NBA Previews for March 18, 2017.
Washington Wizards (42-26) at Charlotte Hornets (29-39), 7 p.m. EST
Estimated Line: Wizards -2.5. Estimated Total 215.5.
After slightly spraining his foot on Wednesday, all John Wall did on Friday was notch a career-high 20 assists to go along with 14 points, as the Wizards defeated the Chicago Bulls 112-107 on Friday at the Verizon Center. Washington remained 1.5 games back of the Boston Celtics for the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Wall, the Wizards’ elite point guard, seemed to be content dishing out dimes on Friday, especially in the first half. He had 12 assists at the half and only three points, as the Wizards built a 19-point lead at intermission.
It is do-or-die time for Charlotte as they catch the Wizards on the back-end of a back-to-back, and they need any and every edge they can muster. They are 4.5 games behind the Miami Heat for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
The problem is Nicolas Batum is still out for the Hornets with migraines and the Hornets have lost their last two games with Batum out of their starting lineup.
I think Charlotte can win this one, but I am paying more attention to the total. Washington has gone over 9 straight games and they are also 11-2 to the over on the back-end of back-to-back games this season. So, the over certainly looks enticing.
NBA Previews, Game #2:
Cleveland Cavaliers (45-22) at Los Angeles Clippers (40-29), 8:30 p.m. EST
Estimated Line: 0 (Pick’em). Estimated Total 217.5.
I suppose the line is not being released yet because Kyrie Irving left the last game for the Cavaliers with soreness in his left knee. He is listed as probable, so I would look for the line to go to Cleveland being a small favorite, probably about 2 points.
LeBron James has played well at the Staples Center his last two trips in to see the Clippers, scoring 32 and 27 points since James returned to Cleveland for the 2014-15 season. I would look for him to have another big game on Saturday.
Kevin Love is back for his second straight game since returning from his knee injury. Love will have a minutes restriction again on Saturday. The Cavs have won two straight since losing 4 of 5 games and are primed for one of their patented runs, as they come down the home stretch to clinch the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference as a tune up for the playoffs.
The Clippers are reeling a bit. They have lost three straight games and have not covered the spread four games in a row. So this could be a little bit of a trap game and the public money will certainly be on Cleveland, but having a lot of public money on the Cavs does not necessarily make it a bad idea to play them here.
The Clippers beat the Cavs by 19 back on December 1 at Cleveland, so there could be some payback here dished out by LeBron and his mates.
I have no opinion on the game total as both teams have been very inconsistent with their game totals in their last 10 games.
NBA Previews, Game #3:
Utah Jazz (43-26) at Chicago Bulls (32-37), 9 p.m. EST
Line: Jazz -7. Total: 192.5.
Despite many NBA talking heads declaring earlier this week that the Bulls have quit this season — even when they were just one game out of the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference — the team showed plenty of fight Friday night in their 112-107 road loss against the Washington Wizards.
Chicago trailed by 19 at the half before rallying to cut the lead to a single point when Jimmy Butler hit a three-pointer with 39.7 seconds left in the game. After two free throws by Otto Porter made it 110-107 Wizards, Butler then missed a three-pointer with less than five seconds remaining to seal the Bulls’ fate.
So the question is whether or not the Bulls will have anything left in their tank for Saturday’s back-end of a back-to-back against a rested Utah squad? The Jazz are a good road team, but overcoming a 7-point spread will not be automatic. In fact, the Jazz are 1-4 ATS (Against The Spread) as a rad favorite of 5 points or more on the season.
The Bulls seem to be primed for a stretch of overs here after going under 7 of 8 games before the over on Friday night, but the only thing scaring me off making a play on the over is the fact that Chicago has gone under their last four home games.
If you want to get in on the betting action for the NBA, then click here to go to BetDSI, one of the few A+ Sportsbooks in the world.
Look for more NBA Previews for Saturday on the GMS site.
