NBA Betting: Hornets host Celtics on Monday

Date: Monday, March 30th 2015

March Madness is starting to wind down – there are only three games left in the tourney. However, the playoff race in the NBA is heating up, as most teams have less than ten games left.

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Boston Celtics vs. Charlotte Hornets Picks

• Best Bet: Celtics +4 (-110)

The playoff race in the East is incredibly close. You have the Heat (34-39), Nets (32-40), Celtics (32-41), Pacers (32-41) and Hornets (31-41) all within 2.5 games of each other in the East.

Miami are in 7th place in the East and the Hornets are in 11th place. Three of these teams will likely miss the NBA playoffs and with only a regular season games left – everyone game is important.

Boston started March with a 7-3 record, but they’ve since gone 2-5 and they’re now on the outside of the playoffs looking in. Boston are just 14-22 on the road, but they’ve been better lately.

The Celtics are 4-2 in their last six road games and the losses came against the Spurs and Thunder.

Charlotte are just 17-19 at home this season and 3-8 in their last 11 games overall. They just beat the Hawks, but this team is struggling. I’ll be on the Celtics to cover the point spread.

Boston are 1-2 against the Hornets this season, as they won the last meeting at home. In the game in Charlotte earlier this season the Hornets won by 9 points and covered ATS.

Jared Sullinger is out for the C’s, but everyone else is relatively healthy on both sides. If the big men can play some defense, Boston will win the game, as they have an edge at the guard positions.

Phoenix Suns vs. Portland Trail Blazers Picks

• Best Bet: Over 211 Points (-110) at BetOnline

I expect a lot of points in the Phoenix Suns (38-36) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (47-25) game.

The Suns can score points (103.8 PPG – 5th), but they also allow a ton (103.4 PPG – 26th). Phoenix are on a 3-game losing streak and they’ve given up 108 and 109 points in two of those recent losses.

Portland have won 3-games in a row after a 5-game losing streak, but they just allowed the Nuggets to score 114 points. LaMarcus Aldridge is coming off a 32-point, 12-rebound performance against DEN.

Aldridge and Lillard will be relied upon to provide a lot of the offense, but Afflalo is slowly becoming more comfortable with his new team and he’s coming off a 21-point performance.

Brandon Knight has been terrible in Phoenix and he’s now coming off the bench in a limited role, but the Suns have a ton of scoring depth. The problem is they don’t play any defense at all.

Phoenix is a respectable 17-18 on the road and there’s still hope they’ll make the playoffs, although that hope is almost gone. I still expect Phoenix to fight to the end and not fold.

Both teams will exceed 100+ points in this game and the Blazers will likely put up closer to 120 points, easily sending this game over the total.

Free NBA Parlay for March 30th 2015

• Celtics +4 & Over 211 Points in PHO @ POR

I’m also going to parlay my two straight bets tonight in the NBA. I’m confident in both of these picks and a parlay at GTBets pays +260 odds. If you want just my best bet – take the O211 points.