Category: Basketball

Deandre Ayton knew what he was doing wasn’t working. 

With the Lakers in the midst of a push for playoff seeding, and the collective sense of urgency of the team rising, the 7-foot big man knew he needed to pick it up. 

Being left behind wasn’t an option.

And not only has Ayton “caught up with the team,” as he put it after the Lakers’ win over the Bulls on Thursday, but he’s delivering in the ways the Lakers are needing.

Hustling on the glass.

Setting physical screens.  

Rolling to the rim hard after pick and rolls. 

Taking advantage of favorable offensive matchups inside of the paint.

Being a presence as the last line of defense. 

“[I] felt like I picked up my energy and my focus,” Ayton said on Thursday night. “And I finally caught up with the team. That’s about it.”

The difference in Ayton’s play and the impact on his counting stats were easier to see when the Lakers hosted the Bulls.

He finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds for his 12th 20-10 game of the season. 

Over half (six) of Ayton’s rebounds came on the offensive glass, which tied a season-high, 

But the difference in the way Ayton played over the last three games and the way he was playing the week before sitting out of the March 6 home win over the Pacers is different. 

He’s chasing rebounds and rolling to the rim harder. There’s a greater intensity and sense of urgency to his game.

“If something’s not working, you’re gonna fix it,” Ayton said. “Just gotta get up and fix it. That’s all. There was nothing that led to it.”

Regardless of the reason, Ayton is putting together a level of consistency in how he plays that hasn’t been seen since the early couple of months of the season. 

“As a team, we have been trying to find and build towards consistency – that’s the individual, that’s the group,” coach JJ Redick said. “We know what DA is capable of. I think Austin [Reaves] said this recently: he is an X factor for us, if not the X factor. Because him playing at a high level raises our ceiling. It changes the makeup of our team.”

Ayton’s status as the Lakers’ X factor was already known – evident by the fact they’re 27-8 when he grabs at least eight rebounds. They’re 24-9 when he takes at least eight shot attempts. 

And when Ayton has at least eight rebounds and eight shot attempts in the same game, the Lakers are 22-6. 

But why is he the team’s X factor?

Because for as athletic and an ideal fit that backup Jaxson Hayes may be alongside Luka Doncic, who likes playing with rim-running centers, Ayton has the talent, size and strength to neautralize team’s other big men, like Ayton’s done to Rudy Gobert when the Lakers played the Timberwolves this season, sweeping the regular season series, 3-0.

Because when the Lakers’ best players aren’t in a rhythm as scorers, he can create offense for himself in ways most of them don’t: rolls to the basket, quick seals on smaller plays or crashing the offensive glass.

“He saw a small guy and he was just playing bully ball down there,” Doncic said of Ayton against the Bulls. “Kind of fed him a couple times. He’s been doing an amazing job.”

Ayton adds layers to the Lakers, diversifying the way they can win sequences of a game. 

Like he did during the first quarter with his interior play against the Knicks on Sunday. Or the second quarter of Tuesday’s win over the Timberwolves, when he had 12 points and five rebounds in the quarter. Like he did throughout the win over the Bulls.

Doncic, Reaves and LeBron James may be the driving forces for the Lakers’ success. But Ayton and the determining factor of much success the team will ultimately achieve in a Western Conference filled with talented big men.

It’s one of the biggest reasons the last several days have been so encouraging for the Lakers.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t mean to define an all-time great NBA career with a throwaway line after a regular season win two years ago. It just worked out that way.

“My whole life is consistent,” Gilgeous-Alexander said in front of ESPN’s cameras following a March 2024 win over the Miami Heat. “Everything I do. From what I eat, to when I sleep, to my recovery, to my loved ones, everything is consistent. It’s a routine for me at this point.”

Gilgeous-Alexander’s comment became a meme as his teammates began hooting and hollering in the background. At the time, he was just starting to enter the MVP race, and the Thunder were in their first year as an elite team. While that season would end in disappointment in the second round of the playoffs, SGA and OKC would both get the salvation they were looking for the next year: his first MVP award and the franchise’s first NBA championship.

It’s easy to think back to Gilgeous-Alexander’s suddenly infamous quote after he broke an impossible NBA record on Thursday night. As the Thunder beat the Boston Celtics in a possible 2026 NBA Finals preview, SGA scored 20 or more points in his 127th consecutive regular-season game to break the NBA record held by Wilt Chamberlain. While basically no one was aware of Chamberlain’s record before SGA threatened to break it, it’s a remarkable feat from a remarkable talent who feels suddenly feels like he’s surpassed Nikola Jokic for the mythical title of Best Player in the World.

How wild is Shai’s record? Consider this:

• Michael Jordan’s longest streak of scoring 20+ is 72 games.
• LeBron James’ longest streak of scoring 20+ is 49 games.
• Kobe Bryant’s longest streak of scoring 20+ is 63 games.

In fact, Gilgeous-Alexander hasn’t even needed all four quarters to get to 20 points in the vast majority of his games. About 89 percent of the time, SGA has reached 20 points before the fourth quarter.

The craziest part about Shai passing Wilt tonight is that Shai had 20 points by the end of the 3rd Quarter in 113 of the 127 games.

— Sam Humphreys (@SamHumphreys34) March 13, 2026

Gilgeous-Alexander is peaking at an all-time high level at 27 years old, and he’s about to force some uncomfortable conversations. He’s lapped Jokic in my preferred all-in-on advanced metric EPM (which estimates a player’s total impact on team performance per 100 possessions): SGA leads the league at +9.6 right now, Jokic is second at +8.9, and Victor Wembanyama is third at +7.6.

That’s just the start of it. SGA is the best player in the world right now, but he’s also quickly becoming one of the best guards of all-time. Here’s how SGA rates against some of the greats by DPM, which again measures a player’s impact on team performance per 100 possessions. He’s the blue line in this graph, and only trails Steph Curry:

Gilgeous-Alexander’s peak has clearly surpassed Kobe and James Harden, and just about lines up with Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade, who I didn’t include for the sake of clarity. Play with the tool yourself here.

Shai is better than ever this year, too. Long known as a mid-range assassin with a special ability to get to the foul line, he’s now added a newly improved step-back three that makes him even harder to guard. He’s had multiple three-point daggers to win games this year, including one earlier this week to beat the rival Denver Nuggets.

SGA GAME-WINNER VS. THE NUGGETS 🎯🔥 pic.twitter.com/KP6U0RXSW7

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 10, 2026

Some fans like to reduce SGA’s success to flopping, but that’s crazy talk. Yes, he gets a lot of free throws, but so does every all-time great. Luka Doncic averages one more free throw per game than Shai, but he doesn’t get called a flopper nearly as often. If you go by free throw attempts per 36 minutes, SGA is tied with Deni Avdija. Yes, he does regularly exaggerate contact to get to the line, but that’s not why he’s so great.

This is a guard in complete mastery of his game: his handle is extremely tight, his mid-range game is money every time, and he’s a solid defender. At 6’6 with a 7-foot wingspan, Shai has the same measurements as Michael Jordan, and it gives him a shot that’s extremely hard to contest when he rises and fires. Like MJ, SGA is also sneaky strong and can discard defenders when he needs to. Like MJ, he’s quickly becoming known for a push-off.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the NBA’s Joe DiMaggio with this streak, but he’s even more than that. He’s becoming one of the best we’ve ever seen, and that will be more apparent if OKC can break the NBA’s parity era to become the first team to win back-to-back championships since Kevin Durant’s Golden State Warriors in 2017-2018.

There’s no reason to diminish what SGA is doing right now. It should be celebrated at the highest level. If Wilt Chamberlain was playing against plumbers and milkmen when he set the streak in 1961-1963 — which isn’t true, either — what SGA is doing at an average NBA height is just absurd, historical stuff. Appreciate his greatness while you can.

Meaningless basketball is back in Philadelphia.

Watching the 76ers lose to the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night felt like a harkening back to the Process days of yore. With nearly the entire roster injured or suspended, the Sixers rolled out a group against the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons that contained rookie VJ Edgecombe, Quentin Grimes and nine guys who were originally undrafted, on a two-way contract, playing in Europe a month ago, or more or less a coach. Oh yeah, and the Sixers literally had no centers, ironic for a franchise that we once joked could start an entire lineup of centers.

A debate has broken out in Sixers circles about whether or not the team should tank. Folks, they don’t need to. This broken-down roster will take care of things for itself. They may catch the stray Cam Payne heater here and there to beat a tanking team like Memphis, but the losses are coming.

However, unlike true tanking days when we fans had to wait until the NBA Draft Lottery to see the fruits of the team’s labors, the Play-In Tournament now looms as the next meaningful moment for the franchise. With 16 games remaining, the Sixers are 2.5 games back of the sixth-seeded Heat, and 7.5 games ahead of the 11th-seeded Bucks, so they are almost assuredly Play-In-bound.

The Play-In seems a fitting place for Philadelphia, a nexus of not-quite Playoff Basketball that represents a ‘can’t lose’ proposition for Sixers fans. In one scenario, the Sixers could be defeated in the Play-In Tournament, and everyone can root for the something like four percent chance that the ping pong balls will bounce our way and get this organization back on track after this back half of the season has been completely derailed. That’s very familiar ground, and honestly, probably the best hope for the franchise long-term, even if it’s a long shot.

In another scenario, the Sixers could revert to the team from the first half of the season. Tyrese Maxey’s pinky heals just fine. Joel Embiid finds another pocket period of reasonably good health. Paul George will be back from suspension (which, by the way, I feel like people should have carte blanche to pursue mental health by whatever means necessary while being in the orbit of the Sixers organization). They could very plausibly have the normal roster back, win the necessary game or two in the Play-In Tournament, and once again become the team ‘nobody wants to face’ in the first round. If nothing else, playing against that Pistons group with a full roster would make for a fun two weeks. Imagine all the Tobias Harris jokes we could get off!

So yes, this last month or so of the season will likely be very meaningless. It’s perfectly reasonable to use the time to get outside or reconnect with family rather than grind film from blowout losses to determine whether MarJon Beauchamp deserves a standard NBA contract (and if that’s your thing, that’s cool too!). But unlike prior years when meaningful basketball was at best returning in the fall, we only have to wait until mid-April.

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The Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Clippers meet for the second time, but there won't be many familiar faces. Chicago won on Jan. 20 and dealt away players that combined for 78 points in that game. The Clippers traded away 39 points of production.

The makeover served the Clippers well. L.A. is on a hot streak, while Chicago has gone in the other direction. 

That trend line should continue, as my Bulls vs. Clippers predictions and NBA picks see the Clips covering.

Bulls vs Clippers prediction

Bulls vs Clippers best bet: Clippers -13.5 (-110)

Trading away or parting with James Harden, Ivica Zubac, and Chris Paul has revived the Los Angeles Clippers' offense. L.A. has improved its record by 16 games since a late-December low point, a record midseason turnaround.

L.A. has covered seven of the last eight, including a 153-point outburst on Wednesday, while bullying lesser teams, winning their last five games favored by double-digits by an average margin of 26.4.

The Chicago Bulls, who traded Ayo Dosunmu, Coby White, Kevin Huerter, and Nikola Vucevic, are 3-3 since snapping an 11-game skid, have covered just two of the last five as double-digit dogs.

Bulls vs Clippers same-game parlay

The Clippers have gone Over in five straight and eight of the last 10. Chicago has the third fastest pace in the league, which plays right into the Clippers' hands.

Kawhi Leonard has been on a heater. He's led the team in scoring in 16 of the last 18 and has averaged over 30 points since Dec. 20. His lowest point total in the last five was 28.

Bulls vs Clippers SGP

• Clippers -13.5
• Over 234.5 points
• Kawhi Leonard Over 29.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Points Parade!

Bennedict Mathurin has quickly become Los Angeles' second scoring option since arriving from Indiana at the deadline. He's scored 21 or more in four of the last five and has hit 4-of-9 from three over the last two games.

The Bulls will get plenty of possessions in this shootout, and Josh Giddey should reap the benefits as Chicago's top remaining scorer. He's topped 20 in three of the last five and averaged 19.4.

Bulls vs Clippers SGP

• Over 234.5 points
• Kawhi Leonard Over 29.5 points
• Bennedict Mathurin Over 21.5 points
• Josh Giddey Over 18.5 points

Bulls vs Clippers odds

• Spread: Bulls +11 (-110) | Clippers -11 (-110)
• Moneyline: Bulls +415 | Clippers -550
• Over/Under: Over 233 (-110) | Under 233 (-110)

Bulls vs Clippers betting trend to know

The Chicago Bulls have hit the Game Total Over in 25 of their last 40 away games. Find more NBA betting trends for Bulls vs. Clippers.

How to watch Bulls vs Clippers

Bulls vs Clippers latest injuries

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The Detroit Pistons welcome the Memphis Grizzlies to Little Caesars Arena tonight, with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m. ET.

Cade Cunningham continues to shine as a playmaker, and my Grizzlies vs. Pistons predictions have him dropping dimes this evening.

Read more in my NBA picks for Friday, March 13.

Grizzlies vs Pistons prediction

Grizzlies vs Pistons best bet: Cade Cunningham Over 10.5 assists (-112)

Cade Cunningham is one of the top facilitators in the Association, and the numbers speak for themselves. The former first overall pick is averaging 10.0 dimes per contest, which ranks second in the league.

The guard is on a tear in March. He’s averaging 11.8 assists this month, and Cunningham has cashed the Over in back-to-back contests. During that span, he’s dished out a whopping 28 dimes.

Cunningham had 13 assists on Thursday against the 76ers. He also compiled 15 dimes on Tuesday versus the Nets. The Memphis Grizzlies are 20th in most assists allowed. Cunningham will cook.

Grizzlies vs Pistons same-game parlay

Jalen Duren has been a monster this season for the first-place Detroit Pistons, averaging 18.5 points and 10.5 rebounds. We’ll focus on his scoring output tonight. The big man has cashed the Over in two of his last three contests.

While Duren only scored 14 on Thursday, that’s because he didn’t play a ton due to Detroit blowing out Philly. He’s also hit the Over in three of his last five home contests.

Tobias Harris is averaging 13.1 ppg this season for the Pistons, and he’s posted Over 11.5 points in two of his last three. The veteran dropped 15 in a revenge game against the Sixers on Thursday.

He’s also hit the Over in back-to-back contests at Little Caesars Arena.

Grizzlies vs Pistons SGP

• Cade Cunningham Over 10.5 assists
• Jalen Duren Over 18.5 points
• Tobias Harris Over 11.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Robinson banks in from beyond the arc

Duncan Robinson has cashed the Over in treys in two straight, and he’s averaging 3.4 makes at home for an impressive 44.2% clip.

Grizzlies vs Pistons SGP

• Cade Cunningham Over 10.5 assists
• Jalen Duren Over 18.5 points
• Tobias Harris Over 11.5 points
• Duncan Robinson Over 2.5 threes

Grizzlies vs Pistons odds

• Spread: Memphis +15.5 (-110) | Detroit -15.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Memphis +750 | Detroit -1200
• Over/Under: Over 232.5 (-110) | Under 232.5 (-110)

Grizzlies vs Pistons betting trend to know

The Detroit Pistons have hit the 2Q Moneyline in 26 of their last 35 games at home (+16.35 Units / 26% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Grizzlies vs. Pistons.

How to watch Grizzlies vs Pistons

Grizzlies vs Pistons latest injuries

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The panic levels are rising in a hurry for the Toronto Raptors after three straight losses, but they’re favorites to right the ship tonight against the Phoenix Suns.

Though some erratic offensive outings have plunged Toronto into play-in uncertainty, my Suns vs. Raptors predictions expect a response from RJ Barrett & Co. here, even with Phoenix chasing a playoff spot of its own.

Read on for my free NBA picks for Friday, March 13.

Suns vs Raptors prediction

Suns vs Raptors best bet: RJ Barrett Over 20.5 points (-105)

It’s all hands on deck for the Toronto Raptors, and RJ Barrett is the man in form.

While Scottie Barnes is dealing with an illness and Brandon Ingram has had some tired outings this month, Barrett is soaring with 23.4 PPG on 60% shooting in March.

He’s scored 20+ points in five of his last six games, and there are positive signs with his 3-pointers after going 17-for-42 in his past eight contests.

Ingram draws so much attention that Barrett likely won’t see the Phoenix Suns’ best defenders tonight. He’s the key to Toronto getting back in the win column.

Suns vs Raptors same-game parlay

A big night from Barrett can be the catalyst for a Raptors win, and the hosts are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 meetings with the Suns.

Phoenix is on the second night of a back-to-back set, and the visitors are 4-9 SU this year with a rest disadvantage.

Jakob Poeltl still doesn’t look fully healthy, but he remains a difference-maker defensively. He’s had at least one block in six straight contests, and I’m picking him to extend that streak here.

Suns vs Raptors SGP

• RJ Barrett Over 20.5 points
• Raptors moneyline
• Jakob Poeltl Over 0.5 blocks

Our "from downtown" SGP: Book It

With Dillon Brooks still out, Phoenix needs the very best of Devin Booker — and he’s coming off a 43-point explosion in Indiana last night.

Look for another complete stat line tonight from Book, who’s dished 22 dimes across his past three games. 

Suns vs Raptors SGP

• Devin Booker Over 26.5 points
• Devin Booker Over 5.5 assists
• Devin Booker Over 3.5 rebounds
• Devin Booker Over 0.5 steals

Suns vs Raptors odds

• Spread: Suns +4.5 | Raptors -4.5
• Moneyline: Suns +155 | Raptors -185
• Over/Under: Over 218.5 | Under 218.5

Suns vs Raptors betting trend to know

The Suns are 5-13 SU this season as road underdogs. Find more NBA betting trends for Suns vs. Raptors.

How to watch Suns vs Raptors

Suns vs Raptors latest injuries

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

For three quarters, the Victor Wembanyama-less San Antonio Spurs looked perfect. They were playing physically, getting out into the passing lanes, forcing the Denver Nuggets to take tough shots, and getting to the basket at will. But three-quarters of stellar basketball isn’t enough to take down Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. It takes a sustained 48 minutes of near-perfect basketball to beat an NBA Title contender without your best player.

The turning point seemed to come late in the third quarter, when Jokic was called for an illegal screen on Stephon Castle. A furious David Adelman challenged the call and was given a technical foul. After that, the Nuggets started to get more calls, and the Spurs’ physical advantage disappeared. Denver was able to get into the paint without Wembanyama there to stop them, and the tides turned quickly.

San Antonio didn’t do itself any favors in the fourth quarter. Some of the bad habits that led to blown leads earlier in the season were back with a vengeance on Thursday night. They turned the ball over, allowed the Nuggets to get out and run, and lost the battle in the paint. The game flipped on its head and was over in a flash.

There shouldn’t be a doomsday parade about the loss. Denver is a tough team, and the Spurs were a few bad bounces away from stealing this one without Wembanyama. It is, however, a reminder of what is ahead of them. In the playoffs, teams won’t roll over and die. It’ll take 48 minutes of sustained, near-perfect play to survive and advance.

Takeaways:

• Castle is developing into a star in front of our eyes. He had his third triple-double of the season, and his second with 30 points. Castle bullied the Nuggets for 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. Most importantly, he shot 4-8 from three. While he’s only shooting 31.2% from deep this season, he is hitting 40.5% of his three-pointers after the All-Star break. Maybe it’s a hot streak, or maybe it’s a sign of legitimate improvement. Either way, when Castle is a threat to hit catch and shoot threes, the Spurs offense looks a lot better.
• Harrison Barnes looked great in his return from injury. The veteran had 20 points off the bench on 6-10 shooting from the field. His jump shot looked great, and he gave San Antonio another steady wing who could create some opportunities off the dribble if needed. He’s a key player to get going heading into the playoffs. Thursday was a start in the right direction.
• Carter Bryant continues to impress. He had 10 points in just 9 minutes against Denver. He still looks a bit awkward out there at times, particularly when he is forced to put the ball on the deck and drive to the basket, but he is finishing at the rim better than he has all season and is knocking down three-pointers. Bryant is knocking down 37.8% of his threes after the ASB.
• It was a true neutral performance from the newest Spur with the best nickname in basketball, Mason “Plumdog Millionaire” Plumlee. He grabbed two rebounds and had two steals while scoring 0 points and having a 0 +/-. He fits well in the Spurs scheme as a third big. He’s adept at dribble handoffs, sets good screens, and is a solid defender on the other end.
• I’m not one to typically complain about officiating, but it was uneven at best on Thursday. You know it’s bad when BOTH head coaches got a technical for complaining about calls.

#1 – Turnovers management

Deep into the season, you have a sense of what the game should look like and what could be a turning point. For this matchup against the last two champions, taking care of the ball while forcing turnovers would be one of the keys to winning overall.

Boston has been the best team in the league at avoiding turnovers, and OKC is right behind them. In the meantime, OKC is also one of the two best teams at forcing turnovers. The goal for the Celtics was to make sure they don’t get dominated in that area so they could stay in the game as long as possible.

Which they did. Both teams lost the ball 12 times, and many of those were caused by the high pressure put on the go-to guys for each team. Jaylen Brown lost the ball 6 times while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander turned it over 4 times.

From these turnovers, both teams did a great job defending the transition as the Celtics scored only 14 points off turnovers and the Thunder 16. The turnover battle being so even is one of the reasons the game was close. Let’s now look at the other layers of that strategic battle.

#2 – Keeping Neemias Queta in the paint

The Celtics and the Thunder went into that game knowing that Queta would hardly defend the opposing center. With Isaiah Hartenstein sidelined, the two centers for OKC were stretch bigs with Chet Holmgren and Jaylin Williams. In these scenarios, Joe Mazzulla and his coaching staff have shown they would rather have a wing like Hauser on the opposing big while Queta defends the opponent’s worst shooter.

On the play above, Queta isn’t concerned at all with Alex Caruso and roams in the paint to make sure he can help on the drive and protect the rim. Yet, as soon as Caruso has the ball, he must defend him and does a great job blocking the layup attempt.

When Caruso was in the weakside corner, it was the perfect situation for Queta because he could come from behind and protect the rim like a goalkeeper. Here, Payton Pritchard is beaten on the drive, but here comes Queta and his long arm.

So, if the Celtics found a way to defend the paint so well, how is it possible that the Thunder had 75% efficiency on shot attempts within four feet of the rim?

#3 – Too many defensive collapses

Despite great effort on defense, especially on SGA, the Celtics made too many mistakes to get the win in the end. It’s little things, but against such an elite team, it makes it hard to win with these defensive errors.

Here for example, Caruso and Queta are on the strong side, which takes away the rim protection. Jordan Walsh stays up to help Pritchard on the ball and that creates a big gap in the paint so Aaron Wiggins can cut and finish at the rim.

The rotations weren’t on point from time to time, leading to way too many easy shots at the rim. Here again, the cut to the paint is open because nobody tags the roll man. It could have been Brown from the strong side or Luka Garza who could have come from the weakside and left Lu Dort alone — but no one showed up and that’s a dunk.

That play shows well why the defense can’t fall asleep even for a second around a great playmaker like SGA. Jaylen switches off the MVP but wants to help in the driving lane. However, he forgets his man on his back and that’s another open shot at the rim for OKC, who made sure to cash out on these defensive mistakes.

Overall, 18 field goals made from 24 attempts at the rim for the Thunder. The Celtics will need to fix that before the next matchup in Boston later this month.

#4 – Flare screen to open corners

While the defense had flaws in its execution, there were also great things going on offensively, especially to open the corner. The Celtics knew the Thunder are a team that will collapse easily to make sure they protect the paint. To use that as an advantage, Boston used a flare screen to attract defenders and open the corner.

Here for example, Queta’s screen and run to the paint absorbs SGA and that leaves Baylor Scheierman open.

While you could think it is accidental and that it was caused by Caruso’s fall (or flop), the Celtics ran the same action a little bit later, this time for a Hugo Gonzalez corner three. This is a great example of how gravity can make a defense break.

#5 – Jaylen Brown’s gravity

Speaking of gravity, Jaylen Brown’s game last night was a statement about the player he has become. Some plays in particular speak loudly, and this one with Sam Hauser is one of them. The Celtics shooters come and set a screen to force a switch on AJ Mitchell but the Thunder defense would rather send two players, even if that leaves one of the best shooters in the NBA open.

This screenshot from his seventh assist also says a lot. There is Dort on his back, Cason Wallace on his right, and Williams in between him and the paint. Because of his gravity, both Pritchard and Queta are open and this leads to another open shot.

Yet, with great gravity comes big responsibilities and sometimes Brown got caught up with bad passes and offensive fouls — but that’s part of the deal. The Thunder were willing to send two players at him and maybe the Celtics could have exploited that a little more rather than forcing the decision with JB.

Of course, he scored 34 points and was able to generate 14 free throws, but this also came with 15 missed shots and 6 turnovers. It is hard to find the right balance when you are responsible for your team’s gravity.

#6 – An isolation tournament

But Jaylen Brown wasn’t the only one hunting for one-on-one shots. SGA and Pritchard also had their share of isolations. Payton started off well with a couple of made shots against Wallace and Holmgren.

And of course, the step-back to close the first half. Despite having three players focused on him and the whole arena expecting him to be the one who shoots.

Despite this good start, the Celtics guard was only able to convert 6 of his 17 shot attempts, struggling from deep with a 2-for-9 mark beyond the line. And while PP and JB had some ups and downs in their isolations, SGA seemed unstoppable with 35 points on 18 shot attempts.

Dealing with SGA scoring was hard, but the Celtics still showed some great things despite the defeat.

#7 – Dealing with a MVP

How do you stop one of the two best players in the NBA? Well, you don’t — but you can pick your poison.

Joe Mazzulla on guarding SGA and how it’s a give and take:

“He’s obviously a great player. So you have to pick your poison and what you're going to take away. He only shot 8 free throws, so that's a part of that.”

Via @NBCSCelticspic.twitter.com/vIOMa7rMOX

— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) March 13, 2026

The Celtics remained very disciplined and avoided, as much as possible, jumping on fakes and getting caught in SGA’s wizardry. Also, the Celtics have something quite remarkable when it comes to defending such a player: a deep roster with a lot of wings.

On this possession SGA uses a screen from Isaiah Joe to get rid of Jordan Walsh’s matchup, but instead he is now defended by Ron Harper Jr., who finds a way to steal the ball with his long arms.

Yet SGA was still the offensive engine for his team, and what might have become even harder against him is forcing him to give the ball away. Not because he doesn’t want to, but because he has improved a lot as a passer.

Despite playing without Jalen Williams and Hartenstein, the point guard was also able to make the whole team shine with nine assists and take advantage of the Celtics’ willingness to put pressure on him. He remained calm and collected and the Celtics lost the minutes he was on the floor by 14 points.

#8 – Dominating the glass

Despite losing because of an offensive rebound, the Celtics won the possession battle against the Thunder because they exploited one of their only weaknesses: the defensive rebound. Especially without Hartenstein.

Because of that impact on the offensive glass, the Celtics had five more possessions overall than the Thunder — and in a game decided by one possession, it could have changed a lot if Chet hadn’t gotten the board at the last second.

But that’s the trick when you play only with wings and guards. Holmgren was taller than anyone else on the court and the Thunder got lucky that the ball bounced near him. Yet the Celtics’ possession battle edge almost won them the game and it will be interesting to see if they can do it again in a couple of weeks.

#9 – The spanish Caruso

What a game from Gonzalez! As often against great teams, his ability to play multiple positions on defense and his motor to win possessions have a direct impact on the game. Just watch this possession where he blocks a triple and steals the ball from SGA on a drive.

Hugo Gonzalez is a special defender

Blocks the three and gets the back tap on SGA for the steal

This kid is insane pic.twitter.com/jA7ToE6Qon

— NikNBA🏀 (@NIKNBAYT) March 13, 2026

That is special. On offense too, the juice he brings in transition and on the offensive board makes the team far better in the possession battle when he is on the court. Look how fast he is to get to the other end of the court for a layup.

Against OKC and Alex Caruso, analysts across the internet quickly saw how much Hugo Gonzalez could be inspired by the two-time NBA champion’s path, and how much he already impacts the game like him.

Hugo "6'6 Alex Caruso" Gonzalez. The IQ, motor and hands accuracy is absurd. pic.twitter.com/5saCuYpEma

— Francesco Semprucci (@fra_sempru) March 13, 2026

#10 – No place like home

Six games out of seven at home in the next weeks for the Boston Celtics — a great opportunity to get closer to the 50th win. Could Joe Mazzulla’s team use the TD Garden crowd to fuel a run and secure a top-two spot in the East before April?

Jaylen Brown drove left, pump-faked, spun around, and drilled a 19-foot equalizer over Lu Dort, putting the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder at a 102-102 tie with 21.9 seconds left in regulation — without Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, and Nikola Vučević.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla started the unusual lineup of Brown, Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Neemias Queta, and Baylor Scheierman. That combination has only played together six times this season, for a total of 21 minutes, but the team was limited in options. It wasn’t the ideal situation going up against the reigning NBA champions and the reigning MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Yet, somehow, Boston made it work and nearly pulled off the upset in Thursday night’s 104-102 loss.

“Effort was good,” Mazzulla told reporters, per NBC Sports Boston. “It’s effort, toughness, execution. I thought our effort and toughness were great. We played two great teams like that. Obviously, every possession matters, so a couple of possessions didn’t go our way — that’s the difference in the game. I thought we played very well, credit to the guys, and how we have the possessions that we know we have to be better at.”

Early on, it was the bench that elevated the Celtics. Luka Garza and Jordan Walsh battled for second-chance possessions, both at the forefront of a 20-5 headstart advantage in bench points over the Thunder. Hugo González contributed with a go-ahead 3-pointer in the corner, and Boston had found its rhythm despite being shorthanded while facing the league’s best team.

The seamless transition in maintaining their competitive edge came as no surprise to the Celtics. The veterans in the locker room have worked alongside the younger, less experienced crew all season, preparing them for opportunities — including those unforeseen.

Oklahoma City was simply their latest of many challenges.

“We just got some young wolves, man,” Brown told reporters, per NBC Sports Boston. “We play inspired basketball. We come out every night and we compete, regardless of who’s on the floor. We’re not afraid of anybody, and we play together and play as a team. I’m proud of my group. I’m proud of our approach to every game. We came out on the road and we put their game to the test.”

González came up with a huge block in the third quarter, denying a Jaylin Williams 3-point attempt. Scheierman led the team with three offensive rebounds, two of which turned into second-chance baskets. It was another example of Boston’s readiness. Every player on the roster is prepared to step in at any moment to keep the engine running. That has been the theme since Opening Night, when Tatum’s return date was unknown, and the identity of the 2025–26 Celtics was still taking shape.

Pritchard also sees no reason to be surprised.

“We’re not learning anything,” Pritchard told reporters, per NBC Sports Boston. “You guys have already seen it. They come ready to play and play winning basketball. So it’s nothing new. We’re almost through the (regular) season now, so it’s what they do.”

Before the season commenced, team president of basketball operations Brad Stevens labeled most of the roster’s newcomers as “unprovens.” Comprised of minimally experienced arrivals, the offseason overhaul posed a mammoth challenge alongside Tatum’s recovery from his ruptured right Achilles tendon. The challenge was to maintain their standard as if Kristaps Porziņģis, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet had never left and to compete with the league’s best while carving their place among that elite company.

Thursday night’s trip to Oklahoma City was proof that Boston has rendered that image in detail.

In San Antonio, the Celtics nearly overcame a 39-point double-double from Victor Wembanyama. Against the Thunder, they came even closer to overcoming Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s history-making 35-point performance, as he surpassed Wilt Chamberlain for the most regular-season games with 20-plus points, recording his 127th against Boston.

“He’s obviously a great player,” Mazzulla told reporters. “So you have to pick your poison and what you’re going to take away. He only shot eight free throws, so that’s a part of that. We took away some of the transition stuff — a couple of layups that we could’ve been better at in our shifts. So it just goes back to those possessions we can get better at, and the ones where you know you don’t have to change your spots.”

It’s hard to feel good about dropping two in a three-game road trip, yet somehow, the Celtics did enough to earn it — even if they won’t admit it.

DRAMMEN, Norway (AP) — Norwegian cross-country skiing star Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo said Friday he sustained a concussion from a fall in a World Cup race a day earlier but that he was “all good in the hood."

Klaebo, one of the stars of the recent Milan Cortina Games, said he would “take some days off” to recover after his crash involving U.S. skier Ben Ogden during on Thursday.

Klaebo posted a photo of himself giving a thumbs-up from a hospital bed, and he included audio of the Bee Gees disco hit “Stayin’ Alive.”

“Took a fall yesterday and hit my head pretty hard, but luckily everything is all good in the hood,” he wrote on Instagram.

“Ended up with a concussion so I'll take some days off from both training and the internet just to make sure everything settles properly. Only got one head, so have to take good care of it.”

Klaebo, who last month set a record for most gold medals (six) won at a single Winter Olympics, also thanked “everyone who reached out and checked in.”

Klaebo's status for the World Cup finals next week in Lake Placid, New York, was unclear.

Thursday's crash happened in a semifinal heat of the men’s sprint competition in Drammen. Ogden lost his balance and fell across the skis of Klaebo, who fell backward and hit his head on the snow.

Klaebo’s 11 career gold medals is also a Winter Olympics record.

___

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

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Both the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors have lost three straight games, but one Western Conference squad will get back on track with a victory at Chase Center tonight.

Anthony Edwards is one of the NBA’s most effective scorers on the road, and my Timberwolves vs. Warriors predictions expect him to rack up points in the Bay.

Here are my best free NBA picks for this Western Conference showdown on Friday, March 13.

Timberwolves vs Warriors prediction

Timberwolves vs Warriors best bet: Anthony Edwards Over 29.5 points (-112)

Anthony Edwards has taken his scoring to the next level, and his offensive prowess will be on full display tonight. Ant-Man is averaging 27.2 points per game at home and 31.8 on the road. He's scored 30+ in 31 of 56 games, including 19 of 27 away games.

Edwards dropped 32 in his first meeting with the Golden State Warriors, and he should have no problem getting 30 again. The Warriors lack size and physicality to throw at Edwards, and with Moses Moody out and De’Anthony Melton banged up, he could find some breathing room on the perimeter.

Timberwolves vs Warriors same-game parlay

Neither team has played great basketball as of late, but the Minnesota Timberwolves have a deeper bench and healthier roster than the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors are just 2-6 ATS as the home underdog, and I'll take the visiting team and the points.

The Dubs have hit the Over in 21 of 33 games at home, and the Wolves have gone Over in 20 of 32 on the road. Minnesota ranks ninth in pace, and Golden State ranks 16th. This matchup should feature plenty of shots, and I'll take the Over on a total line that's set advantageously low.

Timberwolves vs Warriors SGP

• Anthony Edwards Over 29.5 points
• Timberwolves -5.5
• Over 224 

Our "from downtown" SGP: Randle Stays Hot!

Julius Randle dropped 41 points in his last game before the All-Star break, but he's gone ice-cold in 10 games after the break. In that span, Randle has averaged 14.1 points and 0.5 triples while shooting 39.3% from the floor and 16.1% from beyond the arc.

The Warriors can play slump-buster tonight as Randle gets back on track against a depleted lineup without the size or perimeter defenders to slow him down. Prior to the break, Randle appeared in 27 road games, where he posted 18+ points in 21 appearances and multiple treys in 14.

Timberwolves vs Warriors SGP

• Anthony Edwards Over 29.5 points
• Timberwolves -5.5
• Over 224 
• Julius Randle Over 17.5 points
• Julius Randle Over 1.5 made threes

Timberwolves vs Warriors odds

• Spread: Timberwolves -5.5 (-110) | Warriors +5.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Timberwolves -225 | Warriors +185
• Over/Under: Over 224 (-110) | Under 224 (-110)

Timberwolves vs Warriors betting trend to know

The Golden State Warriors have hit the Game Total Over in 26 of their last 40 games at home (+10.60 Units / 24% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Timberwolves vs. Warriors.

How to watch Timberwolves vs Warriors

Timberwolves vs Warriors latest injuries

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The New Orleans Pelicans hit the road tonight to take on Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center. The tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.

Houston has been stellar at home, and my Pelicans vs. Rockets predictions are looking for them to deliver another victory.

Read more in my NBA picks for Friday, March 13.

Pelicans vs Rockets prediction

Pelicans vs Rockets best bet: Rockets -7 (-110)

The Houston Rockets are one of the top teams in the Western Conference with a 40-25 record, which puts them in fourth place. This is a very good team, and it’s clear they thrive at the Toyota Center.

The Rockets own a 22-8 home record, and they beat the New Orleans Pelicans in H-Town by nine points in January. In fact, they’ve covered tonight’s spread in five of their last six meetings with New Orleans.

Also, Houston’s last two wins comfortably covered this spread, and the Pelicans are an atrocious 9-24 SU on the road. I expect the Rockets to grab a convincing victory.

Pelicans vs Rockets same-game parlay

Across two meetings, Kevin Durant averaged 25 points per contest, and after a cold night with just 11 points on Wednesday, you better believe Durant will respond after a recent tough stretch. 

Jabari Smith Jr has hit the Over in two of his last three outings, and with Alperen Sengun potentially out tonight due to lower back pain, that could open up more touches.

Pelicans vs Rockets SGP

• Rockets -7
• Kevin Durant Over 25.5 points
• Jabari Smith Jr. Over 15.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Amen!

Amen Thompson has hit the Over in dimes in three of his last four appearances.

Pelicans vs Rockets SGP

• Rockets -7
• Kevin Durant Over 25.5 points
• Jabari Smith Jr. Over 15.5 points
• Amen Thompson Over 5.5 assists

Pelicans vs Rockets odds

• Spread: Pelicans +7 (-110) | Rockets -7 (-110)
• Moneyline: Pelicans +230 | Rockets -280
• Over/Under: Over 227 (-110) | Under 227 (-110)

Pelicans vs Rockets betting trend to know

The Houston Rockets have hit the Game Total Under in 25 of their last 35 games (+14.00 Units / 36% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Pelicans vs. Rockets.

How to watch Pelicans vs Rockets

Pelicans vs Rockets latest injuries

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The Dallas Mavericks (22–43, 14–19 Home) snapped a nine-game skid Thursday night in Memphis, which is either great news for the locker room or terrible news for the lottery odds, depending on how you look at it. Khris Middleton—a man who is emphatically not part of the long-term plan, whether he returns next season or not—went for 35 points in a game Dallas probably could have afforded to lose. The Cleveland Cavaliers (40–26, 18–14 Away) arrive tonight having blown a 128-122 decision to Orlando two nights ago, and they are not here to exchange pleasantries. Dallas gets to enjoy approximately twelve hours of one game-winning streak energy before reality walks through the door.

Let’s scan the lines in search of value.

🏀 Fixture: Cleveland Cavaliers (40–26, 18–14 Away) @ Dallas Mavericks (22–43, 14–19 Home)
📍 American Airlines Center — Dallas, TX 🕢 6:30 PM CST, March 13, 2026
📺 Prime Video / NBA App

📊 DraftKings Snapshot (as of 12:52 AM CST) Spread: CLE –12.5 (–105) | DAL +12.5 (–115) Total: 235.5 (O –115/ U –105) Moneyline: CLE –625 | DAL +455

📉 Game Side Lean: Cavaliers –12.5

Cleveland just watched Desmond Bane hit a three with 17 seconds left to rip a win away in Orlando. They’ve had two days to think about it. Now they’re in Dallas facing a team playing its second game in two nights. The Cavaliers have Donovan Mitchell and a freshly acquired James Harden—who went for 30 points and 8 assists against Orlando—and they are going to take this personally. Dallas has heart. Dallas does not have the horses for this spot. Twelve and a half is a big number, but the back-to-back context and Cleveland’s motivation make it the right side.

🔮 Total Lean: Under 235.5

Two tired teams, one of them playing on zero rest. Dallas just won the winnable game out of the two available in the back-to-back, and it required a turn-back-the-clock performance from Middleton to do it. Cleveland’s defense—even shorthanded without Allen and Strus—is built to grind. Neither team is likely to be pushing the pace in the fourth quarter. The math points under, and the legs point under harder.

🎯 Player Props We Like

Cooper Flagg Over 19.5 Points (–107) Five games back from injury and Flagg hasn’t cracked 20 yet—13, 14, 17, 16, 18, all in a row like a slow engine turning over. Tonight feels like the ignition. Cleveland’s defense is disciplined enough to clamp Middleton, neutralize Naji Marshall, and dare the rookie to beat them. He will take that dare. With 33 minutes logged last night and usage that hasn’t dipped since his return, Flagg is the only offensive option on this roster that Cleveland can’t simply ignore. His season average sits at 20.1 points. The rust is gone. This is the spot.

Evan Mobley Over 17.5 Points (–120) Mobley has gone over this number in four of his last six games, averaging 18.4 points in March on 55.4% shooting. With Jarrett Allen out, he is the fulcrum of Cleveland’s frontcourt—and Dallas has no credible answer for his length and range. Gafford is a capable defender, but Mobley’s ability to operate from the mid-range and get to the line creates mismatches that Cleveland will exploit all night. An angry Cavaliers team leaning on their most efficient scorer is not a complicated equation.

💡 Summary: Cavaliers –12.5 and the under in a back-to-back spot where Dallas’s legs will be the story by the fourth quarter. On the props, we’re backing Flagg to finally crack 20 and Mobley to feast against a frontcourt that can’t match his versatility. Somewhere, a Tankathon spreadsheet just got very nervous.

With Kevin Porter Jr. back, the Milwaukee Bucks put up one heck of a fight against the Miami Heat—who, granted, were down Tyler Herro, Andrew Wiggins, and Norman Powell—but couldn’t make the most of their possessions late, losing 112-105. Miami has now taken the season series 2-1. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.

Player Grades

Myles Turner

21 minutes, 7 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 2/7 FG, 1/5 3P, –16

Turner had very little impact on either end, with five of his seven points coming by halftime. Played just 6:39 in the second half, probably because he got blown by a fair few times. Maybe they should keep him closer to the basket…

Grade: D

Giannis Antetokounmpo

29 minutes, 31 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 3 turnovers, 12/24 FG, 0/2 3P, –8

Giannis was solid for most of the game; he kept the team afloat in the first quarter, scoring the team’s first 10 points. His athleticism and talent were massive throughout the game, and he roasted most non-Bam matchups. That said, GA’s defence was subpar yet again. Plus, taking a triple down just three with less than a minute left on a no-pass possession with 17 seconds on the shot clock… yeah, we’ve seen that movie before. Giannis talks an awful lot about “wanting to win,” but is that really true? Or is it more like, “I want to win on my terms”? I’ll say this: I’d better not hear another peep from GA accusing his teammates of playing selfishly.

Grade: B-

Ryan Rollins

32 minutes, 16 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 turnovers, 5 fouls, 6/9 FG, 2/4 3P, +9

A solid game from Ryan, particularly because of the 10 assists and only three turnovers. He came off the bench in this one amid recent struggles and despite a rough start, played well throughout. Rollins also set some great inverted screens for Giannis late in the game, which I don’t recall him having done much of this season.

Grade: B+

Kyle Kuzma

20 minutes, 5 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, 4 fouls, 2/5 FG, 1/4 3P, -10

A down game for Kuz, who never really got a rhythm until midway through the fourth when he scored all five of his points. He was, however, one of the main guys on the bench cheering his teammates on, which doesn’t go unnoticed. I’ve appreciated Kuz’s attitude this year as a senior leader on this team.

Grade: C-

AJ Green

15 minutes, 3 points, 1/2 FG, 1/2 3P, +5

Woof! Like Myles Turner, I think the minute total tells the story for AJ. At least he wasn’t just shot-chucking?

Grade: D

Ousmane Dieng

14 minutes, 0 points, 0/2 FG, -24

Dieng went out sick after playing just 14 minutes. Not much you can judge from.

Grade: C

Bobby Portis

26 minutes, 19 points, 5 rebounds, 8/14 FG, 2/4 3P, +8

The Heat really had nobody to guard Bobby, often trying wings and guards, but he got buckets on anyone and everyone. I thought Portis fared OK defensively as well. Some of the matchups suited him well because of Miami’s many questionable shooters, which allowed him to give himself a cushion and keep them in front.

Grade: A-

Cam Thomas

16 minutes, 3 points, 1/3 FG, +1

Freaking yikes. I am now questioning whether Cam Thomas is even an NBA player. I think he is, but the fact that I’m asking the question is alarming. In the 10 games since the loss to the Raptors, CT is averaging 9.1 points and 2.3 assists while shooting 38.2% from the field and 26.9% from three (in just 16.2 minutes per contest). He made no impact in this game, but like AJ, it’s at least good that he hasn’t been forcing it.

Grade: D

Jericho Sims

22 minutes, 7 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 3/3 FG, +2

Another solid game from Jericho. He’s just doing more of the same: setting good screens, being composed with the ball, and showcasing his elite switchability. Again, Sims played down the stretch last night because of these qualities, including an awesome and-one to bring the Bucks within two.

Grade: B+

Kevin Porter Jr.

27 minutes, 6 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 3 turnovers, 4 fouls, 3/8 FG, 0/1 3P, -12

I’d say this was a classic Porter game (in his return after a while off, it should be noted). He did a lot of good stuff, and I don’t think the Bucks are in this game without him; his defence, passing, and rebounding were key. That said, there was also your classic KPJ bad stuff: trying to do too much, failing to shoot it off the catch when he was open. In particular, he had one costly turnoverlate.

Grade: C+

Taurean Prince

14 minutes, 8 points, 3/6 FG, 2/3 3P, +10

Prince finally got some shots to go after missing all four of his attempts against the Suns. For the most part, I thought TP was helpful out there as a guy who stretched the floor. However, there were a few of his classic “you’re doing too much” plays where he got overly adventurous as a driver.

Grade: C+

Doc Rivers

I thought Doc coached an OK game. There were still some head-scratching possessions in defensive transition—which, to be fair, might not even be coaching-related—but otherwise it wasn’t too bad. Rollins looked better coming off the bench (while still playing heaps of minutes and closing the game). AJ Green and Cam Thomas playing around 15 minutes seems right. Not sure Prince should be getting much more than 10 minutes at this stage, but maybe they needed a wing-sized guy with Dieng sick and Kuz not having it. From an offensive POV, I thought they were mostly solid, just couldn’t execute late, which, as we know, has as much to do with the best player as the coach. Now, if that coach might actually, I don’t know, coach said best player…

Grade: B-

DNP-CD: Gary Harris, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Pete Nance, Gary Trent Jr.

Inactive: Alex Antetokounmpo, Cormac Ryan, Andre Jackson Jr.

Bonus Bucks Bits

• Giannis had a long quote about the thought process behind shooting a three with less than a minute left, but essentially it boiled down to, “I always shoot with confidence, but I wish I’d shot a few more threes earlier in the game so I had a better feel of it on that last shot. I never regret being aggressive.” Whatever, it’s a case of “old dog new tricks” for me at this point; I’m done reasoning with it.
• Doc on the end of the game:

“We didn’t execute great down the stretch, bottom line. I loved how we played overall. We went with the jumbo lineup, and it got us back in the game. But man, we had two or three turnovers in that stretch, a couple of tough shots. We’ve been really good overall at the end of the game. I just thought tonight we didn’t execute down the street.”

• Following his record-setting 83-point game against the Wizards, Bam Adebayo largely struggled last night, shooting 6/20 for 21 points. Many were critical of Eric Spoelstra for leaving Adebayo in the game in a blowout to get the record. Spoelstra responded to those critics in his pregame adress, saying, “I apologise to absolutely no one, period.”
• As Kyle pointed out in the rapid recap, Milwaukee’s bench scored 56 points, outscoring all non-Giannis starters combined. Relatedly, the Bucks starters all had a negative plus-minus, while the entire bench was in the positive.

Up Next

The Bucks’ road trip continues tomorrow afternoon when they face the Hawks. Catch the game at 2:00 p.m. CDT on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.

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The Cleveland Cavaliers and Dallas Mavericks kick off the first game of a home-and-home set this weekend.

James Harden is coming off his best performance in a Cavs uniform, and here’s why he could be in line for another big night in my Cavaliers vs. Mavericks predictions and NBA picks for Friday, March 13.

Cavaliers vs Mavericks prediction

Cavaliers vs Mavericks best bet: James Harden Over 21.5 points (-125)

James Harden is still getting accustomed to his new role since joining the Cleveland Cavaliers, but the 36-year-old is fresh off his best performance in a Cavs uniform after scoring 30 points Wednesday.

It marked Harden’s first 30-point game in nearly two months, but he’s been a consistent scoring option so far for Cleveland. Harden has scored 20+ points in five of his last seven outings.

The Dallas Mavericks have just three wins in their last 21 games while allowing 120.2 ppg over that span — the fifth-worst mark in the NBA.

Cavaliers vs Mavericks same-game parlay

Not only have the Mavericks been one of the league’s worst defensive teams but they’ve also been brutal on the glass, allowing 46.6 rebounds per game, tied for third-worst.

Harden and Donovan Mitchell have both logged Over 4.5 boards in four of their last five games.

Cavaliers vs Mavericks SGP

• James Harden Over 4.5 rebounds
• Donovan Mitchell Over 4.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: Long distance calls

The Mavs have covered the spread just three times in their last nine games, but if the Cavs are going to win big, they’ll need to rain down plenty of treys.

Harden has hit Over 3.5 threes in three of his last six, Mitchell has Over 2.5 threes in two of his last three, and Jaylon Tyson has Over 1.5 in five of his last six. 

Cavaliers vs Mavericks SGP

• Cavaliers -12.5
• James Harden Over 3.5 threes made
• Donovan Mitchell Over 2.5 threes made
• Jaylon Tyson Over 1.5 threes made

Cavaliers vs Mavericks odds

• Spread: Cavaliers -12.5 | Mavericks +12.5
• Moneyline: Cavaliers -700 | Mavericks +500
• Over/Under: Over 236.5 | Under 236.5

Cavaliers vs Mavericks betting trend to know

The Under is 8-0 in Dallas’ last eight games and 4-1 in Cleveland’s last five. Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Mavericks.

How to watch Cavaliers vs Mavericks

Cavaliers vs Mavericks latest injuries

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