We’re nearing the end of the 2024-25 NBA season. I’ll continue giving out NBA best bets and player props here as often as possible, and I’ll also occasionally write up features on big news that shakes up the league. So, make sure you check out my work throughout the season. With that out of the way, let’s get into some NBA best bets and NBA player props for Tuesday, March 1st. Also, make sure you check out the picks page (linked right below) before games tip off. I occasionally add picks throughout the day.
MORE: Check out our Pro Picks page for everything our experts have on April 1st
NBA Best Bets Today – April 1st
Orlando Magic at San Antonio Spurs – 8:00 pm ET
I can’t say I’m thrilled about backing the Spurs tonight. On Sunday, this San Antonio team lost by 42 against Golden State, marking the team’s third double-digit loss in its last four games. However, the Spurs did get a day off yesterday. Meanwhile, the Magic fought hard in a loss to the Clippers last night and then had to fly out to Texas for this one. That said, this is a pretty brutal spot for an Orlando team that I don’t exactly believe in, making this a good opportunity to back San Antonio.
Of course, many will tell you to be careful about backing the “tanking” teams in the NBA over the next few weeks, and that’s definitely something to consider. But the players that are on the floor are going to play hard. You just have to worry about who is available for each bad team. But it certainly looks like most of the important San Antonio players will be available. That doesn’t include Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox, who are both out for the season. But Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle, Chris Paul, Harrison Barnes, Keldon Johnson and Jeremy Sochan are all likely to be active. That should be enough for the Spurs to show some backbone in one of their final winnable home games of the year.
San Antonio is also 19-18 both straight-up and against the spread at home this season, and Orlando is just 16-21 SU and 17-20 ATS on the road. The Magic are also just 6-8 ATS as road favorites of 6 or less this season. Meanwhile, the Spurs are 6-4 ATS when facing teams that shoot 33.0% or worse from 3.
Bet: Spurs +4 (-110 – 1.5 units) & Spurs ML (+148 – 0.5 units)
NBA Player Props Today – April 1st
Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks – 7:30 pm ET
Quentin Grimes has gone Over his PRA total in 10 of his last 14 starts, according to our VSiN NBA Prop Bet Analyzer. I have been on the train for a few of them, but also ended up on the wrong end of it in his meeting with the Wizards on March 26th. But I’m going back to it tonight. Grimes hasn’t enjoyed the matchup the Knicks, his former team, this season. However, the guard has the ninth-highest usage rate (32.2%) in the NBA over the last 10 games, and that type of role is going to give him a shot at putting up numbers whenever he’s out there. Also, I know the Knicks are likely to beat the Sixers comfortably this evening, but that really doesn’t matter. As long as this isn’t such a big blowout that Grimes doesn’t play in the fourth quarter, somebody on Philadelphia is going to have to do something. Well, it’s very likely it’ll end up being him. After all, he’s coming off a March in which he averaged 26.6 points, 4.9 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game.
Bet: Grimes Over 28.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-120)
Memphis Grizzlies at Golden State Warriors – 8:00 pm ET
One of the few players with a higher usage rate than Grimes recently is Ja Morant, who just averaged 29.5 points and 7.6 assists per game in the month of March. On top of that, Morant is averaging 24.0 points and 7.5 assists per game over the last two games, despite playing good defensive teams in Los Angeles and Boston. That makes it hard not to like Morant to put up big numbers against a solid Golden State defense tonight. Part of the reason Taylor Jenkins was let go is that his offense didn’t fit Morant well. So, the new one is designed to help Morant flourish. That means more pick-and-roll plays, allowing him to get downhill and do what he does best. That should be dangerous for the Warriors tonight, as they don’t really have the type of rim protector you need to stop Morant at the basket. Sure, Draymond Green is an elite pick-and-roll defender, but Morant is a special player when it comes to finishing at the rim. It’ll take a player with more size to really prevent him from getting what he wants at the basket.
Bet: Morant Over 31.5 Points + Assists (-110 – 1.5 units)
Additional Plays
This is where I’ll include any late added plays, teasers/parlays or in-season futures. Come back before tip if you don’t want to miss anything. It’s always possible I’ll add something to my card.
PARLAY: Raptors Alt +10.5 vs. Bulls & Timberwolves Alt +10.5 vs. Nuggets (-132 – 1.5 units)
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2024-25 NBA Record: 340-340-1 (+3.32 units)
