Tuesday is a lighter night in the NBA with six games scheduled across the league. Teams will need to buckle down as they enter the final month of the regular season. With less than a quarter of the season left, the playoff race is in full speed. Keep a close eye on the daily matchups, as some teams are fighting for playoff positioning, while others do not have as much to play for. Let’s dive into the best NBA bets today, picks and NBA betting tips for Tuesday, March 8.
Best NBA Bets Today: Game Tips & Betting Predictions
Nets vs. Hornets Best Bet
Both the Brooklyn Nets and Charlotte Hornets enter Tuesday with an identical record of 32-33 on the season, tied for eighth in the Eastern Conference. Brooklyn has slipped in the standings after dropping four straight games and losing six of their last seven overall. The Hornets have managed to string together back-to-back wins, but they have had consistency issues losing 11 of their last 15 games overall. These two teams faced off once this season with Charlotte winning 111-95 in Brooklyn. The Nets will look for revenge in Charlotte on Tuesday night.
The Nets need to buckle down and finish their last 17 games strong for seeding purposes. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant are both healthy and will be back on the court together in Charlotte. These two have only managed to play four games together with a 2-2 record on the year. Last season, the Nets were 16-11 with both Irving and Durant playing together. LaMarcus Aldridge has been ruled out on Tuesday with a hip injury. Cam Thomas is questionable with a back injury after exiting their prior game on Sunday. Ben Simmons remains without a timetable to make his debut. The Brooklyn Nets are averaging 110.8 points on 46.6% shooting and allowing 111.8 points to opponents. Durant is averaging 29.5 points per game, while Irving is second on the team, averaging 24.7 points per game.
The Charlotte Hornets will be aiming for a third straight win after taking home the 123-117 victory versus the Spurs in their previous contest. The Hornets are averaging 114.3 points on 45.8% shooting and allowing 114.6 points to opponents. Miles Bridges, LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier are all averaging 19 points apiece on the season. James Bouknight remains out and Jalen McDaniels is questionable for Tuesday’s contest. Charlotte’s struggles have come on the defensive end of the floor. The Hornets rank 20th in defensive rating and opponent field goal percentage.
It is tough to back either team with extreme confidence given their recent play. While the Nets own the worst record against the spread in the NBA, they are better on the road with an 18-15 record against the spread. The biggest reason for the Nets’ record against the spread on the road is Irving. Brooklyn is as healthy as they have been in a while, so expect Durant and Irving to be dialed in and lead Brooklyn to victory. The Nets are 4-1-1 against the spread in their last 6 road games. The Hornets have not been great at home lately, as they are only 2-7-1 against the spread in their previous ten home games. If the Nets cannot win this game, concern will start to rise as their issues may be bigger than everyone thought. Do not expect a blowout, but lay the bucket with the Nets in tonight’s matchup.
Best Bet for Today’s Game: Brooklyn Nets -3
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Suns vs. Magic Best Bet
The Suns (51-13) are on the road to battle the Magic (16-49) inside Amway Center on Tuesday night. The Suns were dealt a loss by the Bucks on Sunday after a hard-fought battle without Chris Paul or Devin Booker in the lineup. The Magic have managed to win three of their last five games but will have a tough test at home going up against the top team in the league. These two teams faced off once this season where the Suns posted a 132-105 win in Phoenix on Feb. 12.
The Suns are playing in the first game of a back-to-back with a matchup against the Miami Heat on Wednesday. Phoenix is in great shape heading into the final month of the season, holding an eight-game lead atop the Western Conference. Booker has missed the last three games due to health and safety protocols and will remain out on Tuesday. Paul (thumb) remains out indefinitely. Cameron Johnson (quadriceps) will be sidelined for a second straight game. Without Booker and Paul, Phoenix is a much different team. They have lost three of their last five games and cooled off after a historic start to the season. Deandre Ayton is coming off a season-high scoring night with 30 points against the Bucks. Ayton continues to shine, scoring 20 or more points in three of his last five games. The Phoenix Suns are averaging 113.9 points on 48.3% shooting and allowing 106.2 points to opponents. Phoenix ranks first in net rating, ranking third in both offensive and defensive rating on the season. They will have a softer test on the defensive end of the floor tonight after facing the Bucks in their previous contest.
The Orlando Magic enter Tuesday tied for the league’s worst record, but this has not stopped them from competing to win each night. While the Magic have managed to win three of their last five games, two of those wins came against the Rockets and Pacers. Both Jalen Suggs (ankle) and Markelle Fultz (knee) are questionable to play against the Suns. The Orlando Magic are averaging 103.8 points on 43.4% shooting and allowing 111.9 points to opponents. Cole Anthony is averaging 17.4 points, while Franz Wagner is averaging 15.6 points. The Magic rank 29th in offensive rating and will not have an easy test against a strong Suns defense. They have the third-worst shooting percentage and 3-point percentage in the league.
The Suns will be shorthanded once again with Booker, Paul and Johnson all ruled out ahead of Tuesday’s game. While the offense looked solid against the Bucks in their last outing, there was some extra motivation in what was a Finals rematch. The under is 4-1 in the Magic’s last 5 overall. Phoenix does not want this game to slip away, even with the lead they have in the West. The Phoenix Suns hold a 13-15 over/under record on the road. The Suns are in line for a bounce-back win behind a better showing on the defensive end. Take the under in Tuesday’s matchup.
Best Bet for Today’s Game: Total Under 221.5 Points
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