On Tuesday night, the Milwaukee Bucks came through in the face of adversity when they took down the Orlando Magic on the road, 134-122. Neither of their 2022-23 All-Stars, Jrue Holiday and Giannis Antetoukounmpo, were available for the game. Holiday was out with a sore neck, and Antetokounmpo had a non-COVID illness. Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton did the work in their stead, scoring 50 combined points. Middleton added 11 assists, and Lopez blocked three shots. Wesley Matthew (calf) was also out, as was new acquisition Goran Dragic (knee). As the week come to an end, let’s take a look at two Friday games to consider adding to your NBA betting.
NBA News: Best Bets for March 10
Cleveland Cavaliers (-1.5) at Miami Heat (O/U 214.5) (8:00 pm ET, NBA TV)
Cleveland responded to a three-game skid by winning three of four, beating Toronto at home before losing in Boston by four…and then knocking off Detroit by 24 and getting revenge over Boston on Monday, prevailing, 118-114 in overtime. Donovan Mitchell dropped 40 points on the Celtics, and Lamar Stevens came off the bench in the fourth to key the comeback, putting up eight points and pulling down eight boards, six on the offensive glass. His three-pointer with 2:14 remaining in overtime gave the Cavaliers a 114-112 lead with 2:14 remaining. The Celtics led by 14 going into the fourth quarter, but their defense could not stop the Cavs from putting up 31 points and earning the extra frame. Evan Mobley chipped in 25 points and 16 rebounds, giving Cleveland a 7-0 overtime record this season.
The Cavs now travel to Miami to take on the Heat. Miami had dropped six of seven before they got a pair of home games against Atlanta, and the Heat won both, 117-109, and 130-128. The second win came on Monday behind 26 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. from Jimmy Butler. Caleb Martin and Victor Oladipo came off the bench to drop 43 on the Hawks. Bam Adebayo (16 points), Duncan Robinson (14) and Tyler Herro (13) all hit double figures, and the Heat nailed 16 three-balls as a team, their best total since December 15. The Heat were down early but made it four rallies from deficits 15 points or larger this season, and they are now 14-8 in games decided by no more than three points. Cleveland to win and cover.
Toronto Raptors at L.A. Lakers (10:30 pm ET, NBA TV)
The Toronto Raptors have spent the last six games alternating wins and losses, losing in Denver, 118-113, in their last game on Monday. The Raptors led the game by five going into the fourth quarter, but then the Nuggets dropped 35 points of them. Fred VanVleet scored 21 for the visitors, and Pascal Siakam chipped in 19, including a jumpshot with 2:20 left in regulation that put the Raptors back up by six, but the Nuggets mounted a 7-0 run to lead, 112-111, with 1:15 remaining. VanVleet knocked down two free throws to get the lead back, but then Denver went on a 6-0 run, consisting of all free throws, to get the win. Scottie Barnes was ejected for a technical after a Jakob Poeltl foul, leading to a Jamal Murray free throw. Toronto had more second-chance points (20-14) and had the effort to win, but several factors went the Nuggets’ way in the end.
Next up on the Raptors’ road swing is a trip to Los Angeles to take on the Lakers, who have won two in a row and three of four, beating Golden State and Memphis at home most recently. Their win over the Grizzlies came on Tuesday and saw Anthony Davis have a monster night with 30 points and 22 boards. Dennis Schroeder added 17 points and nine assists, and Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves each contributed 17 as well. So despite losing LeBron James and D’Angelo Russell to injury, the Lakers are rolling since the trade deadline, now in ninth place in the West. The Lakers also turned up the defense, permitting just 46 points after the intermission. The Grizzlies continue to play without Ja Morant, the subject of two league investigations as well as one by the Denver police after carrying a gun into a strip club and flashing it in his own Instagram Live post, so they have plenty of distractions. Lakers to win.
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