Wednesday night's NBA slate features 12 games, including a potential Western Conference playoff preview between the Phoenix Suns visit the Denver Nuggets. One particular bet from this game caught my attention. Let's take a closer look at it and the rest of my picks for Wednesday.
Devin Booker over 5.5 assists.
Wednesday's matchup against the Nuggets serves as a significant test for Booker and the Suns. Securing a win will require a collective effort from Phoenix, especially in a tight Western Conference playoff race. Booker has surpassed this line in six of his past 10 games, averaging 11 potential assists per game over that span.
Jordan Poole over 15.5 points.
Poole hasn't had the season that bettors expected, but he's in a good spot against the Nets. He has surpassed 15.5 points in three of his past five games and averaged 16.4 field goal attempts and 30.9 minutes per game over that span. Poole also has a 27.1% usage rate of over the past 10 games.
Jalen Brunson over 6.5 assists.
Brunson should easily clear this line despite the Knicks being double-digit favorites over the Raptors. Brunson has eclipsed 6.5 assists in three of his past five games, averaging 12.4 potential assists per game over that span.
Desmond Bane over 19.5 points.
This is a great spot for Bane, who has cleared this line in 14 of his past 20 games. He faces a Los Angeles Lakers team that ranks 20th in points per game allowed to shooting guards and is playing on the second night of a back-to-back. Bane scored 24 points in his last game against the Lakers back on Jan. 5.
Anthony Davis under 23.5 points.
Davis has scored under 23.5 points in six of his past 10 games and might be exhausted after scoring 34 points in 52 minutes in Tuesday night's double-overtime comeback victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. The Grizzlies also have a strong defensive frontcourt, ranking 18th in points allowed per game to centers.
Lauri Markkanen under 24.5 points.
The Spurs aren't a great defensive team, but they rank 11th in points allowed per game to power forwards. Facing Victor Wembanyama could make things tough for Markkanen, too. He has scored under 24.5 points in seven of his past 10 games while shooting a dismal 39% from the field.
Projections and injury reports
Odds provided by ESPN BET. Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com.
Cleveland Cavaliers at Charlotte Hornets
7 p.m. Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
Records (Against the Spread)
Cavaliers: 44-28 (34-37-1)
Hornets: 17-54 (27-44-0)
Line: Cavaliers (-10.5) Total: 206.5
Money Line: Cavaliers (-550), Hornets (+400)
BPI Projection: Cavaliers by 12.1, straight up 87%, 218.7 total points.
Injury Report:
Cavaliers: Max Strus, (GTD - Knee); Dean Wade, (OUT - Knee); Donovan Mitchell, (OUT - Nose); Ty Jerome, (OUT - Ankle)
Hornets: LaMelo Ball, (OUT - Ankle); Mark Williams, (OUT - Back); Cody Martin, (OUT - Ankle); Seth Curry, (OUT - Ankle)
Golden State Warriors at Orlando Magic
7 p.m. Amway Center, Orlando
Records (Against the Spread)
Warriors: 37-34 (37-32-2)
Magic: 42-29 (46-25-0)
Line: Magic (-4.5) Total: 218.5
Money Line: Warriors (+160), Magic (-190)
BPI Projection: Magic by 2, straight up 57%, 231.0 total points.
Injury Report:
Warriors: Jonathan Kuminga, (NA - Knee); Trayce Jackson-Davis, (GTD - Knee)
Magic: Caleb Houstan, (GTD - Ankle); Gary Harris, (OUT - Foot)
Brooklyn Nets at Washington Wizards
7 p.m. Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
Records (Against the Spread)
Nets: 27-45 (31-38-3)
Wizards: 14-58 (32-39-1)
Line: Nets (-3.5) Total: 220.5
Money Line: Nets (-155), Wizards (+135)
BPI Projection: Nets by 1.9, straight up 57%, 221.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Nets: Cam Thomas, (GTD - Back); Cameron Johnson, (OUT - Toe); Dennis Smith Jr., (OUT - Hip); Ben Simmons, (OUT - Back); Dariq Whitehead, (OUT - Lower Leg); Keita Bates-Diop, (OUT - Lower Leg)
Wizards: Eugene Omoruyi, (OUT - Ankle); Landry Shamet, (OUT - Calf); Tyus Jones, (OUT - Back); Bilal Coulibaly, (OUT - Wrist); Isaiah Livers, (OUT - Hip)
Portland Trail Blazers at Atlanta Hawks
7:30 p.m. State Farm Arena, Atlanta
Records (Against the Spread)
Blazers: 19-53 (35-37-0)
Hawks: 32-39 (25-46-0)
Line: Hawks (-10.5) Total: 217.5
Money Line: Blazers (+400), Hawks (-550)
BPI Projection: Hawks by 8.6, straight up 78%, 231.2 total points.
Injury Report:
Blazers: Deandre Ayton, (GTD - Elbow); Jerami Grant, (GTD - Hamstring); Matisse Thybulle, (GTD - Ankle); Anfernee Simons, (OUT - Knee); Malcolm Brogdon, (OUT - Elbow); Shaedon Sharpe, (OUT - Abdomen); Robert Williams III, (OUT - Knee)
Hawks: Dejounte Murray, (GTD - Back); Mouhamed Gueye, (OUT - Elbow); Onyeka Okongwu, (OUT - Toe); AJ Griffin, (OUT - Ankle); Jalen Johnson, (OUT - Ankle); Kobe Bufkin, (OUT - Toe); Trae Young, (OUT - Finger); Saddiq Bey, (OUT - Knee)
LA Clippers at Philadelphia 76ers
7:30 p.m. Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia
Records (Against the Spread)
Clippers: 44-27 (34-37-0)
76ers: 39-33 (38-34-0)
Line: Clippers (-6.5) Total: 215.5
Money Line: Clippers (-240), 76ers (+200)
BPI Projection: Clippers by 4.7, straight up 67%, 228.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Clippers: Jordan Miller, (OUT - Thumb); Moussa Diabate, (OUT - Hand)
76ers: Kelly Oubre Jr., (GTD - Shoulder); De'Anthony Melton, (OUT - Back); Robert Covington, (OUT - Knee); Joel Embiid, (OUT - Knee)
New York Knicks at Toronto Raptors
7:30 p.m. Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
Records (Against the Spread)
Knicks: 43-28 (38-32-1)
Raptors: 23-49 (32-40-0)
Line: Knicks (-13.5) Total: 211.5
Money Line: Knicks (-1000), Raptors (+600)
BPI Projection: Knicks by 10.1, straight up 82%, 223.2 total points.
Injury Report:
Knicks: Alec Burks, (GTD - Shoulder); Mitchell Robinson, (GTD - Ankle); OG Anunoby, (OUT - Elbow); Julius Randle, (OUT - Shoulder)
Raptors: D.J. Carton, (OUT - Ankle); Immanuel Quickley, (OUT - Personal); RJ Barrett, (OUT - Personal); Chris Boucher, (OUT - Knee); Jakob Poeltl, (OUT - Finger); Scottie Barnes, (OUT - Hand); Jontay Porter, (OUT - Personal)
Indiana Pacers at Chicago Bulls
8 p.m. United Center, Chicago
Records (Against the Spread)
Pacers: 41-32 (39-32-2)
Bulls: 34-38 (35-36-1)
Line: Pacers (-3.5) Total: 235.5
Money Line: Pacers (-150), Bulls (+130)
BPI Projection: Pacers by 2.7, straight up 59%, 239.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Pacers: Aaron Nesmith, (GTD - Knee); Isaiah Wong, (GTD - Ankle); T.J. McConnell, (GTD - Ankle); Bennedict Mathurin, (OUT - Shoulder)
Bulls: Alex Caruso, (GTD - Ankle); Julian Phillips, (OUT - Foot); Lonzo Ball, (OUT - Knee); Patrick Williams, (OUT - Foot); Zach LaVine, (OUT - Foot)
Los Angeles Lakers at Memphis Grizzlies
8 p.m. FedExForum, Memphis
Records (Against the Spread)
Lakers: 40-32 (33-39-0)
Grizzlies: 24-48 (34-38-0)
Line: Lakers (-4.5) Total: 223.5
Money Line: Lakers (-175), Grizzlies (+150)
BPI Projection: Lakers by 3.2, straight up 61%, 231.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Lakers: Anthony Davis, (NA - Knee); LeBron James, (GTD - Ankle); Gabe Vincent, (OUT - Knee); Colin Castleton, (OUT - Wrist); Jarred Vanderbilt, (OUT - Foot); Christian Wood, (OUT - Knee); Jalen Hood-Schifino, (OUT - Back)
Grizzlies: Brandon Clarke, (GTD - Achilles); John Konchar, (GTD - Heel); Vince Williams Jr., (GTD - Knee); Luke Kennard, (OUT - Personal); Marcus Smart, (OUT - Finger); Yuta Watanabe, (OUT - Personal); Derrick Rose, (OUT - Groin); Ziaire Williams, (OUT - Hip); Ja Morant, (OUT - Shoulder)
Detroit Pistons at Minnesota Timberwolves
8 p.m. Target Center, Minneapolis
Records (Against the Spread)
Pistons: 12-60 (35-36-1)
Timberwolves: 49-22 (37-31-3)
Line: Timberwolves (-15.5) Total: 216.5
Money Line: Pistons (+700), Timberwolves (-1200)
BPI Projection: Timberwolves by 15.8, straight up 92%, 226.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Pistons: Cade Cunningham, (GTD - Knee); Jaden Ivey, (NA - Knee); Marcus Sasser, (NA - Illness); Quentin Grimes, (OUT - Knee); Simone Fontecchio, (OUT - Toe); Taj Gibson, (OUT - Hamstring); Ausar Thompson, (OUT - Illness); Isaiah Stewart, (OUT - Hamstring); Stanley Umude, (OUT - Ankle)
Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards, (GTD - Finger); Rudy Gobert, (GTD - Ribs); Jaylen Clark, (OUT - Achilles); Karl-Anthony Towns, (OUT - Knee)
Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder
8 p.m. Paycom Center, Oklahoma City
Records (Against the Spread)
Rockets: 36-35 (40-29-2)
Thunder: 50-21 (41-29-1)
Line: Thunder (-4.5) Total: 226.5
Money Line: Rockets (+160), Thunder (-190)
BPI Projection: Thunder by 3.5, straight up 62%, 232.7 total points.
Injury Report:
Rockets: Cam Whitmore, (OUT - Knee); Alperen Sengun, (OUT - Ankle); Steven Adams, (OUT - Knee); Tari Eason, (OUT - Lower Leg)
Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, (OUT - Quadriceps)
San Antonio Spurs at Utah Jazz
9 p.m. Delta Center, Salt Lake City
Records (Against the Spread)
Spurs: 16-56 (35-36-1)
Jazz: 29-43 (37-35-0)
Line: Jazz (-4.5) Total: 228.5
Money Line: Spurs (+150), Jazz (-175)
BPI Projection: Jazz by 6.9, straight up 72%, 240.0 total points.
Injury Report:
Spurs: Keldon Johnson, (GTD - Knee); Victor Wembanyama, (GTD - Ankle); Charles Bassey, (OUT - Knee)
Jazz: Jordan Clarkson, (OUT - Back); Kris Dunn, (OUT - Suspension)
Phoenix Suns at Denver Nuggets
10 p.m. Ball Arena, Denver
Records (Against the Spread)
Suns: 42-30 (31-40-1)
Nuggets: 51-21 (33-37-2)
Line: Nuggets (-7.5) Total: 227.5
Money Line: Suns (+230), Nuggets (-280)
BPI Projection: Nuggets by 2.1, straight up 58%, 229.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Suns: Bradley Beal, (GTD - Finger); Jusuf Nurkic, (GTD - Ankle); Damion Lee, (OUT - Knee)
Nuggets: Aaron Gordon, (GTD - Foot); Jamal Murray, (GTD - Ankle); Michael Porter Jr., (GTD - Illness); Nikola Jokic, (GTD - Back); Zeke Nnaji, (OUT - Thigh); Vlatko Cancar, (OUT - Knee)