The 2023-24 NBA season is in full swing and we’re tackling it hard at VSiN. As always, Jonathan Von Tobel will be providing you with his exceptional coverage of the greatest league in the world. Just click here for all of his content. However, all of my picks will be featured in this daily column, which will combine my NBA best bets and NBA player props. So, keep reading to find out how I’m playing the NBA slate on Friday, March 15. Also, check out our NBA Odds page for the latest line movement.
MORE: Check out our Pro Picks page for everything our experts have on March 15
2023 Record: 254-257-2 (-9.72 units)
NBA Best Bets Today – March 15
Denver Nuggets vs. San Antonio Spurs – 8:30 pm ET (in Austin)
This game will be played at the Moody Center, which is the home of the Texas Longhorns. So, while it’s not exactly a home game for the Spurs, one would think they’d have the crowd here. That should help San Antonio remain somewhat competitive in this game, which is all the team would need to do as this big of an underdog. There’s no denying that Denver is playing some of its best ball of the season, with the team having won 10 of its last 11 and being 8-2-1 against the spread in that span. But San Antonio is 9-4 ATS in its last 13 games. So, something will have to give here and it feels like the Nuggets winning by eight or nine is very possible.
I just like that Victor Wembanyama’s ability to shoot the ball will pull Nikola Jokic away from the basket on offense. That’s a massive body that San Antonio can get out of the paint, allowing for clear lanes for the Spurs wings to attack the rim. And defensively, Wembanyama will be giving up a lot in strength against Jokic. So, the Serbian superstar will likely try to post him up and put him under the basket. But Wembanyama’s length can at least disrupt him a little. And if Jokic is spending too much time backing Wembanyama down, that will take the Nuggets out of the flow of their normal offense. That would be a small win for San Antonio, even if Jokic goes for 40.
It also feels off that the Nuggets were 10.5-point favorites against the Spurs in Denver back in November. The Spurs should be a little better off playing in Texas, and they’re also a much better team than they were then.
Bet: Spurs +10.5 (-105)
Atlanta Hawks at Utah Jazz – 9:30 pm ET
The Jazz are missing quite a few players tonight, with Jordan Clarkson, Kris Dunn and Lauri Markkanen all being out. That puts the team in rough position heading into this meeting with the Hawks. Clarkson and Markkanen are two of the best offensive players on the team, while Dunn plays roughly 20 minutes per night and is one of the best perimeter defenders in basketball. That said, there’s going to be a lot falling on an unproven rotation tonight. Keyonte George, Collin Sexton and John Collins are all good players, but where will the production come from outside of those three?
Atlanta also happens to be coming off a really bad loss against the Portland Trail Blazers the other night. So, the Hawks will likely come out with a little more urgency here, as that was a game they absolutely should have won. This is also a good matchup for Atlanta in a lot of ways. Without Trae Young in the mix, this Hawks team can be pretty lousy offensively. But the Jazz are the second-worst team in the league when it comes to adjusted defensive rating. So, Atlanta should be able to score rather efficiently here. Meanwhile, the Hawks are a solid defensive team without Young. So, they’ll make things difficult on this shorthanded Jazz team.
This also happens to be a revenge game for Hawks head coach Quin Snyder. His guys should want to get him a win against his former squad. In fact, they won by 27 when they hosted the Jazz on February 27.
Bet: Hawks ML (-136 – 2 units)
NBA Player Props Today – March 15
Phoenix Suns at Charlotte Hornets – 7:00 pm ET
Over the last 10 games, Jusuf Nurkic is averaging 16.3 rebounds per game. And perhaps more importantly, he’s averaging 24.8 rebound chances per game in that span. Nurkic has just been an absolute monster on the glass, and he’s coming off a 20-rebound performance against the Boston Celtics last night. Now, Nurkic will be going up against a Hornets team that is the second-worst in the league when it comes to rebound rate this season. Also, while Charlotte has been a little more competitive lately, the rebounding hasn’t been much better. The Hornets are 28th in the league in rebound rate over the last three games. With all of that in mind, I don’t see any reason not to play Nurkic to go Over 12.5 rebounds, and I’m also sprinkling him to have a little more. The only thing I’m worried about here is Phoenix blowing Charlotte out.
Bet: Nurkic Over 12.5 Rebounds (+104 – 1.5 units) & Nurkic Alt Rebounds 14+ (+155 – 0.5 units)
Added Plays
Clippers +7.5 (-110 – 1.5 units) vs. Pelicans: I mentioned when I first published this story that I would be in on Los Angeles if the team was relatively healthy. Well, both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George will be out there tonight. So, even though James Harden is questionable, this feels like too many points. Even on the second night of a back-to-back, it’s hard not to trust one of the best teams in basketball to simply hang around against a team like the Pelicans. New Orleans has beaten Los Angeles twice this season, so the Clippers are going to get up for this one. This is also a relatively big game as far as the standings go. I’m expecting an intense game that goes down to the wire, and I want the points in that type of battle. Also, if Harden ends up playing, this thing is probably moving to +5 or +5.5.
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