NBA Best Bets Today (Predictions for Knicks-Clippers, Nets-Celtics, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and More)

We’ve got a LOADED NBA Sunday on March 6, and we’re looking to stay hot in the NBA Best Bets column after last week we went 10-5 (+2.7991 units) in our picks. 

Today, I have four picks to make including one on the early game between the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets. Plus, it’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Appreciation Night once again, as the market won’t adjust his point total despite his hot streak since returning. 

Let’s get into the picks!

All odds via WynnBET Sportsbook.

NBA Best Bets Record to Date

• NBA Best Bets Record: 141-142-2

Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record in the NBA this season here.

NBA Best Bets Today

• Brooklyn Nets +5 vs. Boston Celtics (-110)
• Memphis Grizzlies -10.5 vs. Houston Rockets (-110)
• Los Angeles Clippers -4.5 vs. New York Knicks (-110)
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander OVER 25.5 Points (-125)

Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics: Nets +5 (-110)

Brooklyn has lost three straight games heading into this matchup and sits just a half game up on the Charlotte Hornets for the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference. 

The Celtics have been hot as of late, winning eight of their last 10 games and climbing all the way to the No. 5 seed in the East. Boston also may get Jaylen Brown (ankle, questionable) back in the lineup for this game.

Kevin Durant is back for Brooklyn, but the team still lost its last game to the Miami Heat on Thursday night. 

However, Brooklyn should get Kyrie Irving (who can only play road games still) back in the lineup which would be a huge boost to the team’s offense. 

We haven’t seen much of Irving and Durant on the floor together due to Durant’s injury and Irving’s inability to play at home, but this may be one of the last chances we get to buy low on the Nets. 

Brooklyn is 9-6 against the spread this season as a road underdog, and as good as Boston has been lately, it is still just 13-17 ATS when favored at home. 

I’m not sure if the Nets can win this game, but with KD and Kyrie both on the floor, I like Brooklyn’s chances to cover on Sunday. 

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Houston Rockets: Grizzlies -10.5 (-110)

The Houston Rockets have lost 12 straight games heading into their Sunday showdown with the Memphis Grizzlies and Ja Morant. 

Memphis jumped into the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference with its win over the Orlando Magic on Saturday night, and it is looking like a team that can make some serious noise in the playoffs. 

The Rockets have covered in two of their last four games, but they’ve also lost eight of their last 12 games by 13 or more points. 

If you’re concerned about how the Grizzlies will fare on the second night of a back-to-back, don’t be, as Memphis is 7-4 against the spread in that spot this season. 

The Grizz were able to rest their starters last night, as none of them played over 28 minutes in the blowout win over Orlando. 

That’s good news for their availability tonight, and I simply can’t trust this horrendous Houston defense (dead last in defensive rating) to slow down Memphis’ No. 4 overall offense. 

Both of these teams love to play fast, as the Grizzlies are eighth in the NBA in pace while Houston is first. However, the Grizzlies are a much better defense, ranking eighth in defensive rating. 

This has all the makings of a blowout, and the Rockets have found themselves in that spot all too often this season. 

New York Knicks vs. Los Angeles Clippers: Clippers -4.5 (-110)

The Knicks may have covered against the Suns, but they have only done so twice in their last 12 games, making them an auto-fade for me on Sunday night. 

The Clippers are playing some great basketball as of late, posting a top three defensive rating over their five-game winning streak. 

The Knicks’ season-long statistics are starting to show how badly they’ve been playing, as New York is 25th in offense and 17th in defense. Over the last 10 games, the team’s defensive rating is 28th in the NBA. 

This should be a no-brainer, as the Knicks have constantly blown leads over the past month. 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander OVER 25.5 Points (-125)

If you’ve been following the NBA Best Bets column, you know where this pick is headed. 

The Oklahoma City Thunder are still down Ty Jerome, Josh Giddey and Lu Dort heading into Sunday’s matchup with the Utah Jazz, which means we are going to see another high-volume game from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Sunday. 

Since returning from injury after the All-Star break, SGA has put up 32, 36, 37, 29 and 33 points in his last five games. He’s going to easily clear this total again, and until the market adjusts I will keep betting on his points prop.