The NBA regular season resumes with a jam packed slate this Friday, with a total of 8 matchups on the docket scheduled for today. So, our staff of basketball betting experts dug into the latest odds and identified all the best value on the board.
Our betting experts have looked over the odds and made 8 NBA picks for of tonight's contests. Continue below for our NBA best bets and predictions for Friday, March 7.
NBA Best Bets, Predictions, Picks, Odds: Friday, March 7
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
  | 10:30 p.m. | |
| 7 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 9 p.m. | |
| 10:30 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NBA Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Cavaliers vs. Hornets
By Joe Dellera
The Hornets face off against the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight as significant underdogs.
One player that has been able to perform well regardless of the game script as long as he is healthy is LaMelo Ball.
Ball has seen his minutes slowly return to normal as of late, back to playing over 30 minutes per game. When he’s played at least 30 minutes, he is averaging 4.2 three-pointers made on a whopping 12.8 attempts per game.
Even against the Cavs, he has recorded games of 5/15 and 3/11 this season. They typically do a good job of limiting attempts; however, LaMelo is a player who will fire even when draped with coverage.
I am not very concerned about a blowout here either because even in losses of 15+ points he has hit this mark in 5/8 this season. Let’s back LaMelo against Cleveland’s smaller guards.
Pick: LaMelo Ball Over 3.5 Three-Pointers Made (-105)
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Jazz vs. Raptors
By Picks Office
Toronto has a major edge at home tonight. Utah has lost 10 straight road games and struggles on defense, allowing 119.8 PPG (29th in NBA). The Raptors have won two straight and return home after a tight road win. The Jazz are missing key players (Markkanen, Sexton, Clarkson), relying on young, unproven talent. Toronto should control the game with more firepower.
The Jazz' defense is a disaster – they allow 47.7 FG%, 35.9 3P%, and struggle contesting shots. The Raptors shoot 46.5 FG% and 35.6 3P%, and they just hit 127 points against Phoenix at home. Utah also gives up 58 points in the paint per game, and Toronto has the size to dominate inside. Poeltl and Barrett should feast on a weak interior.
Toronto’s defense is better than Utah’s in nearly every category. The Raptors allow 116.1 PPG, but Utah gives up 121 PPG on the road. The Jazz have also given up 125+ points in back-to-back games.
With the Jazz missing key scorers, their offense should struggle. Toronto is trending up, Jazz are in a free fall. I'll lay the points with the Raptors on this spot.
Pick: Raptors -5.5 (-110)
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Knicks vs. Clippers
New York will play the second leg of a back-to-back when they visit the Clippers on Friday night. Los Angeles will have a one-day rest advantage, which could galvanize a defense that already ranks fourth in efficiency with a 109.7 rating.
One reason for the Clippers’ frugality on defense is their tempo. With an average of 98.71 possessions per game, they rank in the bottom third for pace. Thus, it’s not entirely surprising the total is down to 218.5 after opening at 224.
Punters can find some correlation with the move to under by targeting the points + rebounds + assists prop (41.5) of Knicks’ center Karl-Anthony Towns.
When facing a top-10 defense, Towns has failed to clear this line in seven of his last eight games. Moreover, he has stayed under this number in his last three meetings against the Clippers.
Given the conditions of short rest against a top defense and a potentially slower-paced game, we could have all the right ingredients for Towns to stay under his projection.
Pick: Karl-Anthony Towns Under 41.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-125)
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Cavaliers vs. Hornets
Charlotte just got 110 against Minnesota two nights ago, but didn't score more than 101 points in six straight before that, and only broke 100 twice. Since January 24, Charlotte has gone under 107.5 points in 16 of 21 contests. And once again, they're really injured.
LaMelo Ball (illness), Josh Green (illness), Jusuf Nurkic (Back) and Dennis Smith Jr (Quad Contusion) are probable to play, but they'll be without Tre Mann, Mark Williams, Josh Okogie, Brandon Miller and Grant Williams — Mark is the only one who had a remote shot at playing.
Even with Ball, the Hornets really struggle to score. They went under (in games he played) in six straight times prior to their 110-point performance against Minnesota. Ball hit a three with 43 seconds left to take them over to 110, so it went down to the wire.
The concern would be Cleveland scoring so many points that Charlotte is able to get theirs because of possessions, but the Hornets, as 17.5-point dogs, are also 22nd in pace, and they have the worst field goal percentage in the league at 42.5 percent because of the dumb shots they take.
So, it's not like they're working to get good looks either. Plus, Cleveland's field goal percentage defense is third-best in the NBA.
Pick: Hornets Total Team Under 108.5 (-115)
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Grizzlies vs. Mavericks
By Picks Office
The Grizzlies' offense is rolling — 123.0 PPG (1st), 48.3% FG, and 13.7 3PM per game. Dallas' defense is a mess, allowing 117.0 PPG (23rd) and 46.1% FG. Memphis dominates the boards (47.5 RPG, 2nd) while Mavs struggle (43.8 RPG).
Without Irving, Dallas lacks firepower — last 5 games: 104.8 PPG, 43.0% FG. The Mavs’ injuries are devastating — no Irving, Davis, Gafford, Lively, or Martin, forcing Klay Thompson into a lead role, but he shot just 11-27 last game.
Memphis should dominate inside. The Mavs are allowing 51.4 RPG in their last 5 games.
The Grizzlies just handled Dallas 119-104 in January, covering a -4.5 spread with ease. Memphis is on a skid right now, but today they will face a depleted Mavs squad missing its top scorers.
Ja Morant (24 PPG) should torch a weak Dallas backcourt. The Mavs' offense crumbling, scoring a total of 98, 103, 99 points in 3 of their last 5 games. Memphis’ defense shaky but won’t be tested here. Blowout potential.
Pick: Grizzlies -10 (-110)
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Trail Blazers vs. Thunder
Why would we consider going against the Thunder tonight? because apparently it's not going to be the real Thunder on the floor.
It looks like no SGA, no Jalen Williams, no Lu Dort, no Isaiah Hartenstein, all out for various reasons (including load management in SGA's case), and Chet Holmgren iffy. So it's likely a reserve side that Mark Daigneault will be putting on the floor vs. the Blazers.
Portland, which earned a spread cover vs. a near full-strength OKC in its last visit to the Paycom Center on November 20, has been making plenty of noise lately, winning five of seven (only losses at Cleveland and Boston), and brings five straight covers, at least for those who got 10.5 on Wednesday vs. the Celtics, into tonight.
The Blazers' recent stretch includes pushing the Cavs to overtime on Sunday, and competitive efforts vs. everyone (save the Nuggets on Feb. 12) the past seven weeks. Portland still hit 50% from the floor in a losing effort at TD Garden on Wednesday, with Anfernee Simons now scoring better than 30 points per game his last three. Play Blazers.
Pick: Trail Blazers +3 (-115)
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