Every night of the 2025-26 NBA season gives us a fresh set of games and numbers to pick apart. This daily column digs into the best sides and totals on the board, using in-depth basketball analysis, betting trends, and our VSiN NBA betting splits to spot value. We’ll also be tackling these slates relentlessly on our live VSiN programming, which is why basketball fans should really consider a VSiN Pro subscription. Below you’ll find some NBA picks and predictions for March 18.
MORE: Check out the VSiN Pro Picks page for more bets from our talented hosts and analysts!
NBA Best Bets Today – Wednesday, March 18
Pelicans ML (-125) vs. Clippers
Clippers at Pelicans – 8:00 pm ET
The Pelicans will have their full rotation when they take on the Clippers tonight, but Los Angeles will be missing Bennedict Mathurin and has Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland listed as questionable. That injury report means a slight edge to the Pelicans, who are already playing some solid basketball lately. This New Orleans team is 8-4 with a +5.3 net rating over the last 12 games. The team is also 7-2 straight-up as a home favorite this season. Meanwhile, Los Angeles is 7-14 SU as a road underdog on the year.
I also have my doubts about Leonard playing tonight. I have been wrong when guessing the status of players a bunch this year, but this is a superstar that has been plagued by injuries his entire career. So, in a lost season, I don’t see the Clippers risking anything by throwing him out there. However, even if Leonard does play, I think this is a game the Pelicans can win. They’re actually the more talented group when looking at the two rosters right now, and they’re still taking pride in competing every night.
Rockets ML (-125 – 1.5 units) vs. Lakers
Timberwolves at Clippers – 10:30 pm ET
Fading the Lakers has gone wildly wrong for me over the last couple of weeks. Los Angeles has really played some excellent team defense, helping the team knock off some tough opponents. However, one of those opponents was this Houston team the other night, and I just don’t see the Lakers winning another road game against them here.
These two-game baseball sets haven’t been kind to the team that wins the first contest, and there were some numbers Houston posted that should change this time around. The Rockets, who shoot 36.2% from 3 on the season, were just 5 for 26 in Monday’s game. Also, Houston turned the ball over 24 times in that one, and that number should be halved tonight.
The Rockets will also have Alperen Sengun back this evening. He missed Monday’s contest with a sore back, but he’s not on the injury report tonight. With Sengun out there, it won’t be as easy for the Lakers to throw doubles at Kevin Durant, who struggled with the consistent pressure Los Angeles was putting on him.
Also, I still believe that Ime Udoka is a good coach, so I trust him to come correct with his adjustments.
Added Plays (Late Picks, Parlays, Teasers, Futures)
PARLAY: Thunder ML vs. Nets, Blazers ML vs. Pacers, Hawks ML vs. Mavericks, Nuggets ML vs. Grizzlies (-127)
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2025-26 NBA Record: 405-387 (+2.94 units)
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