Free NBA Picks: Tuesday, March 14, 2017, Opening Line Report and Handicapping

by Alan Matthews - 3/13/2017

Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson

In the spirit of the NCAA Tournament bracket being released on Sunday , the school with the most current players in the NBA probably won't surprise you: Kentucky. Just think how good a Kentucky-only team would be. A backcourt of John Wall and Eric Bledsoe (or Devin Booker) and a frontcourt of Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns and DeMarcus Cousins. Yeah, I'd take that group to beat the Warriors or Cavaliers in the NBA Finals. UK probably will have at least four more first-round picks in this summer's draft if everyone declares as expected. Duke has the second-most NBA players, led by guys such as Kyrie Irving (who only played a handful of games his one season in Durham), the injured Jabari Parker, J.J. Redick and Brandon Ingram. Kansas, North Carolina and UCLA round out the top five.

Pistons at Cavaliers ( -8.5, 213.5)

First of an NBA TV doubleheader. Detroit won for the fourth time in five games Saturday , 112-92 over the Knicks. Tobias Harris scored 23 of his 28 points in the first two quarters as the Pistons made it a rout early. Andre Drummond had 24 points and 15 rebounds. Cleveland's struggles continued Sunday in a 117-112 loss in Houston on Sunday. The Cavs led by 14 with about 10 minutes left in the third quarter. LeBron James had 30 points but eight turnovers. Detroit leads the season series with Cleveland 2-1 - just beat the Cavs 106-101 last Thursday -- and has won four of its past seven at the Cavs. Cleveland, by the way, has signed former Bucks big man Larry Sanders after losing Andrew Bogut for the season.

Key trends: The home team is 4-0 against the spread in the past four meetings. The under is 5-1 in the previous six.

Early lean: Pistons and under.

Thunder at Nets (+6.5, 221)

Oklahoma City won a second in a row Saturday, 112-104 over Utah. Russell Westbrook had 33 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds for his 32nd triple-double of the season. That's the second-most in a single season, breaking a tie with Wilt Chamberlain. The Thunder are 26-6 when Westbrook has one. Brooklyn beat the Knicks 120-112 on Sunday. That ended the Nets' 16-game home losing streak that dated to Dec. 26. Brook Lopez had 25 points. Brooklyn lost at OKC 124-105 on Nov. 18. Westbrook had a triple-double of 30 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds.

Key trends: The Thunder are 0-4 ATS in their past four road games. The over is 4-1 in Brooklyn's past five at home. OKC is 1-4 ATS in the past five meetings.

Early lean: Nets and over.

Pacers at Knicks (+2.5, 211.5)

Indiana beat Miami 102-98 on Sunday. Paul George had 28 points and 10 rebounds. The Pacers have alternated wins and losses for the past 10 games. New York dropped its third in a row Sunday and hit rock bottom in a 120-112 loss at Brooklyn. Carmelo Anthony had 27 points and Kristaps Porzingis 19 points and 10 rebounds. Anthony joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Milwaukee, Lakers) and Elvin Hayes (Houston, Washington) as the only players to score 10,000 for two franchises (Nuggets being the other).Final meeting between Indiana and New York, with the Knicks leading 2-1.

Key trends: The Pacers are 1-4 ATS in their past five at the Knicks. The under is 8-3 in the past 11 meetings.

Early lean: Knicks and under.

Trail Blazers at Pelicans (-3, 216)

Portland started a five-game road trip with a 110-101 victory at Phoenix on Sunday. Damian Lillard scored 28 of his 39 points in the first half. CJ McCollum added 26 points. The Blazers did blow an 18-point lead. Portland could get back swingman Evan Turner here after being out 12 games with a broken right hand. New Orleans ended a two-game skid with a 125-122 OT win in Charlotte on Saturday. Anthony Davis had 46 points and 21 rebounds. DeMarcus Cousins picked up a fifth foul with 9 ½ minutes left in the fourth and never played again. Portland and New Orleans split two early-season meetings, each winning at home.

Key trends: The home team is 6-1 ATS in the past seven meetings. The over is 7-1 in Portland's past eight overall.

Early lean: Pelicans and over.

76ers at Warriors (-16.5, 223)

Second NBA TV game. Philadelphia won at the Lakers on Sunday, 118-116. The Sixers got a career-high 29 points from rookie Dario Saric and 23 from Jahlil Okafor. Forward Robert Covington sat out with knee swelling. Golden State lost a third in a row Saturday, 107-85 in San Antonio as Coach Steve Kerr sat all his stars in the second of a back-to-back. That loss might cost the Warriors the West's top seed because now the Spurs, who were also without some key guys, clinched the season series and potential tiebreaker. It had been 2,272 days since Golden State last played without at least one of its All-Star trio of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. Golden State won 119-108 in Philly on Feb. 27 and has taken seven straight in the series.

Key trends: The 76ers are 7-1 ATS in their past eight road games. The Warriors are 1-9 ATS in their past 10. The over is 11-5 in Philly's past 16 on the road.

Early lean: 76ers and over.

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