We have eight NBA games to look forward to today. While we enjoy the action, I have found the best NBA bets for March 23 for you to jump on. Relax, enjoy the games, and let’s continue our hot streak. We are 11-3 in our last 14 picks.
Best NBA Bets For March 23, 2024
Kings @ Magic
Magic -3.0 (-110)
The Sacramento Kings travel to Orlando to take on the Magic in the second and final game of their inter-conference season series. The previous match ended in a three-point overtime win for the Kings.
This is a matchup between teams with relatively young cores. Both have All-Star talent, and it would be a huge surprise if they made deep runs in the playoffs.
The Magic are currently fourth in the East. They are a game back from the Cleveland Cavaliers and will be looking to finish the season with as high a seed as possible.
The Kings are dead center in the play-in race as they occupy eighth in the West. They aim to finish as high as sixth and avoid the play-in tournament.
The Magic have Gary Harris sidelined. The Kings have Kevin Huerter, Trey Lyles, and Sasha Vezenkov as absentees for this game.
The Magic will be confident heading into this tie off their five-game winning streak. Orlando beat the surging New Orleans Pelicans in their most recent home game, while the Kings lost their previous game against the Washington Wizards on the road.
The Magic have been strong at home all year. They have won 12 of their last 16 at home. In contrast, the Kings have lost five of their previous 10 on the road.
The Magic are second in the NBA in defensive rating over the last five games. During this span, the Kings are fourth in the league. So, expect a tightly contested affair that will come down to who can make more shots. I trust the Magic to match up better, especially with the absence of shooters for the Kings.
In this bet, we’re backing the healthier home team to come out victorious.
Hornets @ Hawks
Under 213.5 (-110)
The Atlanta Hawks welcome the Charlotte Hornets to the State Farm Arena. This will be the third meeting of the season between both sides. The Hornets won the most recent encounter in Charlotte by 23 points.
Both teams head into this matchup on losing streaks. The Hawks have won just one of their previous six, while the Hornets have won twice over that span.
Both teams have struggled to score points over the past 10 games. The Hornets are averaging 101.2 points per game in that span. The Hawks are slightly better at 108.1 ppg.
The Hornets’ LaMelo Ball, Seth Curry, Mark Williams, and Cody Martin remain out. For the Hawks, Trae Young, Jalen Johnson, Saddiq Bey, and Onyeka Okongwu are listed as out.
In this NBA bet, we are backing the under because of the abundance of rangy players on both teams and an expected inability to score points with so many injuries.
Celtics @ Bulls
Over 218.5 (-110)
The Boston Celtics travel to Chicago to take on the Bulls in the third game of the season series. The previous game ended in a 17-point win for the Celtics at the United Center.
The Bulls are pretty much solidified as the ninth seed, barring any late-season slides. If they qualify through the play-in tournament, this could be a preview of the first round of the playoffs.
The Celtics are comfortably in first in the East, 11 games ahead of the second seed in the standings. They are competing against all-time great teams at this point.
The Bulls lost their most recent game against the Rockets on the road. The Celtics beat the tanking Detroit Pistons handily on the road. The Celtics are on the second night of a back-to-back, with both games on the road.
The Bulls continue to deal with the absence of Lonzo Ball, Zach LaVine, and Patrick Williams. The Celtics currently have Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porziņģis, and Jrue Holiday listed as out.
The Bulls have been reliable scorers at home. Over their last 12 games at home, they have scored at least 111 points in nine. Over the last nine games, the Bulls are 11th in the NBA in pace. They are trying a faster approach, which bodes well for our over pick.
The Celtics are crashing through the league like a freight train. They head into this game off a five-game win streak on the road. During this streak, they scored at least 117 points in each game.
This is a straightforward bet where we are backing the over because we have a slightly fatigued Celtics missing key defensive players and a Bulls team embracing a faster approach.
These are my best NBA bets for March 23. Let’s repeat some recent successes.
Good luck with your bets.
Odds courtesy of DraftKings as of approximately 11:00 a.m. EST on March 21st. These are for entertainment purposes only and by no means a guarantee. Wager responsibly.
