Top NBA Picks and Predictions for March 1 (Trust Mavericks, Celtics, Clippers as Favorites)
By Peter Dewey
Looking to bet the NBA on Tuesday night?
I've got you covered with my prediction for every game in the six-game slate tonight, with a couple of games that I am definitely playing in the Los Angeles Clippers-Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors-Brooklyn Nets contests.
Let's get into the picks with odds via WynnBET Sportsbook:
Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Lakers Prediction and Pick
Dallas has been one of the better teams in the NBA this season as a road favorite, going 8-5 against the spread, and I’m going to lean with the Mavs again tonight.
The Lakers are an absolute mess without Anthony Davis, and they’ve been one of the worst teams in the league against the spread (26-34) all season long.
The Mavericks are the No. 5 defense in the NBA this season, and they’re facing a Lakers team that ranks 24th in offensive rating on the year. The game-changer for Dallas is that it plays at the slowest pace in the NBA, but it has posted a top-eight offensive rating over its last 10 games.
The Mavericks are simply too efficient offensively for this struggling Lakers team to keep up, and even with LeBron James playing at an MVP-level, the Lakers have not been able to find success.
It’s Dallas or nothing in this game for me.
Lean: Mavericks -5.5 (-110)
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record in the NBA this season here.
Detroit Pistons vs. Washington Wizards Prediction and Pick
I’m not high on either of these teams, so I’m going to take the Pistons with the points in this matchup.
Washington is just 7-9 against the spread as a home favorite this season, and while it beat the Pistons at home prior to the All-Star break, Detroit has looked much better as of late.
The Pistons upset the Cleveland Cavaliers and Charlotte Hornets in two of their last three games, and I think they’ll benefit from playing another offense that has struggled as much as theirs over the last 15 games.
The extra rest may not matter for Washington in this game, as it is 5-8 ATS with a rest advantage this season. It’s hard to believe in either of these teams, so I would rather get the points with Detroit than lay them with Washington.
Lean: Pistons +3.5 (-110)
Atlanta Hawks vs. Boston Celtics Prediction and Pick
This is going to be a matchup of strength on strength, as the Hawks are No. 2 in offensive rating while Boston is No. 2 in defensive rating this season.
Boston is just 11-17 against the spread as a home favorite this year, but if you’re thinking of backing the Hawks, you may want to sprinkle on the moneyline considering that they haven’t covered in a loss all season.
The difference in this game is going to come on the defensive end for Atlanta, as the Hawks are just 26th in the NBA in defensive rating while Boston has a solid offense (ranking 17th overall and sixth over its last 10 games).
I think Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown may be a little too much for this Atlanta defense to handle, and I like Boston’s defense to take advantage of Collins being out of the lineup.
The Hawks can’t cover in losses, so I’ll lay the points with Boston in a game I expect the Celtics to win.
Lean: Celtics -7 (-110)
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Houston Rockets Prediction and Pick
While Houston was able to cover in the last meeting between these two teams, I just can’t back it in this matchup considering the Rockets’ 24-35-1 record against the spread this season.
Houston is 7-16 against the spread as an underdog at home, and the team’s league-worst defense is due for some regression after allowing just 99 points in Sunday’s loss.
The Clippers don’t have a great offense, but they’ve held the Rockets to 111 and 98 points over the last two games despite Houston’s penchant for pushing the pace.
It took the Clippers losing the turnover battle 18-6 on Sunday for the Rockets to cover, so I think Los Angeles gets back on track tonight.
Pick: Clippers -7 (-110)
Brooklyn Nets vs. Toronto Raptors Prediction and Pick
The Raptors are 13-9 against the spread this season when favored at home, and I’d be surprised if they dropped this game even with OG Anunoby out.
Brooklyn has been downright awful without Irving in the lineup, and with no James Harden to help carry the load in this game, the Raptors simply outclass this Nets team.
The big trend in this game is how these teams have done on back-to-backs this season, as Brooklyn is the worst team in the league at 1-8-1 against the spread while the Raptors are an NBA best 9-3 ATS in back-to-backs.
I expect Toronto to keep things going on Tuesday.
Pick: Raptors -8 (-110)
Golden State Warriors vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Prediction and Pick
I’ll take the Warriors in this matchup and I won’t look back.
The Wolves have really struggled in back-to-backs this season, as they’ve gone 3-7 straight up and 3-7 against the spread in that spot this season.
Golden State needs to get back on track after blowing a 21-point lead to the Mavericks on Sunday, and I think this is a solid spot to buy low on the Warriors, who looked really solid until the fourth quarter in their last game.
Minnesota struggled with the Cavs yesterday and Darius Garland and Caris LeVert didn’t play.
Lean: Warriors Moneyline (-110)