NBA weekend betting guide: Bank on the defending champs

If you are an NBA fan I hope you watched the Milwaukee-Miami game last night. It was probably the best regular season game I have watched all season long. I missed on the side but Bucks guard Jrue Holiday was money on his props.

If that is what we can expect down the stretch with so many contenders in the Eastern Conference we are in for a treat over the last 20 games of the season.

Many of those top teams in the East have games of interest this weekend. 

Friday, March 4

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Philadelphia 76ers
7:00 p.m. ET

The new look 76ers are the toast of the NBA right now. They are 3-0 with James Harden in the lineup and so far his numbers have been great while Joel Embiid's numbers have not suffered at all. They are at home but Cleveland will be a different kind of test because of their commitment to defense and having the size to guard Embiid.
Cavs guard Darius Garland is out so we will not get a true sense of what their best shot looks like, but they can compete. Also, two of Philly's games with Harden in the lineup were against New York. It is hard to get too much from those ones. The jury is still out. 

Take Philadelphia.

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Chicago Bulls
8:00 p.m. ET

The Bucks are looking to build on their big comeback win over Miami and gain some more ground in the East with this trip to Chicago. Neither of these teams are totally healthy right now and they seem to be heading in opposite directions. The Bulls been near the top of the East for most of 2022, but with Philly, Milwaukee, and even Boston surging I would not be surprised to see them drop to the point where they are not hosting a first-round series. They need to win at home because they are not much better than .500 on the road this season. Their defense is not going to withstand Milwaukee with their injury absences though. 

Take Milwaukee.

Saturday, March 5

Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers
8:30 p.m. ET

I think the schedule makers were hoping for more from L.A. when they put this game in primetime on a Saturday night. Golden State is rolling along, using the rest of the season to try and get healthy for a playoff run, while the Lakers are a disaster right. LeBron James loves a stage so look for L.A. to put forth a good effort even though they are shorthanded. Backing the Lakers is not something I would recommend, though.

Take Golden State

Sunday, March 6

Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics
1:00 p.m. ET

Kevin Durant is supposed to be back in the lineup on Thursday for the Nets. If he looks good coming back from injury, then the talk about the Nets will crank up another notch. No matter how he looks, the Nets are in fourth place in the Atlantic Division and 4.5 games behind Boston, who has surged while the Nets were slumping. Jaylen Brown is going to miss Boston's game against Memphis on Thursday night, but it is not clear how much longer he will be out beyond that. Ben Simmons has still yet to play for Brooklyn since the trade and on paper, these teams look about even right now. I think it is best to lean to the home side. There is more certainty there.

Take Boston. 

Phoenix Suns vs. Milwaukee Bucks
3:30 p.m. ET

This is a rematch of last year's NBA Finals. It loses some luster with Chris Paul out with an injury and Devin Booker recently entering health and safety protocols, though. Milwaukee has its share injuries too, but they are to its depth players, not its stars, so it going to be tough to get behind the Suns in this spot even though the price should be adjusted accordingly. They are not going to fold though and can have some advantages with Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges. It wouldn't be shocking to see these teams meet again in June for all the marbles, but for now we're backing the defending champs.

Take Milwaukee.