The Sportzshala Fantasy Basketball Betting Tips and Basketball Betting Cheat Sheet is where you can get pre-game basketball betting predictions and our best intelligence and data, including Sportzshala’s own Basketball Power Index (BPI), which will help you make smart betting and fantasy decisions. Odds for NBA games for Saturday, March 18 are provided by Caesars Sportsbook and fantasy tips are based on Sportzshala’s 10-team leagues.
What you need to know about Saturday games
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The heroes of the March hoops aren’t all from inspirational NCAA underdogs, they also come from random NBA rotations like the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies. Just last night, rising rookie Jabari Smith Jr. of Auburn sank the winning bucket to give the Rockets a victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Although out of work today, Smith (53% available in Sportzshala leagues) will face the Pelicans again tomorrow in a rubber game and deserves more interest from fantasy managers given his rise as a scorer and rebounder in recent weeks. .
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For the Grizzlies, former Duke standout Tyus Jones (69%) just recorded his first career triple-double on Friday and is hosting Stephen Curry and a Golden State team that continues to fight for relegation tonight. Chase Center.
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We spent that place yesterday supporting Kyle Anderson’s rise as a Minnesota Timberwolves playmaker, and he made his own triple-double in a loss to the Chicago Bulls. With Anthony Edwards now struggling with an ankle injury, Anderson (60% of available players) looks to have the potential to win the league.
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Speaking of triple-double skill sets, even Utah’s Talen Horton-Tucker’s share of 87% could come in handy given his team’s interest in expanding his ability as a playmaker ahead of today’s visit from the Boston Celtics. It would be crazy to throw away such burgeoning talent for a Saturday list.
— Jim McCormick
Games of the day
Denver Nuggets to New York Knicks
13:00 ET, Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York
Records (against spread)
Nuggets: 47-23 (37-32-1)
Knicks: 41-30 (40-30-1)
Line: Nuggets (-2.5)
Performance Index Forecast: Nix: 126.2-124
Money line: Nuggets (-140), Knicks (118)
Predicted BPI Winner: Knicks (57.9%)
General: 230 Predicted BPI: 250.2
Injury Report:
Nuggets: Zeke Nnaji (GTD – Shoulder)
Knicks: Jalen Brunson (GTD – Foot); Dwayne Washington Jr. (OUT – Disease)
Note: BPI figures include players who are excluded but assume that GTD players will play.
Fantasy streamer: Immanuel Quickly (played in 34.4% of Sportzshala leagues) is still on the radar of streaming in deeper formats, whether Brunson, who is in doubt because of pain in his left leg, is active or not. In two of his last three games, Quickly has amassed 48-plus fantasy points. This season, he averaged 12.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 26.6 minutes per game with Brunson. — Eric Moody
Golden State Warriors – Memphis Grizzlies
8:00 pm ET, FedExForum, Memphis, TN.
Records (against spread)
Warriors: 36-35 (33-37-1)
Grizzlies: 42-27 (32-34-3)
Line: Grizzly (-4.5)
Performance Index Forecast: Grizzlies: 128.9–128.5
Money line: Warriors (158), Grizzlies (-190)
Predicted BPI Winner: Grizzly (51.5%)
General: 236.5 Predicted BPI: 257.4
Injury Report:
Warriors: Ty Jerome (out, not related to injury); Andrew Wiggins (OUT – Personal); Gary Payton II (OUT – Stomach); Andre Iguodala (CARE – Wrist); Ryan Rollins (OUT – Foot)
Grizzlies: Brandon Clarke (KILL – Achilles); Vince Williams Jr. (GTD – Shoulder); Ja Morant (OUT – Pendant); Stephen Adams (EXIT – Knee)
Note: BPI figures include players who are excluded but assume that GTD players will play.
Fantasy streamer: Tyus Jones (31.1% of Sportzshala leagues) continues to perform well as a starter in place of Morant, who is expected to return next week. Jones has averaged 15.5 points, 7.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals over the past six games. — Moody
Trend: The Warriors’ troubles continued last night in Atlanta as Memphis managed a franchise-record comeback against the Spurs. With Golden State tied with the Rockets for the most road losses in the league and ranked 5th-14th in the underdogs on the road, this fairly significant line makes more sense. — McCormick
Breaking down the rest of Saturday’s list
Orlando Magic v Los Angeles Clippers
3:00 pm ET, Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Records (against spread)
Magic: 28-42 (37-31-2)
Clippers: 37-33 (35-35-0)
Line: Clippers (-7)
Performance Index Forecast: Clippers: 128-119.1
Money line: Magic (250), Clippers (-320)
Predicted BPI Winner: Clippers (79.4%)
General: 227 Predicted BPI: 247.1
Injury Report:
Magic: Jalen Suggs, (OUT – Concussion); Jonathan Isaac (OUT – Thigh)
Clippers: Brandon Boston Jr. (LEAVING – lower body); Kawhi Leonard (EXIT – Knee); Norman Powell (OUT – Shoulder)
Note: BPI figures include players who are excluded but assume that GTD players will play.
Fantasy streamer: Cole Anthony (participated in 39.6% of Sportzshala leagues) is a solid streamer and Suggs has already been expelled due to the league’s concussion protocol. Anthony has scored 26-plus fantasy points in three consecutive games. In games where Anthony has played at least 30 minutes this season, he has averaged 17.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists. — Moody
Fantasy streamer: Eric Gordon (participates in 3.8% of Sportzshala leagues) is a viable streamer for deeper format managers as Leonard was already ruled out due to treatment for a right knee injury. Powell also pulled out of the game with a left shoulder subluxation. Gordon has over 20 fantasy points in four of his last five games. Managers will get points and triples from him, but nothing more. — Moody
Best bet: Markell Fultz over 26.5 points + assists + rebounds. Over the last six games, Fultz averaged 17.6 points, 6.8 assists and 4.0 rebounds. Fultz should surpass 26.5 PAR against the Clippers on Saturday as point guards have handled them well this season. — Moody
Best option: Magic +7.0. Without Leonard, the Clippers are a different team. On the road, the Magic must play well enough to hold this game or win outright. They actually beat that Clippers team. with Leonard earlier this season. The Magic are 11-5 against the spread in their last 16 away games. — Moody
Trend: With Leonard likely to miss this game on rest and Orlando covered 17 of 25 away games against teams that allow opponents to shoot above league average from the floor (including the Clippers), the Magic has some value. outsiders. — McCormick
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Indiana Pacers
7:00 pm ET, Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Records (against spread)
76ers: 47-22 (39-29-1)
Pacers: 32-38 (38-32-0)
Line: 76ers (-6)
Performance Index Forecast: 76ers: 130-121.9
Money line: 76ers (-250), Pacers (205)
Predicted BPI Winner: 76ers (77.2%)
General: 234 Predicted BPI: 251.9
Injury Report:
76ers: Jalen McDaniels (GTD – hip)
Pacers: Bennedict Maturin (KILL – Ankle); Chris Duarte (OUT – Ankle); Tyrese Haliburton (KILL – Knee); Kendall Brown (CARE – shin)
Note: BPI figures include players who are excluded but assume that GTD players will play.
Fantasy streamer: TJ McConnell (Plays in 8.6% of Sportzshala leagues) is a great streamer, both Duarte and Haliburton have already been ruled out due to injuries. This season, McConnell averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game without Haliburton. — Moody
Best bet: over 233.0 points. The total topped eight consecutive games for the 76ers against a rival from the Central Division. Philadelphia is third in points per 100 possessions and faces a terrible team of Pacers on defense. Indiana is ranked 26th in points scored per 100 possessions. The total has been over in five of the Pacers’ last six games. — Moody
Trend: The 76ers are on a seven win streak, spanning five of those contests as they enter Indianapolis as the healthy favorites. The Pacers will be missing All-Star creator Halliburton and top rookie Maturin, confirming the spread. The 66ers also have some momentum in their team total of 120.5 considering Indiana has missed 120.2 points per 100 possessions over the last 10 games, 29th in this sample. — McCormick
Minnesota Timberwolves – Toronto Raptors.
7:00 pm ET, Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Records (against spread)
Timberwolves: 35–36 (34–37–0)
Raptors: 34-36 (35-35-0)
Line: Predators (-9)
Performance Index Forecast: Predators: 130-119.1
Money line: Timber Wolves (320), Predators (-420)
Predicted BPI Winner: Predators (76.7%)
General: 227 Predicted BPI: 246.1
Injury Report:
Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards (GTD – ankle) Jaylen Nowell (GTD – Knee); Carl-Anthony Towns (KILL – calf)
Predators: Christian Koloko, (GTE – Nose); Dalano Banton (OUT – Thumb); Otto Porter Jr., (OUT – Foot)
Note: BPI figures include players who are excluded but assume that GTD players will play.
Fantasy streamer: Kyle Anderson (listed in 36.3% of Sportzshala leagues) will help fill a void for the Timberwolves as Edwards is expected to miss time with a sprained ankle. Anderson has scored over 40 fantasy points in five of his last six games, including two with 60 or more points. Pick him up. — Moody
Best bet: Fred VanVleet over 32.5 points + assists + rebounds. VanVleet’s performance has been inconsistent this season. However, he is in a good position against the Timberwolves, who have lost fourth in points per game and rebounds per game to point guards this season. Minnesota will also miss Edwards defensively. VanVleet should bounce back well in this matchup. — Moody
Trend: The Raptors are gradually becoming playoff contenders. This is especially true at home, where the team has won five games in a row. The Timberwolves are in their second game in a row and can do without Edwards, who suffered an ankle injury last night in Chicago. If Edwards stays, it’s worth noting that Mike Conley has amassed 13.1 points more than the team this season in 36 minutes when his young teammate was off the court. — McCormick
Sacramento Kings Washington…
Source: www.espn.com
