Top NBA Picks and Predictions for March 14 (Back Nuggets, Hornets, Warriors on Monday)
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BetSided's Peter Dewey and Joe Summers have you covered with some of the top NBA picks and predictions for the action on March 14, with all odds via WynnBET Sportsbook.
Charlotte Hornets vs. Oklahoma Thunder Prediction and Pick
Oklahoma City was a top-10 defense in January and February but the wheels are starting to fall off. They've allowed 125+ points in each of their last three games and are dead last in the NBA in defensive rating in March. To make matters worse, they just had to chase the Grizzlies around last night and will be tired.
That struggling, exhausted defense gets rewarded with a matchup against a Hornets team that has the second-best offensive rating this month and has 120+ points in three of its last four contest. Thanks to that stellar offense, Charlotte actually ranks in the top 10 in net rating in March and have covered the spread in three straight as a road favorite.
The Thunder's chances lay squarely on the shoulders of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He's had at least 30 points in seven of his nine games since returning from injury and looks sensational. But the rest of the roster is young and inexperienced and I'm worried the Hornets blow them out of the preverbial water.
Despite fielding the league's worst defense, Oklahoma City has the second-fastest pace this month and that's helped the over go 9-2 in their last 11. In the Thunder's last eight as a home underdog, the over is 7-1. When Charlotte is a road favorite, the over has hit in five straight and is on a 9-2 stretch as well.
Put it all together and I love the over 232, but I'll also go with the Hornets to notch a third double-digit victory over the Thunder this season. Oklahoma City has been a great spread bet all year but their defense is too terrible to trust, especially against a rested Hornets squad playing for their playoff lives.
Pick: Hornets -9.5 (-110) and Over 232 (-110) -- Joe Summers
Follow all of Joe Summers' betting picks here.
Washington Wizards vs. Golden State Warriors Prediction Pick
Washington has not only lost three straight games, but it has failed to cover in all three, losing to the Portland Trail Blazers as 6.5-point favorites in their latest matchup.
Golden State is going to provide a much tougher game than Portland, as the Warriors are third in the NBA in defensive rating, and they’re starting to see Klay Thompson turn things around after going through a shooting slump.
Thompson put up 38 points and hit eight 3-pointers in the Warriors’ win over the Bucks, but he isn’t the only important piece for the Warriors. Golden State will get Draymond Green back from a back injury on Monday, and while he will be on a minutes restriction, Green is huge for the Warriors’ success.
This season, Golden State is 18-16 without Green and 28-6 with him in the lineup. Yeah, he’s the team’s X-factor.
I expect the Warriors to roll at home with Green back in the lineup.
Lean: Warriors -12.5 (-110) -- Peter Dewey
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record in the NBA this season here.
Denver Nuggets vs. Philadelphia Sixers Prediction and Pick
Philadelphia is just 3-4 against the spread in back-to-backs this season, and the Sixers haven’t looked particularly good in their last two games, getting blown out by the Brooklyn Nets before yesterday’s close win.
Denver may be sputtering as of late, but the Nuggets are still playing the No. 7 defensive rating and No. 11 offensive rating in the NBA over their last 10 games.
The Nuggets are also 11-9 against the spread as road underdogs this season, and I think there is value on them with the possibility of Embiid or Harden sitting after an overtime game.
I’m going to back Denver to pull off the upset, as Jokic may be able to leapfrog Embiid in the MVP conversation with a dominant performance in their head-to-head matchup.
Pick: Nuggets Moneyline (+125) -- Peter Dewey