NBA Predictions and Best Bets – March 17, 2021

Wednesday looks like a pretty good night to bet on the NBA, with a fat 10-game schedule rolling out.

This betting slate includes a rematch between the Mavs and the Clippers as a nightcap, as well as the Bucks and 76ers duking it out for Eastern Conference supremacy.

See who else is hitting the hardwood for Wednesday, March 17th, 2021.

There should be plenty of points on the board on Wednesday, as some really bad defensive teams are in action.

In all, just three of these games feature two teams with a winning record. That could equate to some ugly games, and/or some blowouts.

If you need a little help navigating the murky waters of lopsided games, check out this post on how to benefit from NBA blowouts.

For Wednesday’s NBA predictions and top betting picks, read on.

The Raptors come into Wednesday with just a 17-22 record, and they are going in the wrong direction thanks to a give-game losing streak.

It seems not having key players like Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby matters.

Those players should be due back soon, but it’s hard to hate Toronto even if they’re still out. 

Detroit is a mess at 10-29. They’re enduring their own injury issues, and they’ve also dropped four in a row. Something has to break here, and I don’t see why anyone would assume the Pistons are the one that’ll snap out of their funk first.

The Nets are on fire at the moment. They’re still down Kevin Durant, but that hasn’t slowed them down one bit.

Brooklyn is putting up over 120 points per game, and they’ve won five games in a row. They are also 9-1 over their last 10 games, and they seem to be improving defensively.

Indiana isn’t the team everyone thought they’d be. They get a boost with Caris LeVert in town, though, and he gets a crack at revenge against the team that traded him away.

LeVert should have a nice outing, but I don’t think the Pacers win. Brooklyn and the Over look like fantastic bets.

This would have been the game of the night, but the Sixers are forced to operate with Joel Embiid on the sidelines.

ESPN Sources with @ramonashelburne: Philadelphia Sixers star Joel Embiid's MRI showed no structural damage to his left knee, just a bone bruise. ACL and meniscus are fine. No timeline yet on a return.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 13, 2021

It’s still potentially a great game. Philly has stayed strong, winning eight of their last 10, and they’ve been dominant (17-3) at home this year.

Obviously they aren’t as formidable against the Bucks without their best player, though. Milwaukee is also trending up, as they’ve won four straight and nine of their last 10.

Something has to break here, and it should be easy to lean toward the elite team that’s at full strength.

I told you there should be plenty of points on this slate, and a good amount of them could come in this clash in D.C.

The Wizards run a fun offense, but neither they or the Kings play any defense. Both teams are in free fall mode, too, having lost seven of their last 10 games.

Washington gets the edge here. They’ve largely been in better form over the past month, they have more star power, and they’re at home.

The Spurs are working on parting ways with veteran big man LaMarcus Aldridge, while star swingman DeMar DeRozan has been away from the team.

They’re a tough team to peg, but DeRozan could be back for this one, and the Spurs have been pretty good (10-6) on the road this season.

San Antonio is also still in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race, and the Bulls play little defense. They also demoted Coby White recently.

The Spurs give you a bit more reliability, so they feel like an easy call.

The Celtics hit a rough patch earlier this year, but they’re slowly turning back into a title contender.

Boston has won six of their last 10, and they should be better defensively moving forward with Marcus Smart back in the fold.

Marcus Smart: "I want us to forget about that first half. It’s in the past, it’s over, and get a fresh start in the second half."

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 10, 2021

They certainly look like the team to roll with here, as they prepare to battle a reeling Cavs team.

Cleveland is trying to keep it together, but they’ve dropped three in a row and are just 4-6 over their last 10. Their offense can be like pulling teeth beyond Collin Sexton, so I’d just trust in Boston here.

This is another game with plenty of scoring upside, as the Warriors play a fast brand of ball, and Houston plays zero defense.

Golden State’s defensive efficiency has actually been great in recent weeks, so if bettors can look past a blowout loss to the Lakers, they might feel good here.

Houston has also been losing games at an alarming rate, and they’re just 5-11 on their home floor.

Golden State and the Over look like strong bets here.

The Nuggets look like a strong bet to get another winning streak going on Wednesday. They’re at home, and Nikola Jokic should have his way down low against the Hornets.

LaMelo Ball continues to impress and Charlotte is getting healthier, of course. The Hornets are also in a groove with four straight wins and a 7-3 run over their last 10 games.

However, they’re just 8-12 on the road this year, and their defense leaves a lot to be desired.

Jimmy Butler continues to have an amazing year, and he’ll hope to lead the Heat to another big win on the road against the Grizzlies.

Miami did play last night, so it’s always possible this is a trap game due to fatigue. I’d monitor the status of Bam Adebayo after returning to the floor on Tuesday, as well.

Memphis could be sneaky here, but they’re not in good form. They’ve dropped three in a row, they’re just 8-12 at home, and Miami also happens to be on fire.

The Grizzlies could be a fine ATS try, but that’s about as far as I’d take it.

The Clippers edged out the Mavs two nights ago, and they return to Dallas to try to do it again.

Los Angeles is always at risk of resting their key guys, but I doubt they do it here. They’re fourth in the Western Conference and still have a shot at the top seed, so they should keep attacking.

Dallas won’t take it easy, either. They’re the 8th seed at the moment, but nothing is guaranteed as far as making the playoffs go.

Winning their division would certainly help their chances, of course, and the latest odds indicate they’re a solid bet.

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The Mavs lost their last game, but they’ve otherwise been trending in the right direction. They’re 7-3 over their last 10 games, they’re at home, and they have Luka Doncic.

Dallas looks like a fine value play at home.

This is a big betting slate, so there are plenty of bets to like. Of the lot, the four bets above stand out the most to me.

Philly is just so good at home. I think Milwaukee wins, but Philly has been terrific at home, and I think it still stays close.

I love the Nets and Heat to get wins, too. Both teams are on fire, and the prices are pretty nice. You can bet the moneyline or spread for either, but I think as far as the pricing goes, the Nets to win and Miami to cover make the most sense.

Dallas as a home dog just feels too nice to pass up. The Clippers stole the last game, but Dallas has played them very well for a while now.

Like these NBA picks and ready to place some bets? Head over to the best sites for betting on the NBA.