After some injuries derailed our plays last night, we're still 7-4 (we said not to play the Lakers if LeBron was out) over the last four days. We'll now look to get right back in the win column on a night that features the Memphis Grizzlies hosting the New Orleans Pelicans and the Los Angeles Clippers facing the Golden State Warriors in a TNT doubleheader. Check out our best bets below:
1. Cleveland Cavaliers at Indiana Pacers - 7:00 p.m. ET
The Cavaliers are 8-20 against the spread when facing teams with losing records in the second half of the year over the last two years, and they have actually lost those games by an average of 4.0 points per game. Cleveland is also 55-74 against the spread when facing teams that average at least 23.0 assists per game in that span, and the team has lost those contests by an average of 5.1 points per game. Meanwhile, the Pacers are 4-2 against the spread when facing teams that outscore opponents by 3.0 or more points per game this season, and they're also returning home after a four-game road trip. This group should be fired up to finally be playing in front of its own fans, and the ball should be zipping around with Tyrese Haliburton at point guard. That will have the Cavaliers defense scrambling and will allow Indiana's shooters to knock down some open shots. It also helps that Jarrett Allen is out for the Cavaliers, as there won't be two gigantic rim protectors in the paint for Cleveland. The Pacers only need to worry about Evan Mobley.
THE PICK: Pacers +3.5
2. Brooklyn Nets at Charlotte Hornets - 7:00 p.m. ET
The Nets will have both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant when they take on the Hornets, which means Brooklyn is finally starting to get a little healthy. Against a Charlotte team that doesn't play much defense, Irving and Durant could really put up some eye-popping numbers in this game. The Hornets also play at a very fast pace, which means those two will be able to get out and run. The Nets are 38-24 against the spread when the total is higher than 230 over the last two seasons, and the team has won those games by an average of 4.9 points per game. Brooklyn is also 14-6 against the spread when playing on the road after a game in which the team failed to cover the spread. Charlotte also happens to be 2-5 against the spread when facing teams that have winning percentages of 40.0% to 49.0% this season.
THE PICK: Nets -3.5
3. Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors - 10:00 p.m. ET
The Clippers are coming off of a really embarrassing home loss to the New York Knicks, but they have a good chance of turning things around with a good effort against a struggling Warriors team. Golden State has now lost five games in a row and nine of its last 11. The Warriors are just not a good team on the defensive end without Draymond Green, which makes this matchup against the Clippers a rough one. If Los Angeles is weak anywhere, it's on the offensive end. But the team should be able to get good looks against this version of the Warriors. Then, the Clippers can count on their defense to get big stops against Steph Curry and Co. These teams met on February 14, when Los Angeles won by 15 points as a 5.5-point home underdog. And since Ty Lue became the team's head coach, the Clippers are 27-13 against the spread when facing teams that make 46.0% of their shots or better in the second half of the season.
THE PICK: Clippers +5.5
