Top NBA Pick for Today
NBA Pick: Zach LaVine ( Chicago Bulls) – Over 26.5 points (-124) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Picks Summary:
- Zach LaVine (Chicago Bulls) – Over 26.5 points (-124)
- Jabari Smith Jr. (Houston Rockets) – Over 23.5 Points Rebounds + Assists (-117)
The NBA is filled with fun games for tonight’s Friday night action. We have plenty of good teams playing and more opportunities to make winning NBA player props wagers. Let’s take a look at the board to find winning NBA picks.
Remember, fans from the Land of Lincoln who want to wager on this game should check out our top-rated Illinois betting sites.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Chicago Bulls
Friday, March 17, 2023 – 08:00 PM EDT at United Center
Matchup Analysis
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves and Chicago Bulls are both coming off of losses. Minnesota comes into the game with a record of 35-35 while Chicago is 31-37. Minnesota’s most recent game was a 104-102 loss to the Boston Celtics. The loss was Minnesota’s third loss in their last four games.
The Timberwolves are currently tied for 7th place in the Western Conference. They are one game behind the Golden State Warriors so they will be pushing hard to avoid the Play-In tournament. Tonight marks the beginning of a tough stretch for Minnesota. They will play six of their next seven games on the road.
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls are coming off a heartbreaking 117-114 loss at home to the Sacramento Kings. The Bulls fell short when De’Aaron Fox hit a 3-pointer with .7 seconds to go. The loss was the third defeat in the last five games for the Chicago Bulls.
The Bulls stars played well in the loss. DeMar DeRozan had 33 points and Zach LaVine had 25 points. I expect more big games from the team’s stars tonight. Zach Lavine did not shoot well in that game. He was 7-22 from the field. It was only the second time in the last nine games that LaVine shot less than 50% on his field goal attempts.
Zach LaVine (Chicago Bulls)
Over/Under Points
Zach LaVine has an excellent opportunity for a bounce-back spot here tonight. Zach LaVine has gone over 26.5 points in five of his last six games. LaVine has averaged 33.3 points per game over that 6-game span.
In a battle of two teams fighting for playoff position, we will see big performances from the stars. Our first player prop at the current NBA odds for the evening is Zach LaVine over 26.5 points.
NBA Pick: Zach LaVine – Over 26.5 points (-124) at BetOnline
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Houston Rockets
Friday, March 17, 2023 – 08:00 PM EDT at Toyota Center
Matchup Analysis
New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans comes into the game struggling. New Orleans has gone 4-9 over their last 13 games.
Time is running out quickly for the Pelicans if they want to make the Western Conference playoffs.
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets have won two games in a row. Houston will try and match their longest winning streak of the season and make it three games when they host the New Orleans Pelicans tonight. Houston is coming off a strong win over the Los Angeles Lakers 114-110. Kevin Porter Jr. led the way for the Rockets when he scored 27 points. Porter became the fourth different player to lead the Rockets in scoring in the last seven games.
The Rockets’ ball distribution has been key to their best team play of the year. In this span, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., Jalen Green, and Kevin Porter Jr. have all led the team in scoring.
Tonight Houston will face the New Orleans Pelicans who are still fighting for a spot in the Play-In tournament.
This game will be the first of two games back-to-back in Houston. These are winnable games for the Pelicans and if they are to make the playoffs, they’re going to have to win games such as these. However, the Rockets are playing better than their record suggests right now.
Jabari Smith Jr. (Houston Rockets)
Over/Under Points + Rebounds
Jabari Smith Jr. was the Rockets’ first-round draft pick, going three overall. Smith is currently averaging 12.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Yet like most rookies, his production has increased as he has gotten used to the NBA. Smith is averaging 24 points per game over his last four games.
During that span, he has gone over this total for points, rebounds, and assists in every game including a 30-point, 12-rebound outing in Indiana against the Pacers. Smith has been playing extra minutes lately averaging more than 35 minutes per game. The Rockets are all in on player development and Smith has been a beneficiary.
Smith is an excellent young player with plenty of talent and the Rockets are smart to build around him. Smith will continue his streak of strong play tonight.
Our second player prop for the evening is Jabari Smith over 23.5 points rebounds and assists.
NBA Pick: Jabari Smith Jr. – Over 23.5 Points Rebounds + Assists (-117) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
