NBA Best Bets For Wednesday, March 19: Cavaliers To Break Losing Streak
The NBA has 11 games on the schedule for Wednesday, including a Western Conference matchup between the Nuggets and Lakers on ESPN at 10 p.m. ET.
Keep reading for NBA best bets below, and bet with your favorite sportsbook apps.
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NBA Best Bets For Wednesday, March 19
Check out three bets below for Wednesday’s NBA games.
Nick Richards 10+ Points (-148 FanDuel) & 12+ Points (+105 DraftKings)
Nick Richards has reached 10+ points in 10 of his last 12 games, including the past six contests. Phoenix will rely on the trade acquisition to an even higher degree with Mason Plumlee and Bradley Beal sidelined.
Richards has an excellent matchup, too. Chicago’s defense allows the most points per game at the rim across the league. They also surrender the most points to rollers, ninth-most points to cutters, and 11th-most points on put-backs. Since joining the Suns, 85% of Richards’ total points have come from these three categories. Nikola Vucevic lacks the athleticism and mobility to deter a rim-runner like Richards.
In their only matchup after the trade, Richards dropped 15 points and racked up five free throw attempts. That production is not a fluke based on Chicago’s defensive weaknesses.
I suggest playing his 10+ points line at one and a half units and his 12+ points line at half of a unit.
Cleveland Cavaliers -5 (-102 DraftKings)
The Cavaliers are on a two-game losing streak for just the second time this season, but I expect them to turn it around tonight.
Jonas Valanciunas is Sacramento’s sole true center available due to Domantas Sabonis’ injury. Although Valanciunas can still score, he’s a horrific rim protector who will struggle mightily to handle Cleveland’s abundance of length and athleticism. Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen should have a field day around the basket. The Kings are not able to compensate by snuffing out drives before they begin because they don’t have elite perimeter defenders outside of Keon Ellis.
If Sacramento commits to surrendering catch-and-shoot looks by collapsing on paint threats, then Cleveland can light the net on fire through a barrage of triples. Only Phoenix and Milwaukee have better efficiency on catch-and-shoot threes than the Cavs (39.5%).
On the other end, Sabonis’ playmaking and scoring are difficult to replace. DeMar DeRozan and Keegan Murray will both be marked by lengthy defenders who can somewhat neutralize them. It will take monster nights from Malik Monk and Zach LaVine to potentially keep pace with Cleveland – a doable yet unlikely event.
I would play this line at one unit.
Max Strus First Basket Exact Method 3-Point (+1400 FanDuel)
Cleveland has dominated tipoffs this season thanks to Allen, and Valanciunas isn’t a big threat to them. Therefore, look for the Cavs to secure the first possession of the game.
I expect the Kings to bleed catch-and-shoot looks from the corners tonight. Max Strus leads Cleveland in catch-and-shoot attempts per game, and he’s knocking them down at a 41.2% clip. Plus, a Strus 3-point attempt has been Cleveland’s first field goal attempt in eight of their past 15 games.
I would play this line at a quarter of a unit.
