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 18th. 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 March 18th
NBA Best Bets Today – March 18th
Brooklyn Nets at Boston Celtics – 7:30 pm ET
The Nets rotation currently consists of Cam Johnson, Nic Claxton, D’Angelo Russell, myself and the guys from VSiN PrimeTime, but they continue to cover games. Brooklyn has actually lost 11 of its last 14 contests, but the team has covered in four of its last five. The Nets are also 19-13 against the spread as road underdogs, and they’re also 14-12 ATS as underdogs of 10 or more this year. That’s an interesting one because the Celtics are only 13-22 ATS as favorites of 10 or more this season. So, this is a Boston team that plays down to its competition, and it’s a Brooklyn team that plays up. And we actually just saw these two play one another, with the Celtics grinding out a 115-113 win on March 15th.
There’s obviously nothing about these two rosters that suggests this game should be close, but Jordi Fernandez has proven to be one of the best coaches in basketball this year. And while his team isn’t very talented, pretty much everybody he plays competes hard. That’s tough to deal with for a defending champion that badly wants the regular season to end.
The Celtics will also be without Jaylen Brown tonight, and Jayson Tatum is listed as questionable. So, it’s possible Boston will be down its two best players.
Bet: Nets +13.5 (-108)
NBA Player Props Today – March 18th
Atlanta Hawks at Charlotte Hornets – 7:00 pm ET
When looking at our NBA Prop Bet Analyzer, I sorted by last 15 games and found that Onyeka Okongwu has gone Over his combined points, rebounds and assists total in 12 of his last 15 games started. Last game, Okongwu actually had 21 points, 15 rebounds and an assist in 32 minutes against the Nets, and that came directly after he had 18 points, 10 boards and three dimes against the Clippers. Okongwu, as many predicted after the 2020 NBA Draft, is proving to be a great play finisher for Trae Young and this Hawks team. He’s also impacting games with his rebounding and passing. Well, I don’t see anything stopping him from having a big game against the Hornets tonight. I know he had only seven points, 10 boards and an assist against Charlotte on March 12th, but he also had 16 points 11 rebounds and two assists against the Hornets in a game on November 30th. I don’t fear this matchup for him.
Bet: Okongwu Over 28.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-120)
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: Bucks Alt +7.5 vs. Warriors & Clippers Alt +10.5 vs. Cavaliers (-164 – 1.5 units)
Brook Lopez Over 18.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-115) vs. Warriors
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2024-25 NBA Record: 307-313-3 (-3.95 units)
