Our free NBA picks are out for Friday, March 18th, 2022! Make sure you check our NBA picks before the action kicks off.
Look below to find our free NBA picks for the best five games on today’s schedule!
Dallas Mavericks @ Philadelphia 76ers – 7pm ET
We kick off a mammoth night of NBA action with a game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Philadelphia 76ers. The Mavericks have won 14 of their last 17 games, including their last three in a row, and this takes their overall season record to 43-26. The 76ers have been alternating wins and losses for the last seven games, and last time out they beat the Cavaliers, 118-114.
Tony Battalio
The Dallas Mavericks are playing really well at the moment as they come into this game with a record of 43-26 through their first 69 games of the season. They are in a great position to make a deep run in the NBA playoffs this season as long as Luka Doncic remains healthy. They are currently in fifth place of Western Conference as they are tied with the Utah Jazz for fourth, 12.5 games back of conference leading Phoenix. While they won’t win the conference they could get home court advantage in the first couple of rounds.
The Philadelphia 76ers are coming into this game with a record of 42-26 after beating the Cleveland Cavaliers in a thriller in their last game. That has them currently positioned in the top three in the Eastern Conference at the moment. After going all in at the trade deadline and trading for a superstar in James Harden, it seems like this year is championship or bust for the Philadelphia 76ers. As for the result of this game, I have the Dallas Mavericks getting the win.
Tony’s NBA Pick: Dallas Mavericks (+122)
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) March 17, 2022
Michael Lantz
Kicking off a great slate of Friday games, the Dallas Mavericks head to Philadelphia to take on the 76ers. The Dallas Mavericks are neck and neck with the Utah Jazz for the Western Conference fourth seed. The Mavericks had a little more magic in them on Wednesday as they beat the Brooklyn Nets thanks to a buzzer-beater by Spencer Dinwiddie. Not only did Dinwiddie hit a clutch shot against his former team, but Luka Doncic once again was brilliant as he scored 37 points, 9 assists, and 9 rebounds. It was the second straight game that the Mavericks knocked off a serious contender, after they beat the Boston Celtics on Sunday. They’ll look to knock off their third straight Eastern Conference playoff team in Philadelphia.
The Philadelphia 76ers are coming off a rough three-game stretch where they fell to the Brooklyn Nets and Denver Nuggets, and barely squeezed past an awful Orlando Magic team. Luckily things went their way on Wednesday, as they beat a potential playoff opponent in the Cleveland Cavaliers, winning 118-114. Double-doubles by both Joel Embiid and James Harden did the trick, as this 76ers team looks to get back on track. A home win against a very good Mavericks team would get the team and its fans elated. While the Mavericks have made major strides in their defensive performance this season, they did show some holes against a Nets team that was missing the likes of Kyrie Irving and Seth Curry. With Embiid and Harden playing in front of a home crowd, and the Mavericks playing their third intense game in five nights, I’ll go with the Sixers to grab a convincing win.
Michael’s NBA Pick: Philadelphia 76ers (-144)
Memphis Grizzlies @ Atlanta Hawks – 7.30pm ET
The road trip continues on for the Memphis Grizzlies, who on Friday night will face off against the Atlanta Hawks. The Grizzlies will be looking to build on their current four game winning streak, which includes wins over the Pelicans, Knicks, Thunder and Pacers. The Hawks had their three game winning streak snapped last time out, courtesy of the Hornets, 106-116.
Tony Battalio
Ja Morant has the Memphis Grizzlies playing extremely well this season. As they are in the top two of the Western Conference and are very much an NBA Championship contender. The Grizzlies enter this contest with a record of 48-22 on the season. With only 12 games remaining in the regular season they are on the verge of clinching their playoff spot. They currently hold a four and a half game lead over the Dallas Mavericks in the Southwest Division. Ja Morant is also a potential MVP award winner this season as well.
The Atlanta Hawks have been having a disappointing season as it is quite clear that Trae Young cannot carry this team by himself. They will certainly need to go out and get another big name to play alongside the former Oklahoma Sooner. Atlanta comes into this game just under the .500 mark with a record of 34-35 through their first 69 games of the season. With minimal time left in the year, they are on the verge of missing the playoffs, as they currently sit in 10th place which is the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. As for the result of this one, I have Memphis getting the win.
Tony’s NBA Pick: Memphis Grizzlies (-215)
“Let’s just take care of our business one day at a time.”
Hear more from Coach Jenkins ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/NDik3Wp4Eb
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) March 17, 2022
Michael Lantz
The Atlanta Hawks currently sit in tenth place in the Eastern Conference — the last postseason spot. Luckily, the 11th place Washington Wizards are nearly five games behind them, so they should be feeling good about at least getting in the play-in game. Still, the Hawks also only sit 1.5 games behind Brooklyn for the eighth seed, so they’ll want to do whatever they can for a potential home court advantage in the play-in games. A loss on Thursday to the ninth seed Charlotte Hornets definitely dampened their spirits a bit and then they learned forward John Collins would be out with a finger injury.
Trae Young is questionable as well, but expected to play, still he’ll need all the help he can get against this great Memphis Grizzlies team. Memphis should be completely healthy going into this one, and have been on a four-game win streak, with the return of Dillon Brooks being a major ingredient for that run. While his performances haven’t been blowing anyone out of the water, he is just one more threat that an already impressive Memphis team has in their arsenal. With no Collins and a thriving Memphis team looking to secure the two-seed in the West, I expect the Grizzlies to run away with this one.
Michael’s NBA Pick: Memphis Grizzlies -5 (-110)
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Miami Heat – 8pm ET
The Oklahoma City Thunder are in the middle of their three game road trip when they take on the Miami Heat, who themselves are wrapping up their seven game homestand tonight. The Thunder have lost their last seven games in a row, and this takes their overall season record to 20-49. The Heat have won five of their last seven games, including last time out when they defeated the Pistons, 105-98.
Tony Battalio
The Oklahoma City Thunder are coming into this game with a record of 20-49 on the season. They have been a complete disappointment this year and will be stuck in rebuild mode for the next several years. Oklahoma City will have a hard time competing in this game I think as they will likely end up on the losing end of a blowout against one of the best teams in the National Basketball Association. The Thunder are currently in 14th place in the Western Conference and already virtually eliminated from the playoffs.
The Miami Heat are the best team in the Eastern Conference this year. They are coming into this game with a record of 46-24. They have a two game lead over the Milwaukee Bucks at the moment, as they will have to keep winning to hold onto the top seed. They are currently on a one game winning streak after getting the win over the Detroit Pistons in their last game. As for the result of this game, I have the Miami Heat getting the victory in this game.
Tony’s NBA Pick: Miami Heat (-1600)
OG still got it 💪 pic.twitter.com/pvCCyd9PXP
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) March 17, 2022
Michael Lantz
The Miami Heat remain the number one seed in the Eastern Conference, but things haven’t exactly been easy for the South Beach squad. While they’ve recently captured wins against the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers, they also fell to a Phoenix Suns squad that didn’t have Chris Paul and a young Minnesota Timberwolves team. Luckily they’ll get a little break on Friday, as they face a 20-49 Oklahoma City Thunder team.
While Oklahoma City should be a contender in a couple of seasons, right now they’re still figuring things out. The team is in the midst of a seven-game losing streak, but it doesn’t help that they’re without their two best players not named Shai Gilgeou-Alexander, as Lu Dort and Josh Giddey continue to battle injuries. While a majority of those seven losses have been by double digits, the Thunder’s last win did come with this current squad, against a playoff bound Denver Nuggets team that was paying Nikola Jokic. Anything is possible, but I’d say the wise choice in this one is the Heat. Even if they decide to rest some players, the Heat have consistently shown they can step up when guys need a night off.
Michael’s NBA Pick: Miami Heat -15.5 (-110)
Los Angeles Clippers @ Utah Jazz – 9pm ET
The Los Angeles Clippers kick off a short two game road trip on Friday night when they hit the court against the Utah Jazz. The Clippers have lost five of their last seven games, and this takes their overall season to 36-36. The Jazz have been alternating wins and losses for the last nine games, and last time out they beat the Bulls, 125-110.
Tony Battalio
The Los Angeles Clippers are coming into this game with a record of 36-36 on the season. They have performed way under the expectations that were set for them before the season. However, they have also been without their two star players the entire season in Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. They will be looking to remain in the playoff race and get into the first round of the playoffs this season.
The Utah Jazz are one of the better teams in the league this season. They currently have a record of 43-26 and are in fourth place in the Western Conference. Led by Donnovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, they are a serious NBA title threat. In their last game, they picked up a big win over the Chicago Bulls. As for the result of this game, I have the Utah Jazz getting the win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Tony’s NBA Pick: Utah Jazz (-255)
Tomorrow. Salt Lake Showdown. 6:00PM PT. pic.twitter.com/maOekvYCSw
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) March 18, 2022
Michael Lantz
In this battle between two Western Conference playoff teams, the ever-resilient Los Angeles Clippers team heads to Salt Lake City to take on the Utah Jazz. The Clippers haven’t used injuries as an excuse this season: with no Kawi Leonard, rare appearances from Paul George, and an almost instant injury to Norman Powell, this team has needed its supporting players to step up. And they have: the team is currently the eight seed, and probably have that spot wrapped up as the struggling Lakers are 5.5 games behind them. The Clippers have gotten excellent play from Reggie Jackson, Marcus Morris Jr, and more to stay alive against the odds in 2022. Still, they’ve lost three of their last four, and will look to turn it around on Friday against the Jazz.
Whereas a team like the Clippers have played well in the face of adversity, the Jazz haven’t had the same luck. When they’ve been without either Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell or both at the same time, they’ve had a hard time staying consistent. With the Dallas Mavericks breathing down their neck for the fourth seed, the Jazz will want to pick up a big win against a Clippers team with tough skin. The Jazz are coming off a big win against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday and had a close game with the Milwaukee Bucks a few days before. Unfortunately, injuries have hit the Jazz again: Donovan Mitchell is listed out for this game. With Mitchell, and previously injured Bojan Bogdanovic out, I expect the Clippers to come into SLC and take advantage.
Michael’s NBA Pick: Los Angeles Clippers (+210)
Chicago Bulls @ Phoenix Suns – 10pm ET
The Chicago Bulls wrap up their road trip with a game against the Phoenix Suns on Friday night. The Bulls have lost seven of their last nine games, and this takes their overall season record to 41-28. The Suns will be looking to build on their three game winning streak, which includes wins over the Lakers, Pelicans and Rockets.
Tony Battalio
The Chicago Bulls are one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference. They have been playing consistently well over the course of the season. They come into this game with a record of 41-28 on the season a big part of that is thanks to DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine. They will be looking to get a win in this one against the best team in the National Basketball Association. They are right on Miami’s heels for the first overall seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Suns come into this game with the league’s top record and are on the verge of clinching home court advantage throughout the playoffs. They currently have a record of 56-14 through their first 70 games of the season. They will likely half to make part of their playoff run without their superstar point guard Chris Paul as he has been out injured for a while now. As for the result of this game, I have the Suns getting the win.
Tony’s NBA Pick: Phoenix Suns (-260)
Book using the screen to create some space. @PayPal Highlight of the Week pic.twitter.com/uNN0hAviUo
— x – Phoenix Suns (@Suns) March 17, 2022
Michael Lantz
Another fun one for Friday night as the Chicago Bulls head west to take on the NBA’s best team, the Phoenix Suns. The Suns will continue to be without Chris Paul and Cam Johnson, but they’ve fared well without them, going 7-3 in their last ten. They’ll look to increase their lead in the Western Conference as they take on one of the Eastern Conference’s best squads in Chicago. After being hit with various injuries throughout the year, the Chicago Bulls are trying to mesh again like they were earlier on. They have two elite scorers in DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, and they recently got back defensive stopper Alex Caruso.
Still, the Bulls have looked a bit out of sync, as they’ve dropped to fifth in the Eastern Conference and were blown out by the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, losing 110-125. They’ll look to be better in this matchup, and hopefully overpower a Suns team without their all-pro guard. While it seems like nothing bothers this dominant Suns team, the Bulls abundance of scoring options will definitely keep them on their feet. It’s hard for me to pick against the Suns right now, but I do think the Bulls could cause some problems. So, the pick I’m going to go with is for the Bulls to cover.
Michael’s NBA Pick: Chicago Bulls +6.5 (-110)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
