NBA picks March 24: Pacers host Timberwolves in featured game

With only a few weeks left in the NBA season, teams are scrambling to make a final push at a playoff spot. Only six teams in the Eastern Conference have a winning record with nine teams in the Western Conference above .500. Eight games are scheduled for March 24. I will look at four of them with the Indiana Pacers hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves in the headlined game.

Minnesota Timberwolves versus Indiana Pacers

The Pacers are 4th in the Eastern Conference and the Timberwolves are 8th in the Western Conference. Indiana is “burning hot” versus “average” on the Team Strength Oscillator and +23 to +15 on the Power Ranks Indicator. The teams have been involved in games “over” the line in seven of the last 12. The Pacers are 22-9 at home and the Timberwolves are a solid 18-16 on the road. Despite a worse overall record, Minnesota has a scoring differential edge of +4.0 to +1.2. The Pacers won the previous game between the teams this season on March 17 by the score of 132-130 as a road underdog. Both teams are showing moderate stability on the Team Volatility Oscillator. The score prediction has Minnesota by a single point with 56 percent confidence. I like the Pacers at home in a game “over” the line.

Dallas Mavericks versus Brooklyn Nets

Both teams are struggling mightily and both “dead” on the Team Strength Oscillator. The Mavericks are 1-9 over the last ten and the Nets are 2-8 during the same stretch. Dallas is +6 to +3 on the Power Ranks Indicator, with a -0.5 to -6.0 scoring differential edge. The teams are trending in games on opposite sides of the “over/under” line with a score prediction of 115-109 in favor of Dallas with nearly 80 percent confidence. Brooklyn is an abysmal 11-22 at home and Dallas is 14-21 on the road. Both teams are consistently performing in accordance to their favorite/underdog status. I like the Mavericks in a game “over” the line.

Chicago Bulls versus Denver Nuggets

Denver is a game out of second in the Western Conference and Chicago is 9th in the Eastern Conference. Chicago is “average up” versus “average” on the Team Strength Oscillator but Denver is +21 to +10 on the Power Ranks Indicator. Both teams are trending in games “over” the line with a score prediction of 122-114 in favor of Denver, but the confidence in the prediction is under 50 percent. Denver has a big scoring differential edge of +4.1 to -3.1 and is 23-11 at home versus the Bulls’ record of 17-18 on the road. Denver is more consistently performing in line with their favorite/underdog status. Chicago upset Denver in the first meeting between the teams this season as a home underdog. I like the Nuggets to return the favor, winning by double digits in a game “over” the line.

Boston Celtics versus Sacramento Kings

Here are two teams heading in opposite directions. Boston is “burning hot” versus “ice cold down” on the Team Strength Oscillator after going 5-1 over the last six games. They are also +27 to +12 on the Power Ranks Indicator and have a scoring differential edge of +8.4 to +0.8. The Kings are 18-16 at home and the Celtics are 26-7 at home. Note the teams are trending in games on opposite sides of the line, so would be hesitant to place an “over/under” bet. The Kings shocked the Celtics with a 17-point road win as a huge underdog on January 10. Boston is one of the most stable teams in the league at +33 on the Team Volatility Oscillator. I expect them to bounce back and take control of this game, winning by double digits.