NBA – Page 8 – Worldwide Sports News

March 31, 2025

Motivation for coaching change in Memphis reportedly was to 'optimize' Ja Morant

The winding path to Taylor Jenkins' firing in Memphis can defy logic. Last offseason, Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman forced coach Taylor Jenkins to fire all his existing assistant coaches and remake his staff, and management then pushed to hire Noah LaRoche to institute a new motion offense (fewer ball screens). While the offense worked, the Grizzlies are sixth in the league in offensive rating, but Ja Morant and other players were not happy with it and reportedly were tuning out their coach. So Kleiman fired Jenkins and LaRoche, then gave the interim job to Tuomas Iisalo, who coached in Paris a year ago and ran an offense with a lot more ball screens (but maybe better spacing than we have seen in Memphis).

The coaching change's goal was to "optimize" Morant, something ESPN’s Tim MacMahon summarized well on the Hoop Collective podcast (hat tip Real GM).

"This decision to do it now and to move on from LaRoche, and to lean back into all the pick and roll stuff... this was a decision that was about optimizing Ja Morant...

"And look there has been noise about Ja being unhappy all season long. There has been noise about, 'Hey, you know, could Memphis look to move Ja this summer? Could Ja look to get out of Memphis this summer?'... I was texting with a GM after this happened and he said 'I would have told you I thought they were definitely going to [shop him]. Ja was out on them. They won games without him. They have to be sustainable.' And he said 'This is a move that goes in the face of that.'"

McMahon sums up the message of the trade as, "Hey, Ja, you're still our guy. Everything we do is going to be based on what's best for you. What optimizes you. They got away from that for a lot of this season and they're leaning back hard into it."

Morant didn't push for Jenkins's firing, and Jenkins would have happily leaned back into more Morant on offense (when he's healthy), but management wanted a new voice. Whether Iisalo is that voice and if he can make meaningful changes before the playoffs remains to be seen.

March 31, 2025

Clippers vs. Magic Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 31

It’s Monday, March 31, and the Los Angeles Clippers (42-32) and Orlando Magic (36-39) are all set to square off from Kia Center in Orlando.

The Clippers are currently 17-21 on the road with a point differential of 4, while the Magic have a 3-7 record in their last ten games at home. The Clippers won the only meeting against the Magic, 104-93 on November 20 in Los Angeles.

Orlando is coming off a 30-point win over Sacramento and is 4-1 in the last five games and 5-2 over the previous seven contests. Los Angeles lost to the Cavaliers yesterday, but are 7-2 over the past nine 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.

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

Date: Monday, March 31, 2025
Time: 3:00PM 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 Clippers vs. Magic

The latest odds as of Monday:

Odds: Clippers (-144), Magic (+122)
Spread: Clippers -2.5
Over/Under: 212 points

That gives the Clippers an implied team point total of 106.74, and the Magic 105.44.

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 Monday’s Clippers vs. Magic game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Clippers to win outright:

"The Clippers are coming off a loss to the Cavaliers yesterday (127-122), so they are at a rest disadvantage here. However, Orlando is coming off a 30-point win against Sacramento, which sets them up for a letdown spot. It's a short spread, but with the Clippers being the favorite and no rest, I think that is telling. I lean the Clippers ML in Orlando."

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 & Magic 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 Orlando Magic at +2.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 212.

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. Magic on Monday

The Clippers have won 13 of their last 20 games as a favorite
The Clippers' last 3 road games have gone over the Total
The Magic have covered in 7 of their last 10 games
The Magic are 4-1 in their last 5 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)

March 31, 2025

Heat vs. Wizards Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 31

It’s Monday, March 31, and the Miami Heat (33-41) and Washington Wizards (16-58) are all set to square off from Capital One Arena in Washington.

The Heat are currently 14-22 on the road with a point differential of -1, while the Wizards have a 2-8 record in their last ten games at home. Miami has won both meetings versus Washington this season by 16 and 20 points.

Miami has won four consecutive games after losing 10 straight and this looks like an ideal spot to conite that streak. Washington is 1-6 over the last seven games and the past two games.

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

Date: Monday, March 31, 2025
Time: 7:00PM EST
Site: Capital One Arena
City: Washington, DC
Network/Streaming:

Game odds for Heat vs. Wizards

The latest odds as of Monday:

Odds: Heat (-344), Wizards (+273)
Spread: Heat -8.5
Over/Under: 221 points

That gives the Heat an implied team point total of 113.79, and the Wizards 109.36.

Expert picks & predictions for Monday’s Heat vs. Wizards game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes the Heat for ML parlays:

"Miami is on a positve four-game winning streak to give them some life down the stretch compared to Washington who is in the middle of their tankathon. The Wizards have dropped six of the past seven games and I think the losing continues here hosting Miami. It's Heat ML for parlays with a lean of Miami -8.5 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.

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 & Wizards 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 Washington Wizards at +8.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 221.

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Heat vs. Wizards on Monday

The Heat have a 33-41 record but are on a 4-game winning streak
The Under is 25-20 in the Wizards' matchups against Eastern Conference teams this season
The Heat have gone 35-39 ATS this season
The Heat have gone 35-39 ATS this season

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)

March 31, 2025

3 questions Knicks face down the stretch with 2025 NBA playoffs on the horizon

The 2024-25 season has been a success for the Knicks. After a 110-93 win on Sunday night against the Portland Trail Blazers, the 47-27 Knicks are in third place in the Eastern Conference with eight games remaining in the regular season. New York is on pace to finish with its most wins in a season in 12 years.

However, there are some questions the club faces as the playoffs rapidly approach such as its defense and depth. Let’s look at three questions for the Knicks right now.

Will the defense hold up?

A top-five ranked offense has largely been the reason for New York’s success this season. Defense has been a lot more inconsistent. New York is currently 13th in defensive efficiency, giving up 113.4 points per 100 possessions.

It’s notable that since point guard Jalen Brunson has been out with an ankle injury, New York is ranked seventh in defensive efficiency. Brunson and center Karl-Anthony Towns give the Knicks two pressure points that opposing offenses can attack. In the regular season, several teams such as the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder relentlessly hunted both stars.

It’s very hard when your two best offensive players are your weakest defenders. Teams will go after both players in the playoffs. New York will need both Brunson and Towns on the floor to create for the offense, but defense will loom large if the Knicks are going to make a deep playoff run.

Can Anunoby and Bridges step up?

Brunson’s injury has caused Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby to step into larger roles. On Sunday night, both wings guided the Knicks to a win against Portland with 28 points apiece. In 12 games without Brunson, Anunoby is averaging 22.8 points and 5.3 reboundswhile Bridges is putting up 22.2 points and 5.2 assists.

Anunoby and Bridges have experienced ups and downs this season, but both are playing their best basketball at the right time. The Knicks traded five first-round picks for Bridges and re-signed Anunoby to a five-year, $212.5 million contract last offseason. Those deals came with the thought that both players would be able to help elevate the team in high leverage situations.

If the Knicks are going to make noise in the postseason, both Bridges and Anunoby will have to make significant contributions. Both players will be tasked with guarding the top offensive options of opponents. But they will also need to provide some scoring to ease the heavy offensive burden that sits with Brunson and Towns. This recent stretch is a step in the right direction.

Do the Knicks have enough depth?

The Knicks have been last in the NBA in bench points throughout this entire season. Even with the return of Mitchell Robinson from injury and increased minutes for Landry Shamet, New York’s depth has been shaky.

This issue could be mitigated by the playoff environment. The postseason usually sees coaches cut rotations and increase minutes for core players. Last season, Josh Hart played at least 48 minutes on four occasions in the playoffs and Brunson saw the floor for at least 40 minutes in seven of 13 games.

New York head coach Tom Thibodeau is likely to rely heavily on its starting five. Also, expect Miles McBride and Robinson to figure into significant roles with Cam Payne and Shamet taking up the rest of available minutes at the start of the playoffs. An injury to any of the team’s starters would be a cause for concern.

March 31, 2025

Kings vs. Pacers Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 31

It’s Monday, March 31, and the Sacramento Kings (36-38) and Indiana Pacers (43-31) are all set to square off from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The Kings are currently 17-19 on the road with a point differential of 0, while the Pacers have an 8-2 record in their last ten games at home. The Pacers won the only meeting versus the Kings this season, 122-95 on December 22.

Sacramento and Indiana are both coming off blowout losses of 20 points or more. The Kings are 1-5 over the last six games, while the Pacers are 8-3 in the previous 11 contests and 6-2 over the past eight.

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

Date: Monday, March 31, 2025
Time: 7:00PM EST
Site: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
City: Indianapolis, IN
Network/Streaming:

Game odds for Kings vs. Pacers

The latest odds as of Monday:

Odds: Kings (+184), Pacers (-223)
Spread: Pacers -5.5
Over/Under: 235 points

That gives the Kings an implied team point total of 116.53, and the Pacers 119.4.

Expert picks & predictions for Monday’s Kings vs. Pacers game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans Tyrese Haliburton to go Under 32.5 PRA:

"Tyrese Haliburton's streak of 12 straight double-doubles was snapped over the last two contests and he's averaged 23.5 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.0 rebounds against the Wizards and Thunder (31.0 PRA). While Indiana is back at home, they are coming off a two-game road trip and a 21-point loss. The Kings are in the final play-in spot for the West, so there is likely urgency on that side and a plan for Haliburton after following up a 20-point loss. I lean the Kings and Haliburton to go Under 32.5 PRA."

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

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 & Pacers 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 Sacramento Kings at +5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under on the Game Total of 235.

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Kings vs. Pacers on Monday

The Pacers are 8-2 in their last 10 home games
The Over is 39-35 in Kings' games this season
The Pacers have covered in 8 of their 9 matchups against Western Conference Pacific Division teams this season
The Pacers have won 4 of their last 5 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)

March 31, 2025

Jazz vs. Hornets Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 31

It’s Monday, March 31, and the Utah Jazz (16-59) and Charlotte Hornets (18-56) are all set to square off from Spectrum Center in Charlotte.

The Jazz are currently 7-29 on the road with a point differential of -9, while the Hornets have a 3-7 record in their last ten games at home. Charlotte won the only meeting of the season versus Utah, 117-112, on January 15.

Utah has lost the past five games and 15 of the previous 16 contests. Charlotte also dropped the past five games and seven of the last eight outings.

Game details & how to watch Jazz vs. Hornets live today

Date: Monday, March 31, 2025
Time: 7:00PM EST
Site: Spectrum Center
City: Charlotte, NC
Network/Streaming:

Game odds for Jazz vs. Hornets

The latest odds as of Monday:

Odds: Jazz (-115), Hornets (-104)
Spread: Jazz -1
Over/Under: 219 points

That gives the Jazz an implied team point total of 109.77, and the Hornets 109.25.

Expert picks & predictions for Monday’s Jazz vs. Hornets game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Under between the Jazz and Hornets:

"Utah has the rest advantage here with two days of rest compared to Charlotte who lost last night to the Pelicans (98-94). Charlotte rested its starters over the final eight minutes of a close contest with New Orleans last night, signaling the tank is on. It's hard to trust either team, I'd lean toward the Jazz if I had to pick a winner, but Under is likely the best bet in an ugly contest."

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

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 Jazz & Hornets game:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Charlotte Hornets on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Charlotte Hornets at +1.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 219.

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Jazz vs. Hornets on Monday

The Jazz have won 5 of their last 6 games at the Hornets
7 of the Hornets' last 9 home matchups with the Jazz have gone over the Total
The Hornets have failed to cover in their last 5 games
The Jazz have won 5 of their last 6 games at the Hornets

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)

March 31, 2025

Rockets vs. Lakers Odds, predictions, recent stats, trends and Best bets for March 31

Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Preview

The Houston Rockets (49-26) and Los Angeles Lakers (45-29) are all set to square off from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

The Houston Rockets played last night. They embarrassed the Phoenix Suns 148-109. Now they travel to LA to take on the Lakers. The Rockets are 7-9 with no rest this season.

The Lakers could use a win tonight. They picked up a win against the Grizzlies, but haven’t been great recently.

The Rockets are currently 22-14 on the road with a point differential of 5, while the Lakers 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.

Game details & how to watch Rockets vs. Lakers live today

Date: Monday, March 31, 2025
Time: 10:00PM EST
Site: Crypto.com Arena
City: Los Angeles, CA
Network/Streaming:

Odds: Rockets (+157), Lakers (-189)
Spread: Lakers -5
Over/Under: 226 points

That gives the Rockets an implied team point total of 112.03, and the Lakers 114.63.

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 Monday's Rockets vs. Lakers 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 Lakers -4…

Thomas: “The Rockets are on the second half of a back-to-back. I don’t love how the Lakers have been playing, but this is a game they have to take advantage of.

Unfortunately, they are only 8-10 ATS with a rest advantage this season. However, now with Doncic and James side by side, they should be able to better that number tonight.”

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 & Lakers game:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Los Angeles Lakers on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Houston Rockets at +5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under on the Game Total of 226.

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. Lakers on Monday

The Lakers are on an 8-game win streak at home to the Rockets
The Lakers' last 3 matchups against Western Conference teams have gone over the Total
The Rockets have covered in 25 of their 45 matchups against Western Conference teams this season
The Rockets have covered in 21 of their 37 road games this season

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)

March 31, 2025

Nets vs. Mavericks Odds, predictions, recent stats, trends and Best bets for March 31

Brooklyn Nets vs. Dallas Mavericks Preview

The Brooklyn Nets (24-51) and Dallas Mavericks (37-38) are all set to square off from American Airlines Center in Dallas.

The Nets ended their six-game losing streak on Saturday with a win against the Washington Wizards.

The Mavericks were wounded when they lost Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic, they have steadied a bit now. They are .500 in their last 10 games, and are on a two-game winning streak.

The Nets are currently 13-26 on the road with a point differential of -7, while the Mavericks have a 5-5 record in their last ten games at home.

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

Date: Monday, March 31, 2025
Time: 8:30PM EST
Site: American Airlines Center
City: Dallas, TX
Network/Streaming:

Game odds for Nets vs. Mavericks

The latest odds as of Monday:

Odds: Nets (+446), Mavericks (-613)
Spread: Mavericks -11.5
Over/Under: 220 points

That gives the Nets an implied team point total of 108.95, and the Mavericks 114.94.

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 Monday's Nets vs. Mavericks 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.

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 & Mavericks game:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Dallas Mavericks on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Brooklyn Nets at +11.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 220.

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 Nets vs. Mavericks on Monday

The Mavericks have won 10 of their last 12 games against the Nets
The Mavericks' last 3 home games have gone over the Total
The Nets are 4-1 against the spread in their last 5 road games
The Nets have covered in 4 straight games as a road underdog

March 31, 2025

Bulls vs. Thunder Best bets: Odds, predictions, recent stats, trends for March 31

Chicago Bulls vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Preview

The Chicago Bulls (33-41) and Oklahoma City Thunder (62-12) are all set to square off from Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.

The Bulls have won seven of their last 10 games. They have moved into the ninth position on the Eastern Conference.

The Thunder have the best record in the NBA and have won nine straight games.

The Bulls are currently 19-18 on the road with a point differential of -2, while the Thunder have an 8-2 record in their last ten games at home.

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

Date: Monday, March 31, 2025
Time: 8:00PM EST
Site: Paycom Center
City: Oklahoma City, OK
Network/Streaming:

Game odds for Bulls vs. Thunder

The latest odds as of Monday:

Odds: Bulls (+690), Thunder (-1087)
Spread: Thunder -15
Over/Under: 239 points

That gives the Bulls an implied team point total of 118.55, and the Thunder 126.37.

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 Monday's Bulls 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 the under on Coby White 24.5 points…

Thomas: “White is in a tough matchup tonight. The Thunder give up the fewest points to point guards this season.

This bet is not for the faint of heart. White has scored at least 25 points in eight of his last 10 games.

With a defensive assignment against Lu Dort, it could be a long night for White.”

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 Bulls & Thunder 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 +15.
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 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 Bulls vs. Thunder on Monday

The Bulls have won 7 of their last 10 games as an underdog
The Bulls' last 4 road games have gone over the Total
The Bulls have covered in 9 of their last 11 road games
The Bulls have covered in 20 of their 37 road games this season

March 31, 2025

Celtics vs. Grizzlies Odds, predictions, recent stats, trends and Best bets for March 31

Boston Celtics vs. Memphis Grizzlies Preview

The Boston Celtics (55-19) and Memphis Grizzlies (44-30) are all set to square off from FedExForum in Memphis.

The Celtics continue to play great basketball. They have won eight straight games and nine of their last 10. Jayson Tatum is back from injury, but the Celtics may be without Jaylen Brown.

The Grizzlies are finally back to being a healthy squad. However, the biggest news comes from the head coach vacancy. Taylor Jenkins was relieved of his duties over the weekend. It was a move that caused a big stir, because the Grizzlies are fifth in the Western Conference.

The Celtics are currently 31-7 on the road with a point differential of 9, while the Grizzlies have a 4-6 record in their last ten games at home.

Game details & how to watch Celtics vs. Grizzlies live today

Date: Monday, March 31, 2025
Time: 7:30PM EST
Site: FedExForum
City: Memphis, TN
Network/Streaming:

Game odds for Celtics vs. Grizzlies

The latest odds as of Monday:

Odds: Celtics (-189), Grizzlies (+156)
Spread: Celtics -4.5
Over/Under: 235 points

That gives the Celtics an implied team point total of 118.97, and the Grizzlies 116.62.

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 Monday's Celtics vs. Grizzlies 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 betting on the Celtics -5…

Thomas: “When the Grizzlies appoint a new head coach, that will be the game to take them. Not tonight. The Grizzlies are a team that, despite being 5^th in the Western Conference, is on a bad run of form.

This Celtics team is great offensively and defensively. It’s a match-up nightmare for the Grizzlies, too.”

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 Celtics & Grizzlies game:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Boston Celtics on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Memphis Grizzlies at +4.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 235.

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 Celtics vs. Grizzlies on Monday

The Celtics have won their last 7 road games, while the Grizzlies have lost 6 of their last 8
The Under is 42-33 in the Celtics' road games and the Grizzlies' home games combined this season
The Celtics are 4-1 against the spread in their last 5 games
The Celtics have won 17 of their last 20 games on the road

March 31, 2025

Kuminga questionable for Warriors-Grizzlies with pelvic injury

Kuminga questionable for Warriors-Grizzlies with pelvic injury originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Jonathan Kuminga’s status for the Warriors’ high-stakes game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday has been updated after a notable change in his injury.

Kuminga, who had a hard fall in Sunday’s 148-106 blowout win over the San Antonio Spurs, is questionable for Golden State’s matchup in Memphis with a right pelvic contusion. His injury originally was listed as right ankle soreness.

The injury occurred when Kuminga drove to the rim in the second quarter and was knocked down by two Spurs defenders. He initially said he was OK before slowly walking to the Warriors’ locker room.

Jonathan Kuminga went to the locker room after taking a hard fall in today's game pic.twitter.com/2wiVMSuqLY
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) March 30, 2025

After the game, Kuminga told the San Francisco Chronicle’s Sam Gordon he’s “straight” and is hopeful he won’t miss any more time due to injury.

Kuminga returned from a 31-day injury absence in Golden State’s 130-104 victory over the Sacramento Kings on March 13. In nine games since his return, he’s averaging 13.1 points on 43.8 percent shooting, with 3.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 21.6 minutes.

The injury came just one game after Kuminga showcased his importance to the Warriors, finishing with 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field and 6 of 8 from the free-throw line, adding eight rebounds, three assists and one steal in 23 minutes in a 111-95 win over the New Orleans Pelicans last Friday.

Memphis (44-30) currently has a one-game advantage over Golden State (43-31) for the Western Conference’s No. 5 playoff seed. The Minnesota Timberwolves sit a half-game back of the Warriors for the sixth seed.

Long story short: Tuesday is a massive game for both the Warriors and Grizzlies as the playoff race continues to tighten in the wild, wild West — and Kuminga’s availability will play a major role in Golden State’s chances to pull out a victory.

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March 31, 2025

Draymond admits he didn't always love playing defense for Warriors

Draymond admits he didn't always love playing defense for Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

As difficult as it is to believe, Warriors forward Draymond Green didn’t always love defense.

But as the four-time NBA champion eventually realized, honing in on his defensive skills was his most viable pathway into a starting role with Golden State.

Green joined NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole and Kerith Burke on the latest “Dubs Talk,” where he was asked about what led to him becoming one of the most established defenders in the league.

“When I came in [to the NBA], defense wasn’t my thing,” Green told Poole and Burke. “I passed the ball. I shot the ball. I created on offense. That’s what I did, but that wasn’t the path to the court. My path to the court had to be defensively.”

With the emergence of the Splash Brothers – guards Steph Curry and Klay Thompson – and David Lee as the Warriors’ undisputed starting forward, Green acknowledges he had no other alternative.

“Steph Curry, Klay Thompson – two young guys emerging – an offensive-minded power forward, All-Star, who in the post can scroll with the best of them,” Green added. “Remember, these are the days you actually had to throw the ball into the post, actually going to scroll [with] two bigs.

“These are those days. I’m behind that guy, David Lee. I don’t score better than him, so my path onto the court ain’t going to be that. How can I get on this floor?

“And the only way I can get on the floor was to get stops defensively. So, I’m immediately like, ‘I got to get stops. I got to lock in so much defensively that that’s going to be my path onto the court.’

Fast forward more than a decade, and Green’s bet on focusing on the defensive side of the game paid off.

In 2017, the veteran forward won the Defensive Player of the Year award. And although it’s the only DPOY trophy in his decorated case, Green is considered by many as one of the greatest defensive players of all time.

This season, on the other hand, Green has made a case for a second DPOY award, which would further solidify his status as one of the greats in the category.

And, ironically enough, Green’s perspective on playing defense has completely shifted from his earliest days as a professional.

“Honestly, I absolutely love playing defense,” Green concluded. “I genuinely enjoy getting back on defense, watching the offense come down the court and looking at this like: How am I going to stop this play right now? Like, I genuinely enjoy it.

“Everyone wants to play offense, let’s face it. We all want to get the ball. We want to score. We want to get the assist. Offense is fun. Defense isn’t so fun for certain people. I absolutely love it.”

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March 31, 2025

Report: KD to miss at least one week with left ankle sprain

Report: KD to miss at least one week with left ankle sprain originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Phoenix Suns’ 2024-25 NBA season has gone from bad to worse.

Star forward Kevin Durant reportedly will miss at least one week after spraining his left ankle on Sunday.

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the news Monday.

Kevin Durant left the game after injuring his ankle on this play. pic.twitter.com/OUJ3YmZO7I
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 31, 2025

The Suns are 35-40 on the season, sitting 11th in the Western Conference — a game and a half behind the Sacramento Kings (36-38) for the final spot in the Play-In Tournament.

The 36-year-old Durant has been a steadying force for the Suns this season despite the team’s struggles. He’s played in 62 games while averaging 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists.

With just seven games remaining in the final two weeks of the regular season, there’s now serious question about Durant’s availability the rest of the way. Charania said Durant will miss the Suns’ three-game road trip (against the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics and New York Knicks), which means the earliest he could return is April 8 against the Golden State Warriors.

Durant, Team USA’s all-time leading scorer, has one year and $54.7 million remaining on his contract with Phoenix after this season.

March 31, 2025

Suns' Kevin Durant leaves game with rolled ankle, will not join team to start road trip on Tuesday

A Phoenix Suns team desperately in need of wins could be without Kevin Durant for at least the start of a critical three-game road trip after Durant rolled his ankle on Sunday night against Houston.

The injury happened with 6:57 left in the third quarter, when the Suns were already down by 35. Durant drove the lane, stepped on Rockets’ Jabari Smith Jr.'s foot, and went to the ground. Durant had to be helped off the court and did not return to the game.

Here’s a closer look at the ankle injury Kevin Durant just suffered:

Hope KD’s okay pic.twitter.com/58Y4rzW6sj https://t.co/cNbbrTe5jY
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 31, 2025

There was no update on Durant's status postgame, he is set to get an MRI on Monday, although it's telling that he will stay in Phoenix when the Suns head out for Milwaukee for the start of a three-game road trip on Tuesday. The Suns have six games remaining, spread across the next two weeks — it is very possible Durant could miss the rest of this season.

The Suns went on to lose to the Rockets 148-109 and are now 1.5 games behind the Kings for the final play-in spot in the West. Phoenix has lost three in a row, two of those by 30+ points, and is trending in the wrong direction. If Durant is going to miss time, the Suns' odds of making the postseason become very slim, and the question of whether to shut down Devin Booker and others for the season becomes very real.

March 31, 2025

Crunching the numbers on Luke Kornet's career season with Celtics

Crunching the numbers on Luke Kornet's career season with Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Luke Kornet credits his high school geometry studies for his uptick in rebounding numbers this season.

But you don’t need to have taken any fancy statistics courses to know just how impactful the big man has been this season.

The 7-foot-2 Kornet, who re-signed with Boston this past summer on a minimum-salary contract, has emerged as one of the most impactful centers in the NBA this season. Given his impact, you could make the case that he has one of the highest-value contracts in the entire league.

Just check out some of the numbers:

Nothing but net… rating

Kornet ranks fourth in the NBA in net rating, with Boston outscoring opponents by 14.4 points per 100 possessions during his floor time. Oklahoma City Thunder players account for five of the top six spots in the league, with Kornet the only outlier atop a list of 208 players who have played 18+ minutes per game in 50+ appearances this season.

A year ago, Sam Hauser (+14.2) and Payton Pritchard (+13.6) topped both the Celtics and the NBA in net rating, with Boston slotting four players in the top six spots en route to an NBA title. This season, it’s Kornet who seems to be keying Boston’s reserve lineups with his positive impact on the court.

Kornet also tops the team in net rating differential. The team is 7.7 points per 100 possessions better when he’s on the court versus off. The next best differential on the team: Al Horford at +3.9 (+11.3 on, +7.4 off).

Often a plus, rarely a minus

The Celtics were a team-best +21 in Kornet’s 31 minutes on the floor during Saturday’s win in San Antonio. It’s the seventh time this season that the Celtics have been +20 or better in Kornet’s minutes. In fact, Kornet has been +10 or better in 27 games this season.

Kornet has finished in the positive for plus/minus in 40 of his 66 appearances this season. Kornet ranks 22nd overall in the NBA with a raw plus/minus of +345 this year.

More “net” gains

ESPN debuted a new “Net Points” metric this season that aims to spotlight the players most directly contributing to their team’s point differential.

Kornet ranks 17th overall in their rankings, one spot behind LeBron James. He’s one spot ahead of Anthony Davis (which essentially means the Mavericks probably would have been better off trading Luka Doncic for Kornet, based on impact this season).

Kornet sits 12th in defensive net points and 41st in offensive net points. The only Boston player ahead of him on the overall net points leaderboard is Tatum, who is sixth overall.

Luke in the two-man game

All three of Boston’s top two-man lineups (at least 500 minutes played together) feature Kornet.

The Kornet-Hauser combo tops the team at +15.7 in 552 minutes together. Kornet-Derrick White is +15.4 in 655 minutes, while the Kornet-Tatum combo is +15.0 in 815 minutes.

Among the 293 two-man combos with at least 800 minutes played together this season, that Kornet-Tatum combo is sixth overall in the NBA, sitting behind five OKC combos. (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-Aaron Wiggins tops the NBA at +18.8).

Kornet, Tatum and the bench

One of Boston’s most successful five-man lineups this season has featured Tatum running alongside Kornet, Hauser, and Pritchard. That trio has a +18.9 net rating in 291 minutes together and owns an offensive rating of 130.2 in that span.

Boston’s preferred starters have struggled to be as impactful as they were a season ago, but the Tatum-and-the-bench lineups have cleaned up a lot of those struggles.

Double bigs thrive with Kornet

The Celtics have leaned heavily on double-big lineups this season, and Kornet has been vital to the success the team has enjoyed with pairing two of their four bigs together:

The bottom line

The Celtics are now 31-6 when Kornet plays 16+ minutes this season. That’s a .838 winning percentage, or a 69-win pace over 82 games.

Boston is just 24-13 (.649) when Kornet plays fewer than 16 minutes or is a DNP.