It is officially March Madness season and while this is a mega time for college basketball, let's not forget about the stretch run in the NBA. There are eight games in the Association on Monday night, so let's dig deeper into the matchups and find some good candidates to outperform expectations.
Minnesota Timberwolves (-6.5) vs. Utah Jazz (-105).
The Timberwolves are on the sixth game of an extended road trip and have gone 3-2 so far, splitting two against teams in postseason consideration and winning their only matchup against a lottery-bound Utah Jazz team. The Timberwolves defeated the Jazz on Saturday without Rudy Gobert (GTD, ribs) and are 3-0 against Utah with a 19.7-point average margin of victory, winning all three games by double figures.
New York Knicks (+5.5) vs. Golden State Warriors (-115).
The Knicks have been an absolute juggernaut with OG Anunoby (GTD, elbow). In his 17 games with the team, the Knicks have outscored their opponents by a whopping 24.8 points per 100 possessions (per Basketball-Reference.com). They've won the past nine straight games Anunoby has played, including all three since his return. The Warriors are playing excellent basketball themselves, but 5.5 points is too much for them to give against this Knicks team if Anunoby is on the court.
Boston Celtics (-15.5) vs. Detroit Pistons (-120).
The Celtics have the best record in the NBA and have won 16 of their past 18 games overall. Each of their past 11 wins have come by double figures, by an average of 24.4 points. The Pistons have developed into a scrappy team later in the season but have still lost 12 straight games against teams over .500 by an average of 10.8 points. The 15.5-point spread is huge, and there is some risk of a Celtics let down on the second half of a back-to-back after a blowout victory Sunday. However, I think they just have the firepower to blow this game open at any moment with an unanswerable barrage of 3-pointers. BPI favors the Celtics by 20.4 points.
Deandre Ayton over 19.5 points (-120).
Ayton has been absolutely dominant since returning from a five-game absence (hand) earlier this month. In his five games back, Ayton has averaged 27.2 points on 63.3 FG% and 84.6 FT%, with 15.0 RPG and at least 20 points in all five. Ayton dropped 22 points in his only other game against the Chicago Bulls this season.
Tyrese Haliburton over 10.5 assists (-135).
Haliburton struggled with his shot (6-for-18 FG) and only dished four assists in his past outing (a 21-point victory over the Brooklyn Nets) but had dished at least 11 assists in four of his previous five games.
Haliburton hasn't faced the Cleveland Cavaliers since November, but in his two games against them this season he dropped 13 assists in both contests.
Projections and injury reports
Odds provided by ESPN BET. Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com.
Cleveland Cavaliers at Indiana Pacers
7 p.m. ET, Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
Records (Against the Spread)
Cavaliers: 42-25 (32-34-1)
Pacers: 38-30 (36-30-2)
Line: Pacers (-6.5) Total: 226.5
Money Line: Cavaliers (+210), Pacers (-250)
BPI Projection: Pacers by 3.7, straight up 63%, 231.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Cavaliers: Dean Wade, (GTD - Knee); Donovan Mitchell, (OUT - Nose); Max Strus, (OUT - Knee); Evan Mobley, (OUT - Ankle); Ty Jerome, (OUT - Ankle)
Pacers: Doug McDermott, (OUT - Calf); Bennedict Mathurin, (OUT - Shoulder)
Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics
7:30 p.m. ET, TD Garden, Boston
Records (Against the Spread)
Pistons: 12-55 (34-32-1)
Celtics: 53-14 (36-28-3)
Line: Celtics (-15.5) Total: 222.5
Money Line: Pistons (+800), Celtics (-1300)
BPI Projection: Celtics by 20.4, straight up 97%, 234.6 total points.
Injury Report:
Pistons: Ausar Thompson, (GTD - Illness); Quentin Grimes, (GTD - Knee)
Celtics: Derrick White, (GTD - Hand); Jaylen Brown, (GTD - Ankle); Kristaps Porzingis, (GTD - Hamstring); Sam Hauser, (GTD - Ankle)
Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers
7:30 p.m. ET, Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia
Records (Against the Spread)
Heat: 37-30 (32-34-1)
76ers: 37-30 (35-32-0)
Line: 76ers (-2.5) Total: 209.5
Money Line: Heat (+115), 76ers (-135)
BPI Projection: 76ers by 0.2, straight up 51%, 219.8 total points.
Injury Report:
Heat: Jimmy Butler, (GTD - Foot); Kevin Love, (GTD - Heel); Nikola Jovic, (GTD - Hamstring); Tyler Herro, (OUT - Foot); Josh Richardson, (OUT - Shoulder)
76ers: Tobias Harris, (GTD - Ankle); De'Anthony Melton, (OUT - Back); Robert Covington, (OUT - Knee); Joel Embiid, (OUT - Knee)
Portland Trail Blazers at Chicago Bulls
8 p.m. ET, United Center, Chicago
Records (Against the Spread)
Blazers: 19-48 (32-35-0)
Bulls: 33-35 (35-32-1)
Line: Bulls (-8.5) Total: 213.5
Money Line: Blazers (+270), Bulls (-340)
BPI Projection: Bulls by 7.2, straight up 74%, 225.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Blazers: Jerami Grant, (GTD - Hamstring); Matisse Thybulle, (GTD - Ankle); Malcolm Brogdon, (OUT - Elbow); Shaedon Sharpe, (OUT - Abdomen); Robert Williams III, (OUT - Knee)
Bulls: Alex Caruso, (GTD - Toe); Coby White, (GTD - Hip); Julian Phillips, (OUT - Foot); Lonzo Ball, (OUT - Knee); Patrick Williams, (OUT - Foot); Zach LaVine, (OUT - Foot)
Minnesota Timberwolves at Utah Jazz
9 p.m. ET, Delta Center, Salt Lake City
Records (Against the Spread)
Timberwolves: 46-21 (33-31-3)
Jazz: 29-38 (36-31-0)
Line: Timberwolves (-6.5) Total: 223.5
Money Line: Timberwolves (-240), Jazz (+200)
BPI Projection: Timberwolves by 3.3, straight up 61%, 235.2 total points.
Injury Report:
Timberwolves: Kyle Anderson, (GTD - Shoulder); Monte Morris, (GTD - Hamstring); Rudy Gobert, (GTD - Ribs); Jaylen Clark, (OUT - Achilles); Karl-Anthony Towns, (OUT - Knee)
Jazz: Lauri Markkanen, (GTD - Quadriceps); Jordan Clarkson, (OUT - Groin)
New York Knicks at Golden State Warriors
10 p.m. ET, Chase Center, San Francisco
Records (Against the Spread)
Knicks: 40-27 (35-31-1)
Warriors: 35-31 (35-29-2)
Line: Warriors (-5.5) Total: 211.5
Money Line: Knicks (+190), Warriors (-220)
BPI Projection: Warriors by 4.7, straight up 66%, 229.8 total points.
Injury Report:
Knicks: OG Anunoby, (GTD - Elbow); Julius Randle, (OUT - Shoulder); Mitchell Robinson, (OUT - Ankle)
Warriors: None reported
Memphis Grizzlies at Sacramento Kings
10 p.m. ET, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento
Records (Against the Spread)
Grizzlies: 23-45 (32-36-0)
Kings: 38-28 (34-31-1)
Line: Kings (-10.5) Total: 221.5
Money Line: Grizzlies (+410), Kings (-550)
BPI Projection: Kings by 11, straight up 83%, 231.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Grizzlies: Vince Williams Jr., (GTD - Knee); Brandon Clarke, (OUT - Achilles); Lamar Stevens, (OUT - Thigh); Luke Kennard, (OUT - Personal); Scotty Pippen Jr., (OUT - Lower Leg); Yuta Watanabe, (OUT - Personal); Marcus Smart, (OUT - Finger); Derrick Rose, (OUT - Groin); Ziaire Williams, (OUT - Hip); Ja Morant, (OUT - Shoulder)
Kings: Sasha Vezenkov, (OUT - Ankle); Trey Lyles, (OUT - Knee)
Atlanta Hawks at Los Angeles Lakers
10:30 p.m. ET, Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles
Records (Against the Spread)
Hawks: 30-37 (23-44-0)
Lakers: 36-32 (30-38-0)
Line: Lakers (-8.5) Total: 225.5
Money Line: Hawks (+320), Lakers (-400)
BPI Projection: Lakers by 6.6, straight up 71%, 241.7 total points.
Injury Report:
Hawks: AJ Griffin, (GTD - Knee); Seth Lundy, (GTD - Back); Kobe Bufkin, (OUT - Toe); Onyeka Okongwu, (OUT - Toe); Mouhamed Gueye, (OUT - Elbow); Trae Young, (OUT - Finger); Saddiq Bey, (OUT - Knee)
Lakers: Anthony Davis, (GTD - Eye); LeBron James, (GTD - Ankle); Cam Reddish, (OUT - Ankle); Christian Wood, (OUT - Knee); Colin Castleton, (OUT - Wrist); Gabe Vincent, (OUT - Knee); Jarred Vanderbilt, (OUT - Foot)