NBA Picks, Predictions, Odds & Parlay for Today's Games: Friday, 3/8
To get NBA fans set for a monster weekend ahead, tonight’s Friday slate provides us with eight matchups to enjoy. Our experts have broken down each one to provide their best NBA predictions today you can take full advantage of. Better yet, on top of our NBA picks for today will be a guaranteed $150 bonus for all new 🏆 BetMGM Sportsbook 🏆members in AZ, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, NJ, OH, PA, WV and WY.
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NBA PREDICTIONS TODAY: Magic ML, Thunder 1Q -2.5 & Hawks vs. Grizzlies Under 215.5 (+630 at BetMGM)
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NBA Picks & Predictions for Tonight's Games
As mentioned, we have eight games to break down tonight, with the Pelicans vs. 76ers game being what should have been the marquee matchup if not for Joel Embiid’s injury. Instead, New Orleans is a clear favorite, even on the road, and with how Philly has looked, we foresee them proving oddsmakers right.
The nightcap in Los Angeles with the Lakers hosting the Milwaukee Bucks should also be one of the best games of the night, where we predict plenty of points to be scored. While that should be the case, it’s still not among our best NBA picks for today. With that in mind, let’s get into the ones that make up our NBA parlay today.
NBA Parlay for Today
Magic vs. Knicks Pick: Orlando Money Line (+100 at BetMGM)
The very first pick from our NBA predictions today will likely be the most surprising and cause the most hesitation. However, the sheer fact that the Magic are just 1.5-point underdogs on the road in Madison Square Garden should speak volumes itself.
Believe it or not, Orlando is the absolute best team in the NBA when it comes to covering the spread, covering at a better than 66% clip. Not only that, but they’ve done so in all three games against the Knicks this season. That was while New York was healthy and arguably the hottest team in the NBA, and now they’re banged up.
On top of all that, the Magic won all three of those games outright. Therefore, the first of our NBA picks for today is the Orlando money line (+100 at BetMGM).
Heat vs. Thunder Pick: Oklahoma City 1Q -2.5 (-115 at BetMGM)
Next up is a bit of a more unique approach, as we’re going to isolate the first quarter of the Heat vs. Thunder matchup. Oklahoma is a significant eight-point favorite, but Miami may be able to get the backdoor cover late in the game.
However, we expect a fast start from OKC, especially given that the Heat were just in Dallas taking on the Mavericks last night. Even if they weren’t, the Thunder are the best team in the NBA when it comes to covering the spread in the first quarter, which should be no surprise when we tell you that they’re the second-highest scoring team in the first quarter.
When these teams played in January, OKC was up by six after the first, so the second play from our NBA picks for today is the Thunder -2.5 in the first quarter (-115 at BetMGM).
Hawks vs. Grizzlies Pick: Under 215.5 Points (-110 at BetMGM)
The last of our NBA predictions today involves a game between two teams that we likely won’t see in the playoffs, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t take advantage of the betting markets.
Memphis has been looking ahead to the offseason virtually all year, and they’re the lowest-scoring team in the NBA. The Hawks are much better in that regard, but that was before losing Trae Young to injury. That means this matchup will be void of Young plus Memphis’ Ja Morant and Desmond Bane.
With so much star power missing from this matchup, the final leg of our NBA picks for today is Under 215.5 (-110 at BetMGM) in the Hawks vs. Grizzlies game.
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BetMGM NBA Betting Odds, Lines & Spreads for Today's Games & Schedule, 3/8
Before we get into the payout that comes with our NBA picks for today, here are the latest NBA odds for all eight matchups at BetMGM Sportsbook:
- Charlotte Hornets +2.5 (-115) vs. Washington Wizards -2.5 (-105) - 7:00 PM ET
- New Orleans Pelicans -7.5 (-115) vs. Philadelphia 76ers +7.5 (-105) - 7:00 PM ET
- Minnesota Timberwolves +1.5 (-115) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers -1.5 (-105) - 7:30 PM ET
- Orlando Magic -1.5 (-105) vs. New York Knicks +1.5 (-115) - 7:30 PM ET
- Atlanta Hawks -3.5 (-105) vs. Memphis Grizzlies +3.5 (-115) - 8:00 PM ET
- Miami Heat +8.5 (-105) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder -8.5 (-115) - 8:00 PM ET
- Houston Rockets -5.5 (-115) vs. Portland Trail Blazers +5.5 (-105) - 10:00 PM ET
- Milwaukee Bucks -2.5 (-110) vs. Los Angeles Lakers +2.5 (-110) - 10:00 PM ET
If you end up wagering on our NBA parlay for today at +630 odds, a $10 bet profits $63 as long as all three legs are successful. Remember, even if you target something other than our NBA predictions today, secure your guaranteed $150 boost by 👉 creating a new account at BetMGM 👈 with promo code SPORTSILLUSTRATED ahead of the tip-offs.
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