Mar 29, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dunks during the second quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
New coach in place, Ja Morant back from injury… same result for the Memphis Grizzlies.
Behind their offensive trio of LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves — who combined for 85 points and 25 assists — the Lakers dominated the final six minutes of Saturday's game and with that took control of the No. 4 seed in the West with a 134-127 win.
That victory puts the Lakers alone as the No. 4 seed in the West, 1.5 games behind the Nuggets for the No. 3 seed. The Grizzlies are the No. 5 seed but just 1.5 games up on the Warriors and Clippers, who are tied for 6/7, and the No. 8 Timberwolves are just two games back of Memphis. Just 4.5 games separate third and eighth in a very tight West.
Which is why this Lakers win mattered so much. Knowing it was a critical game, Lakers coach J.J. Redick said he gathered LeBron, Doncic and Reaves together earlier in the day.
"We challenged all three of them, when we get to their three-man actions, to play with a little more force and a little more thrust and a little more creativity. We were able to get some great stuff in the fourth quarter off that…" Redick said.
"We played as well as we've played so far, offensively."
Memphis has lost 5-of-6 and things don't get easier with the Celtics and Warriors as the next two teams coming to town. It was unfair timing for interim coach Tuomas Iisalo, who was thrust into the head coaching job on Friday after the surprise firing of Taylor Jenkins. Fair or not, he and a healthy lineup need to get some wins soon or they risk falling back into the play-in.
Week 22 is Championship Week in Yahoo! public leagues and Yahoo! leagues that use the default settings. By now, fantasy managers have dealt with many availability issues due to actual injuries or players receiving a night off for rest reasons. Sometimes, it has been easy to figure out when players will sit, but there have been some surprises. Week 22 is busy, as 22 teams will play four games, and a few have multiple back-to-backs to navigate. Let's look at the Week 22 schedule breakdown.
- San Antonio, Toronto, Utah and Washington are among the teams that will play four games during Week 22.
The Spurs, Raptors, Jazz and Wizards are all headed to the draft lottery, and each has a full schedule for the week. That's good news for fantasy managers who need to prioritize availability with league championships on the line. The Spurs have continued to play their veterans, but there has also been room for Stephon Castle and Jeremy Sochan to flourish in their respective roles. The Raptors, Jazz and Wizards have gone the route of resting veteran players, which means names like Isaiah Collier and Kyle Filipowski (Utah), Bub Carrington and AJ Johnson (Washington), and Ja'Kobe Walter and Jamal Shead (Toronto) have been worth a look to varying degrees. San Antonio and Toronto will have a back-to-back to navigate during their respective Week 22 scheduled, but that is not the case for Utah or Washington.
- Will the Mavericks' frontcourt return to full strength during Week 22?
Anthony Davis returned from a groin injury last week, but Dallas remained without centers Daniel Gafford (knee) and Dereck Lively II (foot). However, they were considered doubtful for Saturday's game against the Bulls before being ruled out, and there's hope that Gafford and Lively will be able to play at some point in the next week. In the hotly-contested race for a play-in spot in the West, the Mavericks play four games during Week 22, ending with a Friday/Saturday road back-to-back against the Clippers. The availability of Gafford and Lively also impacts Kai Jones, who has been worth rostering in deep leagues as the Mavericks' starting center. Managers who have Jones should hold onto him, as we don't know when (or if) Gafford and Lively will return, nor do we know what their workloads will look like.
- The Hawks, Clippers and Knicks will have two back-to-backs to navigate.
Beginning with the final day of Week 21, these three teams will have two back-to-backs to deal with over the next week. While Atlanta and New York have Tuesday/Wednesday and Saturday/Sunday back-to-backs, the Clippers have Sunday/Monday and Friday/Saturday. The Knicks are interesting on two fronts. First, Mitchell Robinson will likely be limited to two games during Week 22, as the ultimate goal is for him to be 100 percent for the playoffs. Second, the current state of the team's point guard rotation.
Jalen Brunson (ankle) remains out, while Miles McBride (groin) and Cameron Payne (ankle) have also missed time recently. Delon Wright has assumed the starting point guard duties, much to the chagrin of those who wanted to see rookie Tyler Kolek promoted into the role. Playing starters' minutes gives Wright a shot at fantasy relevance, while Kolek has been elite in the assist-to-turnover department (29 assists and one turnover over his last four games). Regarding the Clippers, managers who have Kawhi Leonard rostered will want to plan for a two-game week from him, which is unfortunate since he's been on a roll recently.
- The Cavaliers, Pistons and Pelicans won't play their first game of Week 22 until Wednesday.
Cleveland, Detroit and New Orleans won't need to be on any fantasy managers' radars to begin Week 22, as they won't be active on Monday or Tuesday. The Cavaliers and Pelicans will play their three games on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, while the Pistons end their Week 22 with a Friday/Saturday back-to-back. Managers with Zion Williamson or CJ McCollum rostered have likely already adjusted their rosters, as those two don't appear likely to see much action down the stretch. Bruce Brown should be back on your radar, as extended minutes and an opportunity to start have raised his fantasy ceiling.
Detroit has been without Cade Cunningham recently, opening a place in the starting lineup for Dennis Schroder, while Marcus Sasser has entered the rotation off the bench. While he did struggle in Detroit's March 28 win over the Cavaliers, Sasser totaled 47 points in wins over the Pelicans and Spurs. If Cunningham remains out, Detroit's April 4 game against Toronto (the Pistons host Memphis the following night) could appeal to those willing to consider streaming Sasser.
- Orlando is the only team not playing a game after Thursday.
While Cleveland, Detroit and New Orleans won't be active to begin Week 22, the opposite is true for the Magic. Orlando will play its three games during the first four days of the Week, starting with the Clippers on Monday. That's followed by a game in San Antonio the next night, and the Magic end Week 22 in the nation's capital on Thursday. Orlando's point guard situation hasn't been the best, with Jalen Suggs (knee) out for the season and Cole Anthony (toe) out of the lineup. Cory Joseph has been the replacement in the starting lineup, but Anthony Black offers a higher ceiling. However, the second-year point guard also boasts a lower floor, making it difficult for fantasy managers to commit to Black or Joseph with Anthony out of the lineup.
Light Game Days
Saturday: 5 Games
NYK vs. ATL MEM vs. DET MIN vs. PHI MIL vs. MIA DAL vs. LAC
Luka Dončić is a five-time NBA All-Star at the age of 26.Photograph: Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images
Seventy-three points. That was Luka Dončić’s total when he led the Dallas Mavericks to a victory over the Atlanta Hawks last season. He wasn’t the only NBA player to have an explosion on offense that season – think Joel Embiid or Karl-Anthony Towns. And the league subsequently decided to change officiating to favor more physical play that would presumably cut down on high offensive output.
That’s how Tim MacMahon sees it. The veteran ESPN writer has covered Dončić since the Slovenian’s arrival in Dallas as one of the most heralded European talents in NBA history. He saw Dončić live up to his billing, leading the Mavericks to the Western Conference finals in 2022 and the NBA finals last year. And he knew that even a change in rules wouldn’t stop Dončić’s stepback three.
“I mean, there’s just not a lot of ways you can guard him,” MacMahon says. “If he’s not the best passer in the league, he’s top two or three … He sees the floor as well as maybe anybody who played the game.”
In February, the Mavs traded their star – who, according to the book, they had previously invested countless time and effort trying to get to stay in Dallas. Dončić was off to the Los Angeles Lakers, while Anthony Davis went to the Mavs.
“Obviously, it was a major plot twist,” MacMahon says.
He and his publisher had to scramble. (Insert your comparisons to an NBA team adjusting on the fly to the fast break.) There were 8,000 copies of the book already at the printer. MacMahon did his part, adding a final chapter.
Even before the trade, MacMahon says, “a lot of Mavericks fans are upset that the book is being written. It was not blessed by Luka … Certain parts of the book are critical of him.”
However, the author says, “One promise I made to Luka via his representatives was that I would not delve into his personal life.”
What’s present, by and large, is a portrayal that’s respectful, candid – and lyrical in describing Dončić’s many achievements on the court over five-plus seasons.
Dončić came to the Mavs having first drawn their attention while playing as a teenager for the elite Spanish team Real Madrid. He joined a Dallas organization that was as full of unhealthy machinations as Game of Thrones, to use MacMahon’s comparison. Rivalries simmered in the Texas heat between the then-owner, then-GM and then-coach – Mark Cuban, Donnie Nelson and Rick Carlisle, respectively. When the dust settled, only Cuban was left standing in Dallas, with Jason Kidd taking over as coach and Nico Harrison as GM. Eventually, even Cuban’s power waned after selling the team to a group headlined by a Las Vegas casino owner, Patrick Dumont. (The former owner retained a minority ownership stake.) During Dončić’s years in Dallas, the Mavs tried multiple times to find a supporting player who could do the difficult, ego-less job of complementing their star. First it was Kristaps Porziņģis, then Jalen Brunson. After those partnerships failed (for various reasons, discussed in the book), the Mavs added Kyrie Irving, who helped Dallas reach the finals last year.
Through it all, Dončić lived up to his promise and then some. The book chronicles those breathtaking moments: an 11-0 individual run in one game against the Houston Rockets that put the league on notice; second-year praise, unprintable but memorable, from LeBron James, after a neat generational moment: James and Dončić became the oldest and youngest NBA players, respectively, to post a 30-10-15 triple-double. All while playing in the shadow of another legendary European star, Dirk Nowitzki.
MacMahon calls Dončić “the most talented player in franchise history,” and acknowledges the competition for this honor: “Dirk is the sixth-leading scorer all-time.”
The book chronicles how Dončić’s individual game point plateau increased over time: first 50-point nights, then 60, and ultimately 73. Then there’s all the triple-doubles. And don’t get MacMahon started on the intangibles.
“Luka is a master at creating space,” the author says. “He’s such a rare blend of power and finesse … He’s impossible to cover for one man. He’s double-teamed so much. If you put another guy [on him], he’ll make the right pass.”
Last season, MacMahon says, “he had more minutes than anybody in the league, combined regular season and playoffs, the highest usage rate in the league.” Don’t forget he played more than the NBA season – this loyal son of Slovenia played for his national team in the World Championships before coming to Mavs training camp. (For the book, MacMahon visited Dončić’s basketball-crazy homeland.) In the regular season, he had to compensate when Irving was absent due to a foot injury, while in the playoffs Dončić averaged 30-plus minutes per game despite a knee injury suffered in the first round.
“The minutes and miles that are on him, it’s pretty extraordinary,” MacMahon says. “Also, he’s going to see the best defender on the other team … He gets in the paint, takes a lot of shots, initiates a lot of shots, rebounds … It takes a physical toll on his body.”
It is a toll, some might say, that has been compounded by conditioning issues. The book addresses this claim, along with another knock – his frequent interactions with referees.
“He has two major flaws,” MacMahon says. “Conditioning concerns, and … the occasional lack of focus. He allows his emotions to get the best of him.” Or, as the author puts it, “there are times he’s more focused on the three guys with the whistles than the five guys on the floor trying to stop him.”
MacMahon cites diet and conditioning as among the reasons Mavs GM Harrison parted ways with Dončić. The author says he has discussed the trade with 50 executives and scouts.
“Many said you cannot trade a generational talent at 25 years old unless the guy puts a gun to your head and wants his way out,” MacMahon says. “Luka was about to buy his forever house in Dallas.”
Instead, it was off to Los Angeles, where he became teammates with his now 40-year-old admirer James. Dončić was also reunited with one of his favorite teammates on the Mavs, Dorian Finney-Smith. (Mavs coach JJ Redick was also an ex-teammate.) Old friend Nowitzki showed up to watch his first game.
Although Dončić’s star shone bright in the Lone Star State, maybe he’ll be better off in LA, playing on a team with a fellow brilliant star – James.
“I was just in LA to see him play,” MacMahon reports of Dončić. “He has the joy back, that smile, a bounce in his step. I don’t know if they’re going to be a championship team now. There’s a small chance.” But, he adds, “he’s got a pretty phenomenal chance to compete for championships long-term with the Lakers.”
As for the team that traded him?
“This is a really, really catastrophic experience for Mavericks fans,” MacMahon says. “The soul of this fanbase has been trampled on, to be blunt. There’s unbelievable, intense outrage.”
The author reflects on Dončić’s five and a half years in Dallas, from his interactions with then-coach Carlisle and then-teammate Porziņģis to Brunson leaving via free agency – and on how Dončić stayed through it all until management traded him.
“You go back through this,” MacMahon says. “It’s just amazing how much drama there was, how much dysfunction there was, how much, frankly, mismanagement there was – and how much success they had despite all of it. It goes back to the talent in this kid.”
Kevin Willard publicly campaigned — pleaded, really — during Maryland's run to the Sweet 16 for more from the university and athletic department for his Big Ten program. More of everything — “fundamental changes," he called them — that really came down to more money, so much more, being funneled into basketball. Willard wanted Maryland to share its plan for revenue sharing with athletes and questioned how the Terrapins could ever be a “top tier” program as the race in college sports to outspend for players and all the adjacent bells and whistles nearly rivals professional levels.
Winning on Sunday at San Antonio would strengthen the Warriors’ collective heartbeat. Losing surely would haunt them.
The Spurs (31-42) represent the last of five consecutive games against sub-.500 opponents, and by splitting the first four the Warriors (42-31) compromised their chances of a guaranteed playoff berth.
Of Golden State’s nine remaining games, San Antonio is one of only two opponents projected to finish in the bottom five in the West. Which makes this ripe for victory. Coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area begins at 3 p.m. with “Warriors Pregame Live,” with tipoff from Frost Bank Center scheduled for 4:05.
The Warriors are heavy favorites, but they have several areas in need of improvement. Stephen Curry, who returned Friday after a two-game absence, can address the struggling offense. And he knows there won’t be many more opportunities to face longtime nemesis Chris Paul.
Paul, who turns 40 in May, has started every game and is having his healthiest season since 2014-15, when he played all 82 for the Clippers. With De’Aaron Fox (finger surgery) out for the season, CP3 – who has recorded 10 or more assists in 14 games – is sharing playmaking duties with impressive rookie Stephon Castle.
Curry, 37, is trying to restore his efficiency. After a 12-game stretch in which he shot 51.3 percent from the field, including 43.8 percent beyond the arc, his accuracy has tumbled to 39.1 and 32.9 percent over his last seven.
As he has struggled, so has Golden State’s offense. Only once in the last five games have the Warriors shot above 43 percent from the field. They were at 23.7 percent from deep Tuesday at Miami and 23.6 percent Friday at New Orleans.
That led to postgame discussion in the locker room, Curry told reporters after the comeback in at New Orleans.
“As a team, we haven’t shot the ball well,” he said. “But we’re creating decent looks. So, can’t get down on yourself. You can’t start overthinking. And if you can continue to create those shots, keep shooting them. That’s what we talked about.”
The Spurs have been a bottom-10 defense all season, and it has gotten worse without center Victor Wembanyama, who is out for the season after being diagnosed with a deep-vein thrombosis during the All-Star break.
What awaits Golden State after San Antonio is the most daunting stretch of the season: at Memphis, at the Lakers, home against the Nuggets and Rockets.
This is a TCB game for Curry and the Warriors. Take Care of Business.
University of Maryland coach Kevin Willard has been named the head coach of Villanova University's men's basketball. Willard has led teams to ten NCAA Tournaments over 17 seasons.
It’s Sunday, March 30, and the Toronto Raptors (27-47) and Philadelphia 76ers (23-51) are all set to square off from Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
The Raptors are currently 10-26 on the road with a point differential of -5, while the 76ers have a 2-8 record in their last ten games at home. Toronto is 3-0 against Philadelphia this season with wins of 8, 13, and 3 points.
Toronto is on a three-game winning streak that followed up a four-game losing streak. Philadelphia is on a seven-game losing streak and dropped its home contest versus Miami last night, 118-95.
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 Raptors vs. 76ers live today
Date: Sunday, March 30, 2025
Time: 7:30PM EST
Site: Wells Fargo Center
City: Philadelphia, PA
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 Raptors vs. 76ers
The latest odds as of Sunday:
Odds: Raptors (-144), 76ers (+121)
Spread: Raptors -2.5
Over/Under: 221 points
That gives the Raptors an implied team point total of 111.24, and the 76ers 109.93.
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 Sunday’s Raptors vs. 76ers game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Raptors to cover:
"With Toronto on a three-game winning streak and playing a 76ers team that is abysmal and riding seven-straight losses, plus on no rest, I could only look toward the Raptors. This -3.5 to -4.5 feels like it will close around -5.5 or -6, so I lean toward Toronto."
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 Raptors & 76ers 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 Philadelphia 76ers at +2.
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 Raptors vs. 76ers on Sunday
The Raptors have a losing record this season (27-47)
4 of the Raptors' last 5 road games stayed under the Total
The Raptors have covered in 4 of their last 5 matchups against divisional opponents
The Raptors have a losing record this season (27-47)
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!
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It’s Sunday, March 30, and the Atlanta Hawks (35-38) and Milwaukee Bucks (40-33) are all set to square off from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
The Hawks are currently 16-20 on the road with a point differential of -2, while the Bucks have a 6-4 record in their last ten games at home. This is the fifth and final meeting between Atlanta and Milwaukee. The series is tied up 2-2 with the Bucks winning the most recent matchup.
Atlanta dropped the last two games and won the previous three. The Hawks have been a streaky team over the last 11 games with a 7-4 record. Milwaukee is on a three-game losing streak and like Atlanta, has been a streaky squad with an 11-9 record since the All-Star break.
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. Bucks live today
Date: Sunday, March 30, 2025
Time: 7:00PM EST
Site: Fiserv Forum
City: Milwaukee, WI
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 Hawks vs. Bucks
The latest odds as of Sunday:
Odds: Hawks (+138), Bucks (-164)
Spread: Bucks -3.5
Over/Under: 233 points
That gives the Hawks an implied team point total of 115.76, and the Bucks 117.59.
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 Sunday’s Hawks vs. Bucks game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Hawks to cover:
"Neither team enters on a high note when these squads meet for the fifth and hopefully final time this season. However, giving the underdog here a few possessions could be key as the better defense and arguably shooting team is the Hawks. With all four games being competitive this season, I would expect the fifth matchup to be too. I lean the Hawks +3.5 or better."
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 & Bucks game:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Milwaukee Bucks on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Atlanta Hawks at +3.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under on the Game Total of 233.
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 Hawks vs. Bucks on Sunday
The Hawks have lost 14 of their last 20 games against teams with winning records
The Over is 4-1 in the Hawks' last 5 games
The Hawks have covered the spread in 5 of their last 7 games against teams with better records
The Bucks have won 4 of their last 5 home games against teams with losing records
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!
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It’s Sunday, March 30, and the Portland Trail Blazers (32-42) and New York Knicks (46-27) are all set to square off from Madison Square Garden in New York.
The Trail Blazers are currently 12-24 on the road with a point differential of -4, while the Knicks have a 7-3 record in their last ten games at home. These squads met on March 12 in Portland and the Knicks won 114-113 in OT.
New York is coming off a win over Milwaukee that gave them a 3-1 record over the last four games. The Knicks are 4-4 since they beat the Blazers. Portland is on a three-game losing streak that is following up a four-game winning streak.
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 Trail Blazers vs. Knicks live today
Date: Sunday, March 30, 2025
Time: 6:00PM EST
Site: Madison Square Garden
City: New York, 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 Trail Blazers vs. Knicks
The latest odds as of Sunday:
Odds: Trail Blazers (+260), Knicks (-319)
Spread: Knicks -8.5
Over/Under: 222 points
That gives the Trail Blazers an implied team point total of 109.82, and the Knicks 114.24.
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 Sunday’s Trail Blazers vs. Knicks game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Blazers to cover:
"Portland is riding a three-game losing streak versus Boston, Cleveland, and Sacramento. The Blazers have had two days off as they traveled to New York to take on the Knicks. Jalen Brunson remains out for the Knicks as New York is 6-5 over 11 games without him. While New York did win in OT versus Portland without Brunson, the Knicks haven't been playing great basketball beating up on bad teams and losing to good ones (outside of Milwaukee). I don't think Portland is a bad team, so I lean the Blazers to cover."
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 Trail Blazers & Knicks game:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the New York Knicks on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Portland Trail Blazers at +8.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 222.
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 Trail Blazers vs. Knicks on Sunday
The Trail Blazers have lost 3 games in a row
Each of the last 3 matchups between the Trail Blazers and the Knicks have stayed under the Total
The Trail Blazers have covered in 40 of their 74 games this season
The Trail Blazers have lost 3 games in a row
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:
It’s Sunday, March 30, and the Los Angeles Clippers (42-31) and Cleveland Cavaliers (59-15) are all set to square off from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland.
The Clippers are currently 17-20 on the road with a point differential of 4, while the Cavaliers have an 8-2 record in their last ten games at home. These squads met on March 18 and the Clippers won 132-119 in the only matchup of the season.
Cleveland is coming off a loss against Detroit, which snapped a three-game winning streak, while Los Angeles won the past two and seven of the previous eight 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 Clippers vs. Cavaliers live today
Date: Sunday, March 30, 2025
Time: 3:30PM EST
Site: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
City: Cleveland, OH
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. Cavaliers
The latest odds as of Sunday:
Odds: Clippers (+205), Cavaliers (-250)
Spread: Cavaliers -6
Over/Under: 231 points
That gives the Clippers an implied team point total of 114.52, and the Cavaliers 117.64.
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 Sunday’s Clippers vs. Cavaliers game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans Evan Mobley to go Over his 2.5 blocks and steals prop:
"At +120 odds, I lean Evan Mobley to go Over his 2.5 blocks and steals prop versus the Clippers. Mobley is in a neck-and-neck race for Defensive Player of the Year against Draymond Green and I think it's Mobley's award to lose, which is currently trending that way. Despite money coming in on Green and nothing but support for the guy chirping for the award, Mobley has recorded four straight games with two-plus blocks and has 12 combined steals and blocks in that span. For +100 or better value, I think Mobley Over his steals and blocks (stocks) is a fun prop to play down the stretch of the regular season."
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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 & Cavaliers 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 Los Angeles Clippers at +6.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 231.
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. Cavaliers on Sunday
The Clippers have won 4 straight road games
Each of the Cavaliers' last 4 home games against the Clippers have gone over the Total
The Clippers have failed to cover in 21 of their 37 road games this season
The Clippers are 16-20 on the road this season but have won their last 3 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!
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