Category: Basketball

Welcome to championship week for those still competing in Yahoo! public and default leagues. A season of navigating the waiver wire and making shrewd trades comes down to seven days, with 22 of the league's 30 teams having four-game schedules. And there are some key injury situations to deal with before the week begins, most notably the sprained ankle Kevin Durant suffered during Sunday's loss to the Rockets.

SF/PF Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns

Durant sprained his ankle during the third quarter of Sunday's blowout loss and did not return. He'll undergo an MRI on Monday and will not travel with the team as the Suns begin a three-game road trip in Milwaukee on Tuesday. That's followed by games against the Celtics (Friday) and Knicks (Sunday). One question to consider is whether or not Bradley Beal will be able to return from his hamstring injury during Week 22. If so, that would address who steps in as Durant's replacement in the starting lineup. If not, Royce O'Neale (13 percent rostered, Yahoo!) and Grayson Allen (11 percent) are potential replacements. O'Neale offers a slightly higher fantasy ceiling, if only because he's the superior rebounder.

PG/SG Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

Cunningham has missed Detroit's last four games with a calf injury, most recently sitting out Sunday's loss to the Timberwolves. Dennis Schroder (39 percent) has been the replacement, providing 12th-round value in nine-cat formats over the past week. Cunningham's absence has also resulted in rotation minutes for Marcus Sasser (four percent), whose productivity has swung wildly based on the competition. After scoring 47 points against the Pelicans and Spurs, Sasser scored seven on 2-of-12 shooting against the Cavaliers and Timberwolves. Schroder and Malik Beasley (39 percent) would be the players to target if Cunningham continues to miss time, but the Pistons won't play their first Week 22 game until Wednesday.

PG Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

Brunson provided an update before Sunday's win over the Trail Blazers, saying he has been cleared to resume basketball activities. While he did not say what that entails, the All-Star point guard continues progressing in his recovery. With Miles McBride (groin) and Cameron Payne (ankle) considered day-to-day, the Knicks have relied on Delon Wright (one percent) and Tyler Kolek (one percent) to fill the void. While Wright has been the starter, Kolek has tallied 32 assists and two turnovers over the last five games. Neither Wright nor Kolek is a must-add, but the Knicks will play four games during Week 22.

SG/SF Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics

Due to a knee injury, Brown is questionable for Monday's game against the Grizzlies. This situation is pretty straightforward. Al Horford (30 percent) will be the likely replacement in the starting lineup, which raises his fantasy ceiling. A starter missing time also boosts the fantasy value of Payton Pritchard (50 percent), but he's already rostered in most standard leagues. The Celtics do not have a back-to-back during Week 22, but the team is also in a situation where it essentially knows its seed in the upcoming playoffs. Therefore, Brown's knee may not be the only issue that impacts the availability of Boston's most reliable fantasy options.

SF/PF Cameron Johnson, Brooklyn Nets

Johnson has been ruled out for Monday's game in Dallas with a lower back contusion, the first of three games the Nets play during Week 22. Jalen Wilson (one percent) is a potential replacement in the starting lineup, but he has not done enough to merit being rostered in most leagues. However, with the Nets looking to improve their draft lottery odds, there may be more starts in Wilson's future. Tyrese Martin (two percent), who's stepped in when D'Angelo Russell has missed time, is another possibility moving forward. There's no need to consider adding Dariq Whitehead (zero percent), but this may be a good time for the Nets to see what they have in the 2023 first-round pick, given how little NBA basketball he's played due to injury.

C Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz

With John Collins and Lauri Markkanen already out, Kessler has also been ruled out for Monday's game against Charlotte. This will be the second straight game he's missed due to an illness, with "return to competition conditioning" being the reason for Monday's absence. Oscar Tshiebwe (zero percent) replaced Kessler in the lineup the last time out and can provide value in the rebounding category. However, Kyle Filipowski (31 percent) remains the Jazz frontcourt player who should be targeted in fantasy leagues. Utah plays four games with no back-to-backs during Week 22, but that doesn't mean Kessler will be available for the three remaining contests.

C Daniel Gaffordand C Dereck Lively II, Dallas Mavericks

At long last, the Mavericks' frontcourt rotation is expected to be whole at some point during Week 22. Gafford (knee) is probable for Monday's game against the Nets, while Lively (ankle) is considered questionable. With Anthony Davis also considered probable, there's a chance Dallas will have its top three interior options available on Monday. Kai Jones (14 percent) has been a solid replacement when he's been healthy, but his time as a streamable fantasy option may come to an end. Dallas' four-game Week 22 ends with a Friday/Saturday back-to-back, so Jones may have another opportunity as a streamer. Also of note in Dallas is that Brandon Williams (12 percent) has hit his 50-game max as a two-way contract player, so don't hold onto him for Week 22.

SF/PF Tobias Harris, Detroit Pistons

Harris was cleared to play in Sunday's loss to the Timberwolves, but a lingering Achilles issue led to him being scratched just before tipoff. That was the second game he's missed, resulting in Malik Beasley (39 percent) making two starts. Beasley has been productive enough to be rostered regardless of Harris' availability. As noted above, the Pistons won't play their first Week 22 games until Wednesday in Oklahoma City, so that may be enough time to get Harris back to full strength.

SF/PF Andrew Wiggins, Miami Heat

Wiggins has been ruled out for Monday's game in Washington, the second game he has missed with a hamstring injury. With Duncan Robinson (back) also missing time, the Heat called on Alec Burks (one percent) and Pelle Larsson (zero percent) to fill the resulting voids in the starting lineup. While neither qualifies as a "safe" streaming option, Burks is better for deep-league managers seeking a higher floor. Also, Kel'el Ware is rostered in 55 percent of Yahoo! leagues, which is a bit low, given his importance to the Heat. Wiggins' availability does not directly impact Ware, but he's worth adding for managers needing a frontcourt player.

SF/PF Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors

Having returned from an extended absence on March 13, Kuminga injured his right ankle during Sunday's win over the Spurs when he fell hard during the first half. Hopefully, this does not result in another extended absence for the Warriors forward. However, with Golden State's four-game week including a back-to-back, Kuminga could be capped at three appearances if he's available for Tuesday's game in Memphis. Gui Santos (zero percent) started the second half of Sunday's game, but Kuminga's absence also preserves some of Moses Moody's fantasy value, as does Gary Payton II's absence due to a left thumb injury. Moody is rostered in 13 percent of Yahoo! leagues and has remained in the starting lineup since Stephen Curry's return, with Draymond Green taking over as the starting center.

SF Khris Middleton and SG/SF Kyshawn George, Washington Wizards

Middleton (knee) and George (ankle) will remain out for Monday's game against the Heat, the first of four games the Wizards play during Week 22. And with the schedule including a Wednesday/Thursday back-to-back, Middleton may get in two games at the most (Marcus Smart's availability is also shaky due to the back-to-back). The good news is that there are young players worth targeting, beginning with Justin Champagnie (12 percent). He has provided top-100 value over the past week. AJ Johnson (two percent) has averaged nearly 33 minutes per game over the past week and is worth a look if Champagnie has already been claimed.

PF/C Noah Clowney and C Day'Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets

This was supposed to be "prime time" for Clowney and Sharpe from a playing time standpoint, as the Nets are focused on the draft lottery. Unfortunately, at a minimum, both players are hurt and will miss Monday's game in Dallas. Trendon Watford (four percent) would be the "safe" target, but Drew Timme (zero percent) recorded a double-double in his Nets (and NBA) debut on March 28 against the Clippers. He followed that up with a 19-point outing against the Wizards the following night.

PG Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic

Anthony has missed Orlando's last six games after aggravating a left big toe injury and is questionable for Monday's game against the Clippers. Cory Joseph (zero percent) has been his replacement in the starting lineup, but the veteran guard has offered little streaming value. Anthony Black (12 percent) is the superior option despite coming off the bench and has provided top-100 value in nine-cat formats over the past two weeks. Orlando plays all three of its Week 22 games in the first four days, so this would be a case of streaming Black through Thursday and then dropping him if Anthony continues to miss time.

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.

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.

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 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)

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.

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 Heat vs. Wizards live today

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

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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)

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.

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 Kings vs. Pacers live today

• Date: Monday, March 31, 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-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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)

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.

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 Jazz vs. Hornets live today

• Date: Monday, March 31, 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-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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)

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.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

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

• Date: Monday, March 31, 2025
• Time: 10:00PM EST
• Site: Crypto.com Arena
• City: Los Angeles, CA
• 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 Rockets vs. Lakers
The latest odds as of Monday:

• 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.”

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Rockets & 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)