Author: Al Walsh

NBA Betting Preview for Wednesday, April 3

NBA Betting Preview for Wednesday, April 3, 2019

[7:05 p.m. EST] Over 226 – Chicago Bulls at Washington Wizards

Both teams are mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, so we should see a very fun and loose style of play from the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards tonight. After all, both teams (CHI: 26th, WAS: 27th) rank in the bottom-five of the NBA in defensive efficiency. The last two times these teams played the totals were 259 and 246, so the SK value system likes there to be more of the same this evening.

[8:10 p.m. EST] Charlotte Hornets at New Orleans Pelicans (+145 ML)

The Charlotte Hornets are still mathematically alive in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, but the proverbial heart was ripped out of the chest multiple times already on this current West coast trip. SK’s value system loves the Hornets’ suffering to continue, especially with Cody Zeller and Marvin Williams officially ruled out. Charlotte’s key to suffering has been its defense, which has allowed an average of 125.7 points per game during this current road trip. Not to mention, the Hornets are 2-6 in their last eight road games, with one of those wins coming in Toronto on a bizarre half-court shot from Jeremy Lamb at the buzzer.

[10:40 p.m. EST] Under 229 – Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Clippers (-115 ML)

The SK value system has a nice double-play to cap off the evening, giving the advantage to the LA Clippers and the total going under 229 points. The Houston Rockets just put up a nice performance in Sacramento last night so there could be some level of fatigue for them here in the final month of the regular season. While the Rockets want to clinch the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, the Clippers are trying to jump up a few spots and possibly sneak into the No. 4 seed for home-court advantage in the first round. The Clippers have won each of their two meetings against the Rockets this season.

There’s plenty of motivation for Houston and LA to get the win, so we should see a valiant effort on the defensive end from both sides. After all, 16 of the Rockets’ last 21 games have gone under the total and they do run the NBA’s fifth-slowest tempo. On the back-end of a back-to-back, they could very well take even more time on their possessions.

NBA Betting Preview for Tuesday, April 2

Be sure to check out Spread Knowledge writer Al Walsh on SB Nation’s NBAyd with Gary Ayd tonight at 9:25 p.m. EST.

NBA Betting Preview for Tuesday, April 2

Houston Rockets (-5/-215 ML) at Sacramento Kings – Total: 226

The Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings just squared off three days ago, with the Rockets taking the upper hand, 119-108. Typically, in these home-and-home sets, the team that lost the front-end usually comes back to win the back-end.

Not so fast, my friends!

The SK system is a big fan of the Rockets, who are looking to propel themselves back up to the No. 3 seed of the Western Conference playoff picture momentarily. After all, they are 9-1 against the Kings over the last 10 meetings. Not only that but Houston’s star player, James Harden, will look to make one of his last gasps at the NBA’s MVP award after Giannis Antetokounmpo had another memorable performance against the Brooklyn Nets last night.

SK’s system also likes the total to go under 226, as 16 of Houston’s 20 games have suffered that same fate since the All-Star break – the same can be said about Sacramento, which has done the same in five of its last seven. The Kings are tied for the second-fastest pace in the NBA, but Harden and the Rockets will slow it down with the league’s fifth-slowest tempo.

Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors – Total: 219.5

The Golden State Warriors had a long string of games hitting under the total during March, but this game, which could ultimately determine the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, should have them clicking on all cylinders against the Denver Nuggets. Both teams (GS: #1, DEN: #8) find themselves in the Top-10 of the league’s offensive efficiency ranking, and two of the three games between the teams have gone well over the 219.5 total we’ll see tonight. While Denver has struggled a bit on offense of late, we’ll look for Golden State to lead the way and take us to the promised land. After all, the Warriors have netted at least 120 points in three of their last four games.

NBA Betting Preview for Monday, April 1

Happy April Fools Day, everyone! Don’t worry, no lame jokes about getting fooled here today — just straight 🔥🔥🔥 from the Spread Knowledge system once again.

Make sure you follow us on Twitter (@SKSportsBets) and sign up for our 🚨Live Pick Alerts🚨 under Membership in the upper right-hand corner!

NBA Betting Preview

[7:10 p.m. EST] Detroit Pistons at Indiana Pacers (-5.5/-230 ML)

The SK system is showing a lot more favoritism towards the home team Indiana Pacers, despite them losing seven of their last eight games. We can attribute that to a brutal West coast road trip and when they returned home the schedule didn’t get much easier. It’s certainly worth noting how big of a favorite the Pacers are on the moneyline – tied for fourth-highest on the slate. This is also the front-end of a home-and-home series between the two teams, and that usually bodes well for the home team on either end. Look for the Pacers to get back on the good foot tonight, and then we’ll likely have a nice lean on the Detroit Pistons when the two teams meet again on Wednesday.

[7:40 p.m. EST] Chicago Bulls (+3.5/+144 ML) at New York Knicks

Yikes! If this game was played in the 90s, we might have more interest in putting this game on our TVs. However, it’s the 2019 version of the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks – essentially two G-League teams going at one another. While Chicago hasn’t been winning a lot of games lately, that’s because they have been playing some stiff competition. Not tonight, though, as the Bulls will be taking on the Knicks, who own the NBA’s worst record and find themselves in prime position for Zion Williamson with the No. 1 pick. New York has lost 14 of its last 15 games, so the SK system likes the Bulls to keep this one competitive and even get the win tonight.

[8:10 p.m. EST] Portland Trail Blazers (-3.5/-164 ML) at Minnesota Timberwolves 

A lot of people, including myself, had written off the Portland Trail Blazers when Jusuf Nurkic suffered that horrific tibia and fibula injury. Well, Portland has now won two of the last three games, with the only loss coming on the back-end of a back-to-back on Saturday night against the Detroit Pistons. The Minnesota Timberwolves have been mathematically eliminated from the playoff race and don’t have much to play for here in April. On the contrary, the Trail Blazers currently sit in the No. 4 spot of the Western Conference and could move to No. 3 with a win tonight because of their head-to-head tie-breaker over the Houston Rockets. The SK system’s top value play of the night is Portland getting the win outright, with the second-best being them covering the 3.5-point spread. How’s that for conviction?

[9:10 p.m. EST] Charlotte Hornets at Utah Jazz (-11.5/-650 ML)

The Charlotte Hornets came out to the West coast with hopes of staying in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, but things have suddenly gone awry and their defense is mostly to blame. In Friday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers they allowed 129 points while allowing another 137 in a 47-point loss to the Golden State Warriors last night. Congratulations, Charlotte – now you get to face the Utah Jazz in one of the toughest road environments in the NBA. The SK system and anyone who has ever watched basketball know the Jazz are a solid play against the spread tonight. Utah has won nine of its last 10 games, including each of its last five at home by an average of 15.6 points.

College Basketball and NBA Betting Preview for Saturday, March 30

It’s Saturday night and I know that you’re feeling alright! There are two pivotal games in the Elite 8 tonight for college basketball but don’t you forget about those professional ballplayers now, ya hear? Plenty of matchups on the Saturday docket with playoff implications on the line. Let’s take a look at what the Spread Knowledge system likes above all…

By the way, don’t forget to sign up for our 🚨Live Pick Alerts🚨 sent directly via or email or text!

COLLEGE BASKETBALL BETTING PREVIEW

[6:10 p.m. EST] Gonzaga (-4) vs. Texas Tech

The Gonzaga Bulldogs bring the nation’s top offensive efficiency rating into today’s Elite 8 matchup and the Texas Tech Red Raiders will be waiting there with the nation’s top defensive efficiency rating. Defense might win championships, but the SK system doesn’t think it’ll win this game between the two heavyweights. This is Gonzaga’s third trip to the Elite 9 in the last five seasons and they have a defense that can be quite daunting at times as well. All in all, that will be the difference in the Bulldogs getting the win and covering the spread.

[8:50 p.m. EST] Virginia (-4.5) vs. Purdue

Defense must be the theme of the evening as UVA Cavaliers take on the Purdue Boilermakers. The SK system likes UVA to overcome its first-round misfortunes from last season and move on to the Final Four. The Cavaliers have held their opponents to an average of only 52 points per game during the NCAA Tournament and tonight’s main task will be suffocating Purdue’s Carsen Edwards and Ryan Cline. Look for UVA to get the job done and do so in convincing fashion.

NBA BETTING PREVIEW

[6:10 p.m. EST] Under 228 – Sacramento Kings at Houston Rockets (-526 ML)

The SK system gives us one of its famous double-dips again with the Houston Rockets and under the total of 228. These Rockets are absolutely rolling at the moment, winning 15 of their last 18 games, and will have a chance to move up to the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. As for the under in this game – well, you’re in good hands there. Houston games have gone under the total in 15 of its last 19, and as the Rockets start inching toward the playoffs, defense is the one thing they’ll be focusing on more than anything. Look for the Rockets to win this game while keeping the Kings off the scoreboard.

[7:10 p.m. EST] Under 204.5 – Orlando Magic at Indiana Pacers

This is a big game for both sides here as the Orlando Magic hit the road to take on the Indiana Pacers. Th Magic are a half-game behind the Miami Heat for the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference, while the Pacers would love to crawl back to the No. 4 spot with a win and a Boston Celtics’ loss tonight. Magic games have gone under the total in 12 of the last 16 games, while the Pacers played a tough game in Boston last night. Look for the pace to be slowed down a bit and a lot of energy put on the defensive end for both sides in such an important game.

College Basketball and NBA Betting Preview for Friday, March 29

Welcome back for a fantastic Friday night of hoops in the college and pro games! Just as we said yesterday, it’s a great night to put a butt groove in your favorite seat.  Here’s what the Spread Knowledge system has in store for our fanbase tonight!

College Basketball Betting Preview

[7:09 p.m. EST] Michigan State Spartans (-6) vs. LSU Tigers – played in Washington, DC

The Michigan State Spartans are back in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2015 and they’ll take on an LSU Tigers squad that had to squeak by in each of their first two games of the tournament. The SK system thinks the Tigers’ luck runs out tonight against Sparty, with Tom Izzo and the boys moving on to the Elite 8. LSU failed to cover the spread in those two games and now face a much stiffer test. Michigan State ranks highly in a number of different statistics, including field goal percentage, 3-point percentages, free-throw percentage, offensive rebounding and blocks, so look for them to have a well-rounded performance against LSU en route to victory.

[7:29 p.m. EST] Auburn Tigers (+5.5/+204 ML) vs. UNC Tar Heels – played in Kansas City, MO

It should be a fun night in the CBS studios with Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith having their alma maters matched against each other. But, on the court is where the real action is. The Auburn Tigers got lucky in an opening round win against the New Mexico State Aggies but parlayed that good fate into a second-round clobbering of the Kansas Jayhawks. The SK system likes Auburn to move on to the Elite 8 with an upset win over the North Carolina Tar Heels – as always, if you feel like that’s too much, take the Tigers with the 5.5 points they’re getting. One big loss for UNC could be Nassir Little, who is a true game-time decision with an illness.

Bettors will certainly want to keep an eye for our Live Picks alert during this game, as both teams can put up points in a hurry. If the game gets off to a slow start, you might get a much lower number on the total to take the over. Once again, sign up here for Live Pick alerts!

[9:57 p.m. EST] Kentucky Wildcats (-141 ML) vs. Houston Cougars – played in Kansas City, MO

The Kentucky Wildcats may have P.J. Washington back for this game and would welcome him back with welcome arms. With Washington in the lineup, Kentucky’s offensive metrics are through the roof compared to when he’s absent. Granted, there could be some problems integrating him back into the offense, but it was clear that the Wildcats missed the versatility that Washington brings to the team in their second-round win against Wofford. Kentucky will especially need his presence to improve its 3-point shooting against a Houston Cougars team that defends the arc as well as any team in the nation. All in all, the SK system is in favor of a well-rounded Kentucky team, on the moneyline, that could potentially have its best player back in the lineup.

NBA Betting Preview

[7:10 p.m.] Under 213.5 – Indiana Pacers at Boston Celtics

It’s a HUGE matchup tonight as the Indiana Pacers travel to Beantown for a date with the Boston Celtics. Currently, the Pacers have a one-game lead on the Celtics, and this is the first of two meetings between these two teams in a span of eight days. It’s also worth noting, Indiana games have gone under the total in 11 of its last 13. The SK system likes another under, in what should be a hard-fought game between two teams playing for home-court advantage in a series that’ll likely be against each other.

[8:10 p.m.] Under 228.5 – Golden State Warriors (-9.5/-500 ML) at Minnesota Timberwolves

This is a nice combo-play that the SK system loves tonight with the Golden State Warriors over the Minnesota Timberwolves and the under in the game. The Warriors actually just played in Minnesota 10 days ago and won by 10 with the total falling at 224, which resulted in the under hitting. These T-Wolves are well out of the playoff race while the Warriors have a No. 1 seed to clinch. Look for Golden State to take care of business tonight and put its competition out of commission early.

[10:40 p.m.] Charlotte Hornets (-135 ML) at Los Angeles Lakers

In what is SK system’s top pick of the night, the Charlotte Hornets are in an advantageous position against the uninspired Los Angeles Lakers. Charlotte has made an incredible run down the stretch and now find themselves only 1.5 games away from the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference. The Hornets certainly need this game considering their schedule is quite brutal down the stretch, while the Lakers have no interest in winning whatsoever.

Spread Knowledge Live Picks Have a 65 Percent Success Rate

The Spread Knowledge Live Picks are quickly becoming the preferred method of betting for our customers. And for good reason, as these picks are hitting in the NBA, NCAAB and NHL at an absurd rate of about 65 percent.

In fact, the system is doing so well that it caused one of our customers in the United Kingdom to get his account shut down! Before you panic – don’t. This customer, who we’ll keep anonymous, is a successful well-known member of the betting community, so these books are looking for any reason to keep him away from their money.

Recently, this customer reached out to us to give thanks for the picks and offer some advice to help the public better understand our product.

His advice was excellent, especially in basketball, where the game flow can change at a moment’s notice. It is probably the only sport, besides American football, in which 10 points can be scored in a span of 60 seconds. Because of this, bettors need to be on their toes when they see an advantageous spot in the game to be had. But this is where the SK system comes into play, taking most of that guesswork out of the equation.

Don’t miss out on the great success of these Live Picks. Sign up today at SpreadKnowledge.com and get them sent directly to your phone or email.

NBA and NCAAM Betting Preview for Thursday, March 28

Over the next few days, Spread Knowledge will combine the two levels of hoops into one article. It’s all about time consumption in these trying times, folks. The NBA usually only has a few games on the Thursday night schedule but, for whatever reason, they’re trying to go head-to-head against the NCAA Tournament. And this sucks because the NBA game has some excellent matchups tonight with playoff positioning at the forefront. Nonetheless, it’s a great night to make a butt groove in your favorite seat in the house.

Let’s take a look at the top hoops picks from the Spread Knowledge system this evening…

NBA BETTING PREVIEW

[8:05 p.m. EST] Los Angeles Clippers (-9/+342 ML) at Milwaukee Bucks

It’s definitely a longshot but there’s some nice value in taking the LA Clippers, who have won 11 of their last 12 games. The Milwaukee Bucks have won four of their last five, but find themselves in a peculiar spot heading into the NBA Playoffs. Milwaukee owns a four-game lead for the top seed in the Eastern Conference, but injuries to Malcolm Brogdon, Pau Gasol and Nikola Mirotic may force Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer to be somewhat judicious with the minutes of his key players. Giannis Antetokounmpo has already stated that he wants no part of this limitation, but it’s important to remember that the playoffs are what really matters here. The Clippers are safely in the playoffs, but they’re not too far away from grabbing home-court advantage for the first round. You could make the argument that LA has more at stake tonight and a nine-point spread is somewhat disrespectful to a team as talented as this.

The Spread Knowledge system likes LA on the moneyline, but you could also take the easier route and bet them at +9.

[8:05 p.m. EST] Under 217 – Denver Nuggets at Houston Rockets (-208)

The Houston Rockets have defeated the Denver Nuggets in nine of their last 10 meetings, and the Spread Knowledge system likes them to make it 10 of 11. Houston still has an outside chance of getting the two-seed in the Western Conference, but it’ll need a bit of a collapse from Denver down the stretch – and that doesn’t seem likely at this point. Still, the Rockets are clamoring to get that three-seed and avoid the Golden State Warriors before the Western Conference Finals.

Not only does the SK system like the Rockets in this game tonight, but it is also quite fond of the under on the total. And for good reason, as Houston games have gone under the total in 11 of the last 13 while Denver games have suffered the same fate in 16 of its last 19.

NCAAM BETTING PREVIEW

[7:29 p.m. EST] Tennessee (-2/-149 ML) vs. Purdue – played in Louisville, KY

We’re at the point in the college basketball season where everyone has put together a mini-winning streak, so we have to rely on the numbers and matchups. This is where the Tennessee Volunteers should excel, as they have the advantage in point differential and field goal percentage. Not only that, but Tennessee is just a more athletic team than the Purdue Boilermakers, who have lost in the Sweet 16 round in each of their last two seasons. The Spread Knowledge system endears the Vols on the moneyline in this one, but you could risk less money if you take them with the two-point spread.

[9:39 p.m. EST] Michigan (-1.5/-135 ML) vs. Texas Tech – played in Anaheim, CA

The Michigan Wolverines have been just fine… you know, as long as they’re not playing their rival Michigan State Spartans. In fact, the Wolverines are 8-3 in their last 11 games, with the only three losses coming to those pesky Spartans. Speaking of pesky, that’s exactly what Michigan will be facing in the Texas Tech Red Raiders tonight, who are a mirror image of the tough defensive-minded unit – in terms of adjusted defensive efficiency, Texas Tech is No. 1 and Michigan is No. 2. This is probably why the spread is so low (in favor of Michigan by 1.5 points), but nonetheless, the Spread Knowledge system is in favor of Michigan, who has plenty of experience in playing these high-profile games over the last few seasons.

[9:57 p.m. EST] Oregon (+8.5/+330 ML) vs. Virginia – played in Louisville, KY

These Oregon Ducks are on one helluva run right now, winning 10 straight games en route to landing here in the Sweet 16 against the Virginia Cavaliers. We all know UVA’s stigma – defense, defense, defense, and the Ducks will have to overcome one of the toughest units in the country in order to move on to the Elite 8. It is interesting, though, as Oregon has scored at least 70 points in 10 of its last 11 games, while UVA hasn’t allowed 70 points in each of its last 12 games. Something has to give, and the Spread Knowledge system is quacking in jubilation, going with the Ducks for the upset tonight!

DON’T FORGET ABOUT MLB!!!

We unleashed the MLB portion of the SK Product today and it already produced a win on the over in the Baltimore Orioles-New York Yankees game — depending on what your total was. Some had it at 8.5, some had it at 9. If not, it was a push — no loss of money there.

MLB Opening Day Betting Preview for Thursday, March 28

It’s the most wonderful time of the year – MLB Opening Day!!! Sure, the start of baseball is the true signal that summer and warm weather are right around the corner, but it’s the game that we have missed so much. Sit down and get comfortable, folks — we’ve got 162 of these to get through. Let’s just start with the first day, though. Here are three games that we should all be keeping an eye on today.

MLB Betting Preview for Thursday, March 28 (Opening Day)

[1:05 p.m. EST] Over 9 – Baltimore Orioles at New York Yankees
BAL: Andrew Cashner – R
NYY: Masahiro Tanaka – R

The New York Yankees hit an MLB-record 267 home runs last season, and they’ll look to pick right back up where they left off against Andrew Cashner and the Baltimore Orioles. Cashner went 1-2 with a 4.26 ERA in four starts against the Yanks last season, and he’ll have to deal with a New York lineup that had the second-most homers (49), only one behind the Milwaukee Brewers, during Spring Training. Aaron Judge led the way for the Yanks with six homers, 15 RBI and a 1.394 OPS down in Florida, while Giancarlo Stanton, Gleyber Torres, Troy Tulowitzki, Luke Voit, Greg Bird and Brett Gardner all raked as well. Masahiro Tanaka gets the ball on Opening Day for the Yanks, but he was much less effective at the (un)friendly confines of Yankee Stadium, going 5-5 with a 4.09 ERA in 12 starts there last season. He also allowed a .272 batting average there, compared to .212 on the road. Yankee Stadium is one of the best parks in all of baseball for offense and we should be reminded of that in the first game of the season. The Spread Knowledge system likes the over!

 [4:05 p.m. EST] Houston Astros at Tampa Bay Rays (+120)
HOU: Justin Verlander – R
TBR: Blake Snell – L

In what will likely be the second-best pitching matchup of the day (sorry, deGrom-Scherzer takes the crown), Justin Verlander and Blake Snell will go toe-to-toe at Tropicana Field to open the season. Snell was a remarkable 10-1 with a 1.27 ERA in 14 starts at home last season, and the Spread Knowledge system likes him to pick back up on that string of success and lead the Rays to a win. It won’t come easy, though, as Verlander was 12-2 with a 2.14 ERA in 15 road starts last season. This one will likely come down to the bullpens, in which Tampa Bay may have a slight advantage. Not to mention, Carlos Correa could miss this game with a sore neck and that would be a glaring hole in the Astros’ lineup. The Spread Knowledge system leans in favor of the home team Rays on Opening Day!

Update: Carlos Correa will indeed miss today’s game. 

[4:10 p.m. EST] Colorado Rockies at Miami Marlins (+126)
COL: Kyle Freeland – L
MIA: Jose Urena – R

Kyle Freeland gets the ball for the Colorado Rockies on Opening Day, and it’s worth noting that he has had a better record and ERA at Coors Field in each of his first two MLB seasons. Reason being, he’s from Colorado and grew up learning to pitch in the high altitude. Call it what you will, but Freeland just isn’t the same pitcher away from home. Perhaps the oddsmakers are giving the Miami Marlins the benefit of the doubt on Opening Day, but their +126 moneyline odds to win outright don’t measure up to a team that is supposed to finish last in nearly every category this season. In fact, there are actually four teams with lesser moneyline odds today than the Marlins. The value is there for Miami, especially with Jose Urena on the mound. He has made incredible strides in each of the last two seasons, and the 1.18 WHIP that Urena sported in 2018 is a true testament to how far he has come. The Spread Knowledge system is rolling with MIA in this one!

Don’t forget to check out our NBA and NCAA value picks to be released later today!

NBA Betting Preview for Wednesday, March 27

Welcome back for another night of NBA action! Before we get to tonight’s slate of five games, let’s take a look at how Spread Knowledge did last night:

✅ Under 227 in Houston/Milwaukee
✅ LA Clippers moneyline over Minnesota
✅ Over 233.5 in Washington/LA Lakers
❌ Houston moneyline over Milwaukee
❌ Under 226.5 in Sacramento/Dallas

Don’t forget, tomorrow is MLB Opening Day, so be on the lookout for that betting preview!

NBA Betting Preview for Wednesday, March 27

[8:05 p.m. EST] Portland Trail Blazers (-8.5/-294 ML) at Chicago Bulls – Total: 216.5

The Portland Trail Blazers were dealt a massive blow in Monday’s double-overtime win over the Brooklyn Nets, losing center Jusuf Nurkic for the season to a horrific leg injury – not to mention, C.J. McCollum is already on the shelf with a knee injury. While their championship aspirations have likely capsized, the Trail Blazers should still handle the Chicago Bulls with relative ease tonight. Our system thinks Portland, winners in seven of its last eight games, rally around one another to get the win on the moneyline over Chicago, which has lost nine of its last 12.

* Update: Chicago will be without its four best players tonight – Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen and Otto Porter.

[8:05 p.m. EST] Golden State Warriors (-11/-650 ML) at Memphis Grizzlies – Total: 219.5

Who the heck is this Memphis Grizzlies team trying to make a name for themselves down the stretch? After another season of disappointment, Memphis is 5-1 outright in its last six home games, with wins against current playoff teams – Portland, Utah, Orlando, Houston, OKC. The system’s lean, however, lies in the total going under in this game. That’s probably because Golden State Warriors’ games have had that fate in 13 of their last 15. This is usually the time of the year that Golden State goes through the motions, and The Grindhouse has always presented a stiff challenge for this team over the years.

[8:05 p.m. EST] Indiana Pacers (+6.5/+231 ML) at Oklahoma City Thunder – Total: 217

The Indiana Pacers have slowly been losing their hold on home-court advantage for the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs, losing four of their last five games. Meanwhile, Boston Celtics are just 1.5 games behind them for the four-seed, so it would behoove the Pacers to get their act together before the postseason starts in a little more than two weeks. The OKC Thunder have been equally as dreadful down the stretch, losing five of their last six games. Indy did get a narrow 108-106 win over OKC two weeks ago, and our system likes the Pacers to do so once again tonight on the road.

[10:05 p.m. EST] Washington Wizards (-3.5/-128 ML) at Phoenix Suns – Total: 231

The Washington Wizards played last night, so our system feels like they won’t have enough left in the tank to put up enough points tonight. And that’s interesting, considering the Phoenix Suns have the NBA’s second-worst defensive efficiency – the Wizards are no better themselves, sporting the fourth-worst defensive efficiency. The Suns will be missing Josh Jackson, Tyler Johnson and T.J. Warren tonight, so the scoring could be a lot harder to come by at that end of the floor. That, combined with the Wizards playing their second game in as many nights, has the system liking the under.

[10:35 p.m. EST] Los Angeles Lakers at Utah Jazz (-15/-1200 ML) – Total: 217.5

We had the under in the last Utah Jazz game, but absolutely bizarre circumstances from the Phoenix Suns (thanks guys!) prohibited us from getting the win on that bet. That’s alright, now the Jazz owes us one tonight. The Los Angeles Lakers played (and won) last night, but the key here is the absence of LeBron James. He won’t be playing certain games down the stretch, particularly on the back-end of back-to-backs, and that’ll certainly make this Lakers team a shell of themselves on the road in such a hostile Salt Lake City environment. Utah is in “all-business” mode heading towards the postseason, with a 7-1 record over its last eight games. Our system likes the under in this game, so expect the Jazz to hold the Lakers down with relative ease.

NBA Preview for Tuesday, March 26

We’ve got a 10-game slate on the NBA docket with many of the teams still fighting for playoff positioning. The most crucial game of the night takes place down in the Sunshine State as the Miami Heat will host the Orlando Magic in a matchup of teams sitting in the eighth and ninth place of the Eastern Conference. If you’re looking for pure entertainment, look no further than the battle of MVP candidates in the Houston Rockets-Milwaukee Bucks game. Later on, in the Mile High City, the Detroit Pistons will look to hold onto their playoff lives as they’ll face the Denver Nuggets.

Let’s take a look at what the Spread Knowledge system likes tonight…

(8:00 p.m. EST) Houston Rockets (+4/+148 ML) at Milwaukee Bucks – Total: 227

We’ll have a matchup of MVP hopefuls tonight as James Harden and the Houston Rockets hit the road to face Giannis Antetokounmpo and his Milwaukee Bucks on TNT. The Rockets have been rolling, winning 14 of their last 16 games, while the Bucks have been somewhat middling over their last 10 games. Part of the reason for that is that Milwaukee’s depth taking some big hits lately with injuries to Malcolm Brogdon, Nikola Mirotic and Pau Gasol. Because of that, our system likes Houston to grab the win tonight with the total going under. The Rockets are tied for the league’s fourth-slowest pace, so that should help limit what the Bucks do on offense.

(8:00 p.m. EST) Los Angeles Clippers (-2/-128 ML) at Minnesota Timberwolves – Total: 230

The Los Angeles Clippers, winners in 10 of their last 11, hit the road to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have already been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. With the season-ending injury to Jusuf Nurkic, a few of these teams in the Western Conference might be able to leapfrog the Portland Trail Blazers for that coveted four-seed to get home-court advantage for the first round of the playoffs. The Clippers have a golden opportunity tonight against a T-Wolves team that has lost five of their last six games. Our system likes LA to get the win on the moneyline.

(8:30 p.m. EST) Sacramento Kings (-1.5/-122 ML) at Dallas Mavericks – Total: 226.5

This game between the Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks won’t move the needle on the NBA Playoffs. However, our system likes the under on tonight’s game as these two teams just played each other five days ago. There should be plenty of familiarities here, and that could be a key for the Mavs slowing down Kings’ point guard De’Aaron Fox. The Kings’ last three games have gone under the total, while the Mavs’ last two games have had the same fate.

(10:30 p.m. EST) Washington Wizards (+2/+114 ML) at Los Angeles Lakers – Total: 233.5

While the Washington Wizards are still “mathematically alive” we all know the deal – they’re not making the playoffs. Speaking of not making the playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers will continue their ways of going through the motion, just as they have all season. Granted, the 233.5 total is quite large, but we shouldn’t expect either team to put any effort in on the defensive end tonight. Our system likes the over with the Lakers allowing at least 106 points in every game since Jan. 29.