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Wednesday’s Best Bets: NBA, 2023 NCAA Tournament & NHL (3/15)

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No matter your sport of choice, there’s always sports betting action to be had. We’ll have you covered each and every day with our daily best bets. Here are all of our best bets across each major sport in action today.

Today’s Best Bets

Here are today’s best NBA bets.

NBA Best Bets

NBA Game Picks

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets

One of just three teams already eliminated from the playoffs, the Rockets have been the worst team in the league all season long, coming into tonight with just 16 wins on the season. Losers of seven of their last 10, the Rockets now welcome to town a Lakers team getting hot at the right time, as they’ve now won seven of their past 10.

With LeBron James sidelined, Anthony Davis has taken over this team, that now ranks top 10 in the league in points per game, as well as FG%, as Davis and guard Malik Beasley have carried the load. Though I’m not sure how much they do with it, I do expect these Lakers in the play-in tournament. They should pick up a relatively easy win tonight in Houston.

Bet: Lakers -3 (-110)

  • Johnny Perun

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First Basket Scorer

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

The Philadelphia 76ers are essentially the better team than the Cleveland Cavaliers. But it’s more likely that the Cavaliers will shoot the first basket in tonight’s game.

Cleveland will likely still be without Jarrett Allen, who is injured. He won’t be able to do the tip-off. But the 76ers have only won the tip in 43% of games with Joel Embiid.

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers have won the tip in 65% of games and have attempted the first shot in 62% of games. Cleveland isn’t the most consistent team when shooting first, but I’d much rather bet on the team with the first attempt.

Donovan Mitchell has already earned 12 first-baskets with nine first-shot attempts this season. He leads the Cavaliers in first baskets and should be the featured guy early for Cleveland.

Bet: Donovan Mitchell (+500) 

  • Jason Radowitz

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NBA Prop Bets

Jayson Tatum Over Three 3.5 Pointers (+116 FanDuel)

These are two of the most exciting teams to watch right now. The Celtics have two of the most exciting scorers in the NBA, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. The Timberwolves have Anthony Edwards, who can score big on any night.

Jayson Tatum is one of the highest-volume shooters in the NBA. He shoots an average of 21.5 shots per game. That is second only to Luka Doncic. He is also third in three-point attempts. He shoots an average of 9.45 shots per game. That high-volume shooting gives Tatum betting value on three-pointers.

  • Cameron Lynch

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NCAA Tournament Best Bets

Fairleigh Dickinson vs. Texas Southern (-1.5) O/U 147.5

Fairleigh Dickinson is going to move fast and wear you down. As a volume-shooting team, they led the NEC with 106.2 points per 100 possessions, and their 77.8 points per game were 42nd in the country. They have an excellent backcourt, with First-Team All-NEC Demetre Roberts averaging 16.3 and Grant Singleton averaging 14.3.

Their lack of size will be a significant disadvantage against Texas Southern. Guys like John Walker and Joirdon Karl Nicholas in the paint don't mind getting physical on the boards. They will be able to out-rebound in this matchup because no one on Fairleigh Dickinson is averaging over five rebounds, so I'm expecting Karl Nicholas to clean up with his nearly nine rebounds per game.

Texas Southern also has the experience on their side. They won their First Four game in the last two years, with players like Walker, Karl Nicholas, and P.J. Henry all playing a part.

Their size and aggressive defense in the backcourt will get Texas Southern into the round of 64 again.

Pick: Texas Southern -1.5 (-120)

  • John Supowitz

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Check out our best NHL bets.

NHL Best Bets

NHL Game Picks

Minnesota Wild vs. St. Louis Blues

To avoid a first-round playoff clash with Colorado (80 points), Minnesota (84 points) will need to pass the Dallas Stars (87 points) and win the Central Division outright. They'll have the chance to close the gap tonight against a downward-trending St. Louis team that has lost nine of its last 12 games. This divisional showdown is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET from the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, MO. 

I'm not going to overthink this one and ride with the red-hot Wild to secure the two points tonight. Minnesota is riding high right now, winning 10 of their last 13 games and securing points in all 13 of the contests. 

It's been the defense that's excelled for the Wild this season. This is an organization allowing just 2.5 goals per game (third) while killing off 81.9% of their penalties (10th). It's confirmed that Minnesota will go with Marc-Andre Fleury in net tonight, and the veteran netminder is 21-13-3 with a 2.77 GAA and .909 SV% on the year.

With the Blues opting for a fire sale at the deadline earlier this month, you have to wonder where the offense will come from tonight. All things considered, I expect this Wild defense to stifle the Blues' forwards and come away with the win.

Bet: Minnesota Wild Moneyline (-140 via DraftKings)

  • Trenton Pruitt

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NHL Same Game Parlay

Buffalo Sabres vs. Washington Capitals

  • Leg 1: OVER 3.5 Total Capitals Goals (+110)
  • Leg 2: OVER 6.5 Total Goals (-120)
  • Leg 3: OVER 1.5 Total First Period Goals (-140)

Buffalo has hit a rough patch and lost six of their last eight, which might have cost them a playoff spot. In that span, one of the top offenses in the league scored nearly a goal less than their average, but even the best offense can't help when the defense is terrible.

The goaltending has cost this team more than a few wins, and just over their last eight games, they've given up five, seven, and even ten goals.

On paper, the Capitals had an incredible roster coming into the season, but injuries to some important players made it tough to compete in this conference. They’ve played much better since the trade deadline but aren’t in the playoff picture.

Each time these teams have met, it’s been offense galore, so you need to look for it tonight.

Parlay Odds: +560

  • John Supowitz

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