NBA Best Bets For Wednesday, March 5: Giannis Antetokounmpo Will Strike First
The NBA has eight games on the schedule for Wednesday, including a Western Conference matchup between the Thunder and Grizzlies on ESPN at 9:30 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 5
Check out three bets below for Wednesday’s NBA games.
Cason Wallace 12+ Points+Assists (-130 DraftKings)
Cason Wallace is looking crisp and handling a larger offensive role since the All-Star break. Check out his per-game stats before versus after the vacation:
- 27.4 to 29.2 minutes
- 32.9 to 38.4 touches
- 6.8 to 9.1 field goal attempts
- 4.2 to 6.1 potential assists
The Kentucky product has reached 12+ points plus assists in six of seven games since All-Star weekend. This line is not adjusting enough for Wallace’s new role, and he also has a solid matchup here.
The Grizzlies’ defense has allowed the 10th-most points per game to pick-and-roll ball handlers this season, as well as the fourth-most points to catch-and-shoot jumpers. These two areas form the bulk of Wallace’s offensive value.
Meanwhile, Memphis’ offense will run through Ja Morant and Desmond Bane to an even larger degree with Jaren Jackson Jr. sidelined, which means OKC must prioritize perimeter defense in its rotation tonight. Wallace is the perfect defensive pest to throw at the Grizzlies duo.
He typically fights with Alex Caruso and Isaiah Joe for bench minutes. However, Caruso is out due to injury, and Joe may miss the contest, too. Look for Wallace to play around 30 to 35 minutes tonight. With that sort of usage and responsibility, he has a great chance to hit this line. I recommend playing it at two units.
Giannis Antetokounmpo First Basket (+370 FanDuel) & First Basket Exact Method Free Throws (+2800 FanDuel)
Milwaukee has been an elite tipoff team this season thanks to Brook Lopez, so it has secured the first shot in the vast majority of its games.
Dallas’ frontcourt will be missing Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, PJ Washington, and Caleb Martin tonight.
It’s an extremely bleak situation when Dwight Powell is the last line of defense against an all-time rim scorer like Giannis Antetokounmpo. The longtime Maverick has virtually no chance of stopping Antetokounmpo from getting to his spots, which likely would lead to fouling. The former Finals MVP is pacing the NBA at 10.4 free throw attempts per game, so he’s no stranger to getting to the charity stripe.
I suggest playing his first basket line at half of a unit and his exact method line at a quarter of a unit.
