Turns out tankers are not only tankers, but also bad-as-hell buncha guys.

The Knicks trounced the Pacers, and the best is yet to come as they 1) were without JB and 2) next face the Nets.

Forgive me for the lack of multimedia bits today, but X is down right now. Cold world.

Mike Brown

On helping players find their rhythm whether they’re scoring or not:

“More than anything else, you hope that everyone’s playing the right way. So if my shot’s not falling, what does that mean? Maybe I try to get to the rim, or I try to go get an offensive rebound, or I try to get out in transition and get an easy one just to see it go in. So those types of things you hope guys realize and try to embrace to help get a rhythm while we’re trying to help them, too.”

On focusing on honing out details late in the season:

“It’s about embracing the details, focusing the right way, and playing with a sense of urgency while making other teams feel us at this point in the season.”

On Mikal Bridges working through his slump:

“Mikal’s a pro. He’s been through this before. And we’ve had other guys go through it this year. He’s going to find his rhythm. Just got to keep trying to embrace doing other things and try to get some easys: try to attack the rim, try to get to the free throw line, try to get out in transition and get offensive rebounds. But it’s the same stuff that I would say and that I have said about other guys trying to find ways to impact the game, which he’s more than capable of doing.”

On leaving Bridges on the court to help him regain some confidence:

“He hit a couple shots down the stretch and to try to get anybody that hasn’t shot well from the 3-point line, to try to get him more looks, especially in a game like this, was a good thing. To try to get him an extra look or two down the stretch is something we wanted to do.”

On demanding stronger starts from the Knicks:

“I’ve said it before, our focus, our physicality, our sense of urgency to embrace the details possession after possession, while making our opponents feel us. We can’t ease into the game.”

On Josh Hart’s connectivity with the starters amid whispers of a lineup change:

“I think the main thing is him connecting the group. I’m not saying he is Andre Iguodala or his game is like Andre Iguodala’s, but there are a lot of similarities. When you watch him, you’re like, ‘oh my gosh he’s a great shooter.’ But you’re like he’s pretty good at that, he’s really good in a lot different areas. But more importantly he connects the group and having a guy like that especially to start games is huge. With him missing all the preseason and me getting used to how we can play with him, the different ways people guard us with him on the floor took some time but he’s been fantastic giving us that energy, giving us the connectivity we needed with that starting group and then doing the little things. Offensive glass, pushing the pace, getting off in transition. He’s a switchable guy, he’s a physical guy and a lot of things that don’t necessarily show up in the stat sheet that he does that help with connectivity as well.”

On Hart taking the right shots on Tuesday:

“I just like that he took the right shots and he didn’t hesitate.”

On keeping Hart alongside Tyler Kolek on the floor vs. Indy:

“Not just for the starting five, but yeah. Especially when Tyler, as a young point guard, is on the floor we try to keep Josh out there with him. Just to help in that area at times. He was still kind of finding his way; so Josh is a great secondary ball handler within the group.”

On giving Bridges extra looks late:

“To try to get anybody that hadn’t shot it well from the three-point line to get another look, especially in a game like this, was a good thing. You talk about Mikal’s streak and his durability – when he turned his ankle, I was like, ‘Whoa.’ So for him to be able to somehow someway fight through that was good to see. So to try to get him an extra look or two down the stretch was something that we wanted to do.”

On choosing Jordan Clarkson over Mohamed Diawara in the Pacers game:

“We’ll continue to see what happens going forward. We’ve all had the pleasure of being able to see Mo at a young age contribute a lot. He just has to keep himself ready like Jordan did. Go out there when your number’s called, don’t do too much but do what you can do and perform at the highest level in terms of your work ethic, focus and attention to detail and just go from there.”

On potentially changing the starting lineup for the playoffs:

“It’s not too late to do anything. If I feel the need, I will. I’m not thinking that right now. I’m concentrating on each individual because, like you said, we’ve started different people at different times. It’s collectively.”

On Miles McBride’s recovery timeline:

“Anytime we can get healthy, yeah. I try not to hear the updates though, because does that mean he’ll be back in two weeks, three weeks, a week, 10 days? I don’t know. Deuce was playing well for us when this happened. It’s part of the season, so keep fingers crossed, allow our medical crew who has done a fantastic job, and when he comes back we’ll all be excited.”

On expecting Jalen Brunson to return on Friday:

“I imagine he’ll play in Brooklyn. There’s two days off before the next game. There’s plenty of time to get himself right.”

Josh Hart

On regaining shooting confidence:

“I think since All-Star I was struggling in terms of shooting. I think I’m kind of in my head with a lot of stuff. So I just got to trust my work and go out there and shoot my shots.”

Jose Alvarado

On breaking his shooting slump in his first start for New York:

“It was a weight off my shoulders. I wasn’t really focused on it, but obviously it was in the back of my mind, something that’s not who I am. I just trust the work.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On Josh Hart stepping up without Brunson on Tuesday:

“Josh does a lot of things to make options available. He can get a rebound, outlet it quick, pushing pace and making the defense have to converge on him. Around the basket, he does the full-court dribble with the euro, gets to the basket and kicks it out to the corner for a 3.”

On the team effort vs. Indiana without Brunson:

“It was special. It’s a game obviously we’re missing JB. We all understood the importance of picking up the slack, and I thought all of us in this locker room, particularly Josh, did a great job of playing team basketball. It was great for all of us — obviously one person’s not gonna replace Jalen, but we all can collectively come together and try to play better basketball for each other with his absence.”

It’s been almost 20 years since Seattle lost its basketball team. The SuperSonics were relocated, renamed, and now the Oklahoma City Thunder have morphed into an NBA powerhouse. Champions for the first time last season, favored to win it all again this season. During that time, the Seattle Seahawks have thankfully enjoyed the greatest run of success in franchise history, winning two Super Bowls along the way. Their first Super Bowl was Seattle’s first title in a Big 4 men’s sports league since the Sonics in 1979.

If you’ve not kept up with the news, after years worth of teases and disappointments, the Sonics might be coming back for real in the 2028-29 season.

If the Sonics’ return is a formality, they’d get all their franchise history back from the Thunder prior to the move, but unfortunately the Thunder roster doesn’t also get to go to Seattle. The city would complete the set of having pro teams in the NFL, NHL, NBA, and MLB, in addition to MLS, WNBA, and PWHL (among others). Don’t let any outsider tell you Seattle is not a thriving, vibrant sports market.

With all of that said, the NBA is much different than it was in 2008. There’s so much three-point shooting, some argue too much three-point shooting. The money is preposterously high yet there are so many injured stars and players sitting out due to “load management.” It feels like there’s more emphasis on trades and hypothetical roster moves than in other leagues, and player movement is extraordinarily high at the upper level. Big markets have an outsized advantage in terms of free agency and trades in ways the NFL does not. Don’t get me started on the comically complicated NBA salary cap rules. And yes, there’s flopping. Ref whining is not new so I don’t really care about that.

I love the NBA but I also acknowledge that the perception of the league is not particularly high, and there might be some of us in the comments section who’ve fallen out of love with the NBA because of a combination of the Sonics leaving and the subsequent changes to the league. On the other hand, it’s still another sports team—a beloved one at that—and having the Sonics paired with the Storm again would kick ass.

For a little off-topic chatter during one of the NFL’s increasingly scant offseason lulls, we want to know from Seahawks fans who are/were also NBA fans: How do you feel about the Sonics (seemingly) coming back? Would you be excited? Still bitter? Bittersweet? Not caring? There are no wrong answers here!

On the subject of basketball, if you watch the college variety, SB Nation has as special March Madness Feed, where you’ll find all sorts of content and conversation throughout the tournament. You’ll even find my bracket, which has the national championship heading out West to Arizona for the first time since the Wildcats won it all in 1997.

Chat away in the comments!

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The Oklahoma City Thunder are rolling, looking for their 10th win in a row as they visit the Brooklyn Nets.

Despite a crushing 7-1 record against BK in the last eight, my Thunder vs Nets predictions have the home team taking advantage of that pile of points.

While a straight-up upset isn't in the cards, my NBA picks explain why OKC won't cover the spread on Wednesday, March 18

Thunder vs Nets prediction

Thunder vs Nets best bet: Nets +19.5 (-110)

The Oklahoma City Thunder are playing the second half of a back-to-back after downing Orlando 113-108 on Tuesday. They are 2-9-0 against the spread in that scenario, second-worst in the NBA.

The Thunder have been stingy defensively during this run, allowing just 105.8 points per game, but they haven't been blowing teams out. In fact, they only have two wins by double digits on this streak.

The Brooklyn Nets have been a good bet of late, going 4-2-0 ATS in their last six, and they’ve hung around with OKC, despite the losses, suffering just two 20+ point losses in the last eight meetings.

Thunder vs Nets same-game parlay

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is coming off a 40-bomb against the Magic, and his drop-off shouldn’t be that bad. He’s topped 40+ points four previous times, and his next game low was 29 points.

Chet Holmgren has been working the glass well of late, as he’s grabbed at least nine rebounds in nine straight games, going for double digits four times.

Thunder vs Nets SGP

• Nets +19.5
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 30.5 points
• Chet Holmgren Over 8.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: SGA Still Puts 'Em Away

Let’s stick with the presumptive 2026 NBA MVP to fill out this SGP. Though he’s had one or fewer 3-point makes in five of the last six vs. BK, Gilgeous-Alexander has hit at least two triples in four straight games overall.

And SGA’s rebound numbers have been decent during this streak, averaging 4.8 boards per game, but he’s grabbed at least six rebounds in six of his last eight vs Brooklyn.

Thunder vs Nets SGP

• Nets +19.5
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 30.5 points
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 1.5 made threes
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 4.5 rebounds
• Chet Holmgren Over 8.5 rebounds

Thunder vs Nets odds

• Spread: Thunder -19.5 (-110) | Nets +19.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Thunder -2400 | Nets +1200
• Over/Under: Over 213.5 (-110) | Under 213.5 (-110)

Thunder vs Nets betting trend to know

OKC has won 27 straight road games against teams with a losing record. Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Nets.

How to watch Thunder vs Nets

Thunder vs Nets 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.

After an uncomfortable win over the Clippers on Sunday, the Spurs headed north to play the hapless Kings, who are locked in a desperate battle with the Nets, Wizards, and Pacers to be the most inept team in the NBA. Even so, the second night of a back-to-back is always somewhat unpredictable, and the Kings had managed to win four for their last five games. I will admit that a little part of me worried that the Spurs would lose focus and severely damage their chance of catching OKC in the standings.

I needn’t have worried. As anyone who watched this game would know, the final score dramatically overstates the level of competition on display. To get a better sense of how quickly the contest was over, consider that ESPN’s win probability tracker first gave the Spurs a 99% chance of winning with 10:49 left in the second quarter, and that was the best odds Sacramento would face for the remainder of the game.

While satisfying, games like this are also somewhat boring in the moment. However, they do typically produce some unusual and rare statistical combinations. None of San Antonio’s individual box score differentials were extraordinary by recent historical standards, largely because the Spurs were finished trying to extend the lead by halftime. However, this dominant performance still produced some noteworthy highlights:

• Fun fact: this is just the 33rd regular season game since the start of 2012-2013 in which the winning and losing team had exactly the same number of field goal and free throw attempts. In that set of contests, there are just three other cases in which the margin of victory was 28+ points.
• San Antonio enjoyed FG%, 3P%, and FT% differentials of +7.53, +12.13, and +23.08 percentage points, respectively. As a result, they made seven more total field goals, 11 more threes, and three more free throws. Since the start of 2012-2013, only 46 other regular season winners have achieved FGM, 3PM, and FTM differentials that were all as good or better than these.
• What’s especially remarkable about the 3PM differential is that the Kings performance from distance (14 makes on 36 attempts) was actually quite good. In fact, in the set of 16,695 regular season games since the start of 2012-2013, there is just ONE other case in which the winning team produced a 3PM differentials of at least +11 with the losing team making at least 14 threes with a 3P% of at least 38.89%. Funnily enough, this other case was also a Kings game, though they were on the winning end of that exchange.
• Given the score, free throws were remarkably unimportant in this game. Since the start of 2012-2013, the average number of total free throws taken in regular season games with a combined score of 236+ is almost exactly 50, and there are just 36 other cases in which that cumulative point threshold was achieved on no more than 26 attempts. As rare an event as this has been to date, it actually happened twice yesterday, with the other case being the Knicks vs. Pacers game.

What are Team Graded Box Scores?

Very briefly, these box scores grade winner-loser differentials for basic box score statistics, with the grade being based on the winning team’s differential relative to other NBA winners during a defined reference period. Think of it like a report card for understanding how a given winner performed relative to other winners. The reference period used runs from the start of the 2012-2013 season to the latest date of play, including only games in the same season category (i.e., regular season and playoff games are not compared to each other).

Data Source: The underlying data used to create these box scores was collected from Basketball Reference. In all cases, the data are collected the morning after the game is played. Although rare, postgame statistical revisions after data collection do occur and may affect the results after the fact.

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The Atlanta Hawks ride a 10-game winning streak into Texas as they visit the Dallas Mavericks, who have dropped 10 of 12.

Atlanta has pounded teams with losing records lately, and my Hawks vs. Mavericks predictions expect much of the same tonight.

Read on for my full NBA picks on Wednesday, March 18.

Hawks vs Mavericks prediction

Hawks vs Mavericks best bet: Hawks -8.5 (-110)

The Atlanta Hawks' win streak has been fuelled by punishing a weak slate, as their 124-112 win over Orlando last game was their first on this run against a Top-6 opponent.

Only two other wins were against teams in a Play-In position.

Atlanta’s smallest margin of victory in the last 10 is nine points, and that fits about right with another sub-.500 opponent.

One of the teams they dumped was the Dallas Mavericks, 124-112, on March 10. Dallas can’t stop anyone. During this skid, it's allowed 120.9 points per game, the fourth-worst mark in the league.

Hawks vs Mavericks same-game parlay

Let’s target Atlanta’s two budding stars. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is coming off a career-high 41 against Orlando, giving him five 20+ point games in the last six, including 29 against the Mavs.

Jalen Johnson is coming off a triple-double vs. Orlando and has 10+ rebounds in back-to-back games.

Hawks vs Mavericks SGP

• Hawks -8.5
• Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 20.5 points
• Jalen Johnson Over 10.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: Eyeing Johnson and NAW

Johnson is averaging a robust 9.4 assists per game in March. He had 13 in his last game and has gone for nine or more in four of his last six.

Walker drilled nine triples against Orlando, but aside from a five-splash game last time vs. Dallas, he’s gone Under 3.5 makes in the previous 12.

Hawks vs Mavericks SGP

• Hawks -8.5
• Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 20.5 points
• Nickeil Alexander Walker Under 3.5 made threes
• Jalen Johnson Over 10.5 rebounds
• Jalen Johnson Over 8.5 assists

Hawks vs Mavericks odds

• Spread: Hawks -8 (-110) | Mavericks +8 (-110)
• Moneyline: Hawks -340 | Mavericks +270
• Over/Under: Over 238 (-110) | Under 238 (-110)

Hawks vs Mavericks betting trend to know

Dallas has failed to cover the spread in five of its last six home games. Find more NBA betting trends for Hawks vs. Mavericks.

How to watch Hawks vs Mavericks

Hawks vs Mavericks latest injuries

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The Chicago Bulls enter tonight’s contest against the Toronto Raptors as underdogs, but Josh Giddey has been on fire of late for the hosts.

Find out why I’m backing Giddey to put up a ton of assists and boards in my Raptors vs. Bulls predictions and NBA picks for Wednesday, March 18.

Raptors vs Bulls prediction

Raptors vs Bulls best bet: Josh Giddey Over 20.5 rebounds + assists (-120)

It hasn’t been an easy year for the Chicago Bulls, who are poised to miss the playoffs for the fourth straight campaign, but Josh Giddey has been a revelation in his second season with the team.

Giddey is averaging career-highs in assists (8.9) as well as rebounds (8.6), and he’s been even better down the stretch.

The Bulls point guard is logging 12 dimes and 11.7 boards per game in March— those numbers rank first and fourth, respectively, among all players.

Giddey has recorded Over 20.5 assists and rebounds in five straight games.

Raptors vs Bulls same-game parlay

The Bulls own the fifth-worst defense in the NBA (120 points allowed per game), so it could be a big point night for the Toronto Raptors' top scorers.

Brandon Ingram has scored 34+ points in each of his last two games, while RJ Barrett has posted Over 21.5 points in five of his last six. 

Raptors vs Bulls SGP

• Raptors moneyline
• Brandon Ingram Over 23.5 points
• RJ Barrett Over 21.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: (Triple) doubling down

Giddey has been a triple threat for the Bulls with two straight triple-doubles and five in his last six contests.

On the Raps side, Jakob Poeltl has two double-doubles in his last four games, while Scottie Barnes is fresh off a double-double on Sunday.

Raptors vs Bulls SGP

• Josh Giddey to record triple-double
• Jakob Poeltl to record double-double
• Scottie Barnes to record double-double

Raptors vs Bulls odds

• Spread: Raptors -7.5 | Bulls +7.5
• Moneyline: Raptors -280 | Bulls +230
• Over/Under: Over 234.5 | Under 234.5

Raptors vs Bulls betting trend to know

The Bulls have hit the Under in 20 of their last 30 games at home (+10.10 Units / 31% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Raptors vs. Bulls.

How to watch Raptors vs Bulls

Raptors vs Bulls latest injuries

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Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets will look to hand the Memphis Grizzlies their ninth straight loss tonight as they meet at the FedExForum.  

The Joker is carving up his opponents lately, and my Nuggets vs. Grizzlies predictions and NBA picks are eyeing him to drop dimes. 

Nuggets vs Grizzlies prediction

Nuggets vs Grizzlies best bet: Nikola Jokic Over 10.5 assists (-105)

Nikola Jokic is truly a generational playmaker. He leads the Association in assists with 10.6 per night, and the Denver Nuggets big man truly cannot be stopped right now. He's comfortably gone Over his assist total in five straight appearances. 

In fact, he’s dished out 28 dimes across his previous two games alone. Jokic had 14 assists on Tuesday against the 76ers, and he also grabbed another 14 dimes on Saturday against the Lakers. 

The Serb is averaging 12.5 assists across two meetings with the Memphis Grizzlies this season, who are towards the bottom of the league in dimes allowed. 

Nuggets vs Grizzlies same-game parlay

Denver just blew out the Sixers by 28 points, and the Grizzlies have lost their last two games by an average of 16 and 25 points, respectively. The Bulls just dominated them — a team that isn’t even in the playoff conversation. 

The Nuggets have won four straight against Memphis. While they haven’t won any of those games by this big a spread, Denver comes in hot, and the Grizzlies are in the complete opposite position. 

Jamal Murray has cooked Memphis this season, averaging 26 ppg across two meetings. He’s cashed the Over in two of his last four outings, dropping 30+ in both games. 

Nuggets vs Grizzlies SGP

• Nuggets -13.5
• Nikola Jokic Over 10.5 assists
• Jamal Murray Over 24.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: All Nuggets all the time!

Johnson has been playing well lately, cashing the Over in four straight contests. He’s scored 18 points in back-to-back appearances, and he's hit the Over in back-to-back road games. 

Jokic has grabbed Over 13.5 rebounds in two of his last three, and the Grizzlies are considered an easy matchup for centers on the glass. They’re allowing 15.2 rebounds per contest to bigs.

Nuggets vs Grizzlies SGP

• Nuggets -13.5
• Jamal Murray Over 24.5 points
• Cameron Johnson Over 12.5 points
• Nikola Jokic Over 13.5 rebounds

Nuggets vs Grizzlies odds

• Spread: Nuggets -13.5 | Grizzlies +13.5
• Moneyline: Nuggets -800 | Grizzlies +550
• Over/Under: Over 243.5 | Under 243.5

Nuggets vs Grizzlies betting trend to know

The Nuggets are 23-14 ATS on the road this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Nuggets vs. Grizzlies.

How to watch Nuggets vs Grizzlies

Nuggets vs Grizzlies latest injuries

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How quickly things can change.

It was just a week ago that the Toronto Raptors lost by double digits to the New Orleans Pelicans, and the team (minus Immanuel Quickley) seemed perfectly alright with Dejounte Murray punking Jamal Shead.

The team was dealing with the (data-backed) narrative that they took care of bad teams but couldn’t beat any good ones – and even that was in peril, because they couldn’t beat the lowly Pelicans.

The Raptors’ response has been as good as you could hope for. They bounced back with strong wins against the Phoenix Suns and the East-leading Detroit Pistons.

Just when the Raptors’ season felt like it was destined to fizzle out into a play-in spot, their last two performances made the case that they may very well be back, and vibes are once again good as the team is fifth in the Eastern Conference. Tonight they head to United Center to take on the Chicago Bulls at 8 p.m. ET.

Here are some things that may be back… in a few senses of the word.

Brandon Ingram? Back (from a short slump).

Brandon Ingram’s bucket-getting is a crucial element in a Raptors’ offense that is rather short on pure bucket-getters. For that reason, the team really struggled during the four-game stretch earlier this month when Ingram averaged 14 points per game on 34% shooting. But in the two games since (wins against Phoenix and Detroit), Ingram has led the way, averaging 35 points on 56% shooting. The Raptors made an effort to get the ball in his hands early on in their clutch possessions, rather than letting the shot clock wind down while they labor to get an entry pass.

Winning? Back (to back games against playoff teams).

Winning, as a concept, disappeared for a second there. Particularly against good teams. Before the Suns win, the Raptors’ last home win against a team ahead of them in the standings came against the then-5-2 Milwaukee Bucks in November. But winning appears to be back, and it came back in back-to-back fashion against a pair of good teams. Can they make it back-to-back-to-back?

Jak? Back (issues didn’t impede him Sunday).

Jakob Poeltl’s back issues have been a problem all year. When they haven’t kept him out of games, the pain (and his conditioning in returning) have kept him from being his best self, often looking a bit sluggish. On Sunday against the Pistons, however, Poeltl played what likely his best game of the season, with 21 points, 18 rebounds and five assists, in a season-high 36 minutes. The issue could continue nagging him. But Poeltl looked like he was back from the back injury against Detroit, matched up against All-Star center Jalen Duren. The Bulls don’t have a true starting-caliber center near Poeltl’s size; their starting big has been 6-foot-8 Jalen Smith.

CMB? Back (from injury, potentially).

OK, so Collin Murray-Boyles is doubtful for tonight’s game with a thumb injury. But the rookie returned to practice on Tuesday, for the first time since his eight-game absence began, signalling that he is close to his return. The Raptors are essentially as healthy as they’ve been all year right now. But once CMB returns they’ll have some much-needed depth behind the oft-injured Poeltl and a really good, versatile defender back in the mix. We don’t know yet whether Murray-Boyles will play tonight. But once he is back, I know that I’ll be… getting the popcorn out.

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The Los Angeles Lakers overcame a six-point halftime deficit to deliver a win over the Houston Rockets on Monday, but Houston will look to get back on track in tonight's rematch.

Amen Thompson has been on a heater, and my Lakers vs Rockets predictions expect him to stay hot and lead Houston to a much-needed victory.

Here are my best free NBA picks for this star-studded Western Conference matchup on Wednesday, March 18.

Tip-off is set for 9:30 p.m. ET from the Toyota Center in Houston, with the game airing on ESPN. 

Lakers vs Rockets prediction

Lakers vs Rockets best bet: Amen Thompson Over 31.5 points + rebounds + assists (-110)

Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson is enjoying a breakout campaign with a PRA average of 30.8.

He’s reached 32+ PRA in 33 of 65 games, including 18 of 31 appearances at home. In nine games since posting a dud against the Orlando Magic, he’s averaged 35.3 PRA and hit the Over on this combo line eight times.

Thompson finished with 36 PRA on Monday, and he went for 38 PRA in his first matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers. Thompson can use his length and athleticism to get to the rim and clean the glass, just like he did on Monday.

Lakers vs Rockets same-game parlay

The Rockets are just 12-18 ATS as the home favorite but 23-7 straight up in that situation. The Rockets are an NBA-best 19-6 straight up after a loss, and the Lakers will have a difficult time beating them twice in a row on the road.

Houston led through two quarters despite a poor showing from Kevin Durant and the absence of Alperen Sengun, and I expect them to close the deal tonight.

Both teams have hit the Under in six of their last 10, including Monday, in which the teams combined for just 192 points. The Rockets are 10-19-1 to the Under as the home favorite, and the Lakers are 7-8 to the Under as the road underdog.

Lakers vs Rockets SGP

• Amen Thompson Over 31.5 points + rebounds + assists
• Rockets moneyline
• Under 222.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: Combo Craze

Durant is averaging 34.7 PRA on the season, and he’s reached 35+ in two of his last three at home. He finished with just 25 on Monday, but he went for 37 in his first matchup with L.A. and can bounce back tonight.

Sengun is back in action after two games on the sideline with a back injury. He’s averaging 36.3 PRA at home this season, and he finished with 30 when he faced the Lakers in December. 

Jabari Smith Jr. finished with 30 PRA on Monday and 23 PRA in his first matchup with the Lakers. He’s averaged 25.6 across his last five games, hitting the Over on this line four times in that span.

Lakers vs Rockets SGP

• Kevin Durant Over 34.5 points + rebounds + assists
• Amen Thompson Over 31.5 points + rebounds + assists
• Alperen Sengun Over 31.5 points + rebounds + assist
• Jabari Smith Jr. Over 22.5 points + rebounds + assists

Lakers vs Rockets odds

• Spread: Lakers +2.5 (-110) | Rockets -2.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Lakers +120 | Rockets -140
• Over/Under: Over 222 (-110) | Under 222 (-110)

Lakers vs Rockets betting trend to know

The Houston Rockets have hit the Game Total Under in 29 of their last 40 games (+16.90 Units / 38% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Rockets.

How to watch Lakers vs Rockets

Lakers vs Rockets latest injuries

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The Golden State Warriors’ road trip continues Wednesday as the Dubs travel to TD Garden to face the Boston Celtics.

Warriors vs Celtics prediction

Warriors vs Celtics best bet: Under 214.5 (-110)

Wednesday’s matchup at TD Garden will be a slow and methodical slugfest between hard-nosed defenses.

The Boston Celtics sport the slowest pace in the Association, and the Golden State Warriors own the sixth-slowest pace across their last 10 games. 

Warriors vs Celtics same-game parlay

Neemias Queta is averaging 9.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in his breakout campaign, and he's got a strong matchup on tap tonight.

Warriors vs Celtics SGP

• Under 215.5
• Neemias Queta Over 8.5 points
• Neemias Queta Over 8.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: Celtics dominate down low

Warriors vs Celtics SGP

• Neemias Queta to record a double-double
• Jayson Tatum to record a double-double
• Jaylen Brown Over 30.5 points + rebounds

Warriors vs Celtics odds

• Spread: Golden State +12.5 (-115) | Boston -12.5 (-105)
• Moneyline: Golden State +450 | Boston -600
• Over/Under: Over 215.5 (-110) | Under 215.5 (-110)

Warriors vs Celtics betting trend to know

The Celtics have hit the Under in 32 of their last 45 games for +17.70 units and a 36% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Warriors vs. Celtics.

How to watch Warriors vs Celtics

Warriors vs Celtics latest injuries

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Nine games are on the slate tonight across the Association, and I’ve found the very best NBA player props for all the action. I’ll include big games from Jalen Johnson, Nikola Jokic, and Luka Doncic. 

Read more in my NBA picks for Wednesday, March 18. 

Best NBA player props today

Player	Pick
Jalen Johnson	Over 8.5 assists	+102
Nikola Jokic	Over 10.5 assists	-105
Luka Doncic	Over 31.5 points	-112

Prop #1: Jalen Johnson Over 8.5 assists

+102 at bet365

Jalen Johnson is having a phenomenal campaign for the red-hot Atlanta Hawks. He’s doing it all, averaging 23 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per night. 

I’ll focus on his playmaking here because the Duke product has hit the Over in assists in three straight, dishing out 13 and 12 dimes, respectively, across his previous two games.

The Hawks take on the Dallas Mavericks this evening, and he had eight assists against them earlier this month. The Mavs have also allowed the fifth-most assists in the NBA.

Both teams rank in the Top 5 in pace, meaning more possessions across the board and more opportunities for Johnson to up his assists total.

• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: FDSN SE-Atlanta, KFAA

Prop #2: Nikola Jokic Over 10.5 assists

-105 at bet365

Nikola Jokic is possibly the best passing big man we’ve ever seen in the NBA, and the Serbian is averaging a league-best 10.6 dimes in 2025-26. 

Jokic has hit the Over in five straight for the Denver Nuggets, and he’s dished out 28 assists across his last two contests alone. The Joker had 14 dimes on Tuesday against the 76ers. 

The Nuggets face the lowly Memphis Grizzlies this evening, and Jokic is averaging 12.5 assists against them across two meetings this season. Memphis is also allowing 27.4 assists per game.

• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: ALT, FDSN SE-Memphis

Prop #3: Luka Doncic Over 31.5 points

-112 at bet365

Luka Doncic is showing this season exactly why the Los Angeles Lakers traded for him. The Slovenian leads the Association with 32.9 points per game. Doncic is averaging 34.3 PPG in March so far, with a few massive outings. 

The former Mav has cashed the Over in four of his last six, and he just erupted for 36 points on Monday versus the Houston Rockets, who the Lakers are set to face again tonight. 

Doncic is averaging 32.6 PPG on the road as well. He’s hot at the moment, and all signs point to Luka cooking again here.

• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: ESPN

These props are available now at bet365, one of our best betting sites.

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.

Down key guys, the Milwaukee Bucks, once again, battled diligently but ran out of gas, this time losing 123-116 to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Bucks went a sizzling 20/45 (44.4%) from three, but shot only 17 free throws to the Cavs’ 34, which was the swing stat that lost them the game. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.

Player Grades

Ryan Rollins

33 minutes, 19 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 fouls, 6/13 FG, 2/7 3P, -5

Got in foul trouble again, but continued his streak of solid games. Was able to break down most everyone on the Cavs and get to his shot, whether it’s the trusty stepback or hesitation to the rim. Also had some really good defensive possessions when he wasn’t fouling. Wish he’d shot better from three, though.

Grade: B+

Kyle Kuzma

16 minutes, 3 points, 0 rebounds, 2 assists, 1/6 FG, 1/4 3P, -6

You could tell from the first quarter that this wasn’t going to be a Kuz game against Cleveland’s bigger frontline. Was forced into playing as a jumpshooter, and that didn’t work. Had a few nice connections with Sims, at least.

Grade: C-

AJ Green

26 minutes, 6 points, 4 rebounds, 2/7 FG, 2/7 3P, +6

AJ took the shots he had to take, and they just didn’t go down—that is the life of a specialist in the NBA. I thought his defence was still solid, particularly his ability to stand his ground against bigger bodies.

Grade: C

Ousmane Dieng

29 minutes, 19 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, 4 fouls, 7/12 FG, 5/8 3P, 0/2 FT +2

Wow. I was super impressed with Ous. The majority of his threes were self-created, as he isolated on perceived mismatches and got to that tursty rocker stepback a la James Harden (who he played, ironically), knocking it down with relative ease. He also had some great defensive possessions, battling through physicality and giving it right back, which might’ve been the part of his game I loved the most. The only demerit is that he still never gets to the line.

Grade: A

Bobby Portis

32 minutes, 19 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 8/19 FG, 3/7 3P, +8

The shooting efficiency makes Bobby’s game look worse than it was. He kept the Bucks close throughout key parts of the game with some ridiculous shot-making. Portis has truly become a great shooter under duress; the issue was that it was really the only form of shot he got all night. BP did get lost a good number of times in pick-and-roll coverage as well.

Grade: B

Pete Nance

29 minutes, 13 points, 7 rebounds, 5/6 FG, 3/4 3P, +7

Man, watching Pete’s evolution throughout the year has been great. His release has gotten so much faster, and he just gets in the right spots. Had an awesome crash in transition for the putback last night, all built on pure effort.

Grade: A

Jericho Sims

16 minutes, 4 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2/3 FG, -18

I don’t think Jericho played all that badly; Doc just seemed to opt for more spacers given the circumstances of the game. Sims did his job when he was in there.

Grade: C

Kevin Porter Jr.

32 minutes, 25 points, 3 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 blocks, 1 turnover, 8/15 FG, 1/4 3P, -9

Really solid game from KPJ. The three-ball wasn’t falling, but the mid-range was. On multiple instances, he had the rock with a low shot clock and did one of his signature shimmy step-backs for the bucket. He was also working defensively, stonewalling the Cavs guards a few times, in addition to getting two blocks. Plus, don’t forget about the 10 helpers for just one giveaway.

Grade: A

Taurean Prince

22 minutes, 8 points, 3/6 FG, 2/4 3P, -20

Not many notes from TP’s game; like AJ, he did his job. I’m a little shocked, honestly, that he looks so smooth from a movement standpoint, given what he’s coming back from.

Grade: C+

Doc Rivers

I really believe Doc coaches better when Giannis is out. This has been a theme since his Clipper days; he’s better with a rag-tag crew than a superstar-laden one, and last night was an example of that. Rivers shortened his rotation, and as you can see from my grades, I don’t think anyone he put on the floor performed all that poorly; they were just outmatched by a team with way more firepower. But to be in that game right until the final few minutes is a testament to the job Doc did. They hit a lot of the pressure points in Cleveland’s defence, but it just wasn’t enough.

Grade: B+

DNP-CD: Gary Harris, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Gary Trent Jr., Cormac Ryan, Cam Thomas, Andre Jackson Jr.

Inactive: Alex Antetokounmpo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Myles Turner

Bonus Bucks Bits

• Just more on the Dieng “rocker step-back”: it’s the same move Harden does where it’s not really even a step-back from where the player is standing; it’s more like a step-forward with one foot and then a step-back to where they were in the first place. Ous had two or three of them last night.
• Dieng also said postgame that he was still feeling pretty sick the morning of this game. Obviously, he missed the last two with illness and went out early in the game before that.
• The fact that the Bucks keep losing the free-throw game so badly needs to change if they are ever to become serious. Currently 29th in FTAs on the season.
• But hey, at least the Bucks got up nine more threes than the Cavs did.
• Another DNP for Cam Thomas. Yikes.
• I believe last night was the first time Cormac Ryan dressed.
• Pete Nance hit a three, and his brother Larry was seen smiling on the Cavs’ bench.
• Jaylon Tyson—who carried Cleveland earlier in the season—was ineffective last night. Tough for him to find his place with them bringing in Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder, though.
• Sporting a new haircut, Max Strus played in just his second game of the year for the Cavs.

Up Next

The Bucks kick off a four-game trip to the West Coast in Utah tomorrow. Catch the game on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin at 8:00 p.m. CDT.

I get it: when people think of the most cursed NBA franchises of all time, the Sacramento Kings are at the top of mind. No one can blame them. Never forget how Mike Bibby ate an elbow to the face from Kobe Bryant, and was called for a blocking foul in Game 6, or how they picked Marvin Bagley over Luka Dončić. (Although, there is also the Phoenix Suns, who have been hosed by luck, and a lot of it started when they lost the coin flip, which had they won, would’ve allowed them to draft Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.)

Additionally, the poor fans in Sacramento have endured painful years leading to nowhere. At some point, they started going to the games and tuning into their broadcast with the intention of watching the other team. What else could it be? 

Nonetheless, it was another San Antonio Spurs road adventure, and bless them. These Pacific Coast weekday games with a 9 PM or later tipoff times are rough on lot of their supporters back in Central Daylight Time (why is that still a thing again?) who have to work early in the morning, and they came out with the intention to break spirits by turning it into a slaughter before the first quarter ended. 

Mission accomplished.

Russell Westbrook passed Steve Nash for fifth all-time in NBA assists, which is a huge deal, but it felt like an afterthought. I was nearly expecting by that point for the Spurs to yell at them to get off the court while they waited for their next opponent, like some savage scene at LA Fitness. 

Some of the Kings’ efforts on loose balls or to close out to shooters were so bad that it had one questioning if the incognito tank was in full effect. As we all know, sometimes, you have to do what you have to do; this upcoming draft is supposedly deeper than the Atlantic, with great talent at the top. 

The Spurs set a season high in assists with 41, plus another franchise record (more on that below), and they have a few tune-ups like this left on the schedule, which means they’ll have just as many opportunities to surpass that mark (the Miami Heat and New York Knicks tied for the most assists in a game this season with 44), as well as keep finding that perfect form as they prepare for their first playoffs appearance since 2019. 

Takeaways

• This is exactly how one expects a contender team to perform against a basement team. The main rotation was so devastating that the third-string players got plenty of time, which they must have been very pleased about. This allowed Lindy Waters III, who has not played since March 8, to tie with Carter Bryant for second-most minutes of the night.  
• Speed doesn’t last forever, but my gosh, Westbrook is still loaded with burst. De’Aaron Fox is a speedster in his prime, but it might be a good idea for him to consult with Westbrook on what the secrets are to extending youth. Furthermore, Tuesday’s game was against his old team, and Fox has clearly won the divorce. 
• Domantas Sabonis hasn’t played since Feb. 4, so second-round pick Maxine Raynaud from France was in over his head against his best friend Victor Wembanyama (although he did look very impressive when Wemby was off, totaling 32 points on the night). Nonetheless, not enough of the public talks about how the Kings trading Tyrese Haliburton for Sabonis is one of the worst trades in recent memory. Granted, it’s the Kings, so maybe they would’ve wasted his talents like Fox’s anyway, but it’s striking when comparing the impact of both players. 
• Not to keep dragging on the Kings, but Precious Achiuwa, the Kings forward who has started the last 16 games, signed with the Heat at the start of the season before they quickly dropped him after four preseason games. Whoever the Kings deployed in the front line was always going to be in trouble. In fact, Sacramento‘s front line had an uphill challenge like Peter McNeeley, who only lasted a minute and a half against Mike Tyson. 
• The way Castle can effortlessly rack up assists, makes me think he could be the league leader or get pretty close. Despite only playing 22 minutes, it was the 13th time he’s logged double-figure assists this year. It’s a shame the leap he’s made in that department won’t get him more consideration for the Most Improved Player award because it seems voters use points as the most important metric. Keep in mind that Castle raised his assists by 73 percent, and he is logging a 2.28 assist-to-turnover ratio. A 2.0 and above is excellent for a high-volume playmaker. And this is all despite often sharing the floor with Fox, who is just behind him at second on the team in assists per games.
• It was initially funny that associate head coach Sean Sweeney appeared to have a semi-conniption on the bench after a poor sequence when the game was probably already out of reach. But that moment says a lot about his diligence. He has “future head coach” written all over him — not that I’m anxious to see him leave the Spurs’ sideline.
• The Spurs set a franchise record of three-pointers made by hitting 25-49. The snowball effect started with Harrison Barnes making two of the team’s seven treys in the first quarter. He started with Devin Vassell sitting this one out but had come off the bench for his last 12 outings. This was his ninth time making at least four 3-pointers in a game, and he has started it on each of those occasions. He’ll probably return to the bench, but it would be a huge development for the already surging Spurs if his shot is returning to form.

Under the Hood – it’s time to see what’s really going on inside this Pistons team.

Look, I’ve been slacking the past month or two on these articles – that’s on me.

I got a new job, we rescued a new puppy, and I get married in October so life has been busy in the Buckets household (shoutout Tony?). I had to take a halftime break halfway through writing this article because the puppy went to the bathroom in my office – fun!

No excuses, though – let’s hoop.

Firing on All Cylinders

Jalen Duren played 32 minutes last night and finished with 36 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, and a block.

What I’ve found to be interesting with Duren’s recent play post-All Star break is Detroit’s offense focusing on getting the ball to JD down low when he has a good seal on his defender. As fundamental as it seems, teams that don’t have bigs that can handle Duren really struggle preventing this action.

We really see the growth in JD’s game when he decides to put the ball on the floor. Somebody that strong and that big shouldn’t be able to move the way he does, but he uses those advantages to overpower defenders on his way to the rim.

And sometimes, you’re just too big for everyone else on the court.

Transmission Trouble

If you take away Cade’s minutes last night after his injury, JB Bickerstaff played 11 guys. I don’t mind him playing that many as it seems apparent to me that he’s trying to figure out who’s going to be in his playoff rotation when he has to cut it down to eight or nine players. It’s worth noting in this one that Marcus Sasser, Kevin Huerter, Daniss Jenkins, and Caris LeVert all played more than 20 minutes off the bench.

If you’re rooting for Huerter to make the playoff rotation, last night didn’t help him, at least from a shooting perspective – he missed all five of three-point attempts while Sasser, Jenkins, and LeVert combined to shoot 8-for-12. Huerter did snag four rebounds and had three assists so he found other ways to get involved, but that shot needs to fall.

He did have this bizarre circus layup last night, though:

Mechanic’s Note

Back to JD – how about his passing?

While this is a great shot by Sasser, seeing Duren grab the rebound and immediately go behind his back to start the transition opportunity looks like something a point guard would be doing.

Even after he got his 36th point, he was still looking for his teammates and found Tobias open down low to force a Wizards timeout late with the game out of reach.

Last, even though this wasn’t an assist, this is the read that makes me the most excited about JD’s processing ability.

In the playoffs, teams are going to be focusing their defense around stopping the Cade/Duren pick-and-roll. As Duren attracts attention on the roll, it’s important for him to make a quick read to the other side of the court when a teammate is open. Because three Wizards end up guarding him in the paint, both Robinson and Harris are wide open from three.

NCAA history is set to made in March Madness.

Purdue guard Braden Smith is about to be a new assists king. The senior is two assists away from breaking Bobby Hurley's career record of 1,076 assists set in 1990-93.

Tthe record will likely be broken in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, when the No. 2 seed Boilermakers play No. 15 Queens on Friday, March 20.

Bold predictions: : Best March Madness upset picks, Final Four dark horse

When it happens, Smith can finally put it past him.

"I'm ready to just get it over with, so we can kind of put that kind of behind for a little bit" Smith told USA TODAY Sports.