NBA Picks

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The Hornets cap off a 4-game West Coast trip today as they head to San Antonio for a date with Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. With the Philadelphia 76ers getting hit hard by the injury bug, Charlotte is a in very solid position to catch the ninth seed; they are just 1.5 games back with 15 games left. They have won 8 of 10 and are one of the more in-form teams in the NBA over the past couple of months. The first meeting with San Antonio went their way back at the end of January, when Brandon Miller scored 26 points. What gave the Hornets the edge in that game was their hustle on the boards — they won the rebounding battle 51 to 36.

It’s not often you see the Spurs squander a 20-point lead, but that’s exactly what happened to them in their last game against the Denver Nuggets. The fact that Denver also played on the second night of a back-to-back made it even more surprising, but the absence of Wembanyama showed how much they rely on him defensively when it matters the most. Wemby is officially listed as day-to-day with an ankle issue, as is Dylan Harper — who is struggling with a calf injury. It goes without saying that having those 2 would make a huge difference for the Spurs on both ends.

Over the past 10 games, the Hornets actually have a better record than the Spurs do. These 2 teams are evenly matched in my opinion; if Wembanyama isn’t able to go, I’d even give a slight edge to the road team. Charlotte has dominated the head-to-head matchup, winning 9 of the last 10 games and also covering 8 times during this stretch. The Hornets are one of the more reliable road teams in the league right now with 12 wins in 13 games, as well, and they have also covered 4 times in the last 5 visits to San Antonio. I’ll back LaMelo Ball and company in this one.

Hornets vs Spurs prediction. Charlotte +5.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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The Washington Wizards host the Boston Celtics in a matchup that could produce a high-scoring environment based on both teams’ statistical profiles. Washington has struggled defensively throughout the 2025-26 season, allowing 122.8 points per game while carrying a 121.8 defensive rating, one of the worst marks in the NBA. The Wizards also play at a fast tempo, posting a 102.3 pace — which ranks among the league’s higher possession teams and naturally increases scoring opportunities on both ends of the floor. While Washington averages 111.9 points per game, their inability to consistently generate stops frequently turns games into offensive track meets where both teams exceed their typical scoring averages. Their defensive issues combined with a faster pace often creates an environment where totals can climb quickly, particularly when facing efficient offensive teams.

Boston enters the matchup as one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference and has been extremely efficient offensively. The Celtics carry an offensive rating of 120.5 — which ranks near the top of the league — while averaging 114.5 points per game. Even though Boston plays at a slower tempo of 94.7 possessions per game, its offensive efficiency frequently produces strong scoring outputs against weaker defensive units. The Celtics also possess one of the NBA’s best defenses, allowing 107.2 points per game — but Washington’s pace and defensive struggles can still elevate the scoring environment. When a fast-paced team with a 121.8 defensive rating meets an offense operating at a 120.5 offensive rating, possessions and scoring opportunities tend to pile up quickly — creating a statistical setup that favors a higher total.

Wizards vs Celtics prediction: Over 230.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to 232.5.

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The turnaround we are witnessing from the Orlando Magic couldn’t have come at a better time for them. This team has struggled with mediocrity for most of the season — that is, until the last month or so. Over the last 15 games, the Magic have lost only 4 times — which is quite remarkable since they’ve been without Franz Wagner and Anthony Black for a decent chunk of those games. The defense has been on point, which isn’t surprising; it’s been that way for years now. What should make the Magic fans optimistic are the team’s performances on the offensive end. Desmond Bane and Paolo Banchero have finally discovered chemistry between them, with Jalen Suggs jumping in as the third option when needed.

Miami is also on an impressive run of 7 wins in row. By now everyone has had their say about the Bam Adebayo 83-point game, and he followed up that performance with 21 points in the win over Milwaukee — showing a bit of fatigue going 6-for-20 from the field. Although it has been impressive, it’s worth pointing out that Miami’s winning streak does include a pair of wins over Brooklyn and a couple of victories over Washington and Milwaukee. The Magic will be a much tougher challenge, especially now that both Norman Powell and Tyler Herro are out. Finding points could be problematic against one of the elite defenses in the league.

This will be the fifth and final time these 2 teams meet — at least in the regular season. In case you missed it, Orlando has won all 4 meetings so far, which puts it in a prime position to finish off the Heat on Saturday night. Miami playing at home is the only reason why the oddsmakers have it as the favorite — but from what I’ve seen from both teams during their winning streaks, I give a slight edge to the Magic in this one.

Magic vs Heat prediction: Orlando +3.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers meet Saturday in a marquee Western Conference matchup with significant playoff implications. Los Angeles enters around 41-25, while Denver sits close behind at 41-26 — making this contest important in the race for postseason positioning. Denver continues to operate one of the NBA’s most efficient offenses, averaging 120.6 points per game — the top mark in the league. The attack runs through MVP-caliber player Nikola Jokic, who is averaging about 29 points, 14 rebounds and more than 10 assists per game. Jamal Murray adds more than 25 points per game and shoots nearly 44% from 3-point range. Denver’s offensive flow is fueled by elite ball movement as the Nuggets average more than 28 assists per game, allowing their half-court sets and pick-and-roll action to consistently generate high-quality looks.

Los Angeles counters with a surging offense of its own, averaging over 116 points per game behind the star duo of LeBron James and Luka Doncic. Doncic recently posted a 31-point triple-double in a key win over Minnesota, while Austin Reaves continues to provide valuable secondary scoring and playmaking. The Lakers thrive attacking the rim, producing more than 51 points in the paint per game — which will test Denver’s interior defense throughout the night. These teams already produced a high-scoring battle earlier this month when Denver won 120-113, and with both clubs featuring elite offensive creators and strong pace, another shootout could be in store. With 2 top-tier offenses capable of scoring in bunches and pushing tempo, this matchup sets up well for points on both sides.

Nuggets vs Lakers prediction: Over 245 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to 246.5.

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After defeating the Chicago Bulls 119-108 last night, the Los Angeles Clippers will try to make it 5 straight wins tonight when they take on the Sacramento Kings. With the Kings having a record on the road of 5-28, Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers should have a good chance to improve their record tonight. After being on and off the court to start the season, Leonard has proven to be a more consistent and available superstar for the Clippers. Leonard’s 28.6 points per game have led Los Angeles to a record of 28-11 in their last 39 games. Leonard has also scored at least 20 points in 44 consecutive contests.

The addition of Benedict Mathurin seems to have been a positive one with their recent success. Mathurin has averaged 24.3 points per game in his last 4 games and has paired nicely with Leonard. With how poorly the season started for Los Angeles, it has been surprising to see how it has become one of the most consistent winners late down the stretch. And with the lowly Kings coming into town, consistency is what is needed to take care of business against a team you are better than. The Clippers should be motivated to take care of business in this game. With the playoffs approaching, division wins can prove to be important in tie-breaking scenarios. I like the Clippers to win and cover tonight.

Kings vs Clippers prediction: Los Angeles -13.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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The Philadelphia 76ers and the Brooklyn Nets will go head-to-head on Saturday afternoon. Today’s game is a good opportunity for Philadelphia to pick up a win after losing 3 of its last 4 games, but covering is a different story. The 76ers currently sit as the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference, 2.5 games behind the sixth seed. With Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey sidelined by injuries, Philadelphia’s reserves will need to step up to keep pace in the East. VJ Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes will be asked to lead this team. Its last win without Embiid and Maxey was against the Memphis Grizzlies last Tuesday.

The Nets have been dealing with injuries of their own. They will be playing without Michael Porter Jr, Nic Claxton and Egor Demin. Despite the injuries, the Nets put together a good effort against Atlanta in their last game. They eventually fell 108-97, but the Nets put together a good effort with 50 bench points. I think Philadelphia can win this game — but with how it has been playing, I am not comfortable backing it to cover. The 76ers have struggled to shoot the 3-point shot lately. In their last game against Detroit, they went 8-for-35 from three. For the season, the 76ers only shoot 35.1% from three, which ranks 20th in the NBA. Both teams are riddled with injuries, so I think the Nets have enough to cover this spread.

Nets vs 76ers prediction: Brooklyn +8.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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This will be the second meeting this month between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Atlanta Hawks. The latter came out on top in that meeting, winning 131-113. Tonight should prove an equally high-scoring game. Over the last 10 games the Hawks have been in the top 5 of the league in pace. They are playing a Bucks team that has had issues getting stops, ranking 26th in defensive rating. With the extra possessions that the Hawks’ tempo will create, they will get plenty of opportunities to exploit them. The visitors have given up 129 or more points in 3 of their last 5 games overall.

The Hawks have seen 4 of their last 5 games clear the combined 228-point mark. With Jonathan Kuminga being the only absentee for the Hawks, they will be well positioned to keep up their offensive production. They are in the top 10 of the league in offensive rating over the last 10 games. Their opponents are in the top 10 during that stretch in 3-pointers made per game. If the Bucks are able to maintain that here, they should be able to do their part for the over — especially if Giannis Antetokounmpo is cleared to play.

Bucks vs Hawks prediction: Over 227 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to 228.5.