There are five games in the NBA Thursday Night lineup, but let’s focus on three. The biggest game of the night has the San Antonio Spurs taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder. We are staying away from that game. But we see a lot of value in the Clippers rivalry against the Grizzlies. It will be the fourth game of the season between those two.
Cleveland needs to bounce back after consecutive losses to the Miami Heat. Having the Detroit Pistons in front will make this task a little more difficult than usual.
And last but not least, the Suns will look to destroyed the Lakers like they just did a few days ago.
These are the Thursday NBA Picks
Los Angeles Clippers at Memphis Grizzlies
- When: Thursday, March 9, 2017
- Game Time: 8:00 PM ET
- Where: FedEx Forum, in Memphis, TN
The Clippers are 14 games behind the Golden State Warriors in the fight for the top spot in the Pacific division. Winning the division is not an option at this point, but LA is looking better and better with the return of star point guard Chris Paul to the lineup.
Los Angeles took down the Boston Celtics and the Chicago Bulls without many problems. The pay per head bookies have seen the improvement by the Clippers, which are one point last month looked lost at every position.
It also helps that now the Western Conference is wide open after the injury of shooting forward Kevin Durant. The Golden State Warriors once looked unbeatable, but without Durant, they are slim on the bench.
The Clippers average 107.9 points per game; the sixth best number in the NBA. With Paul in the lineup, power forward Blake Griffin can be the center of the offense. Center DeAndre Jordan gets more lobs in transition. And shooting guard JJ Reddick gets more open looks. Essentially, CP3 makes Los Angeles better once he steps on the floor.
Memphis enter this game with three losses in a row. They dropped to visits to the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets. But the unthinkable happened when they lost to the Brooklyn Nets on Monday. The Nets average 105.7 points per game, but somehow, they scored 122 on the Grizzlies, giving the pay per head services the edge.
“I don’t know what to say,” said reserve forward Zach Randolph after the loss.
The Clippers are 5-1 ATS in their last six road games and 4-1 ATS in their last five games as a road underdog. Los Angeles is 2-1 straight up and against the spread when facing Memphis this season. The home team always won the game and covered the spread.
NBA Picks: Clippers to win and cover the spread on the road.
Cleveland Cavaliers at Detroit Pistons
- When: Thursday, March 9, 2017
- Game Time: 7:30 PM ET
- Where: The Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, MI
The Detroit Pistons are looking better in the last month. They have resolved some issues and are aiming for a playoffs spot in the final stretch of the season. To see where they really are, we get a matchup at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday Night.
The Pistons will be playing on back-to-back nights after taking the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night. Facing two Eastern Conference teams on consecutive nights could be a tiring set of events. The online bookie software will consider this issue when they establish the line to the game against the Cavs.
The per head sportsbook will also contemplate the fact that the Cleveland Cavaliers have lost three of their last four games. Twice they lost the Miami Heat and once against the Celtics in Boston. Of course, there is no need to panic in the Land, but this pace cannot continue. I’m expecting a significant response from the Cavs in Detroit. Cleveland will be on a two-day rest facing a squad on back-to-back nights.
The Pistons are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record, 1-5 ATS in their last six games as an underdog, and 1-4 ATS in their last five after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game, according to the NBA betting trends.
The season series is split at one win each. The home team always won and covered the spread. The problem with following this trends is the momentum entering Thursday night. Cleveland can’t afford and won’t allow another loss. They are in first place in the East, but they can give teams reasons for hope. There is an order in place here, and the Cavs need to keep it that way.
NBA Predictions: Cleveland to win and cover the spread.
Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix Suns
- When: Thursday, March 9, 2017
- Game Time: 7:30 PM ET
- Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, AZ
I know there is nothing sexy about a matchup of two losing teams, but for some reason, TNT has this game on Primetime. Just by that nature, the pay per head sites will get a lot of action.
We are talking about two teams who add over 80 losses combined and just 40 wins. Los Angeles has lost their last eight games in a row, including a defeat against the Phoenix Suns in that span. By hiring Luke Walton as a coach they expected a new team philosophy, but that hasn’t arrived, yet.
Los Angeles has the fourth-worst scoring defense in the NBA, allowing 110.8 points per game. Just days ago, the Phoenix Suns put 137 on them in a 137-101 win. The Lakers don’t have a player who can carry this team when they need a basket. They don’t have a defensive system that would keep them in the game. Bet them is a bad idea at this point.
Phoenix took down the Charlotte Hornets, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Boston Celtics in a span of a week. The team is growing, and it has become a headache if opponents are not ready for them.
The Suns have had an NBA-high eight games decided at the buzzer since 2014-15. Sunday’s 109-106 win over the Celtics featured their third game-winning buzzer-beater this season. The pph sportsbooks are keeping a close eye to Phoenix lately. The Suns are 4-1 ATS in their last five after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game, 4-0 ATS in their last four home games, 4-1 ATS in their last five home games vs. a team with a losing road record and 4-1 ATS in their last five games overall.
NBA Picks: Suns to win and cover the spread.