Thank goodness it’s Friday! Meat Loaf was back on the menu yesterday as Fantasy Alarm NBA Best Bets went two out of three again and – ‘two out of three ain’t bad’. There is a full slate of games today, and there are plenty of great betting angles to accompany them. There are a few very tempting lines that look like the hook will be in play. 

This column focuses on four bets today, two of which are at plus odds… and that data does not match what the bookies are expecting. One of the plus odds wagers is on the New Orleans Pelicans vs. Miami Heat, in a game with several injuries. The second plus odds wager comes from the Los Angeles Clippers vs. Portland Trail Blazers game, featuring a former MVP. 

 

 

 

There are a couple familiar faces, one being Victor Wembanyama, and there is a player prop near even odds that was an immediate wager. The Bet of the Night is on a player that is hotter than fish grease in the Indiana Pacers vs. Golden State Warriors matchup. Below are my official NBA best bets for today, 3/22!

Expert NBA Best Bet Today, 3/22

Pascal Siakam Player Props: Over 7.5 Rebounds (-130 on DraftKings)

Fantasy Alarm is riding this bet for the remainder of the season. There have been three successful bets since the All-Star break on this exact same line. Pascal Siakam has become ‘the well’, a betting favorite, while reviving his career with the Indiana Pacers. He has become a top ten forward this season, and a large reason has been his excellent rebounding skills. 

Siakam has covered this line in five straight games, and the bookies almost refuse to move his line total, or the odds. We will take it! These are the bets that build our bankroll, find an angle and capitalize on the sportsbooks laziness. The Indiana Pacers continue their road trip tonight against the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors have been shifting different centers around this season, but Draymond Green usually draws the starting job. 

Due to this inconsistency the Warriors allow the ninth most rebounds to opposing forwards. They also allow a total of 51.0 rebounds per game, and slightly more at home with 51.5. Siakam has played more years than Golden State’s forwards, and he has longer length than Green. Both of these play to our advantage.

The sixth place Pacers cannot rest and must keep clawing away at the jam-packed middle of the Eastern Conference. They are only three games back from fourth place, but only half a game ahead of eighth place. Effort will be needed, and rebounding is the effort statistic. Pascal Siakam has been ‘the well’ and it is far from drying up. Trust our guy in the Bet of the Night.

 

 

 

NBA Prop Bets Today, 3/22

James Harden Player Props: To Record A Double-Double (+115 on DraftKings)

James Harden has had two appearances on Fantasy Alarm NBA Best Bets this season… and he’s back for another. The 2018 NBA MVP has quietly gone about his business with the LA Clippers as a true point guard… not the scorer he was with Houston that propelled him to his MVP season. Lost in those three years of James Harden being the leading point scorer of the NBA is the fact he also led the league in assists one of those years. 

He has delivered 514 assists this season. That currently is the sixth most of 2023-24. The Los Angeles Clippers are playing against the Portland Trailblazers for the second straight game in row. They destroyed them two days ago 116-103, and in that game, Harden delivered fourteen dimes. That earned him a double-double. 

Tonight, the Clippers are back at it again, and their starting lineup is expected to play. Harden’s assists line is at 9.5. If you have been reading this column you know the pro move is to go check the double-double line if an assists or rebounding line is at 9.5 and the player is at least an average scorer– James Harden is a three-time scoring title champion. 

Harden has had ten or more assists in his last three of five games, and four games this month. The fact that he earned fourteen against this exact same team two days ago is more of an indicator that he can do it again. Trust ‘the Beard’ to deliver tonight.

 

 

 

Victor Wembanyama Player Props: Over 11.5 Rebounds (-110 on BetMGM)

One of the most mentioned players of this column is back for another player prop. Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs host the Memphis Grizzlies tonight. Despite the fact the Spurs are eliminated (could be playing for a high lottery pick), and Wembanyama has the rookie of the year trophy in the bag, he has been playing with max effort. 

He has played over thirty minutes in all seven games he has played this month, and the effort stats have not dipped at all. In fact, some have risen, such as his blocks and rebounds. Truthfully his rebounding has really taken off. He has double digit rebounds in all but one game this month, and in that one game he recorded nine. 

Wembanyama has covered this line in three of his games played this month and has a favorable match tonight. The Memphis Grizzlies allow the second most rebounds to opposing teams this season with 54.0. They have allowed an average of 59.0 in their last three games, and Wembanyama is the tallest starter in the NBA. In addition to that, Memphis allows the second most rebounds to opposing forwards.

Wembanyama has been a bankroll building bro for Fantasy Alarm. We simply look for that to continue against one of the worst rebounding teams in the league.

 

 

 

NBA Predictions Today, 3/22

Pelicans vs. Heat Prediction: New Orleans Moneyline (+125 on BetMGM)

The Friday Bonus Bet is a straight bet in the New Orleans Pelicans vs. Miami Heat. For some odd reasons the New Orleans Pelicans are underdogs in tonight’s game. Perhaps it is because Brandon Ingram is out with a bone bruise, but the Heat have far more players out than the Pelicans. 

The Heat are without Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, Kevin Love, and Bam Adebayo is questionable with back pain. In addition to that, the New Orleans Pelicans have won more games on the road than at home this season, while the Heat have lost more home games than they have road games. 

The Pelicans have a formidable front court that could present problems for the Heat tonight. New Orleans also scores six more points per game than the Heat. The math is not adding up and this column will lay the plus odds straight bet in expectation of the better, and healthier, team winning tonight.

 

 

 

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

Bet Smart, Be Lucky - Iggy

*All bets to be placed at 1 unit unless specified otherwise.