NBA Best Bets Tonight | 8 Expert Picks (Tuesday, March 12)

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Chris Coduto/Getty Images. Pictured: De’Aaron Fox of the Sacramento Kings.

Find NBA Best Bets Tonight, including 8 Expert Picks below!

The NBA season rolls on with another seven-game slate on Tuesday.

Our staff came through with eight best bets — yes, eight best bets for seven games — for Tuesday night, including three picks for Pacers vs. Thunder — a spread pick, a total bet and a player prop.

Read on for all eight NBA best bets for Tuesday — and be sure to check back tomorrow for even more NBA expert picks.


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NBA Best Bets Tonight

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Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NBA Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game.

76ers vs. Knicks

Tuesday, March 12
7:30 p.m. ET
TNT
Donte DiVincenzo Over 16.5 Points

By Bryan Fonseca

Donte DiVincenzo leg-swept Kelly Oubre Jr. during Sunday's loss, and it was his most memorable play in a few games.

He's been shooting like crap, which is why I like this bet — it's purely volume-based. But if he just, you know, doesn't shoot like crap, we should be home with 17 or more points.

I don't know how different tonight will be compared to the Sixers' 1995-looking 79-73 win over the Knicks over the weekend, but I do think it's reasonable to expect more points.

The Big Ragu is averaging 22.1 points per game over his last 17 contests, one leg sweep over his last one and 2.5 borderline mafia-style nicknames over the last month or so.

He's gone over 16.5 in 11 of his last 17, but all six unders have come in the last 11, with two games of exactly 16. But the shots are getting up there — DDV has shot nearly 20 field-goal attempts per game over his last 17 — closer to 18 when removing those first six efforts.

The issue is he's shooting 38% from the field and 34% from 3 in his last 11 while barely getting to the line.

But we like the over because Jalen Brunson's Knicks are in "somebody's gotta get these buckets" territory.

Based on the 79-73 loss, maybe no one will? But for our sake, Donte (hopefully) will.

Pick: Donte DiVincenzo Over 16.5 Points (-135)



Pacers vs. Thunder

Tuesday, March 12
8 p.m. ET
NBA League Pass

Thunder -6

By Andrew O'Connor-Watts

Both teams have been up and down against the spread lately.

Indiana is just 2-3 ATS in its last five games, with four of those games coming on the road, including tonight's contest in Oklahoma City.

The Pacers been in a different city each of the past six games since Feb. 28, and they head back home after their game tonight, only to turn right around and play the Bulls tomorrow.

It's a tough spot for a Pacers team that likes to run up and down the court and get some cardio in on offense.

The Thunder are 2-4 ATS in their last six games, but those also came on the road in some tough matchups and tough schedule spots for OKC. Now, they've settled into their four-game homestand and face the Pacers — a team that beat them the last time they met.

The Thunder are a whopping 93-68-7 ATS under head coach Mark Daigneault when they lost the last head-to-head matchup against their opponent, including 16-5-1 this season.

I make this closer to double digits for the Thunder in a rest advantage spot at home, and I'd bet them to -8.5 for one unit.

Pick: Thunder -6 (Play to -8.5)

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Over 236.5

By Chris Baker

The Thunder may be without star wing Jalen Williams here, as he sprained his right ankle pretty badly in their last game. Monitor their injury report because his absence would obviously be a big loss for this OKC squad.

Williams is a very effective defender, and if he's unable to go, we should expect to see sixth man Isaiah Joe receive more minutes along with Cason Wallace and Aaron Wiggins.

This may not be the end of the world for the Thunder, as some of these lineups with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Joe on the floor together have been absolutely elite. The Thunder owb a net rating of +14.5 with Shai and Joe on the court together without Williams, mostly due to an unbelievable offensive rating of 127.0 in these scenarios.

Scoring has been down in the NBA post all-star break, but this total is still just too low for two teams that both rank top-10 in pace and top-five in offensive rating.

I think we're getting some value here due to general league-wide struggles to score and believe this line should be closer to 240 at which point I'd most likely stay away.

I'll gladly play the over up to 238.

Pick: Over 238


Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Under 6.5 Assists

By Joe Dellera

The Thunder host the Pacers tonight, and while I expect Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to have a solid game, I think he'll find greater success as a scoring threat than as a facilitator.

On the season, SGA has averaged 6.4 assists on 12.2 potentials per game. He has gone under this 6.5 assists line in 56% of games this season, so this is not a line he’s hitting with regularity anyway.

Stylistically, though, this is a tough matchup given what Indiana does on defense. On the season, Indiana has allowed the sixth-fewest assists per game despite playing at an ultra-fast pace.

The Pacers don't send doubles, limit their help on defense and force players off the 3-point line. That makes it difficult for opposing guards to find success if they want to drive and kick to get their assists.

Because of that defensive coverage, I expect SGA to have little difficulty scoring for himself, and he won't have a need to dish to his teammates.

I expect SGA to go under his 6.5 assists prop.

Pick: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Under 6.5 Assists



Rockets vs. Spurs

Tuesday, March 12
8:30 p.m. ET
NBA League Pass
Under 224.5

By Michael Fiddle

There's one book that sits a full point above the rest of the market consensus, and that's BetRivers hanging a 224.5 for the Spurs vs. Rockets total.

Every other book is already 223.5 and moving down from the open. I'm grabbing this because it will inevitably catch up to everywhere else.

From a basketball angle, this is the second night of a back-to-back for the Spurs, which likely means a dip in shooting efficiency. Meanwhile, the Rockets will be adjusting to playing without Alperen Sengun, who is a catalyst for their offense.

I think this line closes around 222.5 and would play it anywhere north of there.

Pick: Under 224.5



Celtics vs. Jazz

Tuesday, March 12
9 p.m. ET
NBA League Pass
Under 235.5

By Michael Fiddle

The Celtics are in the midst of a long road trip and enter on the second night of a back-to-back. Now, they travel to elevation to take on the Jazz.

They're also going up against a former assistant coach of theirs in Will Hardy.

The Jazz should be ready and prepared, but this ultimately feels like a letdown spot for the Celtics that may lead to tired legs, more bench minutes and a clear "buy now" on the under.

The number sits at 235.5 at PointsBet and 234 at FanDuel.

Pick: Under 235.5



Bucks vs. Kings

Tuesday, March 12
10 p.m. ET
NBA League Pass
De'Aaron Fox Over 27.5 Points

By Joe Dellera

The Kings host the Bucks on Tuesday night, and one player to target is De’Aaron Fox.

While the Bucks’ defense has improved under Doc Rivers, they've still had difficulty handling lead guards. They’ve surrendered big games to D'Angelo Russell (44), Steph Curry (29), James Harden (29) and Anthony Edwards (28) over the last few weeks.

When these teams played earlier in the season, Fox scored 32 points on 12-of-26 shooting in an overtime loss. He did score seven of his points in overtime, but he didn't need to do as much offensively with Kevin Huerter hitting six 3s and Malik Monk dropping 28 points on his own.

Fox has exceeded 27.5 points in 53% of games this season and six of his last 10 games. He’s coming off of a poor 18-point performance against the Rockets, but this matchup is one he should exploit in a bit of a buy-low spot.

Pick: De’Aaron Fox Over 27.5 Points



Timberwolves vs. Clippers

Tuesday, March 12
10 p.m. ET
TNT
Clippers -6

By Michael Fiddle

The Clippers have had trouble dealing with the big lineup and size of Minnesota, but they get to skip those troubles with Karl-Anthony Towns sidelined.

Instead, the Clippers will most likely return Kawhi Leonard (groin) and Paul George (knee), although both are listed as questionable.

The Wolves are such a good defensive team because of Rudy Gobert's rim protection, but I trust James Harden on the pick-and-roll to pull him away from the rim and score efficiently.

I like Clippers at anything better than -7.

Pick: Clippers -6

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