LaMelo Ball may not be all that excited about his first NBA matchup with LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, but many SBOTOP NBA surely are. The promising rookie will lead his Charlotte Hornets squad into Staples Center looking to snap the Lakers’ current win streak.
But that’s far from the only big game on the NBA schedule. The red-hot Atlanta Hawks, who are hot on the Hornets’ heels in the East standings, put their six-game winning streak on the line against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Meanwhile, Zion Williamson’s New Orleans Pelicans are set for a rematch with Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers after a narrow defeat in their first meeting.
So read on below for SBOTOP’s detailed preview of all six games on the day’s NBA schedule.
Utah Jazz @ Washington Wizards
The Utah Jazz are in the midst of their roughest stretch of the year, going just 5-5 in their last 10 games. But they looked better in their last game against the Boston Celtics, in which they came back in the fourth quarter to win 117-109. Donovan Mitchell’s March shooting slump continues, though. The All-Star guard is shooting just 36.6 per cent in five games this month.
However, he should be able to have an easier time scoring against the Wizards, who have been one of the worst defences in the league this season. That has been evident during their recent losing skid, which has seen them drop five games in a row and seven of their last eight.
The Wizards lost a heartbreaker last time out against the Kings as De’Aaron Fox made one of the top NBA 2021 highlights of the season by hitting the game-winning shot.
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Atlanta Hawks
Trae Young and the Hawks are flying high at the moment with six straight wins sending them up to sixth in the East standings. More impressively, their last three wins have been by double digits. Danilo Gallinari, who has had a slow start to the season, is finally getting back to his best. He had 29 points in their win over the struggling Rockets, the fourth time he’s had 20 or more points in the last five games.
Gallinari will now go up against his old team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, who remain competitive despite the clear shortage of talent surrounding young star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. SGA is averaging 26 points in March, but running mates Darius Bazley and Luguentz Dort have been sidelined with injuries of late.
Orlando Magic @ New York Knicks
The playoffs-chasing Knicks slipped down to eighth in the East standings after a tough 1-3 road trip which saw them lose to the top three teams in the conference: the Bucks, Nets, and 76ers.
However, New York will have the perfect opportunity to bounce back when they take on the struggling Orlando Magic, who have lost eight games in a row. The Magic remain absolutely decimated by injuries, with three of their top four scorers this season — Aaron Gordon, Evan Fournier, and Terrence Ross — all currently out of the line-up.
New Orleans Pelicans @ Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers just about edged out the Pelicans in their first meeting the other day. With CJ McCollum struggling in his first game back from a foot injury, Damian Lillard carried the team on his back by dropping his first 50-point game of the season.
Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans with 30 points while Zion Williamson added 28 points and eight assists. Williamson has been remarkably consistent, scoring 20 or more points in his last 18 games in a row. But despite Zion’s brilliance, the Pelicans remain quite inconsistent, going just 4-6 over their last 10 games.
Betting Tip: New Orleans Pelicans Asian Handicap +1.00 @ 1.95
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Phoenix Suns
The Suns bounced right back from their loss to the Pacers by mauling the Grizzlies by 23 points. Prior to their Pacers defeat, the Suns had won their last five games and eight of their last nine as they rose to second in the West.
Unsurprisingly, the NBA 2021 betting odds have the Suns significantly favoured to start a new winning streak as they take on the last-placed Timberwolves.
Although, the Wolves have won two of their last four games, with rookie Anthony Edwards flashing signs of the potential which saw him go No. 1 overall in the draft. Edwards had a career-high 34 points in a win over Portland and is averaging 24.5 points over his last eight games.
Betting Tip: Minnesota Timberwolves Asian Handicap +11.00 @ 1.86
Charlotte Hornets @ Los Angeles Lakers
LaMelo Ball and the Hornets head to LA on the second night of a back-to-back. They suffered a heavy 25-point defeat to the Denver Nuggets last night, which snapped their four-game win streak. Ball, who is having a brilliant rookie campaign with 15.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game, had a quiet night with just 14 points and two assists.
The Hornets will need Ball to bounce right back up against the Lakers, who have been playing well of late. The defending champions are on a three-game winning streak despite the continued absence of Anthony Davis and are coming off back-to-back blowout wins over the Warriors (31 points) and Wolves (26).
James registered a triple-double in both wins, while the bench trio of Montrezl Harrell, Kyle Kuzma, and Talen Horton-Tucker has stepped up with some big scoring performances.
Betting Tip: LA Lakers Asian Handicap -8.50 @ 2.02
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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