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With less than 15 regular-season games remaining, teams are making a playoff push, or are playing for more ping pong balls in the upcoming draft lottery. Every game is crucial at this point in the season, and you’re seeing teams playing like every game is their last. Even though 10 teams from each conference make the playoffs, no one wants to be in the 7-10 play-in round.
We’ve picked out a couple of games for the upcoming weekend that we think could be profitable for the NBA Betting public. Here are those two games, and a brief analysis of each.
Must Bet NBA Games From March 19th to 20th
Portland Trail Blazers @ Brooklyn Nets – Friday, March 19th
With Kyrie Irving likely to be sitting courtside, the Brooklyn Nets will host the struggling Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night. New York has yet to lift some of the COVID restrictions, even though Irving can attend that game, since he’s not vaccinated, he can’t play. The Nets haven’t needed him as of late. Heading into Wednesday night’s game with the Dallas Mavericks, the Nets had won four in a row.
Currently sitting in the 8th position in the Eastern Conference playoff standings, the Nets are just 3.5 games behind the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 6th spot. The 6th spot is very important, as if they get there, the Nets won’t have to play in the play-in round. With Kevin Durant back healthy, and the new Nets additions putting things together, they’re looking like a team that can make a long playoff run.
The Portland Trail Blazers are on the other end of the spectrum. With Damian Lillard out with an injury, and the team trading away many of its pieces to start a rebuild, the Blazers are sitting near the bottom of the Western Conference standings. They’re an awful team on the road, as they’re 9-25 away from Portland, one of the worst road marks in the league.
This one has Nets written all over it. With the Nets playing well, and Portland playing for a better draft position. We aren’t going to hesitate in taking the Nets.
Milwaukee Bucks @ Minnesota Timberwolves – Saturday, March 20th
Two teams on a roll will clash, as the Milwaukee Bucks will take on the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center in Minneapolis. The Wolves have been racing up the Western Conference playoff standings. Currently sitting in 7th place in the West, the Timberwolves have gone 8-2 in their last 10 games heading into Thursday.
Milwaukee has been gearing up for another long playoff run. Brook Lopez has returned from back surgery, and Milwaukee’s “Big 3” has been playing better than they have all season. The Bucks have climbed to second in the Eastern Conference standings, just 2.5 games behind the conference-leading Miami Heat. The Bucks have won seven of their last 10, and are ready for the playoffs.
With Karl Anthony Towns playing at an elite level over the last few weeks, we’re going to lean towards the Timberwolves in this one. If they’re favored, they’ll only be a slight favorite. If they’re the underdogs in this one, we would be thrilled as a bettor.