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NBA Odds & Best Bets Today: Schedule, Picks for Thursday

Young Juliet

Updated on March 9, 2023 at 4:03 PM EST • Read time: 4 minutes and 19 seconds. Links to Twitter and Google News.

Best bets today from around the NBA.
Best bets today from around the NBA.

Thursday’s NBA schedule is limited to just six games, but we have some unique bets lined up. Check out our top NBA picks based on the latest odds.

The NBA schedule for the day includes a six-game lineup, highlighted by a much-anticipated rivalry match-up between the Golden State Warriors, now with Stephen Curry back in action, and the Memphis Grizzlies, who are currently without key players.

Furthermore, there is a game featuring two unexpectedly successful teams, the New York Knicks and Sacramento Kings.

Check out our top NBA picks for Thursday with odds from BetMGM, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Confidence ratings range from 1 to 5 stars.

Explore our NBA predictions and top NBA sports betting websites.

Thursday’s NBA schedule and odds

(Odds via DraftKings)

  • Houston Rockets (+10) vs. Indiana Pacers
  • Utah Jazz (+3) vs. Orlando Magic
  • Charlotte Hornets (-4) vs. Detroit Pistons
  • Golden State Warriors (-2.5) vs. Memphis Grizzlies
  • Brooklyn Nets (+9.5) vs. Milwaukee Bucks
  • New York Knicks (+2) vs. Sacramento Kings

Thursday’s NBA best bets

  • Spread: Rockets +9.5 vs. Pacers (-110 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐
  • Total: Jazz-Magic Over 233.5 (-115 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐
  • SGP: Grayson Allen 10-plus points & Bucks ML (-122 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Prop: Alperen Sengun Over 0.5 threes (+300 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐

Take a look at our NBA Finals and NBA MVP betting odds.

NBA top picks

Spread: Rockets +9.5 (-110 via DraftKings) vs. Pacers ⭐⭐

Despite more than 65% of the public backing the Indiana Pacers against the spread on Thursday, we are choosing to go against the grain. The Pacers, who are currently two games behind a play-in spot, will have key players Tyrese Haliburton, Myles Turner, and Buddy Hield in the lineup. However, the inconsistency of the rest of their roster makes us hesitant to trust them with such a large spread.

Indiana has a 0-3 record since December when they were favored by more than four points. They have won eight games this season by double digits, but some of those wins came against teams that were severely shorthanded and had limited time to game plan with their available starters. The Houston Rockets are no strangers to playing with a depleted lineup, as they will be missing only Kevin Porter Jr. on Thursday.

Houston has been performing well with a 4-3 ATS record in the past month against non-playoff/play-in teams. In their last game, they only shot 26.9% from three, but they are likely to improve against the Pacers, who have the worst defensive rating in the NBA since the All-Star break.

The Rockets’ defense has been inconsistent, but they have improved since the All-Star break, becoming a top-10 defense in the restricted area where Indiana thrives offensively. The Pacers rank second in the NBA in field-goal attempts per game in that zone, so Houston is likely to keep the game close, putting pressure on Indiana.

Total: Jazz-Magic Over 233.5 (-115 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐

There are only a few matchups on Thursday’s schedule where both teams are looking to play at a similar pace. This game is one of them, as both the Utah Jazz and Orlando Magic are ranked in the top seven in the NBA in PACE since the All-Star break.

The Magic will have Markelle Fultz starting, while Wendell Carter Jr. is unavailable. Orlando has a 10-7-1 Over record in these circumstances this season. Jordan Clarkson and Walker Kessler are uncertain for the Jazz, who are just one game away from a play-in spot, so they may be given the go-ahead to play if feasible.

After trading Mike Conley, the Jazz have a 5-5-1 Over record. Both teams are struggling with their three-point shooting, with the Jazz shooting 31.3% from deep in their last seven games and the Magic shooting 29.5% from three in their last six games.

While neither team is known for their jump shots, it is wise to expect improvement in their performance due to their fast-paced style of play. Therefore, it is recommended to bet on the Over.

SGP: Grayson Allen 10-plus points + Bucks ML (-122 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Even without Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks are expected to secure a victory against the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday. The Nets lack the necessary defensive and offensive capabilities to compete, making them a 9.5-point underdog.

Brooklyn will be missing key starters Spencer Dinwiddie, Cameron Johnson, and Nicolas Claxton, along with defensive stars Royce O’Neale and Ben Simmons. Despite the addition of Mikal Bridges, the Nets may struggle to contain the high-powered Bucks offense.

With Bridges and Dorian Finney-Smith focused on defending Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton, and Bobby Portis, the Bucks can take advantage by running plays to free up Grayson Allen. This will allow him to either take open three-point shots or drive to the rim with shot-blocker Claxton not in the picture. Allen has scored 10 or more points in six out of his 10 games this season without Antetokounmpo, with four of those games being at home. The Bucks have a 7-3 record in those 10 games.

Creating a same-game parlay with correlating bets is a smart move, and the best odds are currently available on FanDuel. If you’re unable to place this bet, consider taking Allen to score over 11.5 points as a three-star confidence pick.

Prop: Alperen Sengun Over 0.5 threes (+300 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐

The likelihood of Sengun making a three-pointer is slim due to his preference for other aspects of the game. However, with the right matchup and an open shot, the chances of him successfully making the shot are higher than the expected 25%. Therefore, I believe the odds are in our favor.

In their recent stretch of 15 games, the Pacers have given up the 10th highest number of 3-pointers made per game by opposing centers. Since the All-Star break, starting centers Wendell Carter Jr., Zach Collins, Nikola Vucevic, and Joel Embiid have struggled from beyond the arc when facing Myles Turner’s drop coverage designed to defend the rim, going 0-5, 2-4, 0-2, and 1-2 respectively.

Sengun has faced Turner’s defense twice in his career, with mixed results of 0-1 and 1-1 from three. This season, he has made at least one three in eight of his 20 starts without Kevin Porter Jr. and has attempted a three in two of his three games with the expected starting lineup for Thursday. If he gets one wide-open attempt today, I’ll be satisfied with his performance at this price.

These are the top NBA wagers placed on 03/09/2023 at 2:30 p.m. ET.

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Written By:
Young Juliet
Ahaan is an analytics researcher who works in fantasy football and sports betting, focusing on MLB, NBA, and NFL. He’s previously contributed fantasy baseball and football content for Fantrax and currently is a betting analyst for PlayerProfiler, where he has also been a director of analytics. When Ahaan is not capping sports props, he’s often playing sports such as floor hockey and basketball and binge-watching The Voice.