Teams were raining buckets on Tuesday with the over going 4-2 on the night, three of which ended in the 250-point range. The NBA is back on Wednesday with an action-packed slate. There are 12 games taking place across the league. With a slate this large, there is bound to be opportunity for some quality edges. Let’s dive into the best NBA bets today, picks and NBA betting tips for Wednesday, March 9.
Best NBA Bets Today: Game Tips & Betting Predictions
Magic vs. Pelicans Best Bet
The Magic will travel overnight to New Orleans to face off with the Pelicans inside Smoothie King Center on Wednesday. Both teams are playing in the second game of a back-to-back and are both coming off a loss last night. The Orlando Magic will look for a win after splitting their last six games. The New Orleans Pelicans look to bounce back after dropping two straight. The Pelicans are still in the playoff picture, so tonight will be an important game for them to come out victorious. These two teams have faced off once this season with the Pelicans winning 110-104 in Orlando. Tonight, New Orleans will look for a repeat performance in hopes to get back in the win column.
The Orlando Magic are coming off a 102-99 loss to the Suns on Tuesday. Orlando moves to a 16-50 record on the season, the worst in the NBA. Jalen Suggs (ankle) remains questionable after missing the last two games due to an ankle sprain. Markelle Fultz will rest on Wednesday in the second game of a back-to-back. The Magic will continue to exercise caution with Fultz, who is returning from an ACL injury. The Orlando Magic rank 28th in the league in scoring, averaging 103.8 points on 43.4% shooting. The Magic rank 20th in defensive rating on the season, allowing 111.9 points to opponents. Cole Anthony is averaging 17.4 points, while Franz Wagner is averaging 15.6 points. Anthony’s play has tailed off a bit after his hot start to the season. The Magic have the third-worst shooting percentage and 3-point percentage in the league. Their matchup against the Pelicans will not get any easier, as the Pelicans rank 2nd in defensive rating over the last six games.
The Pelicans were routed by Memphis 132-111 on Tuesday. New Orleans was without their star Brandon Ingram, as he was a late scratch due to a hamstring injury. The seriousness of the injury is unknown, so continue to monitor his status into Wednesday’s matchup as it is questionable. Despite their loss to the Grizzlies, the Pelicans have been playing excellent basketball, winning four of their last five games by 15 or more points. C.J. McCollum has turned it up on the offensive end of the floor, averaging 26.6 points in 11 games with the Pelicans. New Orleans ranks 6th in offensive rating since acquiring McCollum from the Trail Blazers. The Pelicans are averaging 107.7 points on 45.2% shooting and allowing 109.1 points to opponents.
Ingram or not, expect the Pelicans to take care of business against a young and struggling Magic squad. Orlando is 5-9 against the spread on no rest with an average margin of -11.9 points. The Pelicans are a better cover team at home, with a 17-14-1 record against the spread and 4-2 against the spread since the All-Star break. New Orleans has turned it up with McCollum in the lineup and the Pelicans need to take advantage of games against weaker opponents like Orlando if they are going to position themselves for the playoffs. Lay the points here with the home favorite in tonight’s matchup.
Best Bet for Today’s Game: New Orleans Pelicans -8.5
The best odds are available on BetMGM found through OddsShopper. Find your best bet in 30 seconds or less.
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Suns vs. Heat Best Bet
The Phoenix Suns make an overnight trip down the Florida coast line to visit the Miami Heat on Wednesday. The Suns held off the Magic 102-99 on Tuesday night. It was an off night for the Suns’ offense, who finished the game shooting 38.5% from the field as a team. The Heat will look to stay hot and extend their current win streak to four games. These two teams faced off in January with the Heat cruising to a 123-100 victory in Phoenix.
The Suns enter Wednesday with a 52-13 record on the season. Devin Booker will play after missing a few games for the league’s health and safety protocols. Chris Paul (thumb) remains out indefinitely. Cameron Johnson (quadriceps) is currently listed as day-to-day. The Suns eked out a win last night against the Magic behind a 21-point, 19-rebound performance from Deandre Ayton. Ayton continues to be the anchor of the team while they play through a myriad of injuries. The Phoenix Suns are averaging 113.7 points and allowing 106.1 points to opponents. Phoenix ranks first in net rating, ranking third in both offensive and defensive rating on the season. They will have a tougher test tonight going up against a Heat squad that ranks fifth in defensive rating on the season.
Miami has won 12 of their last 14 games overall. The Heat are averaging 109.7 points on 46.4% shooting and allowing 104.6 points to opponents. Jimmy Butler leads the team in scoring, averaging 21.4 points, while Tyler Herro is second on the team averaging 20.8 points. Herro has put together an impressive run of games since returning from the All-Star break, making his case for sixth man of the year. Miami was excited to get Victor Oladipo back on the court for the first time in nearly a year. Oladipo had an efficient first game back providing 11 points on four of seven shooting from the field in just 15 minutes of play. He will remain on a strict minute limit but will provide some quality minutes off the bench.
Head to head, the over is 7-2 in the last nine meetings overall. Even though the Suns will be without two of their top three scorers on the season, they have proven to be able to put up points in the absence of Paul. The over is 9-4 in the Suns’ last 13 games overall. The over is 7-3 in the Heat’s last 10 home games. The Heat have a fully healthy roster and continue to show out inside FTX Arena. These two teams rank top 10 in offensive rating and effective field goal percentage on the season. Phoenix has been taking more 3-point attempts with the depleted roster, which offers up more opportunities for 3-point baskets. Anticipate this game to end with a combined score of 220 or more points. Take the over with confidence in tonight’s showdown.
Best Bet for Today’s Game: Total Over 219.5 Points
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