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We take a look at what should be an exciting night of NBA games with the meeting between the Knicks and Kings in Sacramento perhaps the pick of the bunch, but before that, you can head to our Cross Sport Specials page to check out some of the special offers we have.

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Houston Rockets @ Indiana Pacers

The Pacers are quietly one of the NBA’s biggest enigmas this season. Despite having an All-Star and a candidate for the Most Improved Player award in Tyrese Haliburton, as well as the league’s top 3pt shooter (Buddy Hield) and one of the top shot blockers in Myles Turner (2.3 per game), they still find themselves 12th in the Eastern Conference and outside a Play-In spot. The Pacers won games against the Orlando Magic and Dallas Mavericks on the road, but unexpectedly lost to the Spurs. However, it could be argued that the fatigue from traveling caught up with them since all three games were away games. One of the Pacers’ major concerns this season has been their bench players, but they have improved significantly since the All-Star break. Guard Bennedict Mathurin scored 19 points against the Celtics in their first game back, and Jordan Nwora and Mathurin combined for 37 points in their game against the Magic. Nwora and Jalen Smith also dominated the Mavericks’ second unit on March 1st. The Pacers are fortunate to be facing the Rockets, who they should easily defeat.

The Houston Rockets are statistically the 2nd worst team in the league, having lost 50 games and won just 15. Their 6-27 record away from home is the joint worst in the league, and their 109.5 offensive rating is the 3rd worst. They’ve clearly thrown in the towel for this season and have their eyes set on losing as many games as possible – especially away from home – in order to get the #1 pick. With just one team with something to play for, it’ll be a huge upset if the Pacers don’t win this.

Predictions:

Indiana Pacers to Win @ 1.21

Utah Jazz @ Orlando Magic

After trading away Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell at the start of the season, the Jazz got off to an unexpected start with an 8-3 record while jointly occupying the #1 spot. The trade was supposed to signal the immediate rebuild of the team just like new General Manager, Danny Ainge had done during his time at the Boston Celtics. But, what we witnessed in the first half of the season was the blossoming of a few players, most notably Power Forward, Lauri Markkanen – the current front-runner for Most Improved Player of the Year – who was named an All-Star starter for the Western Conference, replacing the injured New Orleans’ Zion Williamson. However, with the business of the All-Star weekend now in the rearview mirror, they can get into the business of tanking. While they still rank at a respectable 8th in Offensive Ranking, that number is inflated by their brilliant start to the season. Since the All-Star break, they rank second to last and 4 consecutive losses as well as a drop to 13th in the Western Conference gives a clear indication of just how much effort they plan to put into the remaining games this season.

The Orlando Magic aren’t the best of teams, and you wouldn’t be wide off the mark if you said both teams were equals. They are currently ranked #13 in the Eastern Conference, much like Utah in the West, and their recent record of 4-6 over the last 10 games does not intimidate anyone. Nevertheless, the Magic is a tough team and plays to their strength, which is their size. They are led by the Rookie of the Year favorite, Paolo Banchero, who averages 20 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. Despite being an underdog, the Magic has managed to pull off surprise victories against strong teams such as the Celtics (three times), Nuggets, Pelicans, Sixers, and Warriors. In their previous encounter earlier this season in Utah, the Jazz secured a 112-108 victory, led by Lauri Markkanen’s impressive 28 points and 12 rebounds. This time around, playing at home, the Magic will be seeking revenge, although the visitors wouldn’t mind the challenge.

Predictions:

Orlando Magic to win @1.70

Golden State Warriors @ Memphis Grizzlies

Despite Steph Curry’s return to the Warriors, problems still persist in the Bay Area. The reigning champions won five consecutive games before losing both games after his return, including a 137-128 defeat to the Thunder in Oklahoma City on Tuesday. Curry had an exceptional shooting performance with 40 points, a season-high 10 three-pointers made, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds, but it was not enough to secure a win. He holds the record for being the only player in NBA history to lose multiple games despite making 10 or more three-pointers, and the loss to OKC marked the sixth time this has happened to him. While these two losses may be concerning, the Warriors’ poor record away from home is a bigger worry. Only four teams have won single-digit games on the road, and the Warriors are among them with just seven wins and 25 losses. In comparison, the other three teams – Spurs (6-27), Rockets (6-27), and Pistons (7-26) – are all in a rebuilding phase. Although Steve Kerr’s team is an experienced playoff team, this could be a potential issue this year, and the upcoming game against Memphis provides an opportunity for them to start correcting their mistakes.

The Grizzlies fans have had this fixture circled on their calendar since the off-season following a Twitter back and forth between their star Point Guard, Ja Morant and Warriors’ Draymond Green. However, things have changed since then. Ja Morant is currently being investigated by the NBA for displaying a firearm on his Instagram Live while at a club. The NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement prohibits players from carrying weapons in team facilities or during team travel, and a violation could result in a 50-game ban; this could have serious consequences for the All-Star with the playoffs around the corner. The Memphis Grizzlies have suspended Morant for 2 games, and they have lost both games to the Clippers and Lakers. In the loss to the Lakers, Memphis Shooting Guard Desmond Bane had a game to forget as he scored 7 points, had 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, but did not score until late in the second half. Without two key players, Morant and Center Steven Adams, it will be difficult for the Grizzlies to stop the Warriors, who are eager to get a road win.

Predictions:

Golden State Warriors to win @ 1.70

Brooklyn Nets @ Milwaukee Bucks

These two sides meet for the 2nd time this month, with the Bucks winning the previous game 118-104 in Brooklyn. Newly acquired Nets Guard, Mikal Bridges, put up 31pts but the Bucks, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 33 pts – were just ruthless in the second half as they outscored the home team 66 – 42.

Despite missing Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, the Nets have shown impressive performances. Although the new players are still adjusting, they have demonstrated their ability to work together as a team in the absence of a superstar. Their recent victory against the Celtics in Boston, where they came back from a 28-point deficit, showcased their determination and ended a 10-game losing streak against the reigning Eastern Conference Champions. This win marked the start of their current 3-game winning streak, and since the break, they have improved their Defensive Rating ranking from 14th to 5th in the league. However, facing one of the top 3 MVP candidates, Giannis, will be a challenging task. Despite their 16-game winning streak being stopped by Joel Embiid and the Sixers, the Bucks have quickly bounced back with two road victories against the Wizards and Magic. They will aim to win this game for their home fans before embarking on a 3-game trip to face the Warriors, the Kings, and the Suns in the Western Conference.

Predictions:

Milwaukee Buck to win @ 1.14

New York Knicks @ Sacramento Kings

The Knicks vs. Kings matchup has the potential to be the game of the night. The Knicks, currently one of the most in-form teams in the league along with the Bucks, have won 9 out of their last 10 games, but suffered a loss to the Hornets in their most recent game due to a poor fourth quarter in which they only scored 16 points. Meanwhile, the Kings have also been in excellent form, winning 6 out of their last 7 games since the All-Star break. They are currently the #2 seed in the Western Conference and are on track to break the NBA’s single-season record for offensive rating (119.4). De’Aaron Fox, the front-runner for the Clutch Player of the Year award, has been leading the team’s offense throughout the season, particularly in crunch time. Despite their impressive offensive capabilities, their defense has been a weak spot, allowing the third-most points per game (118.4) and possessing the sixth-worst defensive rating (115.9) in the league. Perhaps an indication that this could be a high scoring game.

Jalen Brunson may not be available for the Knicks for the third game in a row when they face the Kings in Sacramento. The fifth-year point guard missed the team’s recent double-overtime win against the Celtics and their loss to the Hornets, and his absence could potentially give the Kings an advantage in this game. Brunson has been averaging impressive stats this season, with 23.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game across 61 appearances, making him a strong contender for the Most Improved Player award. Julius Randle may have had a night-off in the loss to the Hornets, but he’s been nothing short of excellent in the Knicks’ recent good run – the highlight of which was his game winning shot against the Heat. While Randle is expected to have another strong performance against the Kings’ weak defense, the absence of Brunson could make it challenging for the Knicks to match up against the Kings’ offensive weapons.

Predictions: