Monday NBA Picks
Our team of writers and handicappers hand out their NBA picks and predictions for Monday, March 23.
Los Angeles Clippers at Boston, 7:35PM ET
Kevin Garnett wasn’t in uniform when the Boston Celtics were upset by the Los Angeles Clippers last month.
Back from a knee injury that sidelined him in that contest, the All-Star forward could see some extended minutes when the host Celtics look for a fourth straight victory Monday night against the lowly Clippers.
Minus Garnett, Boston (53-18) lost 93-91 at Los Angeles on Feb. 25. The Clippers have won just two of 12 games since, but some players referred to that victory as a certain bright spot during a dismal 17-53 season.
NBA Free Pick: LA Clippers – View Game Matchup | Best Line: +15.5 SPORTSBETTING.COM
Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns, 10:05PM ET
Playing some of their best basketball of the season, the Denver Nuggets open their final road trip of the season looking to increase their Northwest Division lead and climb up the tightly bunched Western Conference standings.
The Nuggets, though, arrive at US Airways Center on Monday night to face a surging Phoenix Suns team that’s won eight straight home games in the series.
Denver (45-25) owns a one-game lead over Portland in the division and will be going for its season-best sixth consecutive victory. J.R. Smith has been a major contributor during the streak, scoring 21.6 points per game – 7.2 more than his season average – and shooting 47.4 percent from 3-point range.
Smith scored a season-high 40 points and made three 3s in the Nuggets’ 116-105 win over Washington on Friday – the ninth time in 10 games he’s hit at least two 3-pointers.
In Denver’s two matchups with Phoenix this season, Smith is averaging 21.0 points on 40.0 percent shooting (8-of-20) from beyond the arc.
NBA Free Pick: Phoenix – View Game Matchup | Best Line: -3.5 SPORTSBETTING.COM
Philadelphia 76ers at Portland Trail Blazers, 10:05PM ET
In their fifth road game in seven nights, the Portland Trail Blazers overcame fatigue to cap the trip with a win. Returning home could be even sweeter with another road-weary team coming to town.
The Blazers look to protect one of the best home records in the NBA on Monday night when they host the Philadelphia 76ers, finishing a back-to-back set with the finale of its own weeklong five-game trip.
The Blazers (44-26) are back in Portland after a 3-2 trip that took them to Atlanta, Memphis, Indianapolis, Cleveland and Milwaukee. Though they were exhausted by the end of the season high-tying jaunt, the Blazers pulled out a 96-84 victory over the Bucks in Saturday night’s finale thanks to a 57-41 scoring advantage in the second half.
NBA Free Pick: Philadelphia – View Game Matchup | Best Line: +8 SPORTSBETTING.COM
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Posted: 3/23/09 1:21PM ET