After last night’s jam-packed eleven-game slate of NBA action where we went 6-5 on our picks with three brutal misses by 0.5 we have a more modest five-game schedule in the NBA tonight. Let’s dive into the schedule, odds, and top picks for Wednesday, March 31, 2022.

NBA Odds and Schedule, March 31

Philadelphia 76ers @ Detroit Pistons, 7:00 p.m. ET

Spread: PHI -10
76ers last 10: 6-4
76ers ATS: 36-38-1 (17th)
Pistons last 10: 2-8
Pistons ATS: 42-34 (7th)
Over/Under: 223.5
Over/Under Trends: Four of the 76ers’ last five games have gone over, but only two of the Pistons’ last five have. However, seven of the Pistons’ last eight home games have done under and the 76ers rank 6th in the NBA in points against.
The pick: Saddiq Bey under 2.5 threes
Why?: This is a risky play because Bey does have some games where he just chucks from three, but it’s possible that Cory Joseph is back today to take some minutes and the 76ers are 8th-best in the NBA in three-point percentage allowed at just 34.4%. Bey has only gone over this total in four of his last ten games and two of them were with just three makes, so I’m gonna roll the dice and go with the under here.

Milwaukee Bucks @ Brooklyn Nets, 7:30 p.m. ET

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Spread: BKN -1.5
Bucks last 10: 7-3
Bucks ATS: 36-39 (18th)
Nets last 10: 7-3
Nets ATS: 30-42-4 (28th)
Over/Under: 243.5
Over/Under Trends: Both the Bucks and the Nets have only gone over the point total in two of their last five games. Partially because point totals in their games tend to be super high like this. They both feature average defenses when it comes to points against, with the Bucks allowing the 16th-most points a game and the Nets allowing the 19th.
The pick: Khris Middleton over 4.5 assists
Why?: So, the Nets are pretty solid in preventing massive assist totals, allowing just 24.1 assists per game, which is good for 11th in the NBA. However, I expect this game to be pretty fast-paced, which means a lot of possessions. Middleton has gone over this total in nine of his last ten games, and the one time he missed, he finished with four assists, so he’s hovered around this range with consistency. Given how big the game is and how much time I think he’ll see on the court, I’m gonna bet on him keeping it going.

For more NBA odds today and news, visit TailgateSports.com

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Atlanta Hawks, 7:30 p.m. ET

Spread: ATL -6
Cavs last 10: 4-6
Cavs ATS: 38-32-6 (10th)
Hawks last 10: 7-3
Hawks ATS: 33-43 (24th)
Over/Under: 226.5
Over/Under Trends: Three of the last five Cavs games over gone over the point total, while four of the last five Hawks games have gone over. The Hawks are the more giving defense, allowing 112.4 points per game (23rd), but the Cavs have been relatively stingy, allowing 104.8 points per game (3rd-best). However, over their last five games, they have allowed 113.4 points per game, including 131 to a mercurial Lakers squad. The last thing to keep in mind is that both teams are in the second game of a back-to-back, which could lead to a lower scoring effort.
The pick: Caris Levert under 4.5 assists
Why?: So last night we went with Caris LeVert under 3.5 assists, and he secured a late assist to push him to four. Tough break. We’re gonna go back to the well. Since Levert hit the over the game before, Vegas has pushed his odds up to 4.5 tonight. Well, he’s only gone over that twice in his last ten games. I think the added assist is going to be a bit too much for him, especially in a game I expect to be a little slower and less efficient since both teams’ starters played a lot of minutes last night and we’re getting to the end of a long season.

Los Angeles Clippers @ Chicago Bulls, 8:00 p.m ET

Spread: CHI -3
Clips last 10: 3-7
Clips ATS: 37-39 (16th)
Bulls last 10: 4-6
Bulls ATS: 40-35-1 (11th)
Over/Under: 221
Over/Under Trends: Three of the Clippers’ last five games have gone over the point total and one of them has pushed, but only one of the Bulls’ last five games has gone over. Yet, that was a home game and each of the Bulls’ last five home games has gone under.
The pick: Zach LaVine under 4.5 assists
Why?: As a team, the Bulls are middle of the pack in assists, totaling just 24.6 per game, which is good for 15th. The Clippers also rank 12th in assists allowed per game at 24.1, so let’s assume the Bulls will get around 24 assists. Between DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic and Coby White and Ayo Donsunmu, there are a lot of guys who handle the ball on most possessions. Considering Zach LaVine has failed to hit this prop in each of his last four games and is also not 100% as he battles a knee injury, I’m just not confident in him going over this number tonight.

Los Angeles Lakers @Utah Jazz, 10:00 p.m. ET

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Spread: UTA -13
Lakers last 10: 3-7
Lakers ATS: 31-42-2 (26th)
Jazz last 10: 4-6
Jazz ATS: 31-43-2 (27th)
Over/Under: 225.5
Over/Under Trends: Four of the Lakers’ last five games have gone over this total as they play at a relatively fast pace, but only two of the Jazz’s last five games have gone over. The Jazz are slower-paced on offense and also allow just the 10th-most points per game, so if they can dictate the pace, the under would be more in play, especially with LeBron ruled out.
The pick: Under 225.5
Why?: With the Lakers in the first of a back-to-back, I expect them to be without both LeBron James and Anthony Davis. If that’s the case, I think the Jazz are going to have a far easier time setting the tempo of the game, which will mean a slower game with points much harder to come by, so I’ll take the under here.