Picks Summary
• Mavericks vs. Pelicans: Mavericks -1.5 (-110) at Caesars Sportsbook
• Bulls vs. Nuggets: Over 228 (-110) at FanDuel
• Thunder vs. Suns: Suns -12.5 (-110) at BetMGM
We’ve got some mid-week NBA on the slate tonight. Here are three NBA picks to consider for tonight’s games.
Dallas Mavericks vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Wednesday, March 08, 2023 – 07:30 PM EST at Smoothie King Center
The New Orleans Pelicans are falling fast. They’ve lost four last five games and are now three games below .500.
Now they’ll play a home game as underdogs against the Dallas Mavericks with no timetable for a Zion Williamson return.
Teams Analysis
Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks have won two of their last three games, with the lone loss coming in a tight contest against the Phoenix Suns. Dallas has scored 117.6 points per 100 possessions and shoot an effective field goal percentage of 57.2%.
The Mavericks won’t have much success on the offensive glass but should get to the foul line at a high rate and usually limit turnovers to a minimum.
The Pelicans have at least held teams to 113.8 points per 100 possessions but haven’t been terrific defensively, giving up an effective field goal percentage of 55.1%.
New Orleans Pelicans
Meanwhile, the Pelicans are a below-average offense with higher offensive rebounding percentages and a better free throw rate. New Orleans could stick around in this game with many foul shots, but overall, the Pelicans are still only scoring 114.2 points per 100 possessions, which is 19th in the NBA.
The Pick
We’ll back the Mavericks on the road. They’re a couple of games over .500, but with Kyrie Irving on the roster, this team needs to pick it up in the second half. And they will.
NBA Pick: Mavericks -1.5 (-110) at Caesars Sportsbook
Chicago Bulls vs. Denver Nuggets
Wednesday, March 08, 2023 – 09:00 PM EST at Ball Arena
The Chicago Bulls are 29-36 on the season and must face the West’s best team in Denver. We wish them good luck.
Teams Analysis
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls are 24th in points per 100 possessions and rarely add offensive rebounds. The team still shoots an effective field goal percentage of 54.9% and limits turnovers well.
The Nuggets should keep the Bulls off the foul line for most of the game. Denver should also have plenty of success on the defensive glass.
Denver Nuggets
Meanwhile, the Nuggets score 119.2 points per 100 possessions while adding an effective field goal percentage of 58.6%.
Denver won’t get to the foul line at a high rate and probably won’t dominate the offensive glass much against the Bulls, who allow just 25% of offensive rebounds this season.
The Bulls have allowed 125 points in each of their last two games. They’re typically a good defense, but things haven’t gone their way lately. Now they’ll face the best offense in the league.
The Pick
We’ll take the Over 228 established at the best sportsbooks. Right now, the Bulls can’t get stops on the defensive end, and stopping the Nuggets is extremely difficult.
NBA Pick: Over 226.5 (-110) at FanDuel
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Phoenix Suns
Wednesday, March 8, 2023 – 09:00 PM EST at Footprint Center
The Suns have had two days to rest, while the Thunder will have none. That should help favor the Suns tonight.
Teams Analysis
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder have been playing much better basketball recently. They’re coming off a win over the Golden State Warriors and have now won three straight games, but all three of those games were at home. They’ll hit the road against the Suns tonight.
The Thunder have been above-average offensively, ranking 10th in points per 100 possessions. Oklahoma City has also limited turnovers to 12.8% and has earned 27.5% of offensive rebounds.
The Thunder might even get to the foul line more often against the Suns, who have fouled at the highest rate in the NBA.
Phoenix Suns
The Suns haven’t been the best offense in the league, but with the addition of Kevin Durant, that’s going to change.
Phoenix has scored at least 125 points in each of their last two games and won both of those games. That’s going to be a common theme.
The Suns should have plenty of success on the offensive glass, and while they won’t get to the foul line at a very high rate, there’s a chance that the Suns get more foul shots than their typical numbers.
The Pick
We’ve got the Suns winning big tonight.
NBA Pick: Suns -13.5 (-110) at BetMGM
