Category: Basketball

What's the first rule of climbing out of a deep hole? Stop digging.

Dallas Mavericks ownership and front office are in a hole with their fan base after trading away Luka Doncic and assembling a team that went from the NBA Finals a season ago to likely missing the playoffs entirely this year (to be fair, injuries are a part of that). The Mavericks need to stop digging, yet here is what team governor Patrick Dumont said during a speaking engagement put on by a Dallas-area real estate organization this week:

"This was a decision about the future. If you look at our roster today and who we have, we feel like we've positioned ourselves to be incredibly competitive against the best teams in the NBA. And if you're a fan of basketball -- I'll just throw that out there -- you have Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, Anthony Davis and either Daniel Gafford or Dereck Lively as your starting five. That's going to put fear into a lot of teams in the league, if we can get going...

"The objective was, 'How do we create a roster for the future that allows us to be the most competitive team?'...

"It's really just about improving the team for the future."

You can feel the collective eye rolls from Mavericks fans. Tell us again how trading away a 25-year-old top-five player in the world (when healthy) for a 32-year-old great player but with an injury history is a good decision about the future. Stop digging.

Klay Thompson, for his part, is buying into the message.

Former Mavs owner Mark Cuban this week echoed what sources from every corner of the league have been saying since the trade: Even if somehow you talk yourself into the need to trade Doncic, "Just get a better deal." As great as Anthony Davis can be, as much as Max Christie is thriving, getting just one first-round pick in this trade is mind-boggling, let alone there should have been more win-now talent. The Knicks gave up five first-round picks to get Mikal Bridges last offseason. Cuban rightfully said that if Dallas had gotten four first-round picks with Davis and Christie, the conversation would be different (fans would have still questioned the wisdom of making the trade, but at least that's close to a fair return). It should be noted the Lakers only had two firsts to trade, so a third and maybe fourth team would have had to come in with much bigger roles than Utah had in the existing deal.

The fastest way out of the hole for the Mavericks is to start winning games (and not jack up ticket prices). However, with the unfortunate ACL injury to Kyrie Irving that will sideline him until at least the middle of next season, it will be a while before the level of winning fans saw with Doncic returns. Until then, stop digging.

Orlando Magic vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Preview 

The Orlando Magic (31-36) and Minnesota Timberwolves (38-29) are all set to square off from Target Center in Minneapolis.

The Orlando Magic are a game and a half behind the Atlanta Hawks for the Southeast Division. They have been in a bit of a slide losing seven of their last 10.

The Timberwolves are third in the Northwest, but are on a six game winning streak.

The Magic are currently 13-20 on the road with a point differential of -1, while the Timberwolves have a 6-4 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 Magic vs. Timberwolves live today

• Date: Friday, March 14, 2025
• Time: 8:00PM EST
• Site: Target Center
• City: Minneapolis, MN
• 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 Magic vs. Timberwolves

The latest odds as of Friday:

• Odds: Magic (+366), Timberwolves (-481)
• Spread:  Timberwolves -10.5
• Over/Under: 208 points

That gives the Magic an implied team point total of 102.87, and the Timberwolves 108.35.
 
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 Friday's Magic vs. Timberwolves game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

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

Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) is leaning towards the Timberwolves -10.5…

Thomas: “The Magic are coming off a big win last night against the Pelicans. However, back-to-back road games feel a bit tough for a struggling team. They played in Orlando in January, and the Timberwolves won and covered. The Timberwolves have also covered in five of their last six.”

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 Magic & Timberwolves game:

• Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Minnesota Timberwolves on the Moneyline.
• Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Orlando Magic at +10.
• Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 208.

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!
 
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)

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Memphis Grizzlies Preview 

The Cleveland Cavaliers (55-10) and Memphis Grizzlies (42-24) are all set to square off from FedExForum in Memphis.

It’s a big matchup in the NBA. The Grizzlies are second in the Western Conference and have won four straight games.

The Cavaliers are first in the Western Conference and are on a 15 game winning streak.

The Cavaliers are currently 25-6 on the road with a point differential of 11, while the Grizzlies have a 5-5 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 Cavaliers vs. Grizzlies live today

• Date: Friday, March 14, 2025
• Time: 8:00PM EST
• Site: FedExForum
• City: Memphis, TN
• 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 Cavaliers vs. Grizzlies
The latest odds as of Friday:

• Odds: Cavaliers (-142), Grizzlies (+120)
• Spread:  Cavaliers -2.5
• Over/Under: 245 points

That gives the Cavaliers an implied team point total of 123.23, and the Grizzlies 121.93.
 
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 Friday's Cavaliers vs. Grizzlies game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

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

Brad Thomas is taking the Grizzlies on the moneyline…

Thomas: “The Cavs are on the road without their best player. If there were to be a time when the 15-game winning streak were to end, tonight is the best chance.”

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 Cavaliers & Grizzlies game:

• Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Cleveland Cavaliers on the Moneyline.
• Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Memphis Grizzlies at +2.
• Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the under on the Game Total of 245.

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 Cavaliers vs. Grizzlies on Friday

• The Grizzlies are showing a 108% return on investment at home on the Money Line
• The Over is 38-28 in Grizzlies' games this season
• The Cavaliers have covered in 4 of their last 5 road games
• The Cavaliers have covered in 42 of their 65 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)

This summer, Kevin Durant will be the big domino to fall — all signs point to Durant and the Suns parting ways in a trade. Don't take my or any other reporter's word for it, listen to what Suns owner Mat Ishbia — whose "all-in" aggressive style led to the trades to acquire Durant and Bradley Beal — told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon:

According to Ishbia, a "pivot and reload" around Booker could be the direction the franchise chooses this summer.

Plenty of front office people around the league think the Suns should go one more step: Trade Devin Booker. The Rockets are interested and control many of the future picks that Phoenix traded away (the Suns don't fully control their own first-round pick until 2032). This situation could be similar to Brooklyn, where the team trades to regain control of its own picks, allowing for a true bottom-up rebuild.

That is not happening. Ishbia made that crystal clear.

"Never happen," Ishbia said, interrupting the question. "It's silly. So here's what I'll tell you: I have Devin Booker in the prime. In order to win an NBA championship, you got to have a superstar. You got to have a great player."

What's more, Booker doesn't want it. Booker has long idolized Kobe Bryant, one of the few players in recent decades to spend his entire career with one team, and Booker wants to follow in those footsteps.

"I take pride in the community in Phoenix, the people that have supported me since I was 18 when things were ugly. And the people that are with us, we just fell short of accomplishing what we want. So I want to do it, and I want to do it here. That's the responsibility of being a franchise player, and I wear that with honor. So it might not look the most pretty right now, but we got to get it done and I'm going to do it."

There should be no doubt Booker means every word of this. However, the list of superstar players who have said they never wanted to leave a city and then asked for a trade a few years later is longer than we have room for on the Internet. The real question is how Booker feels in a couple of years (as his next contract starts to come up) if the team isn't contending and he sees no path forward.

Ishbia doesn't plan to find out because he wants a quick pivot to move this team back into contention. Fast. How the Suns do that while also reaching the goal of getting under the second tax apron next season will be a Herculean task for GM James Jones.

It's going to be a wild summer in Phoenix. Just don't expect a "trade Booker" wild summer. He's staying.

For managers competing in Yahoo! public leagues or under Yahoo! default settings, Week 20 marks the beginning of the fantasy playoffs. Others may be in leagues where the postseason is already in full swing, but the need to find low-rostered contributors is the same. With more players either being ruled out for the rest of the season or held out for "injury management" reasons, there are opportunities for players who weren't on the fantasy radar to begin the season to shine and provide tangible value. And there may be a "league-winner" sitting on some waiver wires as you read this column. Let's look at some of the top pickups for Week 20 in Yahoo! leagues.

Priority Adds

1. Stephon Castle

2. Naji Marshall

3. Tari Eason

4. Quentin Grimes

5. Miles McBride

6. Kyshawn George

7. Caris LeVert

8. Tre Jones

9. Adem Bona

10. Justin Champagnie

SG/SF Quentin Grimes (55%), Philadelphia 76ers

While no decision has been made regarding Paul George's availability for the rest of the season, the fact that he's meeting with doctors regarding his groin and knee injuries may be a sign that he could be shut down. And with Philadelphia trending toward missing the postseason, there's no need for him to be out there. Grimes has been an offensive focal point, and that should remain the case for the foreseeable future. The only question is what happens if he plays so well that the 76ers risk not improving their odds of holding onto their first-round pick. It is top-6 protected; Oklahoma City receives the pick otherwise.

SG/SF/PF Naji Marshall (54%), Dallas Mavericks

While his rostered percentage has surpassed 50 percent, Marshall may still be undervalued in standard leagues. Over the past week, he has averaged 25.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.5 three-pointers per game, shooting 50 percent from the field and 86.4 percent from the foul line. With the Mavericks still without multiple key players, Marshall has shouldered more of the offensive workload, and fantasy managers have benefitted. While Dallas' Week 20 schedule is terrible, as they only play two games, withholding a transaction to add Marshall before Wednesday's game against the Pacers would be wise.

SF/PF Tari Eason (48%), Houston Rockets

The Rockets have a good schedule for Week 20, playing four games without a back-to-back. That should ensure Eason's availability for all four, which would be excellent news for fantasy managers. Over the past two weeks, he has accounted for 13.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.7 blocks and 1.8 three-pointers per game. And with Amen Thompson (ankle) out, Eason has remained in the Rockets' starting lineup, raising his fantasy ceiling.

PG/SG Stephon Castle (48%), San Antonio Spurs

It was reported that De'Aaron Fox will undergo season-ending finger surgery on Tuesday, so the Spurs will have a spot to fill in their starting lineup. Castle, who started alongside Chris Paul from early January until Fox was acquired from the Kings, should resume those responsiblities. And over the past two weeks, Castle has averaged 20.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.7 three-pointers per game. While the category league value hasn't been great during this stretch, the rookie guard has been a better option for points leagues. And Fox's injury could allow Castle to strengthen his Rookie of the Year case.

SG/SF Caris LeVert (34%), Atlanta Hawks

LeVert continues to provide reliable fantasy value off the bench, as he has been a fourth-round player in nine-cat formats over the past two weeks. He has averaged 19.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.7 blocks and 2.7 three-pointers per game, shooting 55.3 percent from the field and 80 percent from the foul line. With Zaccharie Risacher and Mouhamed Gueye being starters, reserves like LeVert and Georges Niang have added importance for the Hawks as they close in on a play-in spot.

SG/SF Kyshawn George (28%), Washington Wizards

The Wizards have ruled out Bilal Coulibaly, who suffered a hamstring injury during the team's loss to the Raptors on March 10. While that doesn't change George's place in the rotation, as he was already starting, he becomes a more important player on both ends of the floor. The shooting (38.9 percent over the past two weeks) remains an issue, but the defensive production (5.3 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.6 blocks per game) makes it a little easier for category leagues to absorb that blow. What also helps is the Wizards playing four games during Week 20.

PG/SG Miles McBride (27%), New York Knicks

The Knicks have a four-game Week 20, and with Jalen Brunson still recovering from his sprained ankle, McBride has added value. Deuce has averaged 13.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 2.3 steals, 0.7 blocks and 3.0 three-pointers in three starts. The percentages (36.1 from the field and 57.1 from the foul line) haven't been good, but McBride has recorded solid assists, steals and three-point numbers as Brunson's replacement in the lineup. Also, three of New York's four Week 20 games (San Antonio, Charlotte and Washington) are against teams unlikely to reach the postseason.

PG Tre Jones (18%), Chicago Bulls

With Lonzo Ball sidelined by a sprained wrist and Josh Giddey dealing with a sprained ankle, Jones has started Chicago's last five games. During this stretch, he has averaged 14.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.6 blocks and 0.8 three-pointers, shooting 50 percent from the field and 76.9 from the foul line. The Bulls have won four straight and appear headed for the play-in tournament, holding a five-game lead on Toronto for the final spot.

SG/SF Ziaire Williams (17%), Brooklyn Nets

The Nets have lost nine of their last 10 games, appearing to be headed for the draft lottery after being more competitive than anticipated earlier this season. Williams has been a fixture in the starting lineup since late January, with Brooklyn's March 6 loss to the Warriors being the lone exception. While the fantasy value hasn't been great recently, with Ziaire only being a top 150 player in nine-cat formats over the past two weeks, he would benefit if the Nets were to shut down more established perimeter players like Cam Thomas, Cameron Johnson and D'Angelo Russell. The Nets only play three games during Week 20, but playing starters' minutes makes Williams worth a look in deep leagues.

C Adem Bona (12%), Philadelphia 76ers

Joel Embiid is done for the season, while Guerschon Yabusele and Andre Drummond have dealt with injuries recently. And with the team likely wanting to do all it can to improve its draft lottery odds, there's no reason for Bona not to play more minutes as the regular season approaches its conclusion. Over the past week, the rookie has averaged 13.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 2.7 blocks per game, shooting 68 percent from the field and 83.3 percent from the foul line. And with the 76ers playing four games during weeks 20 and 21, Bona is a player worth adding for those needing rebounds and defensive stats.

SG/SF Justin Champagnie (5%), Washington Wizards

As mentioned in the George section, the Wizards will be without Bilal Coulibaly for the rest of the season. Champagnie has started Washington's last two games, most recently accounting for 17 points, nine rebounds, one assist, three steals and three three-pointers in 33 minutes in a March 13 win over the Pistons. He should not be at risk of a late-season shutdown, especially with Khris Middleton and Marcus Smart being more likely candidates.

Dallas Mavericks vs. Houston Rockets Preview 

The Dallas Mavericks (33-34) and Houston Rockets (41-25) are all set to square off from Toyota Center in Houston.

Life without Luca Doncic has not been great for the Mavericks. They are 2-8 in their last 10 and are rapidly falling out of playoff contention.

Consider this season done for the Mavs. They lost Doncic in a trade, Anthony Davis has been out for a while, and now Kyrie Irving is out for the rest of the season.

The Mavericks are currently 14-19 on the road with a point differential of 0, while the Rockets 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 Mavericks vs. Rockets live today

• Date: Friday, March 14, 2025
• Time: 8:00PM EST
• Site: Toyota Center
• City: Houston, TX

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

Game odds for Mavericks vs. Rockets

The latest odds as of Friday:

• Odds: Mavericks (+438), Rockets (-595)
• Spread:  Rockets -11.5
• Over/Under: 224 points

That gives the Mavericks an implied team point total of 110.93, and the Rockets 116.92.
 
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Friday's Mavericks vs. Rockets game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

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

Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) is betting on the Rockets -12.5…

Thomas: “The Rockets are a great defensive team and playing at home. The Mavericks are 1-6 against the spread in their last seven games.”

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Mavericks & Rockets game:

• Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Dallas Mavericks on the Moneyline.
• Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Dallas Mavericks at +11.
• Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 224.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Mavericks vs. Rockets on Friday

• The Rockets are on a 4-game win streak
• The Mavericks' last 3 versus the Rockets have stayed under the Total
• The Rockets have covered the Spread in 4 of their last 5 games as a favorite

Betting the Mavericks on the Money Line in all their road games this season is showing a 110% return on investment
 
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)