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 Wednesday, March 15 are provided by Caesars Sportsbook, with fantasy tips based on Sportzshala’s 10-team leagues.
What you need to know about games on Wednesday
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Ahead of a busy seven-game schedule, signs point to the core values of the Texas trio. The Houston Rockets don’t have many real wins, but after the break, they’re profiting positively from top pick Jabari Smith Jr. Auburn’s product is a free agent in nearly 60% of Sportzshala’s leagues despite double-doubling in three consecutive games. Smith could extend that streak against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.
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The Dallas Mavericks indicated that Luka Doncic was out with a hip injury, leading to increased interest in two-way winger Josh Green (98% available). Green eventually scored 44 with strong peripheral production in the last two games. Next comes the soft defense of the San Antonio Spurs.
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Even those Spurs are up for some suitable names as Graeme Devonte has surpassed DFS value in five consecutive games while Zach Collins is doing a little bit of everything and double-doubled against Dallas just two weeks ago. If rookie Jeremy Sochan plays back-to-back games for the Spurs, it’s worth noting that he’s been exceptionally productive lately and is a fit for both point guard and power forward in the Sportzshala leagues.
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Today’s list is full of statistics stars like Jason Tatum, Joel Embiid, Stephen Curry and Domantas Sabonis. To compile a list of such outstanding players, you need to make profitable deals along the way.
— Jim McCormick
Games of the night
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
7:30 pm ET on Sportzshala, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, Ohio.
Records (against spread)
76ers: 45-22 (37-29-1)
Cavaliers: 44–27 (37–32–2)
Line: 76ers (-2.5)
Performance Index Forecast: 76ers: 125.9-123.1
Money line: 76ers (-140), Cavaliers (+118)
Predicted BPI Winner: 76ers (60.7%)
General: 221.5 points Predicted BPI: 249 points
Injury Report:
76ers: Jalen McDaniels (GTD – hip)
Cavaliers: Donovan Mitchell (GTD – Finger); Jarrett Allen (GTD – The Eye)
Note: BPI figures include players who are excluded but assume that GTD players will play.
Fantasy streamer: Lamar Stevens (available in 99.8% of Sportzshala leagues) not for everyone, so it is available in almost every fantasy league. But if you’re in a deeper league and just want to maximize the number of games played tonight, he might be an option. He averaged 10 points, 5.0 boards and 1.0 3-pointers over his last two starts for Jarrett Allen (eye). It’s also interesting that the Sixers are trailing the seventh point to opposing power forwards, but just make sure Allen isn’t sitting again before messing with Stevens. — Alexander
Best bet: James Harden over 10.5 assists. Harden has been an assists monster of late, averaging 13.0 assists with four double-doubles in his last five games. Harden has only faced the Cavaliers once this season, but he gave them 12 assists in that game. — Snellings
Best bet: Joel Embiid over 32.5 points. Embiid has scored 34, 39, 39, 42, 31 and 35 points in each of his six games in March, meaning he has won five of his last six. And while it’s true that the Cavs are doing well with their opponent’s centers, it’s also possible that Jarrett Allen will miss his third game tonight with an eye injury, likely pushing Embiid to victory. He also scored 29 points against the Cavs when they met just before the All-Star break, and tonight the No. 3 66ers are looking to catch up with the No. 2 Celtics by the end of the weekend. Embiid must leave again tonight. — Alexander
Trend: The Cavaliers have been dealing with an injury problem lately, so you’ll need to keep an eye on their health before the game, but this is considered a good place to bet. Cleveland has seen five of their last seven home games under total and fewer tickets won in eight of their last nine zero-rest games. With matchday totals heading for less, it’s good to know that the Cavs have covered seven of their last eight games that fell short of their projected total. — Kyle Soppe
Golden State Warriors to Los Angeles Clippers
10:00 pm ET on Sportzshala, Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA.
Records (against spread)
Warriors: 36-33 (33-35-1)
Clippers: 36-33 (34-35-0)
Line: Clippers (-2)
Performance Index Forecast: Clippers (129.9-122.5)
Money line: Warriors (+110), Clippers (-130)
Predicted BPI Winner: Clippers (75.1%)
General: 237 points Predicted BPI: 252.4 points
Injury Report:
Warriors: Jonathan Cuminga (GTD – Ankle); Tai Jerome (GTD – non-injury related); Andre Iguodala (CARE – Wrist); Andrew Wiggins (OUT – Personal); Gary Payton II (OUT – Stomach); Ryan Rollins (OUT – Foot)
Clippers: Brandon Boston Jr. (LEAVING – lower body); Norman Powell (OUT – Shoulder)
Note: BPI figures include players who are excluded but assume that GTD players will play.
Best bet: Clippers -2.5. Warriors are on the way. For some reason this season, that meant they were likely to lose. The Warriors are 7-26 on the road this season and have lost eight road games in a row by an average of 10.8 points per game. –Snellings
Best bet: Kawhi Leonard over 27.5 points. Leonard had 33 points, seven rebounds and four assists in a February 14 win over the Warriors, and he has 38, 24 and 34 points in each of his last three games. The Warriors are missing Andrew Wiggins, which should play into Kawhi’s hands, and teammate Norman Powell (shoulder) is also off the Clippers. Leonard should be able to score tonight. — Alexander
Trend: By now, you’re well aware of the Warriors’ road problems this season: they haven’t covered a road game since January. While you know this, you probably don’t know that the overs have been 19-4 in their last 23 games away from their fans or that the Clippers have scored seven over tickets in their last 11 covers. — Soups
Breaking down the rest of the environment list
Memphis Grizzlies at the Miami Heat
7:30 pm ET, FTX Arena, Miami, Florida
Records (against spread)
Grizzlies: 41-26 (32-32-3)
Heat: 37-33 (24-43-3)
Line: Warm (-4)
Performance Index Forecast: Heat (125.9-118.3)
Money line: Grizzly (+152), Heat (-180)
Predicted BPI Winner: Heat (63.7%)
General: 221 points Predicted BPI: 240.4 points
Injury Report:
Grizzlies: Brandon Clarke (KILL – Achilles); Jake LaRavia (EXIT – Back); Vince Williams Jr. (OUT – Shoulder); Jah Morant (OUT – Personal); Stephen Adams (EXIT – Knee)
Race: Kyle Lowry (GTD – Knee); Cody Zeller (CARE – Nose)
Note: BPI figures include players who are excluded but assume that GTD players will play.
Fantasy streamer: Xavier Tillman (available in 88.8% of leagues) flirted with double-doubles every night for the last six games, averaging 10.8 points per game, 7.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.8 assists and 0.5 blocks per game during that stretch. He has at least one interception in five in a row and has four or more interceptions and blocks in two of his last four games. — Snellings
Fantastic streamer: David Roddy (available in 99.7% of Sportzshala leagues) ignited the Mavericks in two straight games with 21.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 1.0 blocks and 3.5 three-pointers, all on 18 of 23 shooting (78%) in 24. 5 minutes between Saturday and Monday. Roddy literally came out of nowhere in his two best games of the season, playing just seven minutes on Thursday against Golden State. Unfortunately, the Grizzlies won’t beat the Mavericks again tonight, but you have to think they’ll put Roddy up again tonight for 20 minutes or so against the Heat. If you’re in a deeper league and looking for a warm body for a seven-game evening, Roddy is at least worth a look. — Alexander
Best bet: Tyus Jones over 6.5 assists. Jones has been an all-or-nothing distributor in the last five games since returning to the starting lineup, with three games of double-digit assists and two games of just three assists. Overall, his trend as a rookie this season has been to post elite distribution statistics; over 14 starts, Jones averages 18.3 points per game and 7.7 assists per 33.3 mpg. — Snellings
Sacramento Kings – Chicago Bulls.
8:00 pm ET, United Center, Chicago, IL
Records (against spread)
Kings: 40-27 (37-30-0)
Bulls: 31-36 (34-33-0)
Line: Kings (-1)
Performance Index Forecast: Bulls (131.1-127.2)
Money line: Kings (-115), Bulls (-105)
Predicted BPI Winner: Bulls (63.5%)
General: 237 points Predicted BPI: 258.3 points
Injury Report:
Kings: Rishon Holmes (OUT – Disease)
Bulls: Havonte Green (LEAVING – Knee); Lonzo Ball (LEAVING – Knee); Goran Dragic (GTD – Knee)
Note: BPI figures include players who are excluded but assume that GTD players will play.
Best bet: Kings -1. The Kings have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA in recent times, winning eight of their last 10 games, including four in a row on the road. The Bulls have played better since the trade deadline but are still essentially a .500 team with a record of 3-3 in their last six games and 5-5 in their last 10. — Snellings
Best bet: Zach LaVine over 28.5 points. The Kings are the eighth team in the league among opposing shooting guards, and LaVine scored 36, 29, 42, 27 and 41 goals in each of March’s five games, closing overs in all but one. He also scored 41 points in their previous meeting, and the No. 11 Bulls need to win this game to get back on script. The Kings lost a season-high 31 points to Chris Middleton on Monday, lost 28 points to Devin Booker on Saturday and allowed RJ Barrett to score 25 points in the previous game. Today Lavigne must go crazy. — Alexander
Best bet: De’Aaron Fox over 26.5 points. On Monday, the Fox had 35 points against the Bucks, and the Bulls recently lost 29 points and 11 cents to Tyreese…
Source: www.espn.com
