Best NBA Bets March 25: Our Top Picks For Today’s Games

There is only two weeks and change left in this NBA regular season, and some teams are getting desperate for a well-timed win. Almost all of those teams happen to be in action on Friday night. 

Among them are Utah, who is desperate to hang on to home court advantage in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, and Charlotte, who is so close to surpassing the Nets for a top eight seed in the East.

Philadelphia is desperate to emerge from the log jam atop the East. Ditto Miami. The Wolves are desperate to make their second playoff appearance since 2004 a meaningful one, and the Mavs are desperate not to let down their star point guard with another early round flameout. 

Lots of teams want wins. Some need them. Which ones will get them? We like two favorites tonight to cover, and another short dog to get it done at home:

Utah @ Charlotte

The Bet: Jazz -4

When Utah won three straight games by at least 15 points last week, it seemed like the team that dominated the first half of the year and struggled since had turned a corner. Back-to-back losses, including one by 28 points at Boston, show Donovan Mitchell’s team still has some work to do if it wants to reach a Western Conference Final (or better). 

Despite its loss earlier this week to New York at home, it’s safe to say Charlotte did turn a corner last week following an absolutely abysmal February when it won just two of 12 games. Prior to the Knicks game, the Hornets won five straight, including by 21 against Dallas. 

The two teams last played in late December, when Utah won by ten points at home as 12.5-point favorites. But on the season, the Jazz are best against the spread when they’re playing the role of road favorites, and the Hornets are notably worse against the spread at home than it is on the road. We’ll take Utah to keep its losing streak at two tonight and cover this one in Charlotte.

Washington @ Detroit

The Bet: Pistons +1

Neither of these teams is especially desperate for anything, except maybe some good reps for their young players as they close out the season. Cade Cunningham is giving just that to the Pistons. His season scoring average is above 17 points per game, and he’s averaging more than 22 per game over his last ten. The team is 4-6 straight up over that stretch and 8-2 against the spread. 

Washington feels like it’s been busted since November. At 28-42-2, the Wizards have the league’s worst record on the season so far against the spread, and they’re only 1-9 ATS on the season as road favorites. While the spread is just a point tonight, nothing about Washington’s recent trends (2-7 ATS in its last nine) suggests this is a slam dunk. Count on Cunningham to get it done again and deliver the home team a straight up win. 

Philadelphia @ LA Clippers

The Bet: Sixers -5.5

Neither of these teams has been particularly great against the spread of late. Philly, perhaps slightly overvalued since James Harden joined the team, is just 3-8 ATS in its last 11. The Clippers had a great run since the all-star break, but more recently, they’ve failed to cover in five straight, including four consecutive losses. 

Most recently at home, the Clippers have lost by three to Toronto, lost by six to Atlanta, and lost by 23 to New York. On the season, they’re just 16-19 ATS in LA. Philadelphia is 20-14-1 ATS on the road this year, and they own a clear talent advantage. They should win this one with relative ease.