Second in the East host first in the West in a midweek blockbuster, with Boston building a handy streak and Oklahoma City looking to bounce back from a rare loss.
Boston (47-18), coming into the last of seven straight games at home, are 5-0 in March – including wins over LA Lakers (111-101) and Utah (114-108) in the past four days. Jayson Tatum put 40 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists against LAL before sitting out the Utah game.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points in OKC’s (53-12) 127-103 win over Denver on Monday (AEDT), but their seven-game tear was halted by Denver the following day 140-127.
Oklahoma City have won three of the last four clashes between the heavyweights, including a 105-92 result in their only encounter so far this season. Gilgeous-Alexander (33 pts, 11 reb) and Tatum (26 pts, 10 reb) led the way for their teams at Paycom Center.
But Boston have won the last three against OKC at TD Garden, though the $1.58 favourites are just 15-19 against the line at home this season.
Oklahoma City are 17-12-2 ATS on the road and are hard to resist with a start.
Miami are out to stop a four-game slide when they take on a Los Angeles Clippers side looking to respond to a disappointing loss.
Slipping to ninth in the East, Miami (29-35) have lost their last four – including home defeats to Minnesota (106-104), Chicago (114-109), who both have worse records, and Charlotte (105-102) in the past five days.
LA Clippers (35-29), eighth in the West, looked to have turned a corner with three straight wins at home. But they sunk to their seventh loss in eight road games with a 127-120 defeat to second-last New Orleans.
LA Clippers have won three straight against Miami, including a 109-98 result at home in January. Tyler Herro had 32 points in a beaten team, while Norman Powell (29 pts) – who is currently out injured – and Ivica Zubac (20 reb) starred for LAC.
LAC are the second-worst team in the NBA against the line on the road (12-21). But Miami – 15-15 ATS at home – have been struggling down the stretch in recent games. James Harden, Kawhi Leonard and Zubac can get the visitors back on track at Kaseya Center.
Second-placed Denver have a point to prove when they welcome seventh-placed Minnesota to Mile High City.
Compounding their 2024 Conference Semifinals triumph, Minnesota have bested Denver in both games so far this season – 119-116 in November and 133-104 in January, both in Minneapolis.
Denver (42-23) have won 14 of their last 18 and split their two road games against front-running Oklahoma City in recent days, losing the first 127-103 but winning the second 140-127 with Nikola Jokic (35 pts, 18 reb, 8 ast) unsurprisingly at the forefront.
Minnesota (37-29), have bounced back from a February downturn to go 5-0 in March. While the calibre of opposition they’ve put away hasn’t been high, they’ve won three games on the road and cruised to a 141-124 home win over San Antonio in their most recent outing.
Rudy Gobert’s recent return is a huge boost for Minnesota, but Denver – despite Aaron Gordon being listed as doubtful – are hard to back against given they’ve won 10 of their last 11 at Ball Arena.
Time is running out for Portland to stay in the West’s play-in picture, while their recent form doesn’t bode well for a visit from East Conference high-flyers New York.
Twelfth-placed Portland (28-38) have lost their last four in a tough stretch of their schedule, though they were far from disgraced on the road against Boston, OKC and Golden State, and at home against Detroit.
Deni Avdija (34 pts, 16 reb) couldn’t have done much more in the 130-120 loss at Golden State two days ago.
Third-placed New York (41-23) halted a three-game slide – against Golden State at home, and LA Lakers and La Clippers away – with a 133-104 blowout win at Sacramento, led by Karl-Anthony Towns (26 pts, 9 reb).
Portland have won six of their last eight at home against New York. But New York won at MSG and Mod Center last season by 12-plus points.
Portland are 17-10 against the line as a home underdog, but New York – despite Jalen Brunson’s injury absence – shape as the better option to cover a small start.