Karl-Anthony Towns came out and put a 60-point performance on Monday against the Spurs. The Lakers were defeated in a double-digit loss to the Raptors on their home court. LeBron James’ frustration is starting to build as his team is on the verge of missing the playoffs for just the fourth time in his 19-year career. The NBA is back on Tuesday with a small four-game slate. Let’s dive into the best NBA bets today, picks and NBA betting tips for Tuesday, March 15.
Best NBA Bets Today: Game Tips & Betting Predictions
Suns vs. Pelicans Best Bet
The Suns and Pelicans face off on Tuesday inside Smoothie King Center. Phoenix is coming off a season-high 140-point performance in a victory over a struggling Lakers squad on Sunday. The Pelicans will be looking to string together back-to-back wins after losing four of their last five games. These two teams have faced off three times this season with the Suns winning two of the three games by double digits. The Pelicans were able to take home the victory in their most recent matchup behind a 32-point performance from CJ McCollum.
The Suns enter Tuesday with a 54-14 record and the only team that has clinched the playoff spot thus far. They sit 7.5 games ahead of the Grizzlies and Warriors in the West with only 14 games left in their season. Cameron Johnson will sit out for a sixth straight game as he deals with a bruised quad. Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton continue to rise above the competition, combining for an average of 42.5 points per game. The Suns as a team are averaging 114 points on 48.3% shooting and allowing 106.1 points to opponents. Phoenix has the best road record in the NBA at 25-6 and has gone 15-2 in their last 17 road contests overall. To no one’s surprise, the Suns have the best NET rating on the year, ranking 4th in offensive rating and 2nd in defensive rating on the year.
Brandon Ingram‘s absence has proven to be a dagger to the Pelicans’ production. New Orleans is 1-3 since his absence, with the sole win coming against the Rockets in their most recent contest. Ingram remains sidelined with a hamstring injury and will be reevaluated this week. McCollum will be available to play on Tuesday after clearing the league’s health and safety protocols. New Orleans has relied on Devonte’ Graham, Jose Alvarado and Herbert Jones to step up in the absence of Ingram and McCollum, but they have been unable to produce enough offense to win consistently. The Pelicans are averaging 108.2 points on 45.4% shooting and allowing 109.9 points to opponents. The Pelicans’ defense will have a stiff test in front of them with the Suns’ offense ranking 2nd in field goal percentage on the year facing off vs. a Pelicans defense that is 22nd in opponent field goal percentage.
Phoenix enters Tuesday with a 19-12 record against the spread on the road and 4-1 against the spread in the last five vs. New Orleans. The Pelicans are 2-6 against the spread in their last eight games and have been struggling to turn games into victories without McCollum and Ingram sharing the floor. The Pelicans are one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the league and will be up against a stout Suns defense that holds opponents to the lowest 3-point percentage this year. Phoenix is the league’s best team with an +8 point margin of victory against the spread this season. This number feels a bucket or two short. Lay the points with Phoenix on the road in Tuesday’s matchup.
Best Bet for Today’s Game: Phoenix Suns -4.5
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Grizzlies vs. Pacers Best Bet
The Grizzlies travel to Indiana to take on the Pacers in their second game of a four-game road trip on Tuesday. Memphis will look to stay hot and extend their current win streak to four games. The Pacers are in dire need of a win after losing 13 of their last 17 games. This will be the first meeting between the two teams this season. Indiana has owned the Grizzlies in recent history, winning 7 of their last 8 head-to-head meetings.
Memphis was happy to get Dillon Brooks back in the lineup after missing 27 games due to an ankle injury. Brooks posted 15 points on 6 of 14 from shooting in his first game back. Keep an eye on his status as the team will most likely take a cautious approach to his return, but barring any setbacks, expect to see him back in the rotation again on Tuesday. Ja Morant is doubtful for tonight’s contest due to back soreness and did not go through shootaround this morning. If Morant is unable to suit up, expect Tyus Jones to see an increase in usage. Memphis has a 12-2 record without Morant, so the depth has proven to pick up the missing production in his absence. The Grizzlies are averaging 114.4 points on 45.9% shooting and allowing 109.5 points to opponents. Their defense may have not looked sharp over their last few games, but Memphis is still the seventh-ranked team in the league in defensive efficiency.
Indiana has been dealing with endless injuries as of late. Malcolm Brogdon (concussion), Chris Duarte (toe), Goga Bitadze (foot) and Lance Stephenson (ankle) are all listed as questionable heading into Tuesday night. Indiana’s depth will be tested if any of these players are unable to go. Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield will be relied on heavily on the offensive end of the floor. The Pacers are averaging 110.7 points on 46.1% shooting and allowing 113 points to opponents. The Pacers’ defense has been a real struggle, ranking 26th on the season in defensive rating. It is hard to find a rhythm for Indiana on either end of the floor without having the opportunity to run a consistent rotation night in and night out.
Last season, both matchups between these two teams went for 250 or more combined points. The Pacers are averaging a combined score of 242 points over their last five games overall. Memphis is averaging a combined score of 234.6 points over their last five games. Despite the recent trends and high scoring averages, both sides are dealing with injury concerns heading into Tuesday’s matchup. Expect the Grizzlies to get back on track on the defense end of the floor and slow down a banged-up Pacers squad. The Grizzlies have not put up more than 231 points in the 14 games that Morant has missed this season. While a fast-paced outing with plenty of shots coming from both teams is expected, this number feels a few points too high. Ride the under in tonight’s matchup.
Best Bet for Today’s Game: Total Under 235 Points
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