of basketball right now whether it's because of tanking or injuries. Cleveland may have lost four straight but followed that up with wins of 29 and 11 points. It's Cleveland or pass for me in their first home game after a five-game road trip."

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 Spurs & Cavaliers game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Cleveland Cavaliers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the San Antonio Spurs at +13.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the under on the Game Total of 238.

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 Spurs vs. Cavaliers on Thursday

  • The Cavaliers have a winning record (20-6) in matchups against Western Conference teams this season
  • The Cavaliers' last 3 home games have stayed under the Total
  • The Cavaliers have won 4 of their last 5 home games against Western 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)

Mavericks vs. Magic Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 27

It’s Thursday, March 27, and the Dallas Mavericks (35-38) and Orlando Magic (35-38) are all set to square off from Kia Center in Orlando.

The Mavericks are currently 15-22 on the road with a point differential of 0, while the Magic have a 3-7 record in their last ten games at home. Dallas is 1-0 against Orlando this season with a 108-85 win back on November 3.

Orlando has won three straight games and four of the past five contests, while Dallas is 2-5 in the past seven games and coming off a loss that broke a two-game winning streak.

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. Magic live today

  • Date: Thursday, March 27, 2025
  • Time: 7:00PM EST
  • Site: Kia Center
  • City: Orlando, FL
  • Network/Streaming: NBA TV

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. Magic

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Odds: Mavericks (+230), Magic (-286)
  • Spread:  Magic -7
  • Over/Under: 219 points

That gives the Mavericks an implied team point total of 108.44, and the Magic 112.09.

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 Thursday’s Mavericks vs. Magic game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

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

"These teams met earlier in the year when Luka Doncic was still a Maverick and it was a relatively easy win and cover for Dallas. This time around, the Mavericks are in a bad position and the team and fanbase lack confidence. Orlando has won three straight, including an upset over the Lakers, so this team is feeling good and worth backing. It's Magic or pass."

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 & Magic game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Dallas Mavericks on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Dallas Mavericks at +7.
  • 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 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 Mavericks vs. Magic on Thursday

  • The Mavericks have won 3 straight games against the Magic
  • 5 of the Magic's last 6 home games have gone over the Total
  • The Magic have covered the Spread in their last 3 games as a favorite
  • Western Conference Southwest Division teams have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against Eastern Conference Southeast Division sides

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)

Trail Blazers vs. Kings Predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for March 27

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Sacramento Kings Preview 

The Portland Trail Blazers (32-41) and Sacramento Kings (35-37) are all set to square off from Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

The Kings desperately need a win tonight. They are currently on a four-game losing streak. The Trail Blazers have lost back-to-back games.

The Trail Blazers are currently 12-23 on the road with a point differential of -3, while the Kings have a 4-6 record in their last ten games at home.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the 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 Trail Blazers vs. Kings live today

  • Date: Thursday, March 27, 2025
  • Time: 6:00PM EST
  • Site: Golden 1 Center
  • City: Sacramento, CA

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 Trail Blazers vs. Kings
The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Odds: Trail Blazers (+186), Kings (-226)
  • Spread:  Kings -5.5
  • Over/Under: 225 points

That gives the Trail Blazers an implied team point total of 111.54, and the Kings 114.41.
 
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 Thursday's Trail Blazers vs. Kings game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

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

Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) is leaning toward taking the Kings -6…

Thomas: “This is a great buy-low spot for the Kings. They played well in the second half against the Thunder, but couldn’t sustain in the fourth quarter.”

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 Trail Blazers & Kings game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Sacramento Kings on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Portland Trail Blazers at +5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 225.

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 Trail Blazers vs. Kings on Thursday

  • The Kings have won 4 straight home games against the Trail Blazers
  • The Under has cashed in the Kings' last 3 games
  • The Kings have failed to cover in 7 of their last 9 games (78%)
  • The Kings have won 4 straight home games against the Trail Blazers

 
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!
 
Bet the Edge is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. 
 
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)

Rockets vs. Jazz Predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 27

Houston Rockets vs. Utah Jazz Preview 

The Houston Rockets (47-26) and Utah Jazz (16-57) are all set to square off from Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

The Utah Jazz are currently in a tankathon for Duke Superstar Cooper Flagg. Tonight, they are 12.5-point underdogs against the Rockets.

The Rockets are currently 20-14 on the road with a point differential of 4, while the Jazz have a 2-8 record in their last ten games at home. 

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the 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 Rockets vs. Jazz live today

  • Date: Thursday, March 27, 2025
  • Time: 9:00PM EST
  • Site: Delta Center
  • City: Salt Lake City, UT

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 Rockets vs. Jazz

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Odds: Rockets (-699), Jazz (+498)
  • Spread:  Rockets -12.5
  • Over/Under: 227 points

That gives the Rockets an implied team point total of 118.97, and the Jazz 112.45.
 
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 Thursday's Rockets vs. Jazz game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

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

Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) is leaning towards Jalen Green over 23.5 points…

Thomas: ”Green has been phenomenal. He’s been particularly great against bottom-half defending teams. He should cook, if this one does not get out of hand early.”

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 Rockets & Jazz game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Houston Rockets on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Utah Jazz at +12.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 227.

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 Rockets vs. Jazz on Thursday

  • The Jazz have lost 17 of their last 20 games as an underdog
  • The Jazz have failed to cover the Spread in 5 games in a row as a home underdog
  • The Rockets have a winning record in their last 10 games (9-1)

 
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!
 
Bet the Edge is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. 
 
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)

Grizzlies vs. Thunder Predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends, best bets for March 27

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Preview 

The Memphis Grizzlies (44-28) and Oklahoma City Thunder (60-12) are all set to square off from Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.

The Grizzlies ended their skid with a win over the Utah Jazz. Now they play against a smoking hot Thunder team. The Thunder lead the Western Conference, and are on a seven game winning streak. The joint longest streak in the NBA.

The Grizzlies are currently 19-17 on the road with a point differential of 6, while the Thunder have a 8-2 record in their last ten games at home. 

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the 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 Grizzlies vs. Thunder live today

  • Date: Thursday, March 27, 2025
  • Time: 8:00PM EST
  • Site: Paycom Center
  • City: Oklahoma City, OK

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 Grizzlies vs. Thunder
The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Odds: Grizzlies (+353), Thunder (-457)
  • Spread:  Thunder -10
  • Over/Under: 239 points

That gives the Grizzlies an implied team point total of 118.4, and the Thunder 123.6.
 
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 Thursday's Grizzlies vs. Thunder game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

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

Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) is leaning towards taking the Thunder -10…

Thomas: “There will come a moment when the bottom falls out for the Memphis Grizzlies. This is a team keeps finding themselves in early holes. Against a talented team like the Oklahoma City Thunder, you cannot come out slow. They will bury you.”

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 Grizzlies & Thunder game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Oklahoma City Thunder on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Memphis Grizzlies at +10.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the under on the Game Total of 239.

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 Grizzlies vs. Thunder on Thursday

  • The Thunder have won 17 of their last 20 games
  • The Under is 4-1 in the Thunder's last 5 matchups against Western Conference teams
  • The Grizzlies are 38-34 against the spread this season
  • The Thunder have won 6 of their last 8 home games against the Grizzlies

 
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!
 
Bet the Edge is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. 
 
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)

Who will Celtics face in first round? Bulls making late charge

Who will Celtics face in first round? Bulls making late charge originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics are pretty much a lock to finish as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, but their first-round opponent in the 2025 NBA playoffs is still up in the air.

Boston has a 98.5 percent chance of finishing second in the conference, per Basketball Reference’s playoff probabilities. Despite a seven-game win streak and nine victories in their last 10 games, the C’s still trail the first-place Cleveland Cavaliers by 4.5 games.

The race for the No. 7 seed, which will be determined by the winner of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 play-in tournament game, is still mostly a two-horse race between the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic.

Here’s an updated look at the probabilities:

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The Hawks remain in the driver’s seat to host the first play-in tournament game, but their margin for error is slim. However, one factor in Atlanta’s favor is it has the fourth-easiest remaining schedule in the league, per Tankathon.

The Magic have won three games in a row for the first time since December, including a 118-106 home victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday. The Magic have two more games against the Hawks over the final four matchups of the season, including the regular season finale April 13. Those games will be pivotal.

The red-hot Chicago Bulls, who have won eight of their last 10 games, remain in the mix. Bulls point guard Coby White is playing the best basketball of his career, averaging 29.8 points in March (12 games).

The Miami Heat were in the race at one point, but a 2-8 record over their last 10 games has made it quite difficult for them to get the No. 7 seed.

The Celtics know where they’ll land in the playoff seeding, but the race for the No. 7 seed is worth paying close attention to over the final couple weeks of the regular season, especially with the Bulls making a late charge to challenge the Hawks and Magic.

How Celtics can make history as one of NBA's best road teams ever

How Celtics can make history as one of NBA's best road teams ever originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics have already lost twice as many home games this season (12) as they did in the regular season and playoffs combined (six) in 2023-24.

So, how do they still own the NBA’s third-best record at 54-19? To steal a line from the C’s locker room, they’ve been road dogs in 2024-25.

Boston’s 132-102 rout of the Suns in Phoenix on Wednesday improved the team’s road record to 30-7 on the season. Not only is that the highest road winning percentage (.811) in the NBA this season, it’s also one of the best in league history.

Only two NBA teams have won more than 81.1 percent of their road games in one season: The 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers (31-7 road record) and 2015-16 Golden State Warriors (34-7 road record).

The Celtics have four road games left on their schedule: Saturday’s game in San Antonio, Monday’s game in Memphis, and a back-to-back in New York and Orlando on April 8 and 9. If they win all four games, they’ll tie the 2015-16 Warriors for the most road wins in a single season.

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This year’s Oklahoma City Thunder are right on the Celtics’ heels with a 29-7 road record and four road games remaining on their schedule. But only Boston can tie the Golden State juggernaut, which won an NBA-record 73 games in 2015-16.

Even if the C’s don’t sweep the rest of their road games, they have the inside track on the best road record in franchise history, ahead of the 1972-73 Celtics and the NBA champion 2007-08 Celtics, who went 31-10 on the road.

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It’s not just that the C’s are winning on the road, either; they’re dismantling teams. After Wednesday’s 30-point rout in Phoenix, Boston is closing in on the 1971-72 Lakers for the best road scoring margin and road point differential in NBA history, per NBC Sports Boston stats guru Dick Lipe.

“We have a very experienced team,” Celtics wing Jaylen Brown said Wednesday when asked about the Celtics’ road prowess. “We’ve got guys who have won championships, gold medals, deep playoff runs, all of the above. So, knowing how to win on the road is an experience thing that we’ve been able to be really good at this year.

“Last year I feel like we were really good at home, and then just year-to-year, everything’s different. Going into the playoffs, we’re going to need to win some road games, so it’s great that we’ve been able to find some rhythm in the regular season.”

The Celtics’ relative struggles at home this season are cause for some concern, especially since they’ll have home court advantage until at least the Eastern Conference Finals. But a strong road record is a sign of mental toughness, and this team appears to have it in spades.

Report: Warriors' GP2 tore left thumb ligament, will miss time

Report: Warriors' GP2 tore left thumb ligament, will miss time originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors were dealt an unfortunate blow for the stretch run of the 2024-25 NBA regular season.

Veteran guard/forward Gary Payton II suffered a torn ligament in his left thumb and will miss time, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Thursday, citing sources, after The Athletic’s Anthony Slater first reported the news of the thumb injury.

Payton is an integral player in coach Steve Kerr’s rotations, and in 58 games this season, is averaging 6.6 points, 3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game on 58.5-percent shooting from the field and 33 percent from 3-point range in 14.9 minutes off the bench.

The 32-year-old recently suffered a non-displaced nose fracture in the Warriors’ win over the Charlotte Hornets on March 3 and has played with a mask for the previous nine games he was active before his thumb injury.

While Payton was able to play through the nose injury, the Warriors will be without him for most, if not all, of their final 10 games of the regular season.

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James scores late as Lakers end losing streak

LeBron James
Lebron James won the game just before the buzzer sounded [Getty Images]

LeBron James scored the match winner with time almost up as the Los Angeles Lakers ended their losing streak with victory against the Indiana Pacers.

The Pacers held a one-point lead with 42 seconds remaining, but James was on hand to tip in a Luka Doncic miss a split-second before the buzzer to secure a 120-119 victory in Indianapolis.

James did not make a field goal until the fourth quarter but finished the night with 13 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists.

"It's another great example of where he doesn't necessarily have it going early, and got off to a slow start offensively but he was so good defensively and then takes over in the fourth quarter" Lakers coach J.J. Redick said.

"He gets rewarded by the basketball gods because he didn't let go of the rope and didn't stop competing."

The Lakers, fourth in the western conference, improved their record to 44-28 after ending three-game losing run.

Doncic had 34 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for Los Angeles, while Austin Reaves scored 24 and Rui Hachimura added 14.

Elsewhere on Wednesday, the Washington Wizards ended a five-game losing streak with victory against the Philadelphia 76ers, while the Toronto Raptors routed the Brooklyn Nets 116-86.

Nikola Jokic scored 39 points - and secured his 30th triple-double of the season - on his return from injury to inspire the Denver Nuggets to a 127-117 win against the Milwaukee Bucks, while the Boston Celtics extended their winning streak to seven with a 132-102 win against the Phoenix Suns.

The Los Angeles Clippers kept their play-off hopes alive by coming back from 14 points down to defeat the New York Knicks 126-113, improving their record to 41-31.

The Golden State Warriors are seventh in the West, also with 41 wins, with the Minnesota Timberwolves in eighth with a 41-32 record.