NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games 2025-04-09 13:38:25
NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games 2025-04-09 13:38:25
Denver cleans house, shockingly fires coach Michael Malone, GM Calvin Booth just before playoffs
Michael Malone — the man who coached the Denver Nuggets to their only NBA title in 2023, and the only coach Nikola Jokic has ever known in the NBA — has been shockingly fired by the team with less than a week remaining in the regular season and Denver about to enter the playoffs.
Calvin Booth, the Nuggets general manager, will also be let go — technically, his contract will not be renewed — announced Josh Kroenke, the vice chairman of Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, which owns the Nuggets. Kroenke added that he took "no pleasure" in firing Malone.
"This decision was not made lightly and was evaluated very carefully, and we do it only with the intention of giving our group the best chance at competing for the 2025 NBA Championship and delivering another title to Denver and our fans everywhere," Kroenke said in a statement. "While the timing of this decision is unfortunate, as Coach Malone helped build the foundation of our now championship-level program, it is a necessary step to allow us to compete at the highest level right now. Championship-level standards and expectations remain in place for the current season, and as we look to the future, we look forward to building on the foundations laid by Coach Malone over his record-breaking 10-year career in Denver."
There had been speculation that, barring a deep playoff run, Malone would be let go at the end of the season. In that light, the firing itself is not a total shock, but the timing certainly is.
Assistant coach David Adelman takes over a team that is 47-32 but has lost four in a row and finds itself sliding down a logjam of teams fighting for seeds 4-8 in a deep Western Conference. Those four losses were signs of a team struggling since February, particularly on the defensive end — Denver is bottom 10 in the NBA in defensive rating since the All-Star break (they were 16th in the league, right in the middle, before the All-Star Game). There had been rumblings of frustration in the locker room with the team's play, and even the normally calm Jokic has shown signs of frustration on the bench. Jamal Murray being out injured is not helping things. It was also an open secret that Booth and Malone did not like each other and did not see eye-to-eye on roster decisions, adding to the tensions around the club.
Firing the coach with a week to go in the season is an extreme answer to those challenges.
The goal was to give the team a "jolt," reports Ohm Youngmisuk at ESPN, but that doesn't always work as intended. Denver is following in the footsteps of Memphis, which unexpectedly fired coach Taylor Jenkins a couple of weeks ago. That jolt has seen the Grizzlies go 2-3 since, sliding down to eighth in the West.
If Kronke wants to see what has taken this team from the mountain top to the second-tier title contenders — at best — he needs to look in a mirror. The Nuggets won that 2023 title because Jokic and Jamal Murray were surrounded with quality role players such as Bruce Brown, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Jeff Green and others. While players such as Christian Braun have stepped up, the erosion of depth on this roster came from the marching orders Booth was given. (Booth took over in 2022 when Tim Connelly, the guy who built a championship roster, went to an ownership group willing to pay more for him in Minnesota. Connelly then built a Timberwolves roster that knocked the Nuggets out of the playoffs last season.)
Denver has now cleaned house. How much, if at all, it helps the Nuggets in these playoffs is now the question on the table. Soon enough, the questions will be about the next coach and GM, and if there is a path to getting this team back to top-tier title contention.
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Joe Mazzulla reacts to Nuggets' shocking Michael Malone firing
Joe Mazzulla reacts to Nuggets' shocking Michael Malone firing originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Another shocking firing of a successful head coach rocked the NBA world on Tuesday.
Just over a week after the Memphis Grizzlies fired Taylor Jenkins, the Denver Nuggets parted ways with their longtime head coach Michael Malone. The timing of both firings was bizarre, with Memphis as the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference and Denver holding the No. 4 seed.
The cruel nature of coaching in professional sports isn’t lost on Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, who once stated, ‘We all get hired to get fired.” Reacting to Malone’s surprise departure, he shared a similar sentiment before Tuesday’s game against the New York Knicks.
“Coaching. It’s just coaching,” Mazzulla said. “You sign up knowing that. And again, I mean he was 10 years there? Yeah, that’s a lot. You hope for stuff like that. You hope for a situation of stability to be somewhere for as long as you have, and when it’s your time, it’s your time.
“But I think you focus more on the fact that he was able to be there for 10 years. Not many coaches get to do that. I think there’s only two left, three left now that have done it beyond that? Pop (Gregg Popovich), Spo (Erik Spoelstra), and (Steve) Kerr. So you hope for that, but you know that not everybody gets that opportunity.”
Malone is the winningest head coach in Nuggets history with a 471-327 record over 10 seasons. He led Denver to an NBA title in 2023.
That success still wasn’t enough to earn Malone job security. For Mazzulla, that harsh reality serves as an important reminder.
“It’s part of what motivates me, but I wake up every day saying, ‘This could be my last day.’ You have to have that type of perspective because it gives you gratitude and it also keeps you hungry,” Mazzulla said. “You have to have a healthy balance so if you want this for as long as you can, at the same time, you’re very much replaceable because that’s just how it works.
“So every day, I remind myself of my own mortality, and I think that’s what kind of keeps me in a perspective and a gratitude of the opportunity that you have.”
The Nuggets also fired their general manager Calvin Booth. Asked how he would react to being fired with his team primed for a playoff run, Mazzulla stayed diplomatic.
“I don’t know, I wasn’t there,” Mazzulla answered. “I just know that you do the best you can for as long as you can, and then there’s always a bunch of circumstances that you’re not aware of. You know?”
Mazzulla, the Golden State Warriors’ Steve Kerr, and longtime Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra are the only NBA coaches still with the teams they led to NBA titles. Malone joins Tyronn Lue, Nick Nurse, Frank Vogel, and Mike Budenholzer as NBA champions to lose their jobs in recent years.
While the NBA remains chaotic, the reigning champion Celtics are cruising toward the end of another successful campaign. They have a 58-20 record with four regular-season games remaining, setting themselves up to be the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Nuggets firing coach Michael Malone ‘doesn't seem right' to Warriors' Steve Kerr
Nuggets firing coach Michael Malone ‘doesn't seem right' to Warriors' Steve Kerr originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Warriors coach Steve Kerr reacted like every NBA fan regarding the Denver Nuggets’ firing of coach Michael Malone on Tuesday.
“Shocked, like everyone,” Kerr told reporters 90 minutes before the Warriors tipped off with the Phoenix Suns at PHX Arena. “Mike has obviously been a great, great coach, championship coach, and fantastic record, and again, like with [former Memphis Grizzlies coach] Taylor [Jenkins], you don’t expect anything like this, this late in the season.
“And then as I said with Taylor, organizations have to do their own business and we aren’t privy to any of that, so I have no idea what was happening. So I can’t really comment on anything other than wishing Mike well because he’s done an amazing job. Doesn’t seem right but this is the business we’re in and … we’re all gonna suffer a similar fate at some point. That’s kind of the way it is.”
"We're all going to suffer a similar fate at some point. That's kind of the way it is."
Steve Kerr shares his thoughts on the firing of Nuggets coach Michael Malone earlier today pic.twitter.com/a7udVmKD8S
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 9, 2025
Malone, the winningest coach in Nuggets franchise history, stunningly was fired Tuesday, along with general manager Calvin Booth, with three regular-season games remaining.
Denver entered Tuesday in fourth place in the Western Conference with a 47-32 record. But they have struggled recently, losing four consecutive contests, including one to Kerr and the Warriors.
Malone’s dismissal comes 10 days after the Grizzlies fired Jenkins. Both Denver and Memphis will qualify for the postseason in some fashion, making the timing of the moves surprising.
“I think one thing that’s happened is, most teams are now owned by billionaires, big corporations,” Kerr told reporters. “So we’re all more expendable. There’s so much money in the business now, and there’s pluses and minuses to that. We’re all making bigger salaries than we were five years ago, but we’re all much more vulnerable because, I don’t think a lot of the owners are that concerned with firing a guy and paying them off to go away. Again, this is a business we chose and we all love it. But it’s not the most stable profession, that’s for sure.”
Kerr signed a two-year contract extension with the Warriors in February 2024, keeping him on Golden State’s sideline through the 2025-26 NBA season.
In light of the Malone news, Kerr was asked how much longer he wants to coach.
“I don’t know,” Kerr said. “I love what I do. I’m in an amazing position with great support from my ownership and management and obviously have talented players and the idea of continuing on with this group is very appealing because I love every single day.
“But who knows how long that lasts and I don’t spend a whole lot of time worrying about it. I just enjoy it and we’ll see where it all goes.”
It’s safe to assume that as long as Steph Curry and Draymond Green are on the Warriors’ roster, Kerr will be their coach.
But if we’ve learned anything from the firings of Jenkins and Malone, it’s that things can change quickly.
Grizzlies vs. Hornets Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 8
It’s Tuesday, April 8, and the Memphis Grizzlies (46-32) and Charlotte Hornets (19-59) are all set to square off from Spectrum Center in Charlotte.
The Grizzlies are currently 21-18 on the road with a point differential of 5, while the Hornets have a 3-7 record in their last ten games at home. Memphis won the only meeting this season 132-120 against Charlotte.
Memphis is 2-4 over the last six games but on a two-game winning streak with victories over Miami and Detroit. Charlotte is 0-3 over the past three outings and 1-9 in the previous 10 games.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.
Game details & how to watch Grizzlies vs. Hornets live today
- Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2025
- Time: 7:00PM EST
- Site: Spectrum Center
- City: Charlotte, NC
- 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-dayNBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.
Game odds for Grizzlies vs. Hornets
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
- Odds: Grizzlies (-971), Hornets (+637)
- Spread: Grizzlies -13.5
- Over/Under: 230 points
That gives the Grizzlies an implied team point total of 121.12, and the Hornets 114.08.
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 Tuesday’s Grizzlies vs. Hornets game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Grizzlies to cover:
"Charlotte isn't playing their starters full minutes and testing out players for next season, so this is a Memphis or pass spot with the Western Conference racing for seeding."
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 Grizzlies & Hornets game:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Memphis Grizzlies on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Memphis Grizzlies at -13.5.
- Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 230.
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Grizzlies vs. Hornets on Tuesday
- The Grizzlies have won 4 of their last 5 away games against teams with losing records
- The Grizzlies' last 6 games versus the Hornets have gone over the Total
- The Grizzlies are 2-8 against the spread in their last 10 games
- The Grizzlies have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against Eastern Conference Southeast Division teams
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Pelicans vs. Nets Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 8
It’s Tuesday, April 8, and the New Orleans Pelicans (21-57) and Brooklyn Nets (25-53) are all set to square off from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
The Pelicans are currently 7-32 on the road with a point differential of -9, while the Nets have a 2-8 record in their last ten games at home. The Nets won 107-105 in the only meeting this season.
Brooklyn is 2-8 in the last 10 games entering this contest, 2-2 over the past four contests, and 0-2 in the previous two. New Orleans has lost three straight and four of the last five.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.
Game details & how to watch Pelicans vs. Nets live today
- Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2025
- Time: 7:30PM EST
- Site: Barclays Center
- City: Brooklyn, NY
- 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 Pelicans vs. Nets
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
- Odds: Pelicans (+110), Nets (-131)
- Spread: Nets -2
- Over/Under: 214 points
That gives the Pelicans an implied team point total of 106.52, and the Nets 107.57.
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 Tuesday’s Pelicans vs. Nets game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Under between the Pelicans and Nets:
"This is one of the toughest games to bet. How do you bet on either team when they are both tanking? I'd rather play the Under and call it a day between these two."
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 Pelicans & Nets game:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Brooklyn Nets on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Brooklyn Nets at -2.
- Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the under on the Game Total of 214.
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 Pelicans vs. Nets on Tuesday
- The Nets have lost their last 3 games as favorite
- The Over is 8-2 in the Pelicans' last 10 road games
- The Pelicans are 3-7 against the spread on their last 10 road trips
- The Nets have lost 7 of their last 10 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)
Nuggets fire head coach Michael Malone, GM Calvin Booth in stunning move as postseason looms
Michael Malone, who coached the Denver Nuggets to the NBA title in 2023 and has led the team to eight consecutive winning seasons, was fired Tuesday in a stunning move that comes with less than a week in the regular season.
Also out: general manager Calvin Booth, whose contract will not be renewed. The Nuggets said David Adelman will become the coach for the remainder of the season.
Josh Kroenke, the vice chairman of Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, said “it is with no pleasure” that the Nuggets made the change at coach.
“This decision was not made lightly and was evaluated very carefully, and we do it only with the intention of giving our group the best chance at competing for the 2025 NBA Championship and delivering another title to Denver and our fans everywhere,” Kroenke said.
The Nuggets are 47-32 this season with three games left but have dropped four consecutive games and are in a logjam of teams fighting for home-court advantage in Round 1 of the playoffs. Denver won the title in 2023 and lost a Game 7 at home in the Western Conference semifinals a year ago to Minnesota.
Malone had the fourth-longest tenure of any active NBA coach, behind San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich, Miami’s Erik Spoelstra and Golden State’s Steve Kerr.
Malone won 471 regular-season games in Denver, 39 more than Doug Moe for the franchise’s all-time coaching lead.
“While the timing of this decision is unfortunate, as Coach Malone helped build the foundation of our now championship level program, it is a necessary step to allow us to compete at the highest level right now. Championship level standards and expectations remain in place for the current season, and as we look to the future, we look forward to building on the foundations laid by Coach Malone over his record-breaking 10-year career in Denver,” Kroenke said.
Malone had consistent success in Denver. The Nuggets finished with losing records in his first two seasons and posted winning records in his next eight years with the club.
This season’s postseason appearance will be the team’s seventh in a row; it has not clinched a playoff berth yet this season but is assured of finishing no worse than in the play-in tournament.
Starting with the first playoff appearance under Malone in 2019, the Nuggets got out of the first round six times in seven chances. They made the Western Conference finals in the Walt Disney World bubble in 2020 and then rolled to the championship by winning 16 of 20 playoff games in 2023.
Wizards vs. Pacers Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 8
It’s Tuesday, April 8, and the Washington Wizards (17-61) and Indiana Pacers (47-31) are all set to square off from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The Wizards are currently 9-29 on the road with a point differential of -12, while the Pacers have a 9-1 record in their last ten games at home. Indiana is 3-0 against Washington and won by 53 points in the last meeting.
Indiana has won four straight and five of the past six games, while Washington dropped five of the previous six.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.
Game details & how to watch Wizards vs. Pacers live today
- Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2025
- Time: 7:00PM EST
- Site: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
- City: Indianapolis, IN
- 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-dayNBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.
Game odds for Wizards vs. Pacers
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
- Odds: Wizards (+1140), Pacers (-2326)
- Spread: Pacers -18.5
- Over/Under: 238 points
That gives the Wizards an implied team point total of 118.25, and the Pacers 127.87.
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 Tuesday’s Wizards vs. Pacers game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Pacers to cover:
"After saying I don't know if I could take anyone to win by 20-plus in the NBA, the Celtics crushed the Wizards by 32 points. It's purely Pacers or pass."
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Wizards & Pacers 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 Washington Wizards at +18.5.
- Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the under on the Game Total of 238.
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions 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 Wizards vs. Pacers on Tuesday
- The Pacers finished the regular season with a record of 3-0 against the Wizards
- The Under is 4-1 in the Wizards' last 5 games
- The Pacers have gone 36-42 ATS this season
- The Pacers have won 7 of their last 9 games against the Wizards
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)
Jase Richardson enters NBA draft, leaving Michigan State a year or two sooner than father expected
Jase Richardson is entering the NBA draft, a year or two sooner than his father expected. The Michigan State freshman announced his decision on social media Tuesday. “I'm forever grateful to the Spartan community for all their support throughout the season and honored to be a Spartan Dawg,” Richardson wrote in a post.
Tennessee adds portal transfer from in-state rival Vandy with Jaylen Carey
The Tennessee Volunteers have added forward Jaylen Carey from Vanderbilt through the transfer portal for their second new player in as many days. Coach Rick Barnes announced Carey's arrival Tuesday with two seasons of eligibility left. Carey spent this past season at Vanderbilt after following coach Mark Byington from James Madison to the Southeastern Conference.
Hawks vs. Magic Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 8
It’s Tuesday, April 8, and the Atlanta Hawks (37-41) and Orlando Magic (38-40) are all set to square off from Kia Center in Orlando.
The Hawks are currently 17-21 on the road with a point differential of -2, while the Magic have a 2-8 record in their last ten games at home. These squads have split the season series 1-1 and will have one more meeting following tonight's.
Atlanta is coming off a 147-134 win over Utah but is 1-3 in the last four games. Orlando has won two straight and three of the past four games entering this matchup.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.
Game details & how to watch Hawks vs. Magic live today
- Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2025
- Time: 7:00PM 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-dayNBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.
Game odds for Hawks vs. Magic
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
- Odds: Hawks (+159), Magic (-191)
- Spread: Magic -4.5
- Over/Under: 225 points
That gives the Hawks an implied team point total of 111.63, and the Magic 113.98.
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 Tuesday’s Hawks vs. Magic game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Magic to cover:
"Atlanta is coming off a 147-point game against Utah and is likely to be stifled against the Magic in this road game. The Hawks didn't score more than 112 points in the two earlier meetings versus the Magic and don't think they cross the 110-point team total set tonight. I'd have to lean toward Orlando to cover and the Hawks Team Total under."
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Hawks & 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 Atlanta Hawks at +4.5.
- Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 225.
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Hawks vs. Magic on Tuesday
- The Magic have lost 4 of their last 5 games as a home favorite
- Each of the last 5 matchups between the Magic and the Hawks have stayed under the Total
- The Hawks have gone 21-18 on the road against the spread this season
- The Hawks have covered in 4 of their last 5 road 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)
Arkansas basketball ranked No. 20 in final AP Poll
Arkansas forward Trevon Brazile slam dunks against Kansas in the NCAA Tournament. Eric Canha-Imagn Images The Associated Press released its final Top 25 poll of the college basketball season Tuesday, and the Arkansas Razorbacks ranked No.