The NBA is back, and you better get ready for the heap of games coming your way. Who will come on top today? We’ve got all the answers you need.
We have all the answers and the best free NBA picks for you below.
Detroit Pistons @ Charlotte Hornets – 7PM ET
The Detroit Pistons lost seven of the last nine games and are at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a 10-26 record, the second worst record in the entire NBA. They parted ways with Blake Griffin, who opted for a buyout and joined the Brooklyn Nets.
In the latest 114-104 defeat to the New York Knicks, Wayne Ellington led the Pistons with 17 points. Saddiq Bey added 14 points and four assists, while Mason Plumlee recorded a double-double of 12 points and game-high 13 rebounds, along with four dishes.
Back on the road 🛩 pic.twitter.com/CcaPB6EVzD
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) March 10, 2021
The Charlotte Hornets are in a hot and cold from recently as they won five of the previous ten games. They secured a massive 135-102 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in their best offensive display of the season. Terry Rozier led the team with 31 points, four assists, and three steals.
Gordon Hayward had 23 points, game-high nine dimes, five boards, and game-high five thefts, LaMelo Ball, Malik Monk, and PJ Washington combined for 53 points, while Miles Bridges posted a double-double of 13 points and ten rebounds.
NBA Pick – Charlotte Hornets (-213)
NBA Spread – Charlotte Hornets -5.5 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Over 220.5 (-110)
Boston Celtics @ Brooklyn Nets – 7:30PM ET
The Boston Celtics snapped a three-game losing skid with four consecutive home wins and this All-Star break actually didn’t do them well. Boston had even eight players in double digits in a 132-125 victory over the Toronto Raptors.
Jayson Tatum led them with a double-double of 27 points and game-high 12 rebounds, along with five assists and two steals. Jaylen Brown followed him with 21 points, seven boards, and four dimes, Grant Williams scored a season-high 17 points, while Kemba Walker chipped in with 15 points, six assists, and two blocks.
The Brooklyn Nets are now stronger for Blake Griffin, who came from the Detroit Pistons. Steve Nash’s team is the main candidate to win the East and they will undoubtedly be unstoppable when Kevin Durant returns from a hamstring injury. James Harden recorded a triple-double in his return to Houston as the Nets secured a 132-114 win.
The Beard had 29 points, 14 assists, and ten rebounds. Kyrie Irving was right behind with 24 points, six dimes, and five boards, Joe Harris scored 19, Bruce Brown had 17 points, eight rebounds, and five dishes, while DeAndre Jordan posted a double-double of ten points and ten boards.
NBA Pick – Brooklyn Nets (-143)
NBA Spread – Brooklyn Nets -3 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Over 234.5 (-110)
Atlanta Hawks @ Toronto Raptors – 7:30PM ET
The Atlanta Hawks went to the All-Star break with a couple of wins over the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic, and improved to a 16-20 record. The Hawks were down by double figures in the final 12 minutes, but managed to record a comeback 115-112 win thanks to Trae Young and Danilo Gallinari.
The duo combined for 55 points, 13 rebounds, and 14 assists. John Collins had 15 points and nine boards, while Kevin Huerter finished the game with 13 points and six rebounds.
The classics pic.twitter.com/Cpt98MXPkw
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) March 11, 2021
The Toronto Raptors are struggling again as they lost four of the last five games, including the most recent one to the Boston Celtics. Chris Boucher led the Raptors with 30 points and five rebounds.
Norman Powell and Terence Davis combined for 47 points and eight assists, while Kyle Lowry posted a double-double of 14 points and career-high 19 dimes.
NBA Pick – Atlanta Hawks (-112)
NBA Spread – Atlanta Hawks -1.5 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Under 227.5 (-110)
Atlanta Hawks @ Toronto Raptors – 7:30PM ET
The Atlanta Hawks went to the All-Star break with a couple of wins over the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic, and improved to a 16-20 record. The Hawks were down by double figures in the final 12 minutes, but managed to record a comeback 115-112 win thanks to Trae Young and Danilo Gallinari.
The duo combined for 55 points, 13 rebounds, and 14 assists. John Collins had 15 points and nine boards, while Kevin Huerter finished the game with 13 points and six rebounds.
The Toronto Raptors are struggling again as they lost four of the last five games, including the most recent one to the Boston Celtics. Chris Boucher led the Raptors with 30 points and five rebounds.
Norman Powell and Terence Davis combined for 47 points and eight assists, while Kyle Lowry posted a double-double of 14 points and career-high 19 dimes.
NBA Pick – Atlanta Hawks (-112)
NBA Spread – Atlanta Hawks -1.5 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Under 227.5 (-110)
Philadelphia 76ers @ Chicago Bulls – 8PM ET
The Philadelphia 76ers won four of the last five games and remained at the top of the East, but the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks are still close. The Sixers needed an overtime to beat the team with the best record in the NBA – the Utah Jazz, and did it thanks to a phenomenal display from Joel Embiid.
The Cameroonian had 40 points, 19 rebounds, and two blocks, Tobias Harris recorded a double-double of 22 points and ten boards, while Ben Simmons finished the game with 17 points, six dimes, and four rebounds.
Back at it. 💪 pic.twitter.com/hVigrCrsfk
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) March 11, 2021
The Chicago Bulls avoided the third straight defeat with a 128-124 win over the New Orleans Pelicans and improved to a 16-18 record. Zach LaVine led the team with 36 points, eight assists, and two steals. Coby White scored 25, while Thaddeus Young had 18 points, five rebounds, and game-high three rejections.
NBA Pick – Chicago Bulls (-133)
NBA Spread – Chicago Bulls -2.5 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Under 229.5 (-110)
New York Knicks @ Milwaukee Bucks – 8PM ET
The New York Knicks are playing their best basketball of the season as they won eight of the last 11 games and are currently at a 19-18 record. Their latest victory came against the Detroit Pistons thanks to Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, and Elfrid Payton, who all contributed with 20+ points.
Randle recorded a double-double of 27 points and game-high 16 rebounds, along with game-high seven assists. Barrett had 21 points, five dimes, and four boards, while Payton posted 20 points, six rebounds, four dishes, and game-high four steals.
The Milwaukee Bucks came from a five-game losing run with six wins in seven games. They were on a five-game winning streak before the Denver Nuggets destroyed them, but the Bucks returned to winning ways against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee in a narrow 112-111 victory with a double-double of 26 points and 11 rebounds, along with game-high eight assists and two steals. Khris Middleton recorded a double-double of 22 points and ten boards, along with four dishes and two thefts, while Pat Connaughton contributed with 15 points and nine rebounds.
NBA Pick – Milwaukee Bucks (-588)
NBA Spread – Milwaukee Bucks -11 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Under 222.5 (-110)
Minnesota Timberwolves @ New Orleans Pelicans – 8PM ET
The Minnesota Timberwolves lost each of the last nine games, including the most recent one to the Charlotte Hornets. They are at the bottom of the Western Conference with a 7-29 record, which is the worst record in the NBA.
It seems that the Wolves are tanking this season and are already thinking about the next campaign. Ricky Rubio led them in a 135-102 defeat to Charlotte with 20 points, game-high nine assists, and four rebounds. Anthony Edwards had 19 points, five boards, and two steals, while Karl-Anthony Towns posted a double-double of 16 points and game-high 15 rebounds.
Lonzo on how the All-Star break helped the squad pic.twitter.com/s64eS2fPju
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 11, 2021
The New Orleans Pelicans lost four of the previous five games and they must improve quickly if they want to be in the playoffs this season. The Pels dropped to a 15-21 record after the latest 93-103 defeat to the Miami Heat.
Brandon Ingram led New Orleans with 17 points, game-high nine assists, five rebounds, and two steals. Steven Adams chipped in with 15 points and five boards, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Josh Hart combined for 25 points.
NBA Pick – New Orleans Pelicans (-323)
NBA Spread – New Orleans Pelicans -8 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Under 239 (-110)
Dallas Mavericks @ Oklahoma City Thunder – 9PM ET
The Dallas Mavericks are in the best form since the start of the season as they won nine of the previous 11 games. The Mavs hit the All-Star break with three wins in a row and improved to an 18-16 record.
Tim Hardaway led Dallas in an 87-78 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder with 19 points and six rebounds. Kristaps Porzingis recorded a double-double of 19 points and game-high 13 boards, while Josh Richardson had 16 points, six rebounds, and game-high four thefts.
The Oklahoma City Thunder responded to that loss to the Mavs with a 107-102 win over the San Antonio Spurs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the team with 33 points and eight assists.
Mike Muscala added 18 points and seven rebounds, Luguentz Dort scored 15, while Darius Bazley posted a double-double of 11 points and game-high ten boards.
NBA Pick – Dallas Mavericks (-244)
NBA Spread – Oklahoma City Thunder +6.5 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Over 219.5 (-110)
Golden State Warriors @ Los Angeles Clippers – 10PM ET
The Golden State Warriors will use this break to consolidate after losing three straight games. They are still above .500 (19-18) and are fighting for a playoff spot in the West.
Jordan Poole led the Warriors in a 120-98 loss to the Phoenix Suns with 26 points. Andrew Wiggins scored 16 with two steals, while James Wiseman recorded a double-double of 11 points and game-high 11 rebounds.
👉 that’s a bucket pic.twitter.com/S5FJxSIfPM
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) March 11, 2021
The Los Angeles Clippers are not playing well lately as they lost four of the previous five games and each of the last three. Those three defeats came on the Eastern Conference road trip, and the most recent one was to the Washington Wizards.
Kawhi Leonard led the Clips in a 119-117 defeat with 22 points and five rebounds. Patrick Beverley scored 17 with a couple of blocks, Lou Williams had 16 points, while Ivica Zubac posted a double-double of 13 points and game-high 13 boards.
NBA Pick – Los Angeles Clippers (-270)
NBA Spread – Los Angeles Clippers -7.5 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Under 230.5 (-110)
Phoenix Suns @ Portland Trail Blazers – 10PM ET
The Phoenix Suns are one of the hottest teams in the NBA right now. They won 16 of the previous 19 games, and are on a four-game winning streak. The Suns climbed up to the second place in the West with three wins behind the Utah Jazz.
Cameron Payne led Phoenix in a big 120-98 victory over the Golden State Warriors with a double-double of 17 points and game-high ten assists, along with five rebounds and game-high three steals.
Devin Booker followed him with 16 points, six dimes, and five boards, Jae Crowder and Abdel Nader scored 14 points each, while Deandre Ayton recorded a double-double of 11 points and ten rebounds.
The Portland Trail Blazers bounced back from a four-game losing run with three wins in a row – all three came at home. After beating the Hornets and Warriors, Portland defeated the Sacramento Kings 123-119, thanks to fantastic Damian Lillard and Enes Kanter.
Lillard scored 44 points with seven assists, while Enes Kanter exploded for a double-double of 22 points and 21 rebounds. Carmelo Anthony chipped in with 16 points.
NBA Pick – Phoenix Suns (-137)
NBA Spread – Phoenix Suns -2.5 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Over 226.5 (-110)
Houston Rockets @ Sacramento Kings – 10PM ET
Even though it seemed the Houston Rockets get accustomed to a life without James Harden, that’s actually not the case. They suffered 13 consecutive defeats and dropped to an 11-23 record and 14th place in the West.
John Wall led the team in a 132-114 loss to the Brooklyn Nets with 36 points and five assists. Victor Oladipo was right behind with 33 points, seven rebounds, five dishes, two steals, and two blocks, while Jae’Sean Tate posted a double-double of 12 points and ten boards.
Best dunker in Sacramento 𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮?
Find out who @ESPNNBA named the best dunker to ever fly through Sactown.
🛫 » https://t.co/nSKmNgzTpN pic.twitter.com/l9eWi2lIov
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) March 6, 2021
The Sacramento Kings were in a nine-game losing skid but managed to win two of the last four games. Still, they fell short against the Portland Trail Blazers, 123-119, despite having seven players in double digits.
De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with a double-double of 32 points and game-high 12 assists, along with eight rebounds. Buddy Hield added 21 points and six rebounds, Harrison Barnes had 17 points and five boards, while Richaun Holmes recorded a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds.
NBA Pick – Sacramento Kings (-182)
NBA Spread – Sacramento Kings -4.5 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Under 227.5 (-110)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of Bet365.
