Thursday NBA Picks
Our team of writers and handicappers hand out their NBA picks and predictions for Thursday, March 19.
Dallas Mavericks at Atlanta Hawks, 7:05PM ET
This has to be one of the most enjoyable homestands Atlanta Hawks fans have ever seen.
The Hawks can make it a perfect one Thursday night and notch their longest winning streak in nearly a decade as they meet the Dallas Mavericks.
Entering the start of this seven-game homestand March 7, Atlanta had lost two straight and six of eight as its grip on fourth place in the Eastern Conference appeared to be slipping away. Miami was within a half-game and Detroit was within two.
However, those gaps have since widened because the Hawks (40-28) have responded by winning six in a row.
NBA Free Pick: Dallas – View Game Matchup | Best Line: +6 SPORTSBETTING.COM
Portland Trail Blazers at Cleveland Cavilers, 8:05PM ET
It’s been more than three months since the Portland Trail Blazers won three straight games on the road. Equaling that accomplishment will be difficult as they face their toughest challenge on a five-game trip.
Looking to better their playoff position in the Western Conference, the Trail Blazers on Thursday night try to become only the second team this season to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers at home.
Portland (43-25) won 95-85 at Indiana on Wednesday – its second straight victory after opening the road swing with a 98-80 loss at Atlanta on Sunday.
Brandon Roy had 20 points with six assists and six rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who are fifth in the competitive West but only 15-19 away from the Rose Garden.
Portland now seeks to win three straight on the road for the first time since Nov. 30-Dec. 3, but has lost three in a row to the Cavaliers overall and five straight in Cleveland.
NBA Free Pick: Portland – View Game Matchup | Best Line: +9.5 SPORTSBETTING.COM
Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers, 9:05PM ET
The Los Angeles Lakers have their longest road trip of the season looming later this week, so the Western Conference’s best team would like to build a little momentum at home.
They’d especially like to forget about their most recent finish.
The Lakers will try to bounce back from a last-second loss when they host the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night in their last game at Staples Center for more than two weeks.
Los Angeles (53-14) has looked like the favorite to earn home-court advantage throughout the playoffs ever since it came home from a 6-0 road trip last month that concluded with wins over fellow contenders Boston and Cleveland.
The Lakers had been 7-0 at Staples Center since returning, and appeared to have an eighth straight home win well in hand Tuesday night, leading Philadelphia by 14 in the fourth quarter.
The 76ers came back, though, and Andre Iguodala answered Kobe Bryant’s late jumper with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give Philadelphia a 94-93 win.
NBA Free Pick: Golden State – View Game Matchup | Best Line: +13 SPORTSBETTING.COM
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Posted: 3/19/09 1:18PM ET