The NBA regular season continues with a jam packed eight-game slate this Friday, featuring two nationally televised matchups on NBA TV tonight as Cavaliers vs. Timberwolves tips off at at 8:00 p.m. ET, and then 76ers vs. Lakers takes center stage at 10:30 p.m. ET on the same channel.
And as we preview Friday's games, our NBA betting experts have locked in six NBA best bets for today's slate — featuring three expert picks against the spread and three player props for tonight's matchups.
Read along for our NBA best bets for Friday, March 22.
NBA Best Bets & Expert Picks for Tonight
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 8:00 p.m. | |
  | 8:00 p.m. | |
  | 8:00 p.m. | |
| 8:00 p.m. | |
| 8:00 p.m. | |
  | 10:00 p.m. | |
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. | ||
Grizzlies vs. Spurs
Memphis is finding new ways to tank. Instead of shutting down their players for the season, they're playing the good ones versus good teams and the bad ones versus bad teams.
It's seems slightly less insidious that way. As a result, we have several Grizzlies players on the injury report ahead of Friday's game — including Desmond Bane, Luke Kennard, John Konchar, Scottie Pippen Jr, and Vince Williams Jr.
The Spurs on the other hand, are not tanking quite as creatively. In fact they might not be tanking at all. Despite being just 2-5 in their last seven games, they're 5-2 ATS during that span.
Victor Wembanyama is making a valiant case for Rookie of the Year, putting up highlight reel material every night. He and Devin Vassell should handle the Grizzlies easily, who won last head-to-head matchup in a game that San Antonio covered.
This smells like a double-digit win for the Spurs, who have been an above average home team against the spread (17-16 ATS).
Pick: Spurs -6 (-110)
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Cavaliers vs. Timberwolves
The 26 points from last game could be a one-time explosion. It tied a season-high mark for him after all, but Jaden McDaniels has gone over 10.5 points in three of seven games since Karl-Anthony Towns went down with an injury.
McDaniels draws a matchup here against a fellow short-handed team in Cleveland, and he typically has a touch too much boom-or-bust potential for my liking. But oddly enough, he's shooting 51% from the field and 41% from three-point range at home this season.
Since Towns went down, the T-Wolves have played just one home game — the one against Denver where McDaniels netted 26.
He's a different shooter in Minnesota, and the Wolves are without Towns. So this is an over for me.
Pick: Jaden McDaniels Over 10.5 Points (-115)
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Pelicans vs. Heat
By Joe Dellera
The Pelicans are playing their second game in as many days as they take on the Miami Heat tonight.
One player to keep an eye on in a slightly different role is Zion Williamson. Yesterday, Brandon Ingram suffered what appeared to be a fairly significant injury to his knee that looked like a hyper extension and will require an MRI. Although he has not been formally ruled out for this game yet I find it difficult to believe that he would be able to play today as the Pelicans likely try to focus on his long-term health for their anticipated playoff run.
Ingram has been pretty healthy this season but he has missed four games that Zion did play. In those four games Zion averaged 6.8 assists on 13.8 potential assist per game. He has the ball in his hands significantly more and often functions as the team’s primary facilitator considering they do not have a true point guard on the roster.
From a matchup perspective against Miami, this is also an advantageous spot for him. Bam Adebayo is is listed as questionable for this game which would negatively impact their defense overall.
Miami tends to allow spot up shooters to find success. Given the shot profile that Miami allows, it’s a bit of a tougher scoring matchup for Zion and better one for him to find the open man. When these teams played on February 23, he tallied seven assists on 15 potentials.
Tonight, I expect Zion to exceed 5.5 assist and I would consider some alternate lines as well.
Pick: Zion Williamson Over 5.5 Assists (-135)
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Pelicans vs. Heat
There's no official update from the Pelicans' organization regarding Brandon Ingram's status after he appeared to hyperextend his knee on Thursday against the Magic, but I'm going to assume he won't play based on how it appeared.
That's not great for the Pelicans long-term success, but it's fine for this game, where New Orleans should come out firing after a disappointing loss to a tough Magic team that dominates at home.
New Orleans is on a back-to-back, playing their third game in four nights. But the Heat are arguably in a worse situation playing their fourth game in six nights and coming home to play their first home game after a four-game road trip.
If Ingram is out, the Pels should come out motivated in his absence. But even if he plays, the Pelicans have thrived in this spot, going 17-9 ATS in the first half following a loss, while the Heat just got a win over a banged up Cavs team in Cleveland on their last game of the road trip.
Bam Adebayo could miss his second straight game for Miami. So monitor his status, but I like New Orleans regardless.
Take the Pelicans in the first half at any dog price up to -1.5, or take the moneyline at -120 — whichever number is better.
Pick: Pelicans 1H +1.5 (-105)
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Pelicans vs. Heat
Here's what Jimmy Butler said after the Heat beat the Pelicans following one of the best NBA fights of the year just last month.
“We’ll beat them the next time, too,” Butler said. “We’re just a better team. Our team is so ready for anything that anybody throws at us,” Butler added. “We're so together, playing some incredible basketball. I don't think it matters who we go up against right now. It's that time of the year.”
Now, the Pelicans have actually been playing better lately — though they did lose Brandon Ingram last night due to injury, and I would say it's unlikely for him to play — the Heat have now won three of four following a four-game skid.
Butler gets up for games like these, and for games in general beyond the All-Star Break it appears. Since January 27, where it felt like Butler flipped a switch, he's gone over 20.5 in 13 of 18, and 11 of 18 times that's been over 21.5 as well, where this likely ends up.
Now, he's gone under in four of six, but I'm not deterred by that. Against the Pels on Feb. 23, he killed them for three quarters. He hit his overs in three quarters, netting 23 before being ejected down the game's home stretch.
I like this up to 21.5, and you could probably talk me into 22.5.
Pick: Jimmy Butler Over 20.5 Points (-125)
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Pacers vs. Warriors
Despite needing every win they can get, the Warriors haven't been playing well lately. They're just 3-4 straight up and ATS in their last seven games, while the Pacers have been a lot more reliable at 5-3 ATS in their last eight.
All three losses came at home where Indy has lost some focus lately. Meanwhile, four of their five wins have come on the road against Detroit, OKC, Orlando and Dallas.
The last time these teams met was just last month, and the Warriors beat the Pacers in Indianapolis. It was a few weeks before hosting All-Star Weekend and the Warriors embarrassed them on their homecourt 131-109.
I expect the Pacers to come out motivated and ready for some home revenge of their own. I like Indiana +5 for one unit, and would even sprinkle a half-unit on the moneyline.
Pick: Pacers +5 (-110)
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