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Free NBA Picks: Wednesday, March 21, 2018, Opening Line Report and Handicapping


by - 3/20/2018

Lebron James Cleveland Cavaliers

We can't go a week without some sort of drama from the Cleveland Cavaliers, but this time it involves nothing to do with LeBron James. Head coach Ty Lue has stepped away from coaching to focus on his health (insert joke here that LeBron is really the head coach). Lue had to leave Saturday's game vs. Chicago will some sort of illness, the third time this season a health issue has kept him from coaching a full game. Apparently, no one is quite sure what's going on with Lue, but chest pains and coughing up blood are obviously never good signs. Lue, just 40, does hope to return before the playoffs, and this might only be a week or two, but associate head coach Larry Drew will take over in the interim. How important is a head coach in the NBA? Other than to juggle egos - a la Phil Jackson with Michael Jordan's Bulls or the Shaq/Kobe Lakers - I'm not sure it's hugely important. Not like they are calling out plays like in college. Here's hoping that Lue gets a clean bill of health and can get back. This was actually setting up as a potentially good week for the Cavs with the return of Kevin Love.

Raptors at Cavaliers ( +1, 226.5)

First ESPN game. Toronto was in Orlando on Tuesday. The Cavs won their second straight Monday, 124-117 over Milwaukee, behind a 40-point triple-double from LeBron. He added 12 rebounds and 10 assists for his 16 th triple-double of the season. Love scored 18 points in 25 minutes after missing six weeks with a broken left hand. Tristan Thompson, Larry Nance Jr. and Rodney Hood all were out again due to injuries. These teams have met just once thus far, a 133-99 Raptors home blowout win on Jan. 11 even though Kyle Lowry (minor injury) and Serge Ibaka (suspension) were both out. The Raptors are 17-24 all-time in Cleveland in the regular season.

Key trends: The Raptors are 2-6 against the spread in their past eight in Cleveland. The "over/under" is 4-1 in the past five meetings.

Early lean: Cavs and over.

Grizzlies at 76ers (TBA)

The Grizzlies were looking to win back-to-back games for the first time since mid-January but lost Monday in Brooklyn, 118-115. Andrew Harrison returned after missing nine games and had 19 points but missed a potential tying 3-pointer at the buzzer. Marc Gasol was out with flu-like symptoms and Tyreke Evans was scratched basically for tanking purposes. It was Memphis' 15th straight road loss. The Sixers won a third in a row Monday, 108-94 over the Hornets. Joel Embiid had 25 points and 19 rebounds, and Ben Simmons a triple-double without a turnover. Memphis beat Philadelphia on Jan. 22, 105-101. The Sixers led by 10 with just over nine minutes left.

Key trends: The 76ers are 9-1 ATS in their past 10 at home vs. teams with a losing road record. The over is 4-0 in the Grizz's past four vs. the East.

Early lean: Wait on Gasol & Evans.

Hornets at Nets (+1.5, 223)

The Hornets dropped their second straight in blowout fashion Monday, 108-94 in Philadelphia. Going 4-for-21 in the third quarter doomed Charlotte. Kemba Walker had 24 points. Nic Batum (Achilles) sat and Jeremy Lamb started for him. The Nets won their second in a row Monday, 118-115 over Memphis. Allen Crabbe and Caris LeVert each scored 22 points. Brooklyn hasn't won three in a row yet this season. Last meeting between these teams. The have split two meetings in Charlotte.

Key trends: The Hornets are 1-7 ATS in the past eight meetings. The over is 7-3 in the Nets' past 10.

Early lean: Nets and over.

Knicks at Heat (TBA)

The Knicks had a bad win Monday in beating the Bulls 110-92 because a loss would have moved New York ahead of Chicago in the race to the bottom. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 22 points and Michael Beasley added 17. Lance Thomas missed his second straight game for personal reasons. New York concluded a five-game homestand at 2-3. The Heat won a wild one Monday, 149-141 in double overtime over Denver. James Johnson scored a career-high 31 points, Kelly Olynyk added 30 off the bench and Miami set a franchise single-game scoring record (also most in NBA this year). Dwyane Wade (left hamstring strain) missed his fourth consecutive game, and Hassan Whiteside (left hip pain) sat out his fifth straight contest. New York and Miami have split two meetings, each winning at home.

Key trends: The road team is 7-1 ATS in the past eight meetings. The under is 7-1 in those.

Early lean: Wait on the Heat duo.

Nuggets at Bulls (TBA)

The Nuggets are 0-2 on a season-defining six-game trip following a 149-141 double-OT loss in Miami on Monday. Nikola Jokic had 34 points and 14 rebounds in the loss. Denver fell to 19-5 in games in which it scores at least 115 points. Leading scorer Gary Harris was out with a knee injury, and you won't likely see him this week. In a game that was important to lose, the Bulls held out Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen and Kris Dunn and lost by 18 Monday at the Knicks. Dunn is actually hurt so might not play for a while. Chicago lost its 11th straight game in Denver on Nov. 30, 111-110. Will Barton scored 37 points off the bench for the Nuggets.

Key trends: The Nuggets have failed to cover their past four on the road. The over is 7-1 in their previous eight vs. the East.

Early lean: Wait on LaVine & Markkanen.

Clippers at Bucks (-4.5, 227)

Los Angeles was in Minnesota on Tuesday. The Bucks played a third straight game where one team scored 117 points on Monday; they lost by seven in Cleveland. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 37 points (but said LeBron was the first player ever to score 40 on him) and Khris Middleton 30. Tyler Zeller (sore ribs) missed his second straight game. First meeting of the season between the teams. The Bucks swept last year for the first time since the 1999-2000 season.

Key trends: The Clippers are 1-4 ATS in their past five in the second of a back-to-back. The over has hit in five straight Bucks games.

Early lean: Bucks and over.

Pacers at Pelicans (-3.5, 223)

The Pacers snapped a two-game skid with a 110-100 home win over the Lakers on Monday. Myles Turner had 21 points and Victor Oladipo 20. Darren Collison returned to the starting lineup for the first time since having knee surgery in early February and had 15 points and eight assists. Domantas Sabonis missed his third straight game with a sprained left ankle and will sit at least one more. New Orleans hosted Dallas on Tuesday. New Orleans ended a seven-game losing streak at Indiana with a 117-112 win on Nov. 7. The Pels try for the first season sweep since 2009-10.

Key trends: The Pacers are 4-1 ATS in their past five on the road. The under is 16-4-1 in the Pels' past 21 vs. teams with a winning record.

Early lean: Pacers and under.

Wizards at Spurs (-6, 204.5)

Second ESPN game and not quite as marquee with All-Stars John Wall and Kawhi Leonard both still out. The Wizards won their second in a row Saturday, 109-102 over Indiana to win the season series - that could potentially be a huge tiebreaker. Washington shot 54.8 percent overall and 10-for-20 from deep. The Spurs are on their first four-game winning streak since December, all coming at home, following an 89-75 win over the short-handed Warriors on Monday. LaMarcus Aldridge has been dominant during this run and had 33 points and 12 rebounds. He's the first Spur with six 30/10 games in a season since Tim Duncan nearly 15 years ago. First meeting between these teams. San Antonio swept last year and has won 17 straight at home in the series.

Key trends: The Wizards have covered just three of their past 17 in this road losing streak. The under is 7-1 in San Antonio's past eight overall.

Early lean: Spurs and under.

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