Coby White, Cade Cunningham, and Kelly Olynyk, the three players in yesterday's NBA best bets, all hit the under last night – unreal. Cunningham was a field goal short, and Olynyk could not get off the hook despite having six rebounds before the fourth quarter. White did not even get close as he played against the Dallas Mavericks in their best defensive performance of the season. Another night of the bookies being on point. 

Today there are seven games in the Association, and two games in front of a national audience on TNT. The first game is the Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks beginning at 7:30 PM ET, but there is no NBA best bets wager in this match. 

 

The second game on TNT is the Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Clippers beginning at 10:00 PM ET and there is a wager in this match on Kawhi Leonard. The first-place Oklahoma City Thunder are hosting the streaky Indiana Pacers in what should be a thrilling game. There is an NBA best bets wager on 2024 All-Star Tyrese Haliburton in this match as well. 

The Bet of the Night comes from the late game between the Milwaukee Bucks at Sacramento Kings and focuses on the two-time NBA MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo. So, let's break down how I attacked my NBA best bets today!

Expert NBA Best Bet & Pick Today, 3/12

Giannis Antetokounmpo Player Props: Over 31.5 Points (-120 on BetMGM)

The Bucks are currently in second place of the Eastern Conference and have won their last seven of nine games. The two-man game between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard is finding a rhythm under Doc Rivers. Together they scored 69 of Milwaukee’s 124 points against the Los Angeles Clippers two days ago.

Milwaukee continues their road tour against the Sacramento Kings and Antetokounmpo should have another great game. Despite being injured he is playing well and putting up high numbers. A key component to that is Antetokounmpo’s ability to get to the free throw line. He has attempted forty-nine free throws in his last four games and been successful on thirty-three of them. 

Sacramento allows 117.9 points per game, and the Milwaukee Bucks score an average of 120.9 per game. The Kings are a bottom ten defense in points allowed against opposing forwards and have an all-time forward playing against them tonight. Antetokounmpo is averaging twenty-one field goal attempts per game this March, and that should continue against a bad defensive team.

 

NBA Prop Bets for Today, 3/12

Tyrese Haliburton Player Props: Over 19.5 Points (-120 on BetMGM)

The Indiana Pacers play the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Paycom Center, and the Thunder are heavy favorites with a current money line of -275. Per usual with Pacers games, this game has the highest total of the night with 240.5 points. This should be a high scoring game for both teams, which is part of the reason the over is taken on Tyrese Haliburton’s points.

Haliburton is averaging 20.8 points per game this season. He has covered this proposition in his last two games, and he has played over thirty-one minutes in his last eight of nine games. He has attempted fifteen or more field goals in his last four games, several of which have been threes. The Thunder are the sixth worst perimeter defense in the NBA, and Haliburton should take advantage of that. 

The Pacers are also in a tightly contested race in the Eastern Conference. There are only two games of separation from fourth to eighth and the Pacers are in seventh. The Pacers are aware of their lack of defense, and if they are going to win this game, they will need to score over their average of 123.1 as Oklahoma City has one of the best scorers in the Association. An All-Star clash of talented guards play tonight, and Haliburton has every opportunity to score his average.

 

Kawhi Leonard Player Props: Under 25.5 Points (-120 on BetMGM)

Kawhi Leonard is currently listed as questionable and sat out the previous game against Milwaukee due to a groin injury. Tonight, the Los Angeles Clippers host the Minnesota Timberwolves and are playing on primetime television. This is an important battle between the third and fourth ranked teams of the Western Conference, where defense should dominate.

Kawhi Leonard is averaging exactly twenty-four points per game this season and playing against the best defense in the Association. The Timberwolves allow only 106.8 points per game, although they have allowed more points on this recent road trip. Minnesota is playing back-to-back games in Los Angeles and have not had to travel the last three days. This should allow key defensive players such as Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels to be well rested for the game tonight. 

The Clippers have players capable of taking over a game with their scoring besides Kawhi Leonard too. Paul George and James Harden can have a thirty- or forty-point game if they are having a great night. There's also a possibility Anthony Edwards misses the game tonight in which case Kawhi Leonard could be rested the entire fourth quarter.

 

Thanks for reading my NBA best bets today. Remember to check out Fantasy Alarm for all your fantasy and betting needs across multiple sports. 

Bet Smart, Be Lucky - Iggy

*All Bets to be placed at 1 unit unless specified otherwise