NBA Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (3/13)
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has five games on the slate for Thursday. That includes two nationally televised games featuring the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks at 7:30 p.m. ET and the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors at 10:00 p.m. ET. Both will be televised on TNT and MAX. The late game is also available on truTV.
Let’s get on track with some winning picks for Thursday, March 13th.
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Thursday’s Best NBA Picks
NBA odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook | All picks are for 1 unit
Washington Wizards (+640) at Detroit Pistons (-900) | O/U 235 (-110/-110)
The Wizards (13-51) and the Pistons (37-29) meet in the second end of a back-to-back set at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
The Pistons won 123-103 on Tuesday night in the front end of the set, shooting 46.2% (48-of-104) from the field. Detroit out-rebounded Washington by a considerable 61-to-47 margin while posting 29 assists to just 12 turnovers. The Wizards had 13 turnovers and just 20 assists.
Detroit had six scorers in double digits, with Cade Cunningham leading the charge. He flirted with a triple-double, going for 27 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds on 11-of-23 shooting, while Jalen Duren was also able to add a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds. He and Ausar Thompson each had two blocked shots apiece.
Washington hit just 40.2% (37-of-92) from the field, although it was pretty solid (13-of-39) from behind the three-point line, especially in the second half. Marcus Smart, who missed the previous game due to a finger injury, posted a team-best 16 points off the bench, hitting 6-of-10 from the field. Jordan Poole had 15 points. Richaun Holmes was also 6-of-10 from the field off the bench, going for 14.
The Wizards have dropped two in a row, but they’re still a respectable 4-4 straight up (SU) in the past eight games. However, Washington has covered just once in the past five games, with the under going 4-2 in the past six and 7-3 across the previous 10 outings.
The Pistons covered the 15-point number in the first game. They’re on a 4-1-1 against the spread (ATS) run, while going 14-4-1 ATS in the past 19 games. The under has hit in three in a row.
Let’s back the Pistons to get the job done again. We’ll play the under, too.
Picks: Detroit Pistons -14.5 (-108) & Under 235 Points (-110)
Brooklyn Nets (+118) at Chicago Bulls (-138) | O/U 229.5 (-112/-108)
The Nets (22-43) and Bulls (27-38) hook up at United Center on Thursday night, with a tip time set for 8:00 p.m. ET on the west side of Chicago.
Brooklyn put up a spirited effort in a 109-104 loss to the Cavaliers on Tuesday in Cleveland, easily covering a 15-point number as the under (223.5) cashed. However, Brooklyn has still dropped eight of the past nine games outright, although it is a healthy 3-1 ATS in the past four games. The under has a slight 2-1 edge in the past three games.
Chicago has won and covered three in a row, including an impressive 121-103 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Monday as 4-point underdogs at home. The under (239) easily cashed in that one. The Bulls have covered eight of the past 10 games since February 20th, too.
This is the third meeting of the season between these two teams, but the first since December 2nd. Chicago won 128-102 as home favorites (-7.5) in that early December game as the under (232) cashed, while Brooklyn won 120-112 as home favorites (-1.5) as the over (228.5) just came through.
We’ll side with the Bulls laying the points here, as they’ve been red-hot against the number, and back the under.
Picks: Chicago Bulls -2.5 (-108) & Under 229.5 Points (-108)