NBA Odds, Picks & Predictions: Sunday (3/9)
The calendar has turned to March and the Playoff races are heating up. There is a full slate of NBA action on Sunday. Here is a look at a few spots that I like for NBA best bets on Sunday.
Sunday’s Best NBA Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Phoenix Suns at Dallas Mavericks
Through both self-inflicted wounds and terrible luck injuries, the Mavericks' season has officially imploded. Losers of six of seven, Dallas has also gone 1-6 ATS. Without Anthony Davis or Kyrie Irving, I don't think we've seen rock bottom. On Sunday, the Mavericks will host Phoenix as 7-point underdogs and I like the favorites.
Phoenix's season has been a disappointment but it's starting to look like they are turning a corner at the right time. With the roster about as healthy as it's been all season, Phoenix has managed to beat the Clippers in a strong come-from-behind injury and follow that up with a hard-fought overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets this week.
The offense for Phoenix finally looks like it's starting to click and Dallas just doesn't have the horses to slow them down. The Suns were expected to be much better this season but a strong finish to the season could see them as a scary 7-seed or 8-seed in the West. I'll back them to continue this final push to salvage the season against an undermanned and outmatched Dallas squad.
Utah Jazz at Philadelphia 76ers
Since Joel Embiid was ruled out for the season, things haven't gone well for Philadelphia, specifically on the defensive end. In the six games since Embiid last played, the 76ers have allowed 123.2 PPG. That's a pace that even the best offenses in the league couldn't keep up with on a nightly basis.
On Sunday, they'll host a Utah team that has struggled this year but they've played hard on the offensive end. They're only an average shooting team but they crash the offensive glass and get to the free throw line at top-five rates. With Philadelphia struggling mightily to prevent their opponents from scoring, Utah should have no trouble.
As far as Philadelphia's offense, they haven't been particularly strong, but the Jazz have the lowest defensive rating in the league. This should be a matchup where neither team is going to struggle to get buckets. I expect a high-scoring affair.
Pick: Over 222.5 Total Points (-110)
Cleveland Cavaliers at Milwaukee Bucks
Back at the beginning of February, the Bucks were taking on the Grizzlies in a game where Milwaukee was trying to prove they could hang with the top teams in the league. Up to that point, they were 2-10 SU and 3-9 ATS. They would proceed to lose that game in a blowout, get blown out by Oklahoma City, and go 2-2, both SU and ATS in four other matchups. All in all, Milwaukee has continued to struggle against the best teams.
Sunday they'll take on a Cleveland team that owns the best record in the league. Additionally, the Cavaliers will be looking for a clean sweep of their division rivals on the season. They've been led by outstanding performances from Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell who each have a 30+ point performance and have combined for 45.7 PPG in the matchups.
Cleveland has played with their food as of late against some lesser opponents but when going up against top contenders in the league they've won three straight and gone 2-0-1 ATS. I'll back the hottest team in the league against a Milwaukee squad that probably isn't as good as their overall record indicates.
Pick: Cavaliers -7.5 (-110)