Six games are on the NBA’s Thursday schedule and we’ve got them all covered for you. In today’s article, we break down half of the games and give our quick predictions on the remaining games. So check out our daily picks and read on.
The Oklahoma City Thunder travel to Hoosier State for a showdown with the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indiana.
The Thunder have ceded third place in the Western Conference to the red hot Houston Rockets. Oklahoma has gone 3-7 SU in their last 10 games to drop to 41-26 on the season. They head to this game immediately after hosting the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night.
Paul George leads the Thunder with 28.2 points per game. PG is also adding 8.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and a league-best 2.3 steals per game. Russell Westbrook is averaging in a triple-double with 23.1 points, 11.1 rebounds and 10.5 assists per game. Steven Adams is having a fine season with 14.4 points and 9.8 rebounds per game while Dennis Schroeder is scoring 15.6 points and issuing 4.2 assists per game.
Oklahoma City is ranked 4th in scoring at 115.2 points per game. The Thunder are 23rd in passing with 23.1 assists per game and they are also ranked 2nd off the glass with 48.1 rebounds per game. Oklahoma City has the 15th best scoring defense in the league at 111,1 points per game allowed.
Thunder
-110
Pacers
-110
Thunder
+1 (-115)
Pacers
-1 (-115)
Thunder
O 222 (-110)
Pacers
U 222 (-110)
Odds from betonline.ag as of 3/14/19
The Pacers have also lost grip of the third spot in the Eastern Conference. Indiana broke out of a two-game skid by beating the lowly New York Knicks on Tuesday night but the Pacers have lost five out of their last eight games played to fall to a 43-25 tie with the Philadelphia 76ers before Wednesday’s games.
Bojan Bogdanovic leads the Pacers in scoring with 17.8 points per game while also contributing 4.1 rebounds per game. Domantas Sabonis is averaging 14.1 points and 9.2 rebounds per game while Myles Turner is scoring 13.1 points and grabbing 7.0 rebounds per game. Wesley Matthews and Thaddeus Young are scoring 12.6 and 12.5 points per game, respectively and Darren Collison is putting up 11.1 points and a team high 6.0 assists per game.
Indiana ranks 21st in scoring at 108.2 points per game. They are also 7th in passing with 26.0 assists per game and are 24th off the glass with 43.1 rebounds per outing. The Pacers are allowing their opponents to score just 103.9 points per game, the second best scoring defense in the NBA.
Oklahoma City is 4-6 SU in their last 10 games played. The Thunder are 2-4 SU in their last six road games. Indiana is 5-5 SU in their last 10 games played. The Pacers are 4-1 SU in their last five home games. Head to head, the Thunder are 2-1 SU in their last the games versus the Pacers.
The Thunder have now won two in a row as they beat the Brooklyn Nets 108-96 on Wednesday night. Russell Westbrook recorded his 26th triple double of the season while Paul George scored 25 points. OKC seems to be getting its bearings back but they need to win more games to get the third seed back
The Pacers are also eager to get their 3rd spot back but Indiana is facing injuries that put them at a disadvantage with a healthy OKC team that’s missing only Markieff Morris. Between these two teams, OKC has the healthier team and is playing with their stars It’s crunchtime and I expect George and Westbrook to deliver.
I’m picking the OKC Thunder to beat the Indiana Pacers on 3/14/19.
The Thunder are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games played. Oklahoma City is 2-4 ATS in their last six road games. The Pacers are 4-6 ATS in their last 10 games played. Indiana is 3-2 ATS in their last five home games played. Head to head, the Thunder are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 meetings against the Pacers. OKC is also 4-2 ATS in their last six road games against the Pacers.
Oklahoma City is 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games against the Eastern Conference, 2-6 ATS when playing on zero days rest and 2-5 ATS in their last seven road games. Indiana is 4-1 ATS in their last five games against the Western Conference, 7-3 ATS in their last 10 home games and 1-4 ATS in their last five games overall. However, the road team is 5-1 ATS in the last six games between these teams and the Thunder have the better lineup between the two teams. The Pacers have also faded lately so I’ll go for the visitors here.
Prediction: Thunder
The total has gone under in seven out of the last 10 games played by the Thunder. OKC has seen the total go under in four out of their last six road games. The total has gone under in four out of the last five games played by the Pacers. The under is 24-11 in Indiana’s 35 home games played this season. Head to head, the the under is 4-2 in the last six games between these two teams.
The under is 4-0 in the Pacers’ last four overall and the under is also 7-2 in the Thunder’s last nine games overall. The total has gone under in four out of the last five games of the Thunder against an opponent with a winning SU record and the under is 22-9 in their last 31 games against teams from the Central Division. The under is 5-1 in the Pacers’ last six Thursday games, 4-1 in their last five home games against teams with a winning road record and 4-0 in their last four games overall. Oklahoma is running on tired legs as they are playing on a back to back. Although sheer talent will let them win this game, they won’t be as productive as they usually are on offense.
Prediction: Under
The Cleveland Cavaliers go on the road to face the Orlando Magic on Thursday night at the Amway Center in Orlando.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have distanced themselves from the bottom of the Eastern Conference by going 5-5 SU in their last 10 games played. The Cavs are now 17-51 on the season and are four games clear of the bottom team New York Knicks who are currently at 13-55 this campaign.
Kevin Love leads Cleveland with 18.6 points and 11.4 rebounds per game while Jordan Clarkson is scoring 16.9 points and issuing 2.4 assist per game for the Cavs. Larry Nance Jr. is having a good season with 9.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Collin Sexton and Cedi Osman are also contributing 15.6 and 13.0 points per game for Cleveland.
Cleveland is second to the last in team scoring at 104.0 points per game scored. They are ranked 28th in passing at only 21.0 dimes per contest and the Cavaliers are 25th off the glass with 42.7 rebounds per outing. Cleveland is ranked 21st in scoring defense with 113.2 opponent points per game allowed.
Cavaliers
+275
Magic
-345
Cavaliers
+8 (-109)
Magic
-8 (-109)
Cavaliers
O 210 (-110)
Magic
U 210 (-110)
Odds from bet365 as of 3/14/19
The Magic look to keep their playoff hopes alive.Orlando entered Wednesday’s games one game behind the Miami Heat for the 8th and final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. Orlando has lost three out of its last four games heading to Wednesday’s game against the Washington Wizards.
Nikola Vucevic leads Orlando with 20.7 points, 12.0 rebounds and 1.0 steal per game. Aaron Gordon is scoring 15.9 points and grabbing 7.3 rebounds per game. Evan Fournier and Terrence Ross are helping out in the scoring load by scoring 14.7 points per game apiece. D.J. Augustin leads the Magic with 4.9 assists per game while also scoring 11.4 points per game.
Orlando is 26th in the league in team scoring at 105.8 points per game. They are ranked 13th in passing with 25.0 assists per game and the Magic are 20th off the glass with 44.8 rebounds per game. Orlando is 5th overall in scoring defense with only 106.8 opponent points per game allowed.
Cleveland is 5-5 SU in their last 10 games played. The Cavs are 1-3 SU in their last four games played on the road. Orlando is 5-5 SU in their last 10 games played. The Magic are 3-1 SU in their last four games played at home. Head to head, the Cavs are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games against the Magic and Cleveland is 9-2 SU on the road versus Orlando.
Give credit to the Cavs for suddenly beginning to win games. But this team is without Tristan Thompson and Matthew Dellavedova who are out with injuries. But this is a Cleveland team that only has six total road win this season. The Magic lost to the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night and are almost in a must win situation if they want to catch the 8th seed.
I expect Orlando to play with a sense of urgency and desperation. Despite playing back to back games, the Magic are at home and the crowd should energize the team. Orlando is also a decent 18-16 SU team at home this season. The Magic should fight for their playoff lives here.
I’m picking the Orlando Magic to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers on 3/14/19.
The Cavs are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games played and Cleveland is also 3-1 ATS in their last four road games. The Magic are 4-6 ATS in their last 10 games played. Orlando is 2-2 ATS in their last four games at home. Head to head, the Magic are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games against the Cavaliers. However, Cleveland is 9-3 ATS in their last 12 road games against Orlando.
The Cavs are 1-4 ATS in their last five games when playing n one day rest, 4-1 ATS in their last five games against the Eastern conference and 4-1 ATS in their last five games overall. The Magic are 5-0 ATS in their last five Thursday games, 5-2 ATS in their last seven home games and 0-4 ATS in their last four games overall. The Cavs’ are 9-3 ATS in the last 12 meetings in Orlando. I think Orlando wins this game outright but with their current form,I can’t trust them with an 8-point spread.
Prediction:Cavaliers
The over is 6-4 in the last 10 games played by Cleveland. The total has gone under in six out of the last eight games played by the Magic. The over is 3-1 in Orlando’s last three home games played. Head to head ,the under is 5-1 in the last six meetings between these two teams. The over is 8-4 in their last 12 encounters in Orlando.
The under is 4-0 in the Cavs’ last four games versus a team with a losing SU record. The under is 5-1 in the Magic’s last six games against teams with a losing SU record. With both these teams struggling with their respective offensive games, I don’t expect a high scoring game here.
Prediction:Under
The Sacramento Kings hit the road and go to Beantown to test the Boston Celtics on Thursday night at the TD Garden in Boston.
The Kings are watching their playoff aspirations fade away after they have dropped seven out of their last 10 outings. Sacramento is now an even 33-33 on the season, four full games behind the Utah Jazz who a 37-29, currently hold the 8th and final playoff spot in the ultra competitive Western Conference.
Buddy Hield is Sacramento’s main man sat 20.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard De’Aaron Fox is having an impressive season with 17.5 points, 7.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Bogdan Bogdanovic is contributing 14.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.1 steals per game while the newly-added Harrison Barnes is scoring 13.7 points per game for his new team.
Sacramento is 10th in the NBA in team scoring at 113.7 points per game. They are ranked 10th in assists with an average of 25.5 dimes per contest. The Kings are 14th in rebounding at 45.4 boards grabbed per contest. Sacramento has the fifth worst scoring defense in the league at 114.8 points per game allowed.
Kings
+285
Celtics
-357
Kings
+8 (-109)
Celtics
-8 (-109)
Kings
O 226 (-110)
Celtics
U 226 (-110)
Odds from bet365 as of 3/14/19
With 14 games left to play, the Boston Celtics remain at #5 in the Eastern Conference and are 10 games off the pace being set by the Milwaukee Bucks. The Celtics are 41-27 on the season and are two games behind the third seeded Philadelphia 76ers and Indiana Pacers. The Celtics head to this home game with a 4-6 record in their last 10 games played.
Kyrie Irving leads the Celtics with 23.4 points and 7.0 assists per game. Second-year forward Jayson Tatum is scoring 16.1 points and grabbing 5.9 rebounds per game while Marcus Morris is scoring 14.2 points and pulling down 5.9 rebounds per outing. Al Horford leads the Celtics with 6.7 rebounds per game while also scoring 13.0 points per game. Jalen Brown and Gordon Hayward are scoring 12.8 and 11.0 points per game, respectively.
Boston is 14th in the league in team scoring at 112.3 points per game. They are ranked 6th in assists with 26.4 dimes per contest and the Celtics are also 21st in rebounding at 44.5 boards hauled per outing. At 107.1 opponent points per game allowed, the Celtics have the 6th top scoring defense in the NBA.
The Kings are 3-7 SU in their last 10 games played. Sacramento is 2-4 SU in their last six road games. The Celtics are 4-6 SU in their last 10 games played. Boston is 1-2 SU in their last three games at their home floor. Head to head, the Celtics are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games played against the Kings.
The Kings are having their best season in over a decade but it doesn’t look like it’s going to be enough to put them through to the postseason. They have lost seven out of their last 10 games and are still without Marvin Bagley. Sacramento is also just 13-19 SU on the road and they are playing a Celtics team that is looking to bounce back from a defeat.
The Celtics still don’t resemble last year’s playoff team but they have shown flashes of brilliance. This isn’t the most consistent Boston team that we’ve seen but overall, they are more experienced and more talented than their opponents. Throw in the fact that this game will be played at the TD Garden and I don’t think the Kings can upend the Celtics on Thursday.
I’m picking the Boston Celtics to beat the Sacramento Kings on 3/14/19.
Sacramento is 5-4-1 ATS in their last 10 games played. The Kings are 4-2 ATS in their last six road games. Boston is 4-5-1 ATS in their last 10 games played. The Celtics are 1-2 ATS in their last three home games. Head to head, Boston is 6-3-1 ATS in their last 10 meetings versus the Kings.
The Kings are 1-3-1 ATS in their last five games after scoring 100 points in their previous game, 0-3-1 ATS when their opponent scores more than 100 points in their previous game and 1-3-1 ATS in their last five games overall The Celtics are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 games after a straight up loss of over ten points and 12-5 ATS in their last 17 games against opponents with a losing road record. The Celtics have rebounded well from losses and have dominated the losing teams at the TD Garden.
Prediction: Boston Celtics
The under is 7-3 in the last 10 games played by the Kings. The total has gone under in four out of the last six road games played by Sacramento. The under is 7-3 in the last 10 games played by the Celtics. Boston has seen the total go under in each of their last three home games. Head to head, the under is 6-4 in their last 10 meetings.
The under is 17-4-1 in the Kings’ last 22 games when their opponent allows at least 100 points in their previous game and 4-1 in their last five games after a straight up loss. The under is 4-0 in Boston’s last four games after an SU loss, 5-0 in their last five games after an ATS loss and 4-0 in their last four games after an SU loss of more than 10 points. Again, the Celtics bounce back well after they lose game with their top level defense showing up.
Prediction: Under
The Miami Heat look to take a 2-0 series lead against the Milwaukee Bucks in…
The New York Mets head to Yankee Stadium to open a three-game series against the…
The Minnesota Twins play Game 2 of a three-game set against the New York Yankees…
The OKC Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans meet at the Smoothie King Center on Wednesday…
The No.8 Atlanta Hawks visit the No. 7 Miami Heat in the first play-in tournament…
The OKC Thunder visit the Utah Jazz at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt…