Iran's soccer team honors victims of deadly missile strike on elementary school

ANTALYA, Turkey (AP) — Players held small backpacks as Iran's national soccer team used a match against Nigeria on Friday to honor the victims of a deadly missile strike on an elementary school.

More than 165 people were killed, most of them children, when a Feb. 28 strike, likely launched by the U.S., hit the school in southern Iran. Neither the United States nor Israel has accepted responsibility for the attack, which has come under staunch criticism from the United Nations and human rights groups. The U.S. military is investigating and has said it would never target civilians.

During the national anthem Friday, the Iranian team honored the memory of the slain children by placing small pink and purple school backpacks in front of them.

Video of the ceremony also showed the players wearing black armbands in remembrance of those killed since the war began.

The match was played in Antalya, southern Turkey.

Nigeria won 2-1 in a game that was a World Cup tuneup for Iran, ahead of the tournament being co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The Islamic Republic's team is scheduled to play three group-stage matches in June in the U.S. The Iranian ambassador in Mexico City has said the country asked FIFA to move those three games to Mexico after U.S. President Donald Trump discouraged the team from attending, citing safety concerns.

Iranian government and soccer officials have said they do not want to boycott the World Cup but that it is not possible for the national team to go to the U.S. because of military attacks on Iran by Israel and U.S.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has dampened Iran’s attempts to move its matches, saying global soccer’s governing body wants the tournament “to go ahead as scheduled.”

Separately on Friday, Iran’s judiciary threatened to seize the property of soccer player Sardar Azmoun, two semiofficial news agencies said. The announcement follows threats from Iran’s hard-liner judicial chief that authorities planned to seize the assets of celebrities viewed as critical of the government.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Heat vs Cavaliers Computer Picks: Our Best Player Prop Projections for March 27

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Our NBA player prop projections are locked in for tonight’s Eastern Conference matchup between the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers, with the model highlighting several standout opportunities.

After digging into the data and lining it up against current market prices, we’ve identified the bets with the strongest value.

These Heat vs. Cavaliers predictions aren’t based on feel — they’re backed by the numbers.

If you’re putting together your card, these are the model’s top NBA picks for Friday, March 27.

Heat vs Cavaliers computer picks for March 27

Heat HeatCavaliers Cavaliers
Adebayo o20.5 points
-112
Mitchell u28.5 points 
-120
Powell o2.5 threes
-105
Allen o7.5 rebounds
-125
Herro o4.5 rebounds
-120
Harden u8.5 assists 
-135

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Heat computer picks

Bam Adebayo Over 20.5 points (-112)

Projection: 21.3 points

Bam Adebayo has been on a tear, averaging 28.8 points per game over his last 10 outings, a jump of 8.5 points above his season average.

With the Miami Heat playing at the fastest pace in the league this year, Adebayo is in a prime position to keep it rolling after clearing this points prop in eight of his last 10 games.

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Norman Powell Over 2.5 3-pointers (-105)

Projection: 3.1 3-pointers

Norman Powell has cleared this 2.5 made threes line in five of his last 10 games, and the underlying trends suggest he’s well-positioned to do it again tonight against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Powell thrives off catch-and-shoot opportunities and secondary actions rather than needing heavy on-ball usage. That’s key against a Cavaliers defense that tends to collapse into the paint to protect its interior, often conceding clean looks from beyond the arc to perimeter scorers.

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Tyler Herro Over 4.5 rebounds (-120)

Projection: 4.6 rebounds

Miami has quietly been one of the league’s strongest offensive rebounding teams on the road, ranking fourth over its last 15 away games.

Facing a vulnerable Cavaliers squad, that edge should translate into more board opportunities for Tyler Herro, who has already cleared this 4.5 rebound line in seven of his last 10 outings.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet herro Now at bet365!/span


Cavaliers computer picks

Donovan Mitchell Under 28.5 points (-120)

Projection: 27.5 points

Cleveland has played at the fourth-slowest pace at home over its last five games, a tempo that doesn’t favor Donovan Mitchell in this matchup with Miami.

That trend aligns with his recent production, as he’s gone Under this 28.5-point line in eight of his last 10 games.

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Jarrett Allen Over 7.5 rebounds (-125)

Projection: 9.1 rebounds

Miami’s league-leading pace this season should create extra possessions for Cleveland, setting the stage for Jarrett Allen to stay active on the glass.

He’s been a force in that department, clearing this 7.5 rebounds line in eight of his last 10 games.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet allen Now at bet365!/span

James Harden Under 8.5 assists (-135)

Projection: 8.0 assists

James Harden has struggled to consistently hit the 8.5-assist mark lately, going Under in seven of his last 10 games.

Miami’s defense thrives on switching and disrupting passing lanes, which can force Harden into more contested or low-percentage looks when trying to facilitate.

The Heat often funnel the ball toward defenders in the paint while rotating quickly to cover shooters, limiting easy passing options and making it harder for primary ball-handlers to rack up assists.

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How to watch Heat vs Cavaliers tonight

LocationRocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
DateFriday, March 27, 2026
Tip-off7:30 p.m. ET
TVFDSN Sun, FDSN Ohio

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Defeat not an option for Saracens’ McCall in crunch Northampton clash

Sarries need to bounce back from Bath hammering to stay in touch with the top when they face the Prem leaders

Prestigious Prem matches are scattered across the country on Saturday but none is more significant in the title race than Saracens’ date with Northampton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

By the time Sarries and Saints run out for their evening kick-off in north London, Gloucester will have played Leicester at Villa Park, before Bristol meet Harlequins at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

Continue reading...

Who should the Knicks want to face in the first round?

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 26: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks shoots a free throw during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on March 26, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

There’s an old saying that we’ve all heard plenty of times throughout our lives:

“Be careful what you wish for.”

In sports, the saying can be applied to preferential matchups in the postseason. While there’s no such thing as being able to choose your opponent (yet), there have been situations where teams try to position themselves in such a way to get a favorable first-round matchup.

In 2024, the Eastern Conference was tightly packed, so much so that essentially nothing was solidified ahead of Game 82. To add further intrigue, a healthy Sixers team and the always-annoying Miami Heat were set to fight in the 7-8 play-in game, making the No. 2 seed a potential landmine with seemingly softer opponents in Indiana or Orlando awaiting the No. 3 and No. 4 seed.

As such, the Cavaliers mailed it in on the final day of the season, content with drawing the Magic in the first round. The strategy worked, as Cleveland won that series in seven games, but they then ran into a brick wall in the eventual champion Celtics. As we all remember, the Knicks won an overtime game with the Bulls to take the No. 2 seed, take on the challenge of the healthy Sixers, and win that series in six games.

You should never intentionally try to get the best possible matchup. Tempting the basketball gods is never a good idea, so regardless of how things look beneath the Knicks, they should be solely focused on getting the best possible seed, sitting a game back of the Boston Celtics for the No. 2 seed with eight to go.

But there are big, stylistic differences between the glut of six teams that could potentially match up with the Knicks. As they jockey for position, it’s only fair to wonder what would be the best path for the Knicks for a smooth pass through the first round and onto greener pastures.

Atlanta Hawks

Record: 41-32
Season series:
1-1
Record vs top-5 teams:
3-9
How hot are they?
Blisteringly hot

Our old foes seemed to have realized Trae Young was the problem and have surged since trading him to be Washington’s new tank commander.

But even immediately after formally handing the keys to Jalen Johnson, the Hawks were 26-30 at the all-star break and looked like a lock to be playing in the 9-10 play-in game. Of course, they’ve since gone a blistering 15-2, although most of these wins have been against tanking or injured teams.

Both season series meetings came within a week of each other around the New Year, with the Knicks surviving a torrid comeback effort in late December in Atlanta before getting trounced at MSG in early January during the 11-game stretch of hell.

Johnson is a wrecking ball who could easily average a triple-double in a playoff series. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is enjoying a great breakout season that should earn him Most Improved Player consideration. They’re a great shooting team that’s red hot. They have several long, lanky role players that will make Jalen Brunson’s life hell over a seven-game series. They have the scoring. Why would you want to face them?

Well, some of their shooting is deceiving. Luke Kennard and Vit Krejci are gone, and Jonathan Kuminga is shooting at a baffling 48% clip from downtown. The active roster threats are NAW, Keaton Wallace, and Asa Newell. You won’t be threatened much by Johnson (34.9%), CJ McCollum (34.7%), and especially Dyson Daniels (15.7%). Towns dominated Onyeka Okongwu in their only head-to-head matchup this season, and with the poise he’s been playing with lately? I’d count on it again.

They’d be a fine opponent, frisky, but not the most dangerous. Big risk-reward here. On one hand, you have to deal with another 2o21 if you lose, but if you win, you can effectively erase it.

Toronto Raptors

Record: 40-32
Season series:
0-4
Record vs top-5 teams:
2-11
How hot are they?
Very lukewarm

The Raptors are below .500 since their 14-5 start, which is the only thing keeping them out of the play-in at this point. We’ve seen them four times this season, and each time, the Knicks punked them. Sometimes they keep it close for a quarter, half, or even 40+ minutes, but they’ve given up a massive run to break the game open in all four meetings, going through stretches of putrid basketball.

Aside from stunning OKC on the road in January and a recent win against Detroit, they’ve been awful against teams with a better record. Their third-best win might be against a pre-Harden Cavaliers squad.

Their offense is completely reliant on Brandon Ingram, who’s cooked the Knicks all season long. Yet, in multiple games, he’s gone off early and been muted in the second half. Scottie Barnes has made tremendous strides defensively, but the offensive leap into superstardom has eluded him. OAKAAK’s RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley occasionally show brilliant flashes, but have been inconsistent.

If the Raptors are going to be competitive in the playoffs, they’ll do it on the backs of their defense, which has carried them at times this season. Rewatch the first seven-ish minutes of the last Knicks-Raptors game, and you’ll see what I mean. When they want to get nasty, they can get nasty.

Their downfall is multi-faceted. They don’t have enough shooting (23rd in 3PT%), they’re very reliant on Ingram, and maybe the most damning of all, rebounding. Jakob Poeltl’s return has muted some concerns, but he’s the only player on the roster taller than 6’9”. In every matchup with the Knicks this season, it’s been a bloodbath on the boards, and if these two teams square off, it’ll be the Mitchell Robinson show.

On paper, this is who you want to face, but again, be careful what you wish for. We’ve seen crazier things.

Philadelphia 76ers

Record: 40-33
Season series:
2-2
Record vs top-5 teams:
4-10
How hot are they?
Cold, but slowly warming

How do you judge the Sixers? They’re the most volatile team in sports.

When at full health, they’re as scary as they were in 2024, when teams tried to avoid facing them. Joel Embiid has looked close to MVP form when he’s been on the court, Tyrese Maxey is a full-blown star, and Paul George is back from suspension and playing team basketball. They have a great collection of role players that include OAKAAK Quentin Grimes, rookie phenom VJ Edgecombe, and sudden corner-3 aficionado Andre Drummond.

So why are they in the play-in? Well, they keep getting hurt.

Embiid has missed 39 games, and just when it felt like he was getting back in the groove after missing a month early on, knee soreness and an oblique issue cost him 16 of the first 18 after the all-star break. Maxey is recovering from a finger injury that might cost him All-NBA. George was suspended for PEDs. There are nights where Grimes is the first option, like last March.

To evaluate the Sixers, you have to see how healthy they are. The last time Embiid played in the playoffs, he barely made it through a six-game series with a re-injured knee and Bell’s palsy, and then essentially missed all of the next season. The Sixers remain a trainwreck without him, and he’s only played in five consecutive games once all season. Depending on how he feels, they could be a pushover or a force to be reckoned with.

Charlotte Hornets

Record: 39-34
Season series:
2-1
Record vs top-5 teams:
4-6
How hot are they?
Hypernova

Where did this even come from? The first two times we saw Charlotte, they were the same mess of young players who couldn’t put it all together as they stumbled to a 16-28 start.

Since then? They’re 23-6. They’ve been pummeling good team after good team and made yet another statement with a dominant effort against the Knicks on Thursday night. Their average margin of victory is literally the greatest in NBA history!!!

I haven’t watched them much, so last night was an eye-opener. They have such effortless shooting ability from almost everyone on the roster. The finally healthy LaMelo Ball is the head of the snake who handles the playmaking and gets the ball to Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller for open jumpers. Their offense is a well-oiled machine that’s so hard to stop because they’re good at everything. Since they turned their season around, they have a 121.5 offensive rating, best in basketball.

The defense has been surprisingly stout as well, ranking fifth in that span, and it makes sense. Between Miller, Miles Bridges, Moussa Diabate, Grant Williams, Ryan Kalkbrenner, etc, you have a lot of guys who can defend. They also don’t have any size disadvantages with Knueppel and Ball being taller than your average backcourt.

Speaking of size… I’ve never seen a team dominate the Knicks on the boards like they did last night. Since January 21, the Hornets have led the NBA with a 37 OREB% and 55.1% rebounding share. They effectively muted Robinson all night, and their size and length made KAT uncomfortable. It’s jarring how quickly Charles Lee has done this.

Knicks should want no part of them early. Nobody should. If Detroit’s struggles from deep continue in the playoffs and they draw the Hornets, they’re in serious danger.

Miami Heat

Record: 39-34
Season series:
2-2
Record vs top-5 teams:
4-6
How hot are they?
Cooling off

Miami won 10 of 12 around the all-star break, but then lost five in a row to suddenly be in danger of playing in the 9-10 game. Still, they’re more than close enough to make a run to face the Knicks with their… 83-point scorer? I keep forgetting that it actually did happen.

Miami’s issue has been getting everyone healthy at the same time, but they seem to have Tyler Herro finally in a groove alongside Norman Powell and Bam Adebayo. Erik Spoelstra switched the formula for this season and has turned the Heat into a high-paced cheetah that sees most of their games turn into shootouts.

Despite this, they’re fifth in defensive rating, still employing the same nastiness as ever, while wearing teams out in transition. They play clean basketball, they can shoot, they have enough avenues to score that diversify their offense, they can be tough.

The Knicks haven’t seen them in a few months, and the matchups have certainly been interesting. There’s history here from 2023, even if both rosters have been significantly turned over since. Rekindling an old rivalry wouldn’t be the worst thing.

Orlando Magic

Record: 39-34
Season series:
2-2
Record vs top-5 teams:
4-10
How hot are they?
Suddenly frosty

Orlando was floundering when March began, but rattled off seven consecutive wins to make it look like things were coming together. Then, of course, they immediately lost six in a row to fall to the back of the pack.

Their biggest enemy has been health once again, as Franz Wagner has played exactly four games since originally suffering a high ankle sprain against the Knicks on December 7. He’ll likely be back for the playoffs, but it’s hard to expect him to be playing at peak level after re-injuring that ankle twice in return attempts, not to mention rust. Paolo Banchero continues to refuse to acknowledge his physical strengths and keeps trying to be a shooter, so the absence of Franz looms large.

Speaking of shooting, they added Desmond Bane in the offseason to fix that glaring wart. How’s it been going? Well, they’re 25th in 3PT% so…

Bane and Tristan De Silva are snipers, but among healthy regulars, only Jett Howard is shooting above 34%. Even if they are still struggling to score enough points to win consistently, they still employ some absolute grinders that will slow down your offense, including Jalen Suggs, Anthony Black, Jevon Carter, and Wendell Carter Jr. (plus Jonathan Isaac, whenever he plays).

All four meetings between these two teams were before Christmas and were very annoying, but that’s a long time ago. With how Banchero has risen to the occasion in the last two postseasons, they could be a tough out, but if Franz isn’t healthy, they shouldn’t have much of a real pulse.

Split Decision: Matthew Liberatore is Evolving

JUPITER, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 26: Matthew Liberatore #32 of the St. Louis Cardinals throws a pitch during a spring training game against the Houston Astros at Roger Dean Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Before we dive into an analysis of Matthew Liberatore’s arsenal changes from spring training, let me take a second to introduce myself. I’ve been reading VEB for as long as I can remember. It’s always been an awesome place for analysis and fan commentary. I hope, in some small way, to be able to contribute to that ethic and help grow this community. I’m looking forward to the journey!

Like any good Rachel Ray pie, I’m constructing this before opening day and so Libby has just pitched yesterday. So, he was awesome – all star game here we come! Or, break out the torches and pitchforks while we chant “We want Fitts!” (That felt like the safest thing to chant for him, by far.) Here’s the thing, either way, Libby is going no where as Grand Poobah Chaim Bloom is solidly in his corner.

The Cardinals organization has gone from a lonely western tumbleweed as a player development staff to a team beefed up with former Guardians, Mariners, Dodgers, and Rays employees. Can we notice anything different in Libby? The answer is a resounding yes. At least as far as spring training shows, Libby is evolving. Let’s go ahead and issue the small sample size boilerplate response here – I know spring training stats don’t matter, you know it, frankly everyone but Mike Matheny knows it. But sometimes a change in approach does carry over.

Over on the Redbird Rundown podcast (if audio/visual is your thing, we have a ton of fun diving into numbers over there), we quickly brought up Libby’s name in Cardinals that will define the season. Check it out here if you want – Apple or Spotify!

Here’s the thing, Libby’s arsenal has expanded. (I was considering an Iran reference here, but I’m not going to test the limits of the first amendment in my first article for this hallowed site) He has debuted a splitter that is designed as an additional weapon against righties. News flash: a majority of MLB hitters are righties. This is going to determine just what caliber of pitcher he can be.

The splitter debuted in spring training with some fairly good metrics. It measured 6.2 in. IVB (10.1 in. offset from fastball), 5.6 in. armside run (2 in. offset from FB), and 88.2 MPH (6.9 MPH offset from FB). If these metrics have you smelling a changeup, you’ve got a good smeller. In fact, Fangraphs is noting a distinct uptick in the changeup usage – the splitter is likely to be the cause of that. This gives Libby seven pitches to play with.

Now this is where things get downright fascinating. In spring training (yes, I still know it’s spring training and that he has to prove it on repeat), Libby’s fastball was more effective than it’s ever been. According to Fangraphs, his fastball had a 2.1 run value. That’s the only time in his career that it’s ever been positive. Libby has always been a use-the-fastball-to-set-up-his-breaking-stuff guy. Now, maybe he’s not? The interplay between his increased offspeed offerings, in this case with the shape of his splitter, and his fastball produced some very interesting early results. (Yes, I know it’s spring training still, kindly refrain from thinking I’m not aware)

The downstream effects of Libby having a plus fastball are like the butterfly effect. He struck out 33.9% of all batters he faced and, brace yourself here, only walked 3.6% of hitters. That’s Dylan Cease level strikeouts with Tarik Skubal walk rates. Are those sustainable? Probably not, but if the fastball keeps playing up then it’s obvious that he doesn’t have to nibble on the edges as much. 

You want more proof? You guys have a higher burden of proof than an Old Testament stoning. But here’s some more magic. Batters, in spring training, swung at rates that are average for Libby’s career. But their contact rates fell by 20%. His swinging strike percentage was double his career average. Yeah. Libby missed some serious bats this spring. Did you guys know the Cardinals need more swing and miss in their rotation? Huh, crazy.

There’s one last piece of Libby’s very strong spring that is intriguing. Batters made contact to the opposite field 42.9% of the time. His career rate is 26.7%. He’s baffling hitters into being behind and avoiding the deadly pull side contact more often than he ever has in his career.

Look, all this is likely to normalize. A leopard doesn’t change its spots often. But, the organization around Libby has certainly changed its spots and the very best development teams in baseball seem to be able to grow talent at will. Perhaps, just perhaps, this Cardinals franchise really is on the march back to relevance and will be powered by developing new talent and maximizing the guys they already have. So, it’s possible this new splitter is a weapon that will lead to a serious evolution in what Libby is capable of. I’m rooting for that. Shouldn’t you?

Regardless of how he pitched yesterday, the arsenal changes that Matthew Liberatore is making deserve our attention and, frankly, our respect. I’ll be watching that splitter closely going forward, but I think the secret is whether or not it continues to increase the effectiveness of his fastball or not.

Let me know what you’ve been seeing in the comments!

Blackhawks vs Rangers Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NHL Game

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The New York Rangers look to snap a six-game losing streak when they host the Chicago Blackhawks at Madison Square Garden tonight.  

My top Blackhawks vs. Rangers predictions and NHL picks call for Chicago rookie Anton Frondell to pick up a point for the third consecutive game. 

Find out more in my NHL picks for Friday, March 27.

Blackhawks vs Rangers prediction

Blackhawks vs Rangers best bet: Anton Frondell Over 0.5 points (-110)

The Chicago Blackhawks have forward Anton Frondell jumping onto the top line and No. 1 power-play unit alongside superstar Connor Bedard, and he hasn’t disappointed, recording a point in consecutive games.

With the New York Rangers losing six straight while allowing 4.0 goals per game, I’m expecting the Bedard and Frondell connection to have success again tonight. 

Frondell was the third overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft, and he’s also the first 18-year-old to record 20 goals in the SHL since Daniel Sedin in 1998-99.

Blackhawks vs Rangers same-game parlay

Sticking with the Chicago duo, Bedard has found the scoresheet in seven of his past 10 games, tallying five goals and five assists. 

In addition to Frondell recording a pair of assists through two NHL games, he’s also racked up six shots on 11 attempts. Meanwhile, the Rangers have allowed a healthy 31.7 shots per game during their highlighted skid.

Blackhawks vs Rangers SGP

  • Connor Bedard Over 0.5 points
  • Anton Frondell Over 0.5 points
  • Anton Frondell Over 2.5 shots

Blackhawks vs Rangers odds

  • Moneyline: Blackhawks +150 | Rangers -180
  • Puck Line: Blackhawks +1.5 (-170) | Rangers -1.5 (+140)
  • Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+110) | Under 6.5 (-130)

Blackhawks vs Rangers trend

Chicago has won eight of its last 20 road games (+4.75 Units / 24% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Blackhawks vs. Rangers.

How to watch Blackhawks vs Rangers

LocationMadison Square Garden, New York, NY
DateFriday, March 27, 2026
Puck drop7:00 p.m. ET
TVChicago Sports Network, MSG Sportsnet

Blackhawks vs Rangers latest injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

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.

MMBets: The Dallas Mavericks visit the Portland Trail Blazers

Mar 18, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday (5) in the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

It’s just past noon here at the desk, the post breakfast Häagen-Dazs Coffee Almond Toffee is open. As unhealthy as that may seem, my only defense is that I am juggling quite a bit right now and sometimes ice cream is the only thing that sounds like it might turn the day sweet for a moment. The only other notion that feels sweet is helping you make some money tonight.

Out late on the west coast tonight, the Dallas Mavericks (23-50) are in Portland as they prepare to square off with the Trail Blazers (37-37) in a game that means very different things to each team. Portland just clinched a play-in spot and is playing its best basketball of the season—23-17 since January 1, riding a two-game win streak, and hungry to nudge above .500 for the first time since November. Dallas is on a five-game skid but has been far more competitive than that sounds, dropping two overtime games before getting clawed back in Denver. Cooper Flagg had 26 Wednesday. The Mavericks are not mailing it in. If one thing is clear by now, these Mavs are trying to win every game, tanking is incidental.

Let’s scan the lines in search of value.

🏀 Fixture: Dallas Mavericks (23-50) @ Portland Trail Blazers (37-37) 📍 Moda Center — Portland, OR 🕙 9:00 PM CST, Friday, March 27, 2026 📺 NBA TV / KFAA Channel 29 / MavsTV

📊 DraftKings Snapshot (as of 12:04 PM CST) Spread: POR -10.5 (-110) | DAL +10.5 (-110) Total: 239.5 (O -110 / U -110) Moneyline: POR -470 | DAL +360

📉 Game Side Lean: Portland -10.5

Portland is the better team, playing at home, with something to play for. Dallas is without Gafford—a fresh shoulder injury that matters against a Portland frontcourt built around Donovan Clingan eating offensive rebounds for breakfast. Clingan is the league leader in offensive boards (Steven Adams lacks the games played to qualify) and has been expanding his game with real three-point range this season. Without Gafford anchoring the paint, Portland will feast inside and the Mavericks’ already thin frontcourt gets stretched further. The Blazers handle business at home. Lay the points.

🔮 Total Lean: Over 239.5

Portland is a team that plays fast, shoots constantly, and crashes the glass for second-chance points. Five rotation players take more than six threes a game, and they rank top-five in possessions and field goal attempts. Dallas scores in bunches too when the offense is clicking—Flagg, Marshall, and a five-game losing streak’s worth of pent-up aggression. Neither defense is going to save anyone tonight. Points are coming.

🎯 Player Props We Like

Cooper Flagg Over 22.5 Points (-116) Flagg had 26 on Wednesday in Denver and has been the engine of everything Dallas does offensively. Portland’s defense is not its calling card—they rank 29th in three-point percentage allowed, which tells you they’re giving up looks liberally. Flagg is locked in and this team runs through him when things get going. The number is reasonable and the matchup is favorable.

Jrue Holiday Under 15.5 Points (-123) Holiday is a glue guy on a team with plenty of other scoring options—Avdija, Clingan, Camara, Grant, Henderson. Portland doesn’t need him to carry the offense, and against a Dallas team in scramble mode, his value will show up in the assist column and on the defensive end rather than the scoring sheet. The juice is a little steep but the logic is clean.

💡 Summary: Portland -10.5 at home with everything to play for. Over 239.5 because neither team came to play defense. Flagg doing Flagg things, Holiday staying in his lane. Four picks, and if we win one more bowl of Coffee Almond Toffee. Let’s go Mavs.

Jazz vs Nuggets Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

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History will remember the 2025-26 Utah Jazz, even if most of us already want to forget about them. The Denver Nuggets may be guilty of forgetting about Utah, too, as the March grind wears out Nikola Jokic & Co.

My Jazz vs. Nuggets predictions and NBA picks welcome some value on the Jazz first-half moneyline, even if it is a bit of a long shot, on Friday, March 27.

Jazz vs Nuggets prediction

Jazz vs Nuggets best bet: Jazz moneyline 1H (+525)

The 2025-26 Utah Jazz will change the NBA.

No, really.

Their tanking approaches have been so egregious that the NBA is now actively considering changes to the draft lottery system. 

Some might argue that is an overreaction, but Utah has so much talent that it continues to be vaguely competitive even after shutting down Isaiah Collier, Lauri Markkanen, and Keyonte George in March, even with Brice Sensabaugh and Kyle Filipowski currently day-to-day due to rest and illness, respectively.

And that does not even mention the trio of big men on the injured list in Jusuf Nurkic, Jaren Jackson Jr, and Walker Kessler.

The Jazz are starting Ace Bailey, Cody Williams and Elijah Harkless … and are still sometimes playing too well.

Utah drew so much attention because it would often bench its starters in competitive fourth quarters. The Jazz no longer need to do that, but they do sometimes still hang tougher than anticipated.

Utah is 3-10 outright in March, but it has won six of 13 first halves, including on March 2 against the Denver Nuggets despite the Jazz being 11.5-point underdogs.

With the Nuggets on their third game in four nights, a similar early surprise is far more plausible than these odds suggest.

Jazz vs Nuggets same-game parlay

Utah should cover this full-game spread if indeed leading at halftime. Adding that leg to a first-half moneyline bet started the same-game parlay payout at +600, already some unexpected value in that uptick.

Nikola Jokic should still control the boards tonight. And while some may worry this is too lofty a prop for a tired night, a competitive first half will only mean more minutes for the Nuggets’ superstar.

Jazz vs Nuggets SGP

  • Jazz moneyline 1H
  • Jazz +18.5
  • Nikola Jokic Over 13.5 rebounds

Our "from downtown" SGP: Denver eventually

What a delight to include a leg that on its own is -2000 in a four-leg same-game parlay and still reach odds of +2000. A double-result so often brings such value.

Remember, Utah is 3-10 outright in March. Those wins came against the Bucks, Warriors, and Wizards. Suffice it to say, the Nuggets should prevail no matter how awkward the first half is.

Jazz vs Nuggets SGP

  • Jazz moneyline 1H
  • Denver moneyline
  • Jazz +18.5
  • Nikola Jokic Over 13.5 rebounds

Jazz vs Nuggets odds

  • Spread: Jazz +18.5 | Nuggets -18.5
  • Moneyline: Jazz +1000 | Nuggets -2000
  • Over/Under: Over 248.5 | Under 248.5

Jazz vs Nuggets betting trend to know

Utah is 6-7 against the spread in March. In those six ATS wins, the Jazz were 4-2 outright in the first half. Find more NBA betting trends for Jazz vs. Nuggets.

How to watch Jazz vs Nuggets

LocationBall Arena, Denver, CO
DateFriday, March 27, 2026
Tip-off9:00 p.m. ET
TVKJZZ, Altitude

Jazz vs Nuggets latest injuries

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Royals post Opening Day starting lineup

MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 31: Vinnie Pasquantino #9, Bobby Witt Jr. #7 and Jonathan India #6 of the Kansas City Royals stand on the field for pre-game ceremonies prior to the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Monday, March 31, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Aaron Gash/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Royals open their 2026 season tonight against the Atlanta Braves and manager Matt Quatraro has posted the first lineup of the season. The lineup is right-handed heavy against Braves left-hander Chris Sale, with Jac Caglianone and Kyle Isbel on the bench. Lefties hit just .162/.250/.302 against Sale last year.

3B Maikel Garcia (R)

SS Bobby Witt Jr. (R)

CF Lane Thomas (R)

C Salvador Perez (R)

1B Vinnie Pasquantino (L)

RF Starling Marte (R)

2B Jonathan India (R)

LF Isaac Collins (S)

DH Carter Jensen (L)

Cole Ragans gets the Opening Day start for the Royals, the sixth pitcher in club history to get the nod in the first game in three or more consecutive seasons.

Game time is tonight at 6:15 CT, and you can watch on Royals.TV.

Report: Peter Chiarelli Candidate For Predators GM Position After Leaving Blues Front Office

Could Peter Chiarelli be the next general manager of the Nashville Predators? 

According to Darren Dreger, that could be possible as he reported on Friday that "Chiarelli is a candidate in Nashville's interview process" after leaving the St. Louis Blues as their Vice President of Hockey Operations. 

Chiarelli had been in the position since September 2021, but had interviewed for GM positions outside of the organization before. In 2022, he interviewed for the Chicago Blackhawks' general manager position before the organization selected Kyle Davidson.  

Chiarelli landed his first GM job with the Boston Bruins and held the position from 2006 to 2015, notably building the rosters that led the Bruins to a Stanley Cup in 2011 and a Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 2013. 

In his time in Boston, he signed Zdeno Chara from the New York Islanders, traded Andrew Raycroft for Tuuka Rask and drafted Brad Marchand, Tyler Seguin and Phil Kessel. 

At the end of the 2014-15 season, after missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs by two points and trading Johnny Boychuk to the New York Islanders, which took a hit at the Bruins defensive depth, Chiarelli was fired. 

Less than two weeks later, Chiarelli was hired by the Edmonton Oilers as their new GM and selected Connor McDavid first overall in the 2015 NHL Draft. 

He'd also notably sign Leon Draisaitl to an 8-year, $68 million contract. 

A season after Chiarelli took over as GM, the Oilers qualified for the 2016-17 Stanley Cup playoffs, the first time they had played in the postseason in a decade. Edmonton made it to the Western Conference Semifinals before losing to Anaheim in six games.

The Oilers missed the 2018 playoffs, and after a near-.500 start to the 2018-19 season, Chiarelli was fired. 

He joined the Blues as a senior advisor during the 2019-20 season before being promoted to  Vice President of Hockey Operations. 

The Predators' GM search began in February after Barry Trotz announced he'd retire once a replacement was found.  

Oubre tells reporters he’s back for Sixers-Hornets; Maxey getting ‘a lot more involved,’ per Nurse

CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 9: Kelly Oubre Jr. #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers is introduced before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 9, 2026 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

A lot can change in just a few days, especially when it comes to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Back on Monday, the Sixers were without five main rotation players — Joel Embiid (oblique), Paul George (suspension), Tyrese Maxey (finger), Quentin Grimes (illness) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (elbow) — in their loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. By Wednesday, the long hiatuses of both Embiid and George came to an end, and Grimes returned from illness. Philadelphia dominated the Chicago Bulls that night, putting up 157 points, notching their highest single-game point total in 56 years. Embiid and George had the best returns you could probably ask for after their stints sidelined, with Embiid scoring 35 points in just over 28 minutes played and PG adding 28 points in 26:20.

Now, it looks like the Sixers are on their way to getting yet another piece of the puzzle back. At practice on Friday, Oubre told reporters that he was ready to return for Saturday’s contest after an elbow injury has kept him sidelined since March 10.

Reinforcements are coming at the right time for Philadelphia, who face a tough opponent on Saturday with a visit to Rookie of the Year candidate Kon Knueppel and the red-hot Charlotte Hornets riding a six-game win streak. They have gone 13-5 since the All-Star break.

Head coach Nick Nurse told reporters after practice on Friday that he’s “pretty sure” Oubre will play on Saturday, but some question remains on what exact role he would play in the contest.

Nurse also added that Embiid came out “pretty good” after his first contest in just about a month.

The optimistic news out of Friday continued in a way I am not really used to with this team. Tyrese Maxey, who has been out since March 7 with a tendon injury in his pinky, was throwing up shots alongside Embiid after practice. Nurse told reporters that Maxey has become “a lot more involved” in the last few days and that the guard has been focusing on keeping himself conditioned while the hand continues to heal.

No word on a potential return timetable for Maxey just yet, but it certainly sounds like things are headed in the right direction with him as well.

Dealing with a busted bracket?

The Sweet 16 is almost here – who’s still alive? We’re reviewing the week that was in the first week of the NCAA tournament and turning our focus to remaining teams. How bad (or good!) is your bracket? Join us in the SB Nation March Madness Feed and let’s talk about who’s most likely to make a run to glory.

It’s a very good time for things to go right for the Sixers, too. As of Friday afternoon, the Sixers are seventh in the Eastern Conference at 40-33, but there is a lot of room for movement — up or down — around them right now. Numbers 8 through 10 in the East right now (Orlando Magic, Hornets and Miami Heat) are all 39-34, just a single game behind Philadelphia. Atop the Sixers are the Toronto Raptors, a half a game ahead in sixth, and the Atlanta Hawks, one game ahead in fifth.

We are entering the final push, with just nine regular season games remaining for the Sixers. Buckle up.

5-time Gold Glove winner Jason Heyward announces retirement following 16-year career in majors

CHICAGO — Jason Heyward, who launched his 16-year major league career with the Atlanta Braves in 2010 and won a World Series title with the Chicago Cubs in 2016, announced his retirement on Friday.

Heyward played in 34 games with San Diego in 2025, hitting .176.

For his career, Heyward hit .255 with 186 home runs with six teams. He also played for St. Louis, Houston and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The outfielder won five Gold Gloves, including four straight seasons from 2014 through 2017.

Heyward, whose nickname is “J Hey,” played his first five seasons with the Braves and set career highs with 27 homers and 82 RBIs for Atlanta in 2012. He was drafted by the Braves in 2007 from Henry County High School in suburban Atlanta.

Heyward played for the Cubs for seven seasons, from 2016 through 2022. He said he plans to focus on his Jason Heyward Baseball Academy, a youth development program based in Chicago.

“I wanted to reach this moment and know without a doubt that it was time to walk away, and I do,” Heyward said in a statement. “No second-guessing, no looking back, just gratitude.”

Heyward said playing 16 years in the major leagues “gave me everything, and now I get to give some of that back. Through the Jason Heyward Baseball Academy, I get to mentor the next generation, keep my hands in the game, and make sure kids in my community have the opportunities and the space to dream the same way I did.”

Blackhawks Vs Rangers: Projected Lineup, How To Watch, & More Ahead Of Game 73

The Chicago Blackhawks have 10 games remaining in their 2025-26 season. It’s been an up-and-down year, but there has been plenty of growth within the organization, which was all they wanted coming in. Their off-season was an indication that this year would be another developmental year, and sure enough, it was. 

On Friday night, the Blackhawks will be at Madison Square Garden to take on the New York Rangers. This is the third game out of four on Chicago’s current road trip on the East Coast. 

Scouting New York

The New York Rangers are having a tough year. They came in hoping to bounce back from a down year in 2024-25, but it became even worse in 2025-26. Right now, they are the only team in the Eastern Conference mathematically eliminated from postseason contention.

Ahead of the Olympic break, the Rangers traded their superstar, former Blackhawk Artemi Panarin, to the Los Angeles Kings. He was a pending unrestricted free agent, but has since signed an extension in LA. 

Although many believed that more names would be moved ahead of the deadline, the Rangers did little else. 

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Borgen-Schneider

Fortescue-Robertson

Garand

Without Panarin, Alexis Lafreniere has been the go-to scoring winger. The former number one overall pick has had some ups and downs in his career, but he's been hot since the Olympics. If the Rangers keep him long-term, his success will be a key to them turning things around. 

Down the middle, Mika Zibanejad, J.T. Miller, and Vincent Trocheck are an outstanding 1-2-3 punch. Their place in the standings doesn't make much sense when looking at this trio at center, especially with the goaltending they get, but the reality is that they haven't scored enough, especially at home. 

Their number one defenseman, Adam Fox, is still elite, but it's been a down year for him on a personal level, too. He missed out on playing for Team USA as a result. Fox has a big summer ahead of him as he looks to get back on track. 

Gabe Perreault, the former Boston College and USA World Junior hero, is a strong rookie finally getting some playing time with the Rangers. He is a clutch player that the Blackhawks must be keeping an eye on when he's out there with the top line. Alex Vlasic and Wyatt Kaiser are sure to see a lot of this line. 

For Drew Fortescue, this is going to be his NHL debut as a member of the Rangers. As a New York native, making his debut against another Original Six team at MSG is sure to be exciting. 

Igor Shesterkin, one of the best goalies on Earth, is going to be on the bench for this one. The Blackhawks will face Dylan Garand, who is on the roster in place of the injured Jonathan Quick. 

Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago

The Blackhawks are in the second half of a back-to-back. The first game was a blowout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night. Everything about that game was forgettable, besides the NHL debut of Sacha Boisvert and Connor Bedard scoring his 30th goal of the season, assisted by Anton Frondell. 

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Del Mastro-Crevier

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Spencer Knight started in goal against the Flyers. He gave up five goals in the loss. He faced 42 shots, and the team in front of him provided no help, so it was hardly his fault. Still, you can expect Arvid Soderblom to get the start against the Rangers. 

Louis Crevier took a skate-blade to the face in Philadelphia. It was a scary-looking situation, but he is going to be okay. There is no indication that he won't be back in the lineup on Friday in New York. 

Other than Soderblom going in for Knight, the lineup is likely to be the same at the start of the game. Having less than a day to move past that game in Philly is good for this group. 

How To Watch

The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game, it is available on CHSN locally. Nationally, it is available to stream on ESPN+. The puck will drop shortly after 6:00 PM CT. 

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Nets vs Lakers Prediction, Picks & Best Bets for Tonight’s NBA Game

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The Los Angeles Lakers are finally back in La-La Land after a successful road trip, and waiting for them inside Crypto.com Arena are the lowly Brooklyn Nets. 

Brooklyn sits near the bottom of the Eastern Conference and brings a nine-game losing skid to Los Angeles, which has bookies listing the Lakers as hefty home favorites.

My Nets vs. Lakers predictions dig into how that opens up LeBron James’ potential as a playmaker.

Read more in my NBA picks for Friday, March 27. 

Nets vs Lakers prediction

Nets vs Lakers best bet: LeBron James Over 6.5 assists (-125)

With little threat of losing tonight, the Los Angeles Lakers are thinking about sitting Luka Doncic tonight. Doncic has put in a ton of minutes during the Lakers’ 10-1 SU run, and he's also been fighting through a tender hamstring.

He’s questionable against the Brooklyn Nets, which would leave a ton of touches on the table for Los Angeles. Doncic is a primary ball handler, and his absence slides LeBron James into that role. 

The veteran forward has averaged 67.5 touches during that 11-game span (Doncic is getting 90.5), with his potential assists sitting at 11.6. That’s produced 6.5 actual assists per contest during the streak.

An increase in ball-handling duties instantly juices LeBron’s playmaking prowess, which we see in his season production when Doncic is sidelined. In the past four games with Doncic out and James in, he’s averaged 10 assists per game. 

The Nets aren’t providing much in the way of defense as it tries to tank for a Top 3 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. Brooklyn has allowed more than 118 points against since the All-Star break and is among the worst teams in opponent assist-to-FGM rate (24th), with foes handing out over 27 assists an outing.

James’ projections all sit north of seven assists — and that’s with Doncic in the lineup. Should Luka sit, LeBron’s passing prop soars.

Nets vs Lakers same-game parlay

The No. 3 seed in the Western Conference is still up for grabs, so while Los Angeles may sit Luka, it doesn’t take the Nets lightly. Brooklyn is closing out a road trip in L.A. tonight, which probably has this losing team more concerned with off-court plans.

With James stepping up as a passer, Austin Reaves can be more of a scorer and pick up the slack with Doncic potentially out. Given the expected game script, Reaves could also get extra rest once L.A. pulls away in the second half.

Nets vs Lakers SGP

  • Lakers +16
  • LeBron James Over 6.5 assists
  • Austin Reaves Under 5.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: The King's Court

The possibility of a Luka-less Lakers rotation puts LeBron in the spotlight. He’s projected to top his assists, triples, and rebound props tonight.

In the last four games without Doncic, LeBron has pulled down 6+ boards in each game while hitting two or more 3-pointers in two of those outings.

Nets vs Lakers SGP

  • Lakers +16
  • LeBron James Over 6.5 assists
  • LeBron James Over 1.5 threes
  • LeBron James Over 5.5 rebounds

Nets vs Lakers odds

  • Spread: Nets +16 (-110) | Lakers -16 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Nets +900 | Lakers -1600
  • Over/Under: Over 222.5 (-110) | Under 222.5 (-110)

Nets vs Lakers betting trend to know

Brooklyn is 5-24 SU and 11-17-1 ATS (39.7%) in non-conference games this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Nets vs. Lakers.

How to watch Nets vs Lakers

LocationCrypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
DateFriday, March 27, 2026
Tip-off10:30 p.m. ET
TVYES, Spectrum SportsNet

Nets vs Lakers latest injuries

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Rockets vs Grizzlies Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

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The shorthanded Memphis Grizzlies host the struggling Houston Rockets on Friday night at FedExForum.

Memphis’ frontcourt is decimated with injuries, and my Rockets vs Grizzlies predictions expect Amen Thompson to have a tremendous showing on the glass.

Here are my best free NBA picks for this Western Conference showdown on Friday, March 27.

Rockets vs Grizzlies prediction

Rockets vs Grizzlies best bet: Amen Thompson Over 7.5 rebounds (-135)

Amen Thompson is one of the Houston Rockets' best rebounders, pulling down a career-high 7.9 boards per game. He's recorded at least eight rebounds in 36 of 70 games overall, going for exactly seven rebounds 13 more times.

Thompson has corralled 8.3 rebounds on the road compared to 7.4 at home, and he's gone for 8+ in 21 of 36 away from Toyota Center.

Since the All-Star break, Thompson has pulled down 8.7 rebounds per game and recorded 8+ in nine of 18 appearances. He leads the team in rebounds over the Rockets' last seven games at 10.3, and he's hit the Over on this line five times in that span.

Alperen Sengun has taken a step back as a rebounder, grabbing just 7.7 boards per game across his last 10 outings, allowing Thompson to take a significant step forward in that department.

The Memphis Grizzlies sport one of the thinnest and smallest frontcourt lineups in the NBA, and the team has been highly vulnerable to opposing rebounders.

Over the last 10 games, Memphis has surrendered a league-high 49.7 rebounds, including the third-most offensive rebounds at 13.8. Thompson has been surging as a rebounder, and he should be even better in such a favorable road matchup.

Rockets vs Grizzlies same-game parlay

Thompson recorded 10 dimes in his last game out, and he’s reached that mark in five of his last 11. He’s dished 6+ dimes in 32 of 70 appearances, including 18 of 36 on the road. Thompson finished with 14 and seven assists in two matchups with the Grizzlies.

Tonight’s game should be a great bounce-back opportunity for the Rockets, but Houston has been disappointing as of late. After losing to the Chicago Bulls, they gave up a 13-point lead in overtime.

The Rockets could win in a blowout, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the shorthanded Grizz keep things close. Instead, I’ll bet the Over. Both teams are ranked in the bottom 10 in defense across their last 10 appearances, and buckets should come easily.

Rockets vs Grizzlies SGP

  • Amen Thompson Over 7.5 rebounds
  • Amen Thompson Over 5.5 assists
  • Over 227.5

Our "from downtown" SGP: Durant from Downtown!

Across the last 10 games, Memphis has allowed the fourth-most triples and the eighth-highest three-point percentage to opponents. Thompson should have ample opportunities to drive and kick out to Kevin Durant and Reed Sheppard or corral offensive rebounds and find shooters for second-chance buckets.

Durant has hit 3+ triples in three of his last four games, and he hit four in his last matchup with the Grizzlies. Sheppard has knocked down just 5-of-24 three-pointers across his last two games, but he’s due for a rebound performance in this favorable matchup.

Rockets vs Grizzlies SGP

  • Amen Thompson Over 7.5 rebounds
  • Amen Thompson Over 5.5 assists
  • Reed Sheppard Over 3.5 three-pointers
  • Kevin Durant Over 2.5 three-pointers

Rockets vs Grizzlies odds

  • Spread: Rockets -12.5 | Grizzlies +12.5
  • Moneyline: Rockets -900 | Grizzlies +600
  • Over/Under: Over 227.5 | Under 227.5

Rockets vs Grizzlies betting trend to know

The Houston Rockets have only covered the Spread in 16 of their last 50 games (-21.40 Units / -39% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Rockets vs. Grizzlies.

How to watch Rockets vs Grizzlies

LocationFedExForum, Memphis, TN
DateFriday, March 27, 2026
Tip-off8:00 p.m. ET
TV
Space City Home Network, FDSN Southeast

Rockets vs Grizzlies latest injuries

Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

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.