NBA Best Bets: Wednesday, March 23rd

Another exciting Wednesday evening in the NBA, with 11 games scheduled for tonight. The handicap markets are getting very unpredictable, but we are seeing a very large increase in points scored, so it’s a good idea to look for value in the Over/Under market. I’m backing the red-hot Celtics tonight, as well as the OKC Thunder once again, and The T-Wolves and Suns to go over.

NBA Best Bets Wednesday, March 23rd

• Boston Celtics vs Utah Jazz: Celtics -5.5
• Minnesota Timberwolves vs Phoenix Suns: Over 236.5  
• OKC Thunder vs Orlando Magic: Thunder to Win

Odds as at 2 pm March 23rd 2022. Odds may now differ.

Boston Celtics vs Utah Jazz Best Bet

Wed 23 March. 23:30 (UK time)

The Boston Celtics are still sitting firmly in 4th place in the eastern conference and are looking to make a move for the top 3. They have won 9 of their last 10 games and are riding a 4-game winning streak. The Celtics are in excellent form at the moment, with both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown performing at an all-star level in their recent games. They combined for 61 points in their last game against the OKC Thunder, whilst Grant Williams also pitched in with 20 points.

The Celtics have looked better and better in the past month, ranking 2nd in offensive and 5th in defensive rating in the last 10 games. They have allowed just 103.6 points per game during that stretch, the fewest in the league, and have kept opponents to just 33.% from beyond the arc. They have also been on fire offensively, averaging 116.6 points per game on 49.1% field-goal percentage – good for 5th in the NBA.  The Celtics are at their best when playing at TD Garden, with an impressive home record of 24-12, and have covered the spread in 7 of their last 10 games.

The Utah Jazz are 4th in the western conference standings with 45 wins and 27 losses. Despite winning 6 of their last 10 games, the Jazz are not in good form at the moment and are coming off an a114-106 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. They haven’t been terrible by any means, but tonight they are facing a team that has been red-hot in the past month, and I don’t see a way in which they can take the victory.

The Jazz have ranked 9th in offensive and 2nd in defensive rating in the last 5 games, and have covered the spread in 4 of their last 10. There is a huge difference in how this team plays at home than on the road, and their NET rating drops from 9.8 to 3.5 in away games. Their record ATS has also been less than admirable, covering in 44.1% of their games – good for 24th in the league. I’m backing the Celtics to continue their exceptional form and use home advantage to cover the 5.5 point spread

• Selection: Boston Celtics -5.5
• Best odds: 1.90 (Bet365)
• Stakes: 6/10

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Minnesota Timberwolves vs Phoenix Suns Best Bet

Thu, March 24. 00:00 (UK time)

The Minnesota Timberwolves have been tearing through the competition recently, winning 8 of their last 10 games, and covering the spread in the process. They are now 7th in the western conference with 42 wins and 31 losses but are coming off a 110-108 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.  They had a very tough shooting night, and despite dominating the boards, they only hit 39.6% of their field goals.

But the Timberwolves have been by far the fastest team in the league recently with a pace rating of 104.0, and they love to push the tempo to get their shooters open looks. They are 3rd in the league in 3-point attempts per game with 40.2, and they are knocking them down at an excellent rate, with a percentage of 41.8%. This has resulted in them becoming the highest-scoring offence in the league, averaging 115.1 points per game on the season, as well as 126.4 over the last 5 games. Their defence has taken a hit recently with the season winding down, allowing 115.2 points per game in their last 5, and I don’t expect them to be able to contain the Suns tonight.

But the Phoenix Suns are still sitting atop the western conference, having won 8 of their last 10 and are riding a 5-game winning streak. They are coming into this game after a 127-124 victory over the Sacramento Kings, and are looking to continue their excellent attacking form. They have been killing it even without Chris Paul in their lineup, averaging 131.2 points per game in their last 5 along with 30.2 assists per game.

But their defence hasn’t been up to par, and it was evident in their game against the Kings, where they allowed their opponents to go 16-34 from beyond the arc, as well as 36 free-throws. The last time they faced the Timberwolves it was a very high-scoring 134-124 victory for them. I don’t expect very much defence to be played in this game, especially from the Suns, who have a 9-game cushion to protect their position atop the league. The Timberwolves will be pushing hard attempting to win the game, but most of their efforts will most likely be focused on the offensive end, and I’m expecting a very high scoring encounter.

• Selection: Over 236.5
• Best odds: 1.95 (Unibet)
• Stakes: 7/10

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OKC Thunder vs Orlando Magic Best Bet

If you have read any of my NBA best bets articles, you’d know that the OKC Thunder are by far my favourite and most profitable team this season. I’ve mostly been backing them against the spread due to the huge spread numbers, but tonight I’m backing them to get their 21st win of the season. The OKC Thunder are on a 10-game losing streak, and it’s high time this young dog goes for an upset. They defied expectations and covered the spread in 6 of those games, despite most bettors avoiding to even give them a chance.

But the Thunder have shown signs of improvement recently, especially with Shai-Gilgeous Alexander returning to their lineup to provide a much-needed reliable scoring option. He didn’t play in their recent game against the Magic which is why the team only scored 85 points for the entire game and lost by a slight 5-point margin. I’m expecting a much different result this time around, as their offence has already started to get going, having scored123 points against the Boston Celtics.

The Orlando Magic have managed to recover their form slightly in recent games, winning half of their last 10 and coming off a 94-90 win over the Golden State Warriors. Their defensive performance has been respectable this season, ranking 17th in defensive rating and allowing 111.8 points per game. But it doesn’t take much to take them off their game, with the Nets pouring in 150 points last Wednesday, and Detroit racking up 134 the very next game.

What’s more, team has constantly been among the worst offensive sides all season, averaging just 104.1 points per game with a 3-point percentage of 32.9%. The Magic don’t exactly play fast, with a pace rating of 99.62, but they are averaging 14.6 turnovers per game, and are the 3rd-worst team when it comes to effective field-goal percentage. Even at this late stage of the season, the Magic are ranking 30th in the league in offensive rating, and are unable to get themselves out of the mud. They are slight favourites to win tonight, but their road performances this year have been terrible, winning just 10 of their 37 games away from Amway Center. I’m backing the OKC Thunder to defy expectations once again and finally snap their losing streak.

• Selection: OKC Thunder to Win
• Best odds: 2.08 (Unibet)
• Stakes: 5/10

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