Category: Basketball

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Central Division rivals clash for the fourth and final time this season as the Milwaukee Bucks host the Cleveland Cavaliers at Fiserv Forum tonight.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Donovan Mitchell tend to rise to the occasion in divisional matchups, and my Cavaliers vs. Bucks predictions set up for both stars to deliver big-time performances.

Here are my free NBA picks for this divisional throwdown on Tuesday, March 17.

Cavaliers vs Bucks prediction

Cavaliers vs Bucks best bet: Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 28.5 points (-115)

At 27.6 points per game, Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging his fewest points since the 2017-18 campaign. He’s been limited to 36 games due to injuries, but has scored 29+ in 19 of them.

Giannis has historically played well against his division foe, averaging 32.6 points over his last seven matchups with the Cleveland Cavaliers and scoring 30+ points six times. 

Cleveland has allowed the 12th-most points in the paint across its last 10 games, and 67.7% of Giannis’ points come from that range.

With no Jarrett Allen tonight, that will allow for the Greek Freak to attack Evan Mobley more and cause havoc in the paint.

Cavaliers vs Bucks same-game parlay

The Cavs have struggled to cover the spread with consistency this season. Cleveland is 7-15 against the spread as the road favorite and 4-14 when favored by 10 points.

The Milwaukee Bucks are 2-1 ATS vs. Cleveland, and I’ll take them to cover as big home underdogs, thanks to the play of Giannis.

The Cavs are 20-13 to the Over on the road and 15-7 as the road favorite. The Bucks have hit the Over in 19 of 34 home games and 12 of 20 games as the home underdog. The teams also hit the Over when they last met on February 25.

Cavaliers vs Bucks SGP

• Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 28.5 points
• Bucks +10.5
• Over 229

Our "from downtown" SGP: Superstar saga

Giannis has pulled down 10+ boards in six of his last seven matchups against Cleveland, and with no Allen for the visitor tonight, the Greek Freak can crash the boards with ease.

Milwaukee’s defense has allowed the fourth-most points (120.1) and most 3-pointers per game across its last 10 games. In that span, the Bucks have surrendered the third-most rebounds (46.9) and most assists (30.7). 

That's music to the ears of Donovan Mitchell, who has nailed at least four threes in two of three. He's also eclipsed this R+A line in three straight.

Cavaliers vs Bucks SGP

• Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 28.5 points
• Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 9.5 rebounds
• Donovan Mitchell Over 25.5 points
• Donovan Mitchell Over 9.5 rebounds+assists

Cavaliers vs Bucks odds

• Spread: Cavaliers -10.5 | Bucks +10.5
• Moneyline: Cavaliers -500 | Bucks +375
• Over/Under: Over 229 | Under 229

Cavaliers vs Bucks betting trend to know

The Cavaliers have hit the team total Over in 13 of their last 17 away games (+8.35 Units / 42% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Cavaliers vs. Bucks.

How to watch Cavaliers vs Bucks

Cavaliers vs Bucks latest injuries

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This rollercoaster Minnesota Timberwolves season has hit another dip, and they’ll be without Anthony Edwards for tonight’s bounceback mission against the Phoenix Suns.

Phoenix continues to apply pressure in the race for the Top 6 in the West, but my Suns vs. Timberwolves predictions and college basketball picks signal a strong outing for Minnesota, with Julius Randle embracing a bigger offensive role.

Suns vs Timberwolves prediction

Suns vs Timberwolves best bet: Timberwolves -3.5 (-110)

If ever there was a night for the Minnesota Timberwolves' depth to shine through, this is it. They'll have to do it without Edwards, but there’s a lot to like about their 22-12 record at Target Center this season.

The hosts are 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings between these teams, and a defense anchored by Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels should make life tough for Devin Booker.

This is a tricky spot for the Phoenix Suns, who lost in Boston last night, and the visitors are 4-10 SU this year when they have a rest disadvantage.

Suns vs Timberwolves same-game parlay

Julius Randle gets the keys to the Minnesota offense tonight, and he’s still capable of game-winning outings as a No. 1 option. I view his 32-7-6 stat line in Monday’s loss in OKC as a preview of what to expect tonight, and his playmaking will be critical for a Timberwolves squad that’s relied heavily on Ant to create open looks.

Suns vs Timberwolves SGP

• Timberwolves -3.5
• Julius Randle Over 22.5 points
• Julius Randle Over 4.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: Paint patrol

Both teams have peppered the Under this season, so this SGP leans into a defensive battle. Gobert is the headliner, ranking fourth in the NBA in rebounds per game, but don’t sleep on Ighodaro, who grabbed eight boards against the Celtics last night.

Suns vs Timberwolves SGP

• Rudy Gobert Over 11.5 rebounds
• Rudy Gobert Over 1.5 blocks
• Oso Ighodaro Over 5.5 rebounds
• Under 222

Suns vs Timberwolves odds

• Spread: Suns +3.5 | Timberwolves -3.5
• Moneyline: Suns +135 | Timberwolves -160
• Over/Under: Over 222 | Under 222

Suns vs Timberwolves betting trend to know

The Under is 7-2 in Minnesota's last nine games. Find more NBA betting trends for Suns vs. Timberwolves.

How to watch Suns vs Timberwolves

Suns vs Timberwolves latest injuries

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In case you have been stuck under a rock for the better part of three weeks, the Atlanta Hawks have rattled off a recent streak of winning not seen since the days of Paul Millsap and Al Horford.

With their 10th straight win over the Orlando Magic on Magic City Night Monday night, Atlanta has laid claim to the longest win streak since the end of January 2015 — 4,065 days ago from today as I write this on Tuesday.

Clearly, many things are now working for this team that just a few weeks ago sat at 27-31.

Here are my top 10 reasons why the Hawks are streaking.

Jalen Johnson, closer

Jalen Johnson made his first All-Star Game this season, and deservedly so for his absolutely bonkers numbers so far.

Those numbers bear revisiting: per-game averages of 23.0 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 8.1 assists on 59% true shooting. Only four players in NBA history have ever hit those points, rebounds, and assists per game benchmarks in a season: Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Russell Westbrook, and Nikola Jokic.

But his biggest contribution of late has been in finishing off opponents within sniffing distance in fourth quarters. Johnson is sixth in the league in points in the fourth quarter on 60.3% true shooting. His real superstar turn may be in taking over when the brightest lights are on him.

Dyson Daniels’ hustle and grit

Dyson Daniels doesn’t need a three-point shot to absolutely wreck opposing teams’ gameplans. So far this season, he’s fourth in deflections per game with 4.2, third in total deflections with 269, and second in loose balls recovered with 62 (all stats per the NBA’s tracking numbers).

Plays like this one last night where he goes all out for the ball are almost a nightly basis:

Or this tip rebound as he heads out of bounds leading to a score:

Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s Most Improved Player push

As of Tuesday morning, ‘NAW’ is fourth in the league in made threes with 205, and he’s converting at a 39% clip. Last night, he set a new career high with 41 points behind 9-for-14 (64%) shooting from deep.

But these haven’t been the product of simply standing in the corner. Rather, he works hard for these looks by moving off the ball to find openings. Watch him sprint from the strong side corner for this look — an effort level that Desmond Bane simply doesn’t match:

How he does this for 33 minutes a game in 65 games to this point while handling the ball more than ever, giving tons of effort on the defensive end, and generally excelling in a much larger role than he’s ever had, I’ll never know.

The new starting unit gelled immediately

Inserting CJ McCollum into the starting lineup for Zaccharie Risacher raised some eyebrows initially, but the Hawks immediately rattled off on their winning streak ever since. It’s beyond fair to say that move has worked.

But this lineup isn’t just passing the test — they’re acing it with flying colors. The new starting lineup is boat racing opponents to the tune of +29.1 points per 100 possessions in 217 minutes this season, by far the highest margin of all NBA lineups with at least 100 minutes played.

Sharing is caring

The Hawks are in the middle of a historical season in terms of sharing the ball. Currently, they are second in assist percentage (the percentage of made field goals that are assisted) with 70.2%, second in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.13), and tops in assist ratio (the percentage of possessions that ended with an assist) at 20.5%.

The teams’ offensive ethos has been ‘random basketball’ where dribble-handoffs and off-ball screens create tons of confusion for defenses, and the many willing passers on this team have cashed in tons opportunities to create easy looks for each other.

Bench depth

The in-season additions of Gabe Vincent, Corey Kispert, Jonathan Kuminga, and Jock Landale have given the bench many options to mix and match as needed. Gone are the days of the dreaded Keaton Wallace-Luke Kennard-Vit Krejci lineups. Now the Hawks can stagger one of the starting guards with bigger and more physical presences at hand.

Offensive rebounding

The Hawks had difficulties extending possessions early in the season, and it was clear the tradeoff of bodies back in transition defense wasn’t quite worth it. Prior to the All-Star break, the Hawks were 27th in the NBA in offensive rebound rate (the percent of available offensive rebounds secured) at 27.3%

Now, with the likes of Dyson Daniels and Zaccharie Risacher crashing the glass relentlessly, post-All-Star break the team has been fourth in the entire league over that stretch with an offensive rebounding rate of 34.4%.

Defensive rebounding

The story is similar on the defensive side of the ball. The week layoff and homestand has helped the Hawks put up more of a physical fight for box outs and positioning on the glass as of late.

The team went from 21st in defensive rebounding rate (68.9%) prior to the break all the way to first in the NBA (76.4%) since. Now that’s what I call a turnaround.

Coaching adjustments

I wrote about Quin Snyder putting Dyson Daniels on Giannis Antetokounmpo when it was clear the matchup was problematic. Two games ago, Snyder inserted Mouhamed Gueye in Jock Landale’s place in the second half bench unit against the Brooklyn Nets.

And last game, he used double big lineups with Jalen Johnson at the 3 (although to not a great effect).

The coaching staff has had to constantly tinker during a season of wild roster turnover, and they’ve now found solution after solution during this latest stretch.

The vibes are immaculate

After every big play, you see locker room vet Buddy Hield and others engaged and cheering. The home crowds in State Farm Arena are providing ample energy.

The locker room continues to reference a vibes shift in recent weeks, and the wins have followed.

After the game yesterday, Jalen Johnson said it himself, “I think the best way to describe it is we’re resilient. We’ve been through a lot of ups and downs. Team has looked different at times. But at the end of the day, we remain together. With us remaining together, that allows us to stack these types of wins, go on a winning streak like this, get a big win like tonight against Orlando. Just the little things that’s we’ve been doing off the court, in practice, have a created a sum. This is the result.”

The fact that the Sixers trying to keep their own pick this year has become a real conversation is astounding.

To say it’s been a rough couple of weeks for Philadelphia is an understatement. Thanks in large part to having four different starters go down for an extended period of time with injury, they’ve plummeted down the Eastern Conference standings into the Play-In tournament.

The skid, combined with the uncertainty of when those guys may be back, has made the topic of the Sixers trying to retain their top-4 protected first round something seriously considered.

The good news is unlike last season, the Sixers won’t be completely screwed if they happen to fall into the lottery and the slim odds don’t break their way. They of course own the Houston Rockets’ first-round pick from a trade you might have heard about.

Houston had another tough week in which they posted another 1-2 record. They squeaked out a win over the New Orleans Pelicans but dropped their games against the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers.

Unfortunately for the Sixers, that hasn’t resulted in any movement for the pick — it’s still 24th overall, where it was a week ago. The early 20s remains a very tight bunch though. The Rockets are just a half game behind three teams that are tied for the 21st spot.

Another reason to think about the draft is March Madness is about to start. This very blog may have something in the works about prospects to keep an eye on in the tournament. For now, Iowa State, Alabama, Arizona and Michigan may all be teams worth keeping an eye on from a Sixers perspective. All four of those teams are high seeds as well, with the potential to make a deep tournament run.

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The Charlotte Hornets have clearly turned the corner from also-ran to up and comer. Getting past the Miami Heat might be another step in that development.

The Heat visit Charlotte Tuesday night, looking for their fifth straight win over the Hornets, and their eighth win in nine games overall.

Despite that dominance, injuries to the visitors have my Heat vs. Hornets predictions and free NBA picks backing the home team on March 17.

Heat vs Hornets prediction

Heat vs Hornets best bet: Hornets -3.5 (-110)

Miami is punching at the door of the East’s top six, starting the day just a half game back of both the Raptors and Magic.

The Miami Heat are scoring 124.1 points per game on their current 7-1 streak, which ranks second in the NBA.

But Bam Adebayo (calf) is questionable Tuesday, while Andrew Wiggins (toe) has already been ruled out.

That might be enough for the Charlotte Hornets to end their skid vs. Miami. They have just three losses in their last 11, and are holding teams to 105.1 points per game, which is third in the NBA over that time.

Heat vs Hornets same-game parlay

Kon Knueppel has topped his 18.5 scoring line in four of his last six starts, and he’s gone for at least 27 in each of his last two starts against the Heat.

Jaime Jaquez Jr. has led the team in assists in four straight games, and he’s had five or more assists in four straight, and in two of his last three against Charlotte.

Heat vs Hornets SGP

• Hornets -3.5
• Kon Knueppel Over 18.5 points
• Jaime Jaquez Jr. Over 4.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: Ride with Knueppel until the wheels fall off

Let’s ride the rookie to fill out this SGP.

Knueppel has grabbed six boards in back-to-back games, and had an 8-rebound game against the Heat earlier this season.

His 2.5 assist line is gettable: Knueppel has hit the Over in all three games vs the Heat, and has had at least three dimes in five of his last seven games.

Heat vs Hornets SGP

• Hornets -3.5
• Kon Knueppel Over 18.5 points
• Jaime Jaquez Jr. Over 4.5 assists
• Kon Knueppel Over 5.5 rebounds
• Kon Knueppel Over 2.5 assists

Heat vs Hornets odds

• Spread: Miami +5.5 (-110) | Charlotte -5.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Miami +180 | Charlotte -220
• Over/Under: Over 234.5 (-110) | Under 234.5 (-110)

Heat vs Hornets betting trend to know

Charlotte is 18-13-0 ATS at home this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Heat vs. Hornets.

How to watch Heat vs Hornets

Heat vs Hornets latest injuries

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Say this for Kentucky basketball: At least the ‘Cats will be well-rested, after a quarterfinals exit in the SEC tournament. While the Wildcats prepped for the NCAA Tournament, former coach John Calipari and his Arkansas Razorbacks cut down nets in Nashville.

Now, after a season filled with inconsistency, the pressure’s on second-year Kentucky coach Mark Pope to achieve something in March Madness — or, at least last as long as Calipari does.

NCAA Touranment bold predictions: Popular upset picks, Final Four dark horse

On this basketball-themed episode of “SEC Football Unfiltered,” a podcast from the USA TODAY Network, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams weigh in on the SEC teams facing the most pressure in this NCAA Tournament, plus teams that were “snubbed.”

Then, they offer first-round upset picks, and they highlight a sleeper team from the SEC that could reach the Elite Eight. Finally, they give their Final Four picks! In a surprise twist, neither host picks an SEC team to reach the Final Four.

Which SEC basketball team faces most March Madness pressure?

Adams: Kentucky. Ask me again next year, and my answer will be the same. Ask me again the year after that, well, you get the idea. It’s always Kentucky. You want to be Kentucky’s coach? You get the reins of a tradition-rich program with an elite fan base and excellent resources. You also get the maximum pressure. Calipari’s success at Arkansas does Pope no favors. This first-round draw does Kentucky little favor, either. No. 10 Santa Clara is good enough to slay a blue blood.

March Madness Cinderella predictions: VCU, Akron top NCAA Tournament upset picks

Toppmeyer: Six reasons why we love March Madness

Toppmeyer: Of course it’s Kentucky. Big Blue Nation demands banners, not participation ribbons. Pope will have a new boss soon, with Mitch Barnhart retiring as athletic director and moving into a golden parachute role. Pope is good for now, but an early exit paired with new leadership spells Year 3 heat. Better to win a few games this March and show a hint of momentum.

Beyond the obvious of Kentucky, though, how about Missouri facing some first-round pressure after drawing a de facto home game as a 10-seed in St. Louis, against No. 7 Miami? The last time the Tigers appeared in St. Louis, they got embarrassed by Illinois. Missouri basketball took a bleak turn after joining the SEC. Instead of dominating a bunch of football-crazed Southerners, the Tigers went into a hoops tailspin. They’ve produced just one NCAA Tournament win in 14 years as an SEC member. Now, here’s a golden draw in front of a home crowd.

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The Sacramento Kings are looking for a little luck on St. Patrick’s Day when they host the San Antonio Spurs.

Sacramento heads into this homestand with some heat, winning four of its past five games while covering in all of those outings.

My Spurs vs. Kings predictions and NBA picks look at the pile of points being offered by oddsmakers and back Sacramento as a big home dog tonight.

Spurs vs Kings prediction

Spurs vs Kings best bet: Sacramento +13.5 (-110)

The hell with tanking. The Sacramento Kings are on a roll, thanks in part to an extended home run and improvements on both ends of the floor. Defense is the most notable uptick, boasting the third-best rating in the NBA over the past five games.

While this push came against some fellow bottom feeders, Sacramento has surpassed the oddsmakers’ expectations and catches the San Antonio Spurs in a tough spot.

San Antonio is playing the second of a back-to-back and comes down in intensity after a slate packed with playoff-bound opponents. 

Game models like the Spurs but by less than 12 points tonight.

Spurs vs Kings same-game parlay

The Kings’ defensive improvements and the Spurs’ road-weary legs will keep scoring low tonight. Forecasts come in around 234 points.

DeMar DeRozan isn’t packing it in. The veteran just dropped 41 points and has scored 107 points over his last three games. He’d love to stick it to his old team tonight.

Spurs vs Kings SGP

• Kings +13.5
• Under 236.5
• DeMar DeRozan Over 19.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Royal flush

If Sacramento could ever catch San Antonio sleeping, this is the game. The Spurs are playing back-to-back outings and have laid eggs against some terrible teams this season.

Spurs vs Kings SGP

• Sacramento moneyline
• Under 236.5
• DeMar DeRozan Over 19.5 points

Spurs vs Kings odds

• Spread: Spurs -13.5 | Kings +13.5
• Moneyline: Spurs -900 | Kings +600
• Over/Under: Over 236.5 | Under 236.5

Spurs vs Kings betting trend to know

The Kings are 6-3 ATS as home underdogs of 10 or more points this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Kings.

How to watch Spurs vs Kings

Spurs vs Kings latest injuries

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

It’s been a month and a half since the Cleveland Cavaliers traded for James Harden. So far, the results have pretty good.

The Cavs won their first five games with Harden in the lineup. Since that time, he’s broken a finger, and the team has lost four of their last nine games with him. The Cavs are now 10-4 in games Harden plays.

In that time, Harden is averaging 19.4 points, 7.7 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game with .480/.436/.808 shooting splits.

The three-ball has boosted Harden’s efficiency. The outside shot will undoubtedly cool off. He’s never shot over 40% from three for a season. The closest he’s gotten was converting 39% of his triples back in the 2011-12 season.

Harden has done a great job of bolstering the offense while adjusting to a secondary role alongside Donovan Mitchell. Harden’s usage rate in Cleveland has been 27.9% (67th percentile). That’s the lowest it’s been since 2023-24, when he first played alongside Kawhi Leonard and Paul George with the Los Angeles Clippers.

More impressively, Harden has done a great job of fitting into head coach Kenny Atkinson’s offensive system. The Cavs are playing slower with Harden on the court compared to their season-long average, but since he’s come to the team, they’re playing at a slightly faster pace when he’s on the court compared to when he’s off.

Atkinson’s system isn’t built on just playing fast. It’s a movement-based offense that runs a lot of off-ball action. That’s the opposite of Harden’s isolation system, where every player stays perfectly spaced at all times.

The Cavs have done a good job of blending the two. They’ve been able to incorporate a decent amount of off-ball movement around Harden, which has allowed him to showcase how good a passer he is.

As a team, the Cavs have scored 122.7 points per 100 possessions (94th percentile for offensive ratings) when Harden is on the court. An individual player’s offensive rating isn’t usually indicative of how well they’ve performed. In this instance, it shows how well he’s bought into the team’s philosophy, leading to their success.

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More importantly, the offense has remained elite no matter which core player he’s been paired with.

Harden has paired incredibly well with Mitchell. He’s allowed Mitchell to keep the reins as a scorer while finding ways to fit in around him. As a result, the Cavs have posted a 128.8 offensive rating with both Mitchell and Harden on the court (99th percentile). This has led to the Cavs outscoring their opponents by 11.3 points per 100 possessions when both are on the floor (94th percentile for net ratings).

The same has been true with Jarrett Allen. The duo has developed an impressive pick-and-roll game, which has led to the Cavs posting a 124.2 offensive rating (97th percentile) and a +8.5 net rating (87th percentile) when both are playing.

Harden’s fit alongside Evan Mobley has looked the most awkward. The duo hasn’t developed great pick-and-roll chemistry yet, which has left the offense feeling clunky at times. However, that clunkiness isn’t reflected in the numbers. The Cavs have still posted a superb 122.1 offensive rating with both on the floor (92nd percentile) and a +9.1 net rating (89th percentile).

As seamless as the fit has been, there are two things that we can clearly knock Harden for.

First, he’s been able to stabilize lineups without Mitchell — which was a big issue before the Harden trade — but those lineups haven’t been too impressive.

Atkinson hasn’t found the right bench combinations to play alongside Harden. There hasn’t been much consistency in those lineups, which makes it difficult to have too strong an opinion as to why they haven’t thrived. This has led to the Cavs outscoring opponents by 1.6 points per 100 possessions (59th percentile for net ratings) when Harden is on the floor without Mitchell.

Secondly, the defense has been rough with Harden.

Opponents are scoring 4.7 more points per 100 possessions with Harden on the floor compared to when he’s off (17th percentile). This is due in part to how little resistance Harden has provided at the point of attack.

The Cavs have tried different ways to cover for Harden defensively, but haven’t found much success in doing so. They’ve experimented with the 3-2 zone with Harden at both the top and the bottom of the zone, but he’s fared poorly in both situations. He doesn’t contain the ball at the top of the zone, and the rotations are too slow when he’s at the bottom.

These issues are amplified when he’s playing alongside Mitchell, who’s been a poor point-of-attack defender in his own right recently.

The defense has been without either Mobley or Allen in most of Harden’s tenure with the team. Harden has only played with both bigs in five of his 14 games. The defense has been exceptional in the brief time he’s shared the floor with both bigs — they’ve posted a 95.4 defensive rating (100th percentile) in 72 minutes together. The issue is that the Cavs play a majority of their minutes with just one of the two bigs on the court, even when both are healthy.

Harden isn’t magically going to become a great defender in his 17th season. However, there are likely better ways to cover for him on that end. The question is whether the Cavaliers can find those before the postseason.

Overall, Harden has fit in well with his teammates. He was brought in to boost their chances of going to the Finals this season and in the next few. Based on the early returns, they’re in a better situation to do that even with him playing through a broken finger.

Harden’s grade for his first month and a half of play: A-

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The Indiana Pacers have some good recent memories at MSG, but don’t count on a repeat for Rick Carlisle’s short-handed squad as they visit the New York Knicks tonight.

Indiana arrives on a 13-game losing streak while tumbling towards maximum lottery odds, so my Pacers vs. Knicks predictions and NBA picks see New York running riot here, with OG Anunoby stepping up in the likely absence of Jalen Brunson.

Pacers vs Knicks prediction

Pacers vs Knicks best bet: OG Anunoby Over 22.5 points + rebounds (-125)

OG Anunoby ranks among the NBA’s elite 3-and-D weapons, but he’s much more than a role player – and this combo Over feels like a value pick, with Anunoby nailing it in three of his last four games.

Just look at his numbers this month — OG is averaging 19.2 points per game and shooting 45% from beyond the arc. He dropped 25 points on the Indiana Pacers last week, and there’s a path to more offense with Brunson listed as doubtful.

I see Anunoby chipping in on the boards too, where he’s grabbed 5+ rebounds in six of his past nine outings.

Pacers vs Knicks same-game parlay

The New York Knicks won’t need to get out of first gear to land a victory, and I see Anunoby and Towns doing most of the damage. KAT has finished with 13+ rebounds four times already this month, and New York is 24-9 SU at home this season.

Pacers vs Knicks SGP

• OG Anunoby Over 22.5 points + rebounds
• Knicks moneyline
• Karl-Anthony Towns Over 12.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: New York Minute!

This is a perfect chance for the New York wings to put up big numbers, and I see Bridges joining Anunoby with a strong scoring night.

Plus, Hart will take on more playmaking responsibilities without Brunson on the floor. That should be a winning formula against the slumping Pacers, who are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 contests.

Pacers vs Knicks SGP

• OG Anunoby Over 18.5 points
• Josh Hart Over 6.5 assists
• Mikal Bridges Over 14.5 points
• Knicks -14.5

Pacers vs Knicks odds

• Spread: Pacers +14.5 | Knicks -14.5
• Moneyline: Pacers +600 | Knicks -900
• Over/Under: Over 221.5 | Under 221.5

Pacers vs Knicks betting trend to know

The Pacers are 5-29 SU on the road this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. Knicks.

How to watch Pacers vs Knicks

Pacers vs Knicks latest injuries

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

If you received a snapshot of a certain timestamp in almost every single Knicks game since the all-star break, you’d think the team was in the midst of another January collapse that would have them plummeting towards the play-in tournament and have Mike Brown receiving his pink slip:

Trailed 93-75 with 10:50 left in the 4th vs HOU (2/21)
Trailed 95-94 with 2:40 left in 4th @ CHI (2/22)
Trailed 19-7 with 4:00 left in the 1st vs SA (3/1)
Trailed 27-17 with 3:10 left in the 1st @ TOR (3/3)
Trailed 23-14 with 3:05 left in the 1st @ DEN (3/6)
Trailed 49-31 with 9:35 left in the 2nd @ UTAH (3/11)
Trailed 74-73 with 0.1 left in the 3rd @ IND (3/13)
Trailed 46-25 with 9:10 left in the 2nd vs GSW (3/15)

Add in the lopsided losses in Los Angeles and the Detroit/Cleveland losses, it paints the picture of a team that’s just not good.

Well, except that the Knicks won all eight of the games listed above. That includes three 18+-point comebacks, surviving scares from multiple lottery teams, and overcoming terrible offensive and defensive starts against playoff teams. It’s proven that the team, does in fact, have the ability to overcome adversity, regardless of what some people say.

But it doesn’t make the way they go into lulls any less baffling. They sleepwalked for much of the first quarter against both San Antonio and Denver before blitzing them the rest of the game. They got utterly barraged from downtown by the Warriors and Jazz before taking control and throttling those teams over the remaining 2.5 quarters. They’ve played with their food several times, but have usually come out on top.

It’s frankly inexplicable. The Knicks still boast the league’s best defensive rating over the past eight weeks, but have started several games recently, unable to defend a high school offense. The talent eventually has overwhelmed both Utah and Golden State in the last week, but look at the way they started these games offensively:

Utah:
Started: 18/29 FG (62.1%), 11/13 3PT (64.6%)
Ended: 24/58 FG (41.4%), 7/23 3PT (30.4%)

Golden State:
Started: 15/22 FG (68.2%), 8/14 3PT (57.1%)
Ended: 25/60 FG (41.7%), 6/24 3PT (25%)

The defense was so bad against the Warriors that Mike Brown refused to name a DPOG for the first time this season!

Even when they get off to unbelievably poor starts, both luck and effort-wise, the Knicks have had an ability to just flip a switch and immediately start mucking things up defensively, which we’ve seen in these games and several others. Remember the Houston game where they couldn’t stop a nosebleed and then had one of the most ferocious defensive quarters of the season?

It seems to be a trend that the team plays better defense as the game goes on. Over the last 26 games, the Knicks have a blistering +24.2 net rating and 96.6 defensive rating in fourth quarters, numbers that have the team firmly as the best fourth-quarter team in basketball.

Is it a problem with the starting lineup? Maybe, but consider this:

The lineup isn’t necessarily poor; it just cannot get off to a good start. The offense looks like it’s stuck in quicksand, and everyone is a step late defensively. We’ve seen incredible stretches from this lineup that starts on the defensive end and turns into offensive brilliance when the wings make their threes and Brunson is cooking in isolation.

Speaking of the offense, they’ve had some frigid stretches lately:

@ LAL (through 3Q): 39.6 FG%, 5/26 3PT
@ UTAH (1Q): 33.3 FG%, 3/12 3PT
@ IND (second half): 35 FG%, 4/15 3PT
vs GSW (first 19:30): 36.4 FG%, 3/17 3PT

You see stretches like these, but then you see that they’re third in both 35-point quarters (62) and 40-point quarters (18) and see that they remain fourth in 3-point percentage and it’s one of the most confusing things you’ll ever see.

The Knicks are an enigma. One minute, they’re unstoppable, playing ferocious defense and knocking down threes to overwhelm the competition. The next minute, they can’t hit the side of a barn, and the defense looks more like Swiss cheese. It’s not a game-to-game inconsistency, it’s a quarter-to-quarter inconsistency.

Long before he became an NBA Hall of Famer, Paul Pierce was a senior at Inglewood High School thrilled to be chosen to play in the 1995 McDonald's All-American Game, a nationally televised showcase that has brought together 24 of the best prep players in the country every year since 1978.

The McDonald's all-time scoring record of 30 points had been set in 1981 by (who else?) Michael Jordan a month after his 18th birthday. Fourteen years later, Pierce scored at a blistering pace, yet because someone had stolen his jersey, he played a portion of the game with the name "McCoy" on the back.

Broadcasters credited "McCoy" with several baskets and apparently the scorekeeper couldn't keep track either. In the box score, Pierce was credited with 28 points. In his mind, he was certain he had more than 30.

He painstakingly watched the game tape and, sure enough, he had scored 31 points. Yet the official McDonald's record book didn't recognize it, and Jordan continued to hold the record until Jonathan Bender put up 31 in 1999.

That is just one of the delightful, insightful stories included in the feature-length documentary "Meal Ticket," an exhaustively researched labor of love by co-directors Corey Colvin and Carlton Gerard Sabbs of production company Stony & Yates. The film will premiere Thursday on Prime Video.

Meanwhile, Jordan had his own beef with McDonald's — or at least his mother did. He was not given the John R. Wooden Award as Most Valuable Player in that 1981 game even though he set the scoring record and made shots during the East team's last five possessions, including the winning basket in a 96-95 victory.

Deloris Jordan was not happy. On the elevator leaving the arena, she told broadcaster Billy Packer, "Poor Michael. My poor son Michael. He never gets any recognition. He never gets any respect."

Soon, of course, her son would get his due, first for leading North Carolina to the NCAA title as a freshman — again sinking the winning shot — then for leading the Chicago Bulls to a record six NBA titles in eight years while winning 10 scoring titles. Michael Jordan is widely considered the greatest basketball player of all time.

Produced by Roc Nation, Known Originals and Creative Control, "Meal Ticket" chronicles the 49-year history of the McDonald's All-American Games. Nearly 50 Naismith Hall of Famers were participants, and many reminisce for the documentary.

For most, the showcase was their first time on national television. At 17 or 18 years old, they were fresh-faced, eager and ultra-competitive. Colvin, 41, and Sabbs, 39, dug deep into archives of games and surrounding activities provided by McDonald's and ESPN, and the result is a balanced blend of action footage and fond memories.

Read more:March Madness women's tournament analysis: Teams and players to watch

"We tried to illustrate the parallel between the McDonald's game and the growth of the sport," Colvin said. "I honestly feel it’s a power hidden within the McDonald's game that people haven’t paid attention to. If you want to know where basketball is going, watch the McDonald's game."

Among the key developments was founder Bob Geoghan expanding the event to include girls' basketball, launching a doubleheader format with the boys beginning in 2002 that proved immensely popular.

Two years later, Candace Parker won the annual Slam Dunk Contest, defeating, among others, JR Smith and Josh Smith, both of whom would be NBA first-round picks within months. Parker's achievement was so unlikely that her own brother hung up on her when she called to tell the family, according to the documentary. Just another nugget unearthed by Colvin and Sabbs.

The creative careers of the Chicago South Side products began with directing branded content, and their mentors, directors Coodie Simmons and Chike Ozah, helped them make a pitch to McDonald's in 2022 for an independent documentary.

Early fears that the fast-food colossus would be overly brand conscious and dictate content were allayed. Mickey D's not only gave the directors the rights to tell the story, but also provided game footage while steering clear of editorial meddling.

"You’d think with McDonald's, they'd be very hands-on to position and push the brand," Sabbs said. "But they were good partners. We were even concerned about the name, 'Meal Ticket,' because it's kind of edgy, a quadruple entendre. Would McDonald's approve it? They stood by us. Nobody micromanaged us. And when they were around, we knew we’d be getting some french fries."

The closest Sabbs and Colvin came to deviating from McDonald's sanitized version of events came when the directors recognized the role Geoghan played in launching the Games. Amateur basketball luminaries Wooden — the legendary former UCLA coach with 10 national championships — Sonny Vaccaro and Sonny Hill were drawn into promoting the Games largely because Geoghan earmarked profits for the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

The documentary team immersed itself in the 2022 McDonald's All-American Games, shadowing two boys and two girls throughout the weekend. Part of that story was the outpouring of emotion for Geoghan, who died at 87 in February 2022 and was honored at the Games a month later.

"When we were filming in 2022 we saw how deeply everyone respected Bob," Sabbs said. "They did a tribute on the Jumbotron before the game and put a Bob Geoghan jersey and a dozen roses on the seat where he watched games.

"Bob never wanted to get rich off the McDonald's Games. He was a humble guy who some said died penniless. I hope this film helps him and his family get some recognition for what he contributed to basketball. He really ought to be in the Naismith Hall of Fame and I hope that happens."

Geoghan redirected attention to the court and the sheer number of precocious youngsters who went on from the showcase to legendary professional careers. California has produced the most McDonald's players on both the boys' and the girls' teams. And simply considering those who eventually made their marks with the Lakers is staggering.

Read more:Rosters announced for 2026 McDonald's All-American Game

Magic Johnson starred in the first McDonald's game in 1978. James Worthy played alongside Isiah Thomas, Dominique Wilkins and Ralph Sampson the next year. Shaquille O'Neal was MVP in 1989. Kobe Bryant made highlight reel plays in 1996. JJ Redick was 2002 MVP and won the three-point shootout. LeBron James was MVP in 2003.

Bryant and James, of course, were among the elite players to jump straight from the showcase to the NBA, skipping college. Another player who did so, Amar'e Stoudemire, was physically dominant even when sharing the court with other future greats.

"I was a different kind of beast, man," Stoudemire says in the documentary. "I'm not doing a finger roll off the glass move. I'm attacking the basket and I'm shaking the whole backboard. I think from that point on, everyone knew, 'Stoud, he's going to the NBA. He ain't going to college.' By the time we left, I'm sure there were a few screws and hinges that had left the rim."

JR Smith realized he was going to skip college for the NBA after dominating the McDonald's Game in 2004, scoring 25 points on an assortment of dunks and long-range jumpers. He was committed to North Carolina but made no secret that he didn't want to go to school.

Upon returning to the hotel after the game, Smith began running through the halls, yelling, "I'm going to the league!"

This year's Games will take place March 31 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Ariz. The West boys' roster will include Southern California products Brandon McCoy Jr. and Maximo Adams from Sierra Canyon, Christian Collins from St. John Bosco and Jason Crowe Jr. from Inglewood. Jerzy Robinson from Sierra Canyon and Cydnee Bryant from Corona Centennial will play in the girls' game.

Even with NIL money seeping into players' bank accounts, Sabbs and Colvin haven't noticed a change in how the best of the best approach the McDonald's All-American Games.

"All you hear are these stories from all-star games that the players don’t care anymore because there's too much easy money," Colvin said. "But these guys are competing, playing defense, diving on the floor. The McDonald's Games are still a precursor for where the game is going, from elevating the girls to NIL, and we hope that comes across in the film."

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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The Oklahoma City Thunder aim to push their winning streak to nine when they tip off against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center tonight.

All eyes will be on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and deservedly so, but I’ve got my eye on a Chet Holmgren prop in my Thunder vs. Magic predictions & NBA picks for Tuesday, March 17.

Thunder vs Magic prediction

Thunder vs Magic best bet: Chet Holmgren Over 8.5 rebounds (-112)

The Oklahoma City Thunder are undefeated since returning from the All-Star break, in large part thanks to the work of Chet Holmgren.

The OKC center has averaged 10.9 boards per game since the break – eighth-most in the NBA.

Holmgren has collected Over 8.5 rebounds in seven of his last eight outings, so we’re getting good value tonight.

The Orlando Magic are a middle-of-the-pack rebounding team, ranking 15th in boards per game (43.8), and starting center Wendell Carter Jr. is no match for the 7-foot-1 Holmgren.

Thunder vs Magic same-game parlay

Holmgren hasn’t just been a monster on the glass; he’s also scored Over 16.5 points in three of his last five games while averaging 18.8 ppg through that span.

The Thunder are also 5-0 in their last five games vs. the Magic and 8-2 ATS in their last 10 meetings.

Thunder vs Magic SGP

• Chet Holmgren Over 8.5 rebounds
• Chet Holmgren Over 16.5 points
• Thunder moneyline

Our "from downtown" SGP: All hands on deck for Magic

The Thunder may be on a nine-game run, but they’ve only covered the spread once in their last eight contests. The Magic, meanwhile, are 4-2 ATS in their last six.

It’ll take a full team effort to keep this one close, but Paolo Banchero (25.6 ppg), Desmond Bane (22.8 ppg), Tristan da Silva (15.3 ppg), and Jett Howard (8.8 ppg) are each scoring well above their season average this month.

Thunder vs Magic SGP

• Magic +9.5
• Paolo Banchero Over 20.5 points
• Desmond Bane Over 18.5 points
• Tristan da Silva Over 11.5 points
• Jett Howard Over 5.5 points

Thunder vs Magic odds

• Spread: Oklahoma City 9.5 (-110) | Orlando +9.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Oklahoma City -450 | Orlando +350
• Over/Under: Over 223 (-110) | Under 223 (-110)

Thunder vs Magic betting trend to know

The Thunder have hit the 1H Moneyline in 17 of their last 21 away games (+11.45 Units / 22% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Magic.

How to watch Thunder vs Magic

Thunder vs Magic latest injuries

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Here's a look at some of the takeaways from their predictions, including most popular upset and most likely Final Four teams.

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