NBA Expert Tips and Best Bets | March 17

Tuesday afternoon in New Zealand brings an excellent line up of NBA matches, and I’ve got three picks across NZ betting sites for those looking to get involved. Phoenix are the value play at a price I couldn’t ignore, Chicago should handle a depleted Memphis, while Luka Doncic gives me reason to back the Lakers in Houston.

Suns ML $2.85 @ VipLuck

$2.85 for a team that’s won five of seven. I saw that and thought there had to be a catch.

Phoenix lost 97-81 at home to these same Celtics back on February 25 – but Devin Booker was out with a hip strain that night and the Suns had no answer offensively. Different story now. He’s back and averaging 31.7 points over his last six games, hitting 40.9% from three across that stretch.

Of course, Boston sitting 44-23 and playing at TD Garden is no joke. But Booker dropped 43 on Indiana last week. He had 30 and 10 assists against Charlotte before that, plus Phoenix went into Milwaukee and won 129-114. On a tear like this, and desperate to win, I think the Suns are a live chance.

Admittedly, I’m not fully sold. But at $2.85 I don’t need to be. That price is too fat for a side playing this well.

Bulls -4.5 $1.90 @ Betandplay

Ja Morant’s been out with an elbow injury for months. Memphis traded Jaren Jackson Jr to Utah at the deadline too, so the cupboard is pretty bare. They’re 23-43 and it shows.

What caught my eye was Chicago’s road form. They beat Golden State 130-124 on March 11 and won 105-103 in Phoenix a few days before that. A Bulls side doing that isn’t losing at home to this Memphis team by fewer than five.

$1.90 at Betandplay for -4.5 is about as safe as NBA betting gets this week.

Lakers ML $2.10 @ Betista

Houston at home, 41-25, only a game behind the Lakers. Even if you’re deep in the valley, this is a match worth watching.

Luka Doncic is averaging 32.8 points this season and had 37.3 per game over his last three. I’ve watched him take over games out of nowhere. LeBron James is ticking along at 21.3 points and seven assists. Remember, the Lakers just edged Denver 127-125 in overtime and Doncic dropped 51 on Chicago before that. They’re now four wins on the trot.

$2.10 on the best betting apps for a team with that firepower and that momentum. I keep coming back to Doncic. When he’s hitting 37 a night you can’t plan for it, and I don’t think Houston have a great answer right now.