04 Mar

Top DraftKings, FanDuel daily Fantasy basketball picks for Monday, March 3 include Desmond Bane

The 76ers are plenty used to playing without Joel Embiid with how often the former MVP is injured, and yet, it seems a different 76ers player is emerging from the NBA DFS player pool nightly as a top option for NBA DFS picks. Quentin Grimes, a shooting guard averaging 11.3 points per game, had 44 points in a Saturday win over the Warriors one game after having three points against the Knicks. So, which version of Grimes can daily Fantasy basketball players expect when making NBA DFS lineups as Grimes and the Sixers play Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe and Portland as one of seven games on Monday’s slate?

Philadelphia has had four different leading scorers over its last six games, so how should 76ers like Grimes, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George (groin, questionable) factor into an NBA DFS strategy? Before making any NBA DFS picks, be sure to check out the NBA DFS advice, player rankings, stacks, and top daily Fantasy basketball picks from SportsLine’s Mike McClure.

McClure is a DFS professional with more than $2 million in career winnings. He’s also a predictive data engineer at SportsLine who uses a powerful prediction model that simulates every minute of every game 10,000 times, taking factors like matchups, statistical trends and injuries into account. This allows him to find the best NBA DFS values on sites like DraftKings and FanDuel and create optimal lineups that he shares only over at SportsLine. They’re a must-see for any NBA DFS player.

On Friday (when McClure last made NBA DFS picks), McClure highlighted Nuggets center Nikola Jokic as one of his top NBA DFS picks from the NBA DFS player pool on both sites. The result: Jokic had 23 points, 17 rebounds and 15 assists, returning 73.8 points on DraftKings and 67.9 points on FanDuel. Anybody who included him in their lineups could have been well on the way to a profitable day!

https://051a9b5caff07a3667cb0a2a35e40df5.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-41/html/container.html

McClure has turned his attention to NBA action on Monday and locked in his top daily Fantasy basketball picks. You can only see them by heading to SportsLine.

Top NBA DFS picks for Monday, March 3

For Monday, one of McClure’s top NBA DFS picks is Grizzlies guard/forward Desmond Bane, who is listed at $7,600 on DraftKings and $8,000 on FanDuel. Bane had 24 points, 12 rebounds and four assists in a 114-113 loss to the Knicks on Friday after having 25 points and nine assists the game before. The 26-year-old has scored at least 20 points in eight of his last 10 games to raise his scoring average to 18.2 points per game after averaging a career-high 23.7 ppg last year.

Ja Morant (shoulder) is questionable for Monday and Bane’s career-year last year coincided with Morant playing just nine games due to injury. Bane will likely see a lift in usage if Morant is out but even if Morant is active, the Grizzlies have an appealing matchup against Trae Young and the Hawks, who rank 27th in scoring defense (119.5 ppg) this season.

https://051a9b5caff07a3667cb0a2a35e40df5.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-41/html/container.html

Another part of McClure’s optimal NBA DFS strategy includes rostering Hawks power forward/center Onyeka Okongwu ($6,100 on DraftKings and $7,000 on FanDuel). Okongwu had 23 points and 13 rebounds in a 135-119 win over the Thunder on Friday. He’s averaging 16.8 points and 10 rebounds over his last six games. Okongwu has played at least 30 minutes in five of those six games and the 24-year-old is averaging 19.5 points and 11 rebounds over eight games when playing at least 30 minutes this season.

The Grizzlies have allowed more than 120 points in five of their last seven games, including 130 points to a Spurs team without Victor Wembanyama on Saturday. Memphis ranks 25th in scoring defense (116.7 ppg) this season. Given the Okongwu’s price, matchup and increased usage, McClure sees value in the No. 6 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft for Monday NBA DFS lineups. See McClure’s other NBA DFS picks right here.

How to set your NBA DFS lineups for Monday, March 3

McClure is also targeting a player who could go off for massive numbers on Monday because of a dream matchup. This pick could be the difference between winning your tournaments and cash games or going home with nothing. You can only see who it is here.

04 Mar

2025 NBA picks, March 3 best bets by proven model

The Philadelphia 76ers will look to sweep the two-game season series with the Portland Trail Blazers when they meet on Monday night. Portland blew a double-digit lead and lost 133-129 in overtime to Cleveland on Sunday afternoon, while Philadelphia defeated the Warriors 126-119 on Saturday. The Blazers (27-34), who are fourth in the Northwest Division, are 11-20 on the road. The Sixers (21-38), who are third in the Atlantic Division, are 11-20 on their home court. Philadelphia center Joel Embiid (knee) has been ruled out for the rest of the season. Deandre Ayton (calf) and Jerami Grant (knee) are out for Portland.

Tipoff from Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia is set for 7 p.m. ET. Philadelphia won the season’s first matchup 125-103 at Portland on Dec. 30. The 76ers are 2-point favorites in the latest Blazers vs. 76ers odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 229. The Sixers are at -134 on the money line (risk $134 to win $100), while Portland is at +113 (risk $100 to win $113). Before making any 76ers vs. Blazers picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the proven computer model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past six-plus seasons. The model enters Week 20 of the 2024-25 NBA season on a sizzling 147-107 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning nearly $4,000. It’s also an outstanding 18-10 (64%) on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Trail Blazers vs. 76ers and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for 76ers vs. Trail Blazers:

76ers vs. Blazers spread: Philadelphia -2
76ers vs. Blazers over/under: 229 points
76ers vs. Blazers money line: Philadelphia -134, Blazers +113
POR: The Trail Blazers are 5-5 against the spread over the past 10 games
PHI: The 76ers have hit the game total over in 44 of their last 76 games (+11.00 units)
76ers vs. Blazers picks: See picks at SportsLine
76ers vs. Blazers streaming: FuboTV (Try for free)
Why the 76ers can cover
Veteran point guard Tyrese Maxey powers the Philadelphia offense. He has reached double-digit scoring in 41 of the past 43 games, including a 30-point performance in a 110-105 loss to the New York Knicks on Wednesday. He scored 31 points with five assists and two rebounds in a 105-103 loss to Brooklyn on Feb. 22. In 51 games, all starts, he is averaging 26.7 points, 6.1 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 38 minutes.

With forward Paul George (groin) questionable, the 76ers can turn to veteran shooting guard Kelly Oubre Jr. to provide some scoring offense. He has scored 20 or more points in each of the last two games. In the win over Golden State on Saturday, he poured in 20 points, while adding two rebounds. He had 27 points, five rebounds and three steals in the loss at New York on Wednesday. In 56 games, including 53 starts, he is averaging 14.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.5 steals in 35 minutes. See which team to pick here.

Why the Trail Blazers can cover
Shooting guard Anfernee Simons helps lead the Portland attack. In 56 games, all starts, he is averaging 18.6 points, five assists and 2.8 rebounds in 32.4 minutes. He scored 27 points, while adding two assists and two rebounds in Sunday’s loss at Cleveland. In a 114-112 win over the Utah Jazz on Feb. 24, he poured in 28 points, while dishing off six assists, grabbing two boards and making two steals.

Another key component to the offense is shooting guard Shaedon Sharpe. The 21-year-old has played in 52 games, making 32 starts, and is averaging 17.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 29.8 minutes. He scored 25 points, while adding five assists and four rebounds in a 121-102 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday. He poured in 36 points, while adding eight rebounds and five assists in a 129-121 win at Washington on Wednesday. See which team to pick here.

How to make Trail Blazers vs. 76ers picks
The model has simulated 76ers vs. Trail Blazers 10,000 times and the results are in. It is leaning Under the total, projecting 215 combined points. It also says one side of the spread hits in almost 60% of simulations. You can only see the NBA picks at SportsLine.

So who wins 76ers vs. Trail Blazers, and which side of the spread hits almost 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Trail Blazers vs. 76ers spread you need to jump on, all from the model that is on a 147-107 roll on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.

Where to bet on NBA games
Here are some of the sportsbooks to bet on NBA games today, along with the various NBA sportsbook promos they currently offer.

04 Mar

2025 NBA picks, March 3 best bets by proven model

The Philadelphia 76ers will look to sweep the two-game season series with the Portland Trail Blazers when they meet on Monday night. Portland blew a double-digit lead and lost 133-129 in overtime to Cleveland on Sunday afternoon, while Philadelphia defeated the Warriors 126-119 on Saturday. The Blazers (27-34), who are fourth in the Northwest Division, are 11-20 on the road. The Sixers (21-38), who are third in the Atlantic Division, are 11-20 on their home court. Philadelphia center Joel Embiid (knee) has been ruled out for the rest of the season. Deandre Ayton (calf) and Jerami Grant (knee) are out for Portland.

Tipoff from Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia is set for 7 p.m. ET. Philadelphia won the season’s first matchup 125-103 at Portland on Dec. 30. The 76ers are 2-point favorites in the latest Blazers vs. 76ers odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 229. The Sixers are at -134 on the money line (risk $134 to win $100), while Portland is at +113 (risk $100 to win $113). Before making any 76ers vs. Blazers picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the proven computer model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past six-plus seasons. The model enters Week 20 of the 2024-25 NBA season on a sizzling 147-107 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning nearly $4,000. It’s also an outstanding 18-10 (64%) on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Trail Blazers vs. 76ers and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for 76ers vs. Trail Blazers:

76ers vs. Blazers spread: Philadelphia -2
76ers vs. Blazers over/under: 229 points
76ers vs. Blazers money line: Philadelphia -134, Blazers +113
POR: The Trail Blazers are 5-5 against the spread over the past 10 games
PHI: The 76ers have hit the game total over in 44 of their last 76 games (+11.00 units)
76ers vs. Blazers picks: See picks at SportsLine
76ers vs. Blazers streaming: FuboTV (Try for free)
Why the 76ers can cover
Veteran point guard Tyrese Maxey powers the Philadelphia offense. He has reached double-digit scoring in 41 of the past 43 games, including a 30-point performance in a 110-105 loss to the New York Knicks on Wednesday. He scored 31 points with five assists and two rebounds in a 105-103 loss to Brooklyn on Feb. 22. In 51 games, all starts, he is averaging 26.7 points, 6.1 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 38 minutes.

With forward Paul George (groin) questionable, the 76ers can turn to veteran shooting guard Kelly Oubre Jr. to provide some scoring offense. He has scored 20 or more points in each of the last two games. In the win over Golden State on Saturday, he poured in 20 points, while adding two rebounds. He had 27 points, five rebounds and three steals in the loss at New York on Wednesday. In 56 games, including 53 starts, he is averaging 14.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.5 steals in 35 minutes. See which team to pick here.

Why the Trail Blazers can cover
Shooting guard Anfernee Simons helps lead the Portland attack. In 56 games, all starts, he is averaging 18.6 points, five assists and 2.8 rebounds in 32.4 minutes. He scored 27 points, while adding two assists and two rebounds in Sunday’s loss at Cleveland. In a 114-112 win over the Utah Jazz on Feb. 24, he poured in 28 points, while dishing off six assists, grabbing two boards and making two steals.

Another key component to the offense is shooting guard Shaedon Sharpe. The 21-year-old has played in 52 games, making 32 starts, and is averaging 17.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 29.8 minutes. He scored 25 points, while adding five assists and four rebounds in a 121-102 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday. He poured in 36 points, while adding eight rebounds and five assists in a 129-121 win at Washington on Wednesday. See which team to pick here.

How to make Trail Blazers vs. 76ers picks
The model has simulated 76ers vs. Trail Blazers 10,000 times and the results are in. It is leaning Under the total, projecting 215 combined points. It also says one side of the spread hits in almost 60% of simulations. You can only see the NBA picks at SportsLine.

So who wins 76ers vs. Trail Blazers, and which side of the spread hits almost 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Trail Blazers vs. 76ers spread you need to jump on, all from the model that is on a 147-107 roll on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.

Where to bet on NBA games
Here are some of the sportsbooks to bet on NBA games today, along with the various NBA sportsbook promos they currently offer.

24 Nov

NBA issues memo to players about home security after FBI connects recent burglaries to foreign crime rings

After a recent string of burglaries at professional athletes’ houses, the NBA has issued a memo to its players about home security. According to the Associated Press, which obtained a copy of the memo, the league urged players to take additional precautions when away from home. Those precautions ranged from updating alarm systems and keeping valuables in safes to using “protective guard services” during road trips and even having dogs around for security purposes.

In September, while Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley was attending a Minnesota Vikings game, burglars broke into his house and stole jewelry, Medina Police Chief Jason Nelson told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. In November, Milwaukee Bucks center Bobby Portis said “most of my prized possessions” had been stolen from his house while he was at a game and offered a $40,000 reward for any information that led to the return of the stolen items.

According to the memo, the FBI has connected recent burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups.” These “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated” crime rings “incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” The FBI believes that the rings are “primarily focused on cash and items that can be resold on the black market, such as jewelry, watches, and luxury bags.”

The NFL sent its players a similar security alert this week. The homes of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs were both broken into in October, just days apart.

Looking for more NBA insight from CBS Sports? Bill Reiter, John Gonzalez and more experts break down the league daily on the Beyond the Arc podcast.

24 Nov

2024 NBA Cup picks, Nov. 22 bets by proven model

The Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets will meet in a 2024 NBA Cup matchup on Friday night. Both teams are 1-1 in Cup play and trail Group C leader Golden State by one game. The Mavs (8-7), tied for second in the Southwest Division, are 2-4 on the road, while the Nuggets (8-5), second in the Northwest Division, are 5-2 on their home court. Denver power forward Aaron Gordon (calf) is out and could miss multiple weeks, while Nikola Jokic (personal) is listed as questionable. Dallas will be without point guard Luka Doncic (wrist), who is expected to miss a week of action.

Tip-off from Ball Arena in Denver is set for 10 p.m. ET. The Mavs lead the all-time regular-season series 97-93, but the Nuggets earned a 122-120 win on Nov. 10 in Denver. The Nuggets are 3.5-point favorites in the latest Mavericks vs. Nuggets odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 225.5. Denver is at -164 (risk $164 to win $100) on the money line, while Dallas is +139. Before making any Nuggets vs. Mavericks picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the proven computer model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past six-plus seasons. The model enters Week 5 of the 2024-25 NBA season on a sizzling 109-74 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning more than $3,000. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Mavericks vs. Nuggets and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for Nuggets vs. Mavs:

Mavericks vs. Nuggets spread: Nuggets -3.5
Mavericks vs. Nuggets over/under: 225.5 points
Mavericks vs. Nuggets money line: Nuggets -164, Mavericks +139
DAL: 9-6 against the spread this season
DEN: 6-7 against the spread this season
Mavericks vs. Nuggets picks: See picks at SportsLine
Mavericks vs. Nuggets streaming: FuboTV (Try for free)
Why the Nuggets can cover
Small forward Michael Porter Jr. is one of six Denver players averaging double-digit scoring. In 13 games, all starts, he is averaging 18.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 36.5 minutes of action. He is connecting on 47.9% of his field goals, including 38.5% from 3-point range, and 67.9% from the foul line. Porter is coming off a double-double with 24 points, 11 rebounds and three assists in a 122-110 win at Memphis on Tuesday in NBA Cup play.

Also helping lead the Nuggets is guard Christian Braun. The third-year veteran and former first-round selection is averaging 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.4 steals in 35.3 minutes. Braun has been red hot from the floor. He is connecting on 55% of his field goals, including 42.5% from 3-point range, and 81.3% from the free throw line. He is coming off a 19-point, seven-rebound, three-steal and two-assist effort in the win over Memphis on Tuesday. See which team to pick here.

Why the Mavericks can cover
Point guard Kyrie Irving is one of four Dallas players averaging double-digit scoring. In 14 games, all starts, he is averaging 24.3 points, 5.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 34.5 minutes. Irving is blistering the nets, connecting on 54.5% of his shots from the floor, including 53.8% from 3-point range, and 85.7% from the free throw line. In the first meeting at Denver, he scored 43 points and added five rebounds and five assists.

Shooting guard Klay Thompson is another weapon on offense for Dallas. In 15 games, all starts, he is averaging 14 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 28.7 minutes. He is coming off a 19-point and four-rebound performance in a 132-91 win over New Orleans on Tuesday. In a 120-117 loss at Golden State on Nov. 12, he poured in 22 points, while adding four rebounds and three assists. See which team to pick here.

How to make Mavericks vs. Nuggets picks
The model has simulated Nuggets vs. Mavericks 10,000 times and the results are in. The model is leaning Under on the total, projecting 216 combined points. It also says one side of the spread hits 60% of the time. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

24 Nov

76ers star dealing with left knee swelling, will miss Sunday’s game vs. Clippers

The Philadelphia 76ers announced that star center Joel Embiid will miss Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers as he continues to manage swelling in his left knee. Embiid was also ruled out for the Sixers’ Friday night game against the Nets, and these two absences will bring his total of missed games this season to 12.

All of those absences have been due to what the Sixers have called “left knee management,” as the team takes a highly cautious approach to its star big man’s playing time this season. It’s been unclear how Embiid picked up the injury, as he played during Team USA’s gold-medal journey in the Olympics this summer, but he wasn’t a participant in training camp or the preseason and has played in just four games so far.

Prior to the start of the season, Embiid mentioned that he didn’t see himself playing in both games of back-to-backs for the rest of his career, as he tries to prioritize being healthy for the playoffs. He’s since walked that back a bit and admitted that he was trolling with that response, however it’s obvious that the Sixers won’t rush the dominant big man to play if he’s dealing with things like this swelling in his left knee.

With Embiid missing another game, it will once again leave the Sixers shorthanded as Paul George recently returned to the injured list after hyperextending his left knee for the second time in a month. George is expected to be out for Sunday’s game against the Clippers as well.

George should be back soon and, while they’d surely like to have both of their stars back healthy for an extended period of time, Philly is entering a softer part of their schedule where they could fare well without having one or both of these guys out there. After Sunday’s game, seven of their next 12 matchups are against teams with losing records, including two meetings with the Hornets, as well as meetings with the Jazz, Trail Blazers and Spurs. It won’t be a cakewalk to beat all those teams, especially if Embiid and or George miss extended time, but after starting the season 2-12, this is the part of the season where Philadelphia can make up some ground.

If the Sixers reach the end of December and haven’t gotten closer to .500 in an incredibly weak conference, then some serious conversations will need to be had about this team’s outlook for the rest of the season.