06 Mar

2025 NBA picks, March 3 best bets from proven model

The Golden State Warriors (32-28) continue their road trip as they play the Charlotte Hornets (14-45) on Monday. The Warriors had their five-game win streak halted when the Philadelphia 76ers defeated Golden State 126-119 on Saturday. In the meantime, Charlotte is on a six-game skid. On Saturday, the Washington Wizards beat the Hornets 113-100. After missing Saturday’s game, Jimmy Butler (back) is probable for the matchup, while Jonathan Kuminga (ankle) remains out for the Warriors.

Tipoff from Spectrum Center in Charlotte is at 7 p.m. ET. This will be the last contest between these teams this season, and Warriors beat the Hornets, 128-92, on Feb. 25, marking Golden State’s fourth straight victory over the Hornets. The Warriors are 13-point favorites in the latest Warriors vs. Hornets odds from SportsLine consensus. Golden State is at -752 on the money line (risk $752 to win $100), while Charlotte is at +526 (risk $100 to win $526). The over/under for total points scored is 228.5. Before locking in any Hornets vs. Warriors picks, make sure to check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past six-plus seasons. The model enters Week 20 of the 2024-25 NBA season on a sizzling 147-107 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning nearly $4,000. It’s also an outstanding 18-10 (64%) on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.

Now, the model has simulated Warriors vs. Hornets 10,000 times and just revealed its coveted NBA picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA odds and NBA betting lines for Warriors vs. Hornets:

Warriors vs. Hornets spread: Golden State -13
Warriors vs. Hornets over/under: 228.5 points
Warriors vs. Hornets money line: Golden State -752, Charlotte +526
GS: Warriors are 31-28-1 against the spread this season
CHA: Hornets are 30-27-2 against the spread this season
Warriors vs. Hornets picks: See picks at SportsLine
Warriors vs. Hornets streaming: FuboTV (Try for free)
Why the Warriors can cover
Guard Stephen Curry is an effortless scorer and difference-maker in the backcourt for the Warriors. Curry leads the team in points (24.1) and assists (6.2) with 4.5 rebounds per game. Back on Feb. 27 against the Orlando Magic, he finished with 56 points, four rebounds, and made 12 3-pointers.

Forward Draymond Green continues to be an all-around playmaker with great vision as a passer. He logs 8.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game. Green has scored in double-digit figures in four straight games. In the loss to the Sixers, the 34-year-old had 13 points, eight rebounds, and eight dimes. See which team to back at SportsLine.

Why the Hornets can cover
Forward Miles Bridges (probable, illness) provides this team with an athletic three-level scorer. Bridges averages 19.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. The Michigan State product has totaled 20-plus points in two of his last four games. On Feb. 27 against the Mavs, Bridges recorded 20 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.

Center Mark Williams uses his length and size to be a consistent force in the lane. He averages 15.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and shoots 58% from the field. Williams has racked up three straight double-doubles. In his previous outing, the Duke product had 24 points and 12 rebounds. See which team to back at SportsLine.

How to make Warriors vs. Hornets picks
SportsLine’s model has simulated Warriors vs. Hornets and is leaning Under the total, projecting 217 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in over 60% of simulations. You can head to SportsLine to see the model’s NBA picks.

So who wins Warriors vs. Hornets on Monday, and which side of the spread hits in over 60% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Warriors vs. Hornets spread to back, all from the model that has returned well over $10,000 on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.

06 Mar

2025 NBA picks, March 3 predictions from proven model

The Houston Rockets (37-23) will get another shot at the Oklahoma City Thunder (49-11) when they meet in a Western Conference showdown on Monday night. Houston has lost two of the first three meetings between these teams this season, but all three of those outings came in 2024. The Rockets are in fifth place in the Western Conference standings after losing to Sacramento on Saturday. Oklahoma City holds a commanding 10.5-game lead for first place in the conference, and it is riding a three-game winning streak.

Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. ET on Monday at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. These teams have alternated wins and losses over their last five meetings, with OKC prevailing when they last matched up on Dec. 14. The Thunder are favored by 11 points in the latest Thunder vs. Rockets odds, while the over/under is 228.5 points, per SportsLine consensus. OKC is at -442 on the money line (risk $442 to win $100), while Houston is at +341 (risk $100 to win $341). Before entering any Rockets vs. Thunder picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past six-plus seasons. The model enters Week 20 of the 2024-25 NBA season on a sizzling 147-107 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning nearly $4,000. It’s also an outstanding 18-10 (64%) on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Houston vs. Oklahoma City. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for the game:

Thunder vs. Rockets spread: Thunder -11
Thunder vs. Rockets over/under: 228.5 points
Thunder vs. Rockets money line: Thunder: -442, Rockets: +341
Thunder vs. Rockets picks: See picks at SportsLine
Thunder vs. Rockets streaming: FuboTV (Try for free)
Why the Thunder can cover
Oklahoma City has been the best team in the NBA this season, leading the league in defensive rating. The Thunder are clicking on offense as well, averaging 133 points over their last six games. They have won five of those six outings since the All-Star break, including a 146-132 win at San Antonio on Sunday night.

The Thunder’s previous season high for points in a game was 144, but they surpassed that total while extending their winning streak to three games. Jalen Williams scored a career-high 41 points, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 31 points, with neither player committing a turnover. Oklahoma City is 15-2 in its last 17 home games, while Houston has only covered the spread three times in its last 11 games. See which team to pick here.

Why the Rockets can cover
Houston will provide a challenge for Oklahoma City’s offense, as the Rockets rank fourth in the NBA in defensive rating. They are coming off a 113-103 loss to Sacramento on Saturday, but they had a day off to prepare for this game. Fred VanVleet (ankle) has been ruled out for this game, while Steven Adams (ankle), Dillon Brooks (knee), Tari Eason (leg), Alperen Sengun (back) and Amen Thompson (shoulder) are all questionable.

Shooting guard Jalen Green leads Houston with 21.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game, scoring more than 20 points in five straight outings. Sengun had 20 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists in a win over Oklahoma City on Dec. 1. The Rockets have won 11 of their last 13 games in the month of March. See which team to pick here.

06 Mar

2025 NBA picks, March 3 predictions from proven model

The Sacramento Kings and the Dallas Mavericks are set to tip at 8:30 p.m. ET on Monday at American Airlines Center. Dallas is 32-29 overall and 19-12 at home, while Sacramento is 31-28 overall and 16-14 on the road. The Kings are favored by 2.5 points in the latest Mavericks vs. Kings odds, and the over/under is 231.5 points.

Both teams are battling for NBA playoff positioning with the Kings entering this matchup in ninth place in the West and the Mavs in 10th. Before entering any Mavericks vs. Kings picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past six-plus seasons. The model enters Week 20 of the 2024-25 NBA season on a sizzling 147-107 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning nearly $4,000. It’s also an outstanding 18-10 (64%) on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Sacramento-Dallas. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for the game:

Mavericks vs. Kings spread: Kings -2.5
Mavericks vs. Kings over/under: 231.5 points
Mavericks vs. Kings money line: Kings -132, Mavericks +111
Mavericks vs. Kings picks: See picks here
Mavericks vs. Kings streaming: FuboTV (Try for free)
Mavericks vs. Kings preview
The Kings came out on top against the Rockets by a score of 113-103 on Saturday to extend their winning streak to three. The Kings can attribute much of their success to Jonas Valanciunas, who dropped a double-double on 15 points and 14 rebounds.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks lost to the Bucks at home by a decisive 132-117 margin on Saturday. The loss unfortunately continues a disappointing trend for Dallas in their matchups with Milwaukee as they’ve now lost five in a row. The losing side was boosted by Kyrie Irving, who scored 31 points in that game and has now hit the 30-point plateau in three of his last five games.

Both sides are missing some key pieces due to injury. Domantas Sabonis (hamstring) is out for the Kings. The Mavs remain without Anthony Davis (adductor), Daniel Gafford (knee), Dereck Lively II (ankle), Caleb Martin (hip) and PJ Washington (ankle). See which side to back at SportsLine.

23 Dec

CJ McCollum’s brother responds to recent rumors surrounding trade to Bucks

That’s not close to what Middleton could produce when he’s 100%. Given his age and injury history, there’s a chance that he may never get back to that level. That means a trade could happen. If they do, one player they could go after is New Orleans Pelicans scorer CJ McCollum.

Recently, it has been suggested that the Bucks have the highest odds of acquiring McCollum if the Pelicans decide to trade him. Such a trade would reunite him with Damian Lillard.

McCollum’s brother Errick responded to this. While he did not confirm whether a trade would happen, he would be all for it if it went down.

“(I don’t know) if this true or not but everything is unpredictable in the league. My brother is happy in New Orleans and has become a staple in the community…. BUT if this did happen, this right here would be something special to watch (eyes emoji) they chemistry,” McCollum wrote.

Lillard and McCollum have had (limited) success together
Lillard and McCollum made the Portland Trail Blazers a perennial playoff contender from 2015 to 2021. They won multiple playoff series together and even reached the Western Conference Finals in 2019.

However, that’s as far as they went. That team lacked more star power, which the Bucks would provide with Giannis Antetokounmpo.

If this reunion were to happen, the Bucks would gain a solid offensive infusion from someone familiar with Lillard’s game. The Bucks have a window on their hands, so if Middleton doesn’t improve, McCollum would be a solid trade return for him.

23 Dec

Lakers may swap failed $98 million trio for beloved 2023 NBA champion

The Los Angeles Lakers have been linked to various high-profile targets since the start of the trade season.

However, the organization may take a different approach and pursue a respected Toronto Raptors forward with an NBA title on his resume.

“One name that has surfaced in trade discussions involving the Lakers, according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, is veteran guard Bruce Brown of the Toronto Raptors,” Raptors Rapture’s Amos Caesar Mina wrote Wednesday.

“Brown has spent the entire season on the sidelines so far as he recuperates from knee surgery.”

“Despite a significant decline since his time as an impact player for the 2023 (Denver) Nuggets NBA title team, Brown still has the ability to defend multiple positions and locate his teammates, offering an essential element that Lakers basketball desperately needs.”

“Thus, this hypothetical trade offer presents Los Angeles with a valuable rotational asset to bolster their championship ambitions.”

“In return, Toronto can acquire additional draft capital and take a chance on players who may align well with their franchise identity.”

“In evaluating Toronto’s return, the team is acquiring three players—Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, and Jalen Hood-Schifino—in exchange for two.”

“To comply with the NBA’s new tax apron and salary matching restrictions, it will be necessary to include Bruno Fernando in order to align salaries and facilitate the trade.”

“Fernando has been associated with several NBA contenders, and although he may not significantly transform the Lakers’ frontcourt, he undoubtedly provides valuable depth in that position.”

“Gabe Vincent is unlikely to ignite much enthusiasm among Raptors fans, as he currently ranks among the least desirable guards in the NBA.”

“It wouldn’t be surprising if Toronto decides to trade him elsewhere, buy him out, or simply allow him to fulfill the duration of his two-year contract; either way, he is unlikely to play a significant role in the Raptors’ rotation.”

“The other two players, Jarred Vanderbilt and Jalen Hood-Schifino, offer a greater level of intrigue. Vanderbilt embodies the Raptors’ culture perfectly; he is a versatile wing player capable of finishing strongly around the rim and securing rebounds at will.”

“However, uncertainty surrounds Vanderbilt’s game due to his inconsistent three-point shooting and persistent injury concerns, which have impacted his ability to stay on the court recently.”

While Brown isn’t a lethal ball-handler and shooter, the Miami Product is always in the right spots offensively, allowing him to be effective as an off-ball threat.

Defensively, the sixth-year pro can contain his assignments while providing the ideal amount of help in the half-court.

Brown’s intriguing skill set helped the Denver Nuggets capture the 2023 NBA title and could benefit JJ Redick and the Lakers.

Vanderbilt is a promising two-way weapon with encouraging upside, but questions surrounding his availability may compel Los Angeles to move on from the 25-year-old wing this season.

Likewise, the Lakers seem content with ending the Vincent and Hood-Schifino experiments, making Mina’s trade proposal realistic.

23 Dec

Grizzlies could trade former DPOY to Thunder, obtain valued first-round draft capital

The Memphis Grizzlies are currently the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference with an 18-9 record after their latest 116-110 defeat against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night.

In a contest where nine-time All-Star Anthony Davis scored a game-high 40 points against a former Defensive Player of the Year winner in Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr., the team received little from another former winner of the award, Marcus Smart.

This lack of offensive production is nothing new to Memphis, as the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year and three-time All-Defensive Team selection is currently posting season averages of 9.2 points and 3.9 assists paired with a putrid 51.2% true shooting percentage.

While Smart’s offensive skillset has never been the focus of his value, his defensive intensity and reputation as a pest and ball-hawk make Smart one of the most feared perimeter defenders in the league.

This season, Smart’s 109 defensive rating per 100 possessions is on par with his 107 defensive rating per 100 possessions figure from his Defensive Player of the Year season.

Smart’s defensive upside despite nagging injury concerns could make him a valuable asset to a buying team looking to exchange first-round draft capital for a win-now defensive prodigy.

This is where The Oklahoma City Thunder and general manager Sam Presti enter the fray.

The Thunder have been notorious for their incredible stockpile of first-round draft capital that Presti has been able to accumulate since acquiring their MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander via trade in 2019.

As the current No. 1 seed in the West with a 20-5 record and championship contention in sight, recent reports have indicated that Oklahoma City could be aggressive buyers come the Feb. 6 trade deadline. With this in mind, the team could foreseeably spend a first-round pick or two to further improve what is already the league’s No. 1 ranked defense.

“The Thunder are a team to monitor on the trade market simply due to their overabundance of future draft picks,” shared Forbes’ Evan Sidery via Twitter/X Wednesday.

“With an already loaded roster, OKC projects to own four first-round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft. If OKC decides to get aggressive, they can make any deals they want.”

While saying goodbye to a valued asset like Smart would be tough, the Grizzlies could use this trade as an opportunity to collect important first-round draft capital while also providing more opportunities for their surprising guard talent like Scotty Pippen Jr. and Jaylen Wells to shine.

The potential to also land a prospect like Cason Wallace from the Thunder paired with draft compensation could also give Memphis added motivation to begin negotiations.

23 Dec

Jimmy Butler named as Warriors’ ‘primary target’ in trade talks, per NBA writer

The Golden State Warriors currently hold a 14-11 record and are positioned as the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference through 25 games this season.

Their most recent loss against the Dallas Mavericks by a score of 143-133 Sunday night was puzzling, as Golden State’s 27 three-pointers were not enough to overcome the offensive firepower of Dallas and MVP candidate Luka Dončić’s 45 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists.

Highlights: Jerzy Robinson leads Sierra Canyon over Vanden in high school girls basketball

If anything, Golden State’s most recent loss did plenty to remind the team that they have struggled with their perimeter defense as of late. The Warriors’ most trusted defenders like Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Kuminga did all they could to slow down Dončić, but the Slovenian superstar was simply too much to handle.

In the aftermath of this disappointing loss, the Warriors’ general manager Mike Dunleavy could be tempted to swing for the fences and land a two-way force and superstar forward from the Miami Heat, Jimmy Butler.

Butler has become one of the most polarizing players rumored to be a possible trade chip as the Feb. 6 trade deadline approaches, as the 35-year-old who has led the Heat to two NBA Finals appearances this decade could be dealt due to his likely unrestricted free agency coming in the summer of 2025.

The Heat have been involved in numerous trade rumors surrounding Butler, but recent reports have named the Warriors as one of the biggest threats to land the six-time All-Star and five-time All-Defensive Team selection.

“To start, Jimmy Butler is a perfect primary target for the Golden State Warriors,” wrote Fadeaway World’s Eddie Bitar Thursday morning.

“Butler’s two-way excellence and playoff pedigree would inject an edge into the team’s title aspirations. His ability to thrive under high-pressure situations and his leadership make him the ideal player to complement the Warriors’ core.”

Golden State has long been in the running to land Butler, as ESPN’s Shams Charania has also stated that the team could acquire the five-time All-NBA selection as the team was reported to be one of his top preferred destinations if he were to be dealt.

Though Golden State would have to give up a haul of promising prospects like Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody to go along with first-round draft capital, landing Butler would drastically improve their roster on both sides of the ball.

Butler currently averages 19.4 points and 6.1 rebounds while shooting a career-best 55.2% from the field and sporting a 0.9 defensive box plus-minus, certainly doing plenty to raise his stock even higher in season No. 14.

23 Dec

Celtics land rising star big man and star guard in proposed blockbuster three-team trade

The Boston Celtics pretty much have the perfect team, but there might be a way to further upgrade it still. Matt Levine of Celtics on SI proposed a trade that would land star big man Walker Kessler in Boston, along with All-Star candidate Norman Powell.

This would be a three-team trade. First, the LA Clippers would receive Jrue Holiday from the Celtics and John Collins from the Utah Jazz. Then, the Jazz would receive PJ Tucker, Derrick Jones Jr., Terrance Mann, and two future second-round picks from the Clippers, and a second-round pick swap from the Celtics. Finally, the Celtics receive Kessler from the Jazz, and Powell from the Clippers.

This benefits the Celtics in three ways: They get a reliable big man in Kessler, who is one of the best rim protectors and inside presences in the league, and he’s not even in his prime.

They also get Powell, a great scoring wing, which they have no depth in. He would replace Holiday in the starting five and Derrick White would become the full-time point guard.

Finally, the Celtics would lower their salary, as both Kessler and Powell combined will make less than Holiday.

Hopefully, the Celtics consider this deal, as Kessler could be their center of the future after Kristaps Porzingis moves on.

23 Dec

Lakers predicted to cut ties with D’Angelo Russell via trade to Wizards

By now, the NBA world knows the Los Angeles Lakers’ point guard situation isn’t ideal.

The organization could relieve some stress by trading an unreliable contributor who occupies the position to the Washington Wizards.

“The Washington Wizards are a team to look out for on the trade market this season due to the fact that they have the worst record in the league,” Sports Illustrated’s Jeremy Brener wrote Wednesday.

“This means that they are a candidate to take on hefty contracts of players that are on good teams in the hopes that some draft capital will be attached to them.”

“Bleacher Report writer Eric Pincus lists the Wizards as a potential landing spot for Los Angeles Lakers point guard D’Angelo Russell.”

“The Lakers have been linked to a few of the Wizards trade targets including Kyle Kuzma and Jonas Valanciunas.”

“Putting Russell in a trade for one or both of them could give the Wizards a point guard option for the rest of the season that could help set up the rest of Washington’s young core for success.”

“Russell likely won’t re-sign with the Wizards beyond the season, but having him for the latter part of the year could bring on some value along with whatever future draft capital the Lakers would be willing to include in a trade.”

Despite having his moments off the bench following an unsurprising demotion, Russell’s inconsistent play continues to be a glaring issue.

The Ohio State product finished with 28 points on 52.9% field goal shooting and 50% three-point shooting against the Portland Trail Blazers last Sunday, but he netted 12 points on horrendous shooting splits in the following two outings.

While Russell is undoubtedly a smooth operator who doesn’t get sped up, the Lakers are beginning to grow weary of his erratic tendencies on the hardwood.

The 6-foot-3 guard averages 12.4 points per contest on 41% field goal shooting and 33.3% long-range shooting this season.

If the Wizards are open to taking Russell off the Lakers’ hands, Los Angeles will undeniably be in better shape after the Feb. 6 trade deadline.