
Larry's Past Picks
James Harden has had two monster games against the Pelicans this season, going for 25 points and 17 assists in the most recent meeting and 27 points with four assists in the first matchup. Depleted New Orleans sports the NBA's worst defensive rating. Even though this has massive blowout potential, I bet Harden to record at least 30 combined points and assists. (And I would still play it Over at 30.5). In March, Harden averaged 36.9 minutes, 25.3 points and 8.7 assists.
Out of necessity, Tom Thibodeau is finally giving rookie point guard Tyler Kolek substantial minutes. Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride and Cameron Payne remain out for Tuesday's home game against 23-52 Philly. This has blowout written all over it, which would only increase Kolek's minutes. Kolek has averaged 17.4 minutes and 6.4 assists over the past five games, clearing this prop total four times. Kolek led the nation in assists in 2023-24 at Marquette. The 76ers give up the fifth-most assists (28.5) and over the past three games, they're allowing 31.7 assists.
Heat guard Tyler Herro is 13 of 19 from deep over the past three games, and he has a dream matchup in Washington on Monday. Over the past three games, Wizards opponents are taking a whopping 46.3 3-pointers per game and converting at a 42.4 percent rate. While Washington is tanking, the Heat are going all-out as they try to move up from the No. 10 seed. They've won four straight and are three games out of the No. 7 seed. With Herro averaging 35.3 minutes this month, I bet him to make at least three 3-pointers Monday.
This is a first-round game in the College Basketball Crown. Both teams enter on skids, but two factors have me on Butler. The Utes are going through a coaching transition, and they won one game away from home all season (Butler won five). Haslametrics rates Utah as the nation's worst in its "away-from-home metric," while the Bulldogs rank 33rd-best nationally. Butler holds opponents to 31.3 percent from beyond the arc, which will be key against Gabe Madsen and company. Look for Thad Matta to build momentum for next season with a win in Vegas.
The Hawks play fast and this game has the highest total (235.5) on Sunday's board. Caris LeVert (illness) is questionable, which could leave Atlanta even thinner in the backcourt. Dyson Daniels is playing big minutes, logging 34-plus in four straight. Daniels has faced Milwaukee four times this season and cleared this prop total each time, averaging 6.8 assists. Over the past three games, the Bucks have allowed an average of 29.7 assists -- eighth-most in that span. I bet Daniels to notch at least five assists Sunday evening in Milwaukee.
DraftKings is hanging a 9.5 in this game while the rest of the market is at 8.5. The Wolverines closed on a 25-9 run against Texas A&M, showing their offensive versatility against a tough Aggies' defense. They committed just nine turnovers all game, a great number for them. They've obviously got the size to match up here, but their improved guard play and high-level coaching gives them a real shot at the upset. The Tigers covered against Creighton, ending a five-game ATS skid. They should advance but it won't be easy. Michigan's ability to cover Johni Broome with one post player, as opposed to doubling, will be key.
This line is 22.5 at most books, and I'm fine playing it there too. Kawhi Leonard has scored at least 23 points in seven straight games, shooting at least 50 percent from the field in each. This month he's averaging 25.1 points in 36.8 minutes per game. In the previous meeting with Brooklyn, a Clippers' blowout win, Leonard scored 23 points in 24 minutes. The Nets rank 20th in defensive rating and just gave up 120 points at home to Dallas.
The Wildcats have taken six flights in the past three weeks, including a five-hour trip from Seattle to Newark on Monday. That followed a narrow win over Oregon in which Arizona shot 10 of 20 from beyond the arc and the Ducks shot 12 of 22 from the free-throw line. The Wildcats are fortunate to be alive whereas Duke has been consistently dominant lately with a healthy Cooper Flagg. Over the past 10 games, the Blue Devils have won by an average of 25 points. They also beat Arizona by 14 at the McKale Center in November, holding the Wildcats under 40 percent shooting. Flagg went for 24 points and seven rebounds.
Memphis shot 53.1 percent in blowing out Utah on Tuesday, so there weren't a lot of defensive rebounds for the Jazz to collect. I'm expecting the Grizzlies to have a much tougher time converting against OKC, on the final game of their five-game trip. Isaiah Hartenstein collected 14 rebounds in his last matchup with Memphis, nine in the one before. He has recorded double-digit rebounds in five straight overall entering Thursday. This game will be played fast -- both teams are Top 8 in pace -- giving us the extra possessions we need. Memphis has given up the 10th-most rebounds (52.9 per game).
Kawhi Leonard has been a different player after the All-Star Break, averaging 24.0 points compared to 16.3 before. He's playing way more minutes and his efficiency has improved. This month, Leonard is averaging 24.9 points. James Harden rolled his foot Sunday against the Thunder and was seen limping badly afteward. He's officially questionable. If Harden ends up sitting, Leonard's usage would only increase. Either way I like Leonard -- who has played 40 minutes three times this month -- to score at least 23 in Madison Square Garden. It doesn't hurt that New York is playing the second night of a back-to-back.
Over their last three games, the Heat are allowing opponents to shoot 40 percent from deep. Now they host the Warriors in the Jimmy Butler revenge game. Steph Curry (pelvic contusion) is questionable. Either way, I like Podziemski to make at least two 3-pointers. He has started the past 12 games in which he's been healthy and is shooting 42.9 percent from deep this month. Since returning from a minor back injury three games ago, the Santa Clara product is 12 of 22 from deep. Not counting the game in which he got hurt and left after one minute, Podziemski cleared this prop total in nine of his last 11 games.
Second-year forward Ryan Dunn is set to make his sixth straight start for the Suns, who have won three in a row and are tied for the 10th seed. In his last five games, Dunn has scored in double digits every time, averaging 14.4. He's an excellent finisher who's earning the trust of Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. Dunn has made at least two treys in each of those starts. He's also a defensive whiz, so his minutes are fairly consistent. Bradley Beal will miss his fourth straight game, meaning the Suns need to look for offense beyond Durant and Booker. Back Dunn to keep doing what's he's doing in an important matchup against Mike Budenholzer's former team.
Cleveland State hasn't played in two weeks and is 1-2 in the CBI the past two seasons, the victory coming by two over Northern Colorado. This should be another tight game with Queens, which has covered five straight and had the benefit of playing in the Ocean Center on Sunday. The Vikings went 3-5 down the stretch and might not be as excited as the Royals to be in Daytona Beach, Fla. Look for 6-7 senior Leo Colimerio (13.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.1 apg) to do it all for the Royals and help take this game to the wire.
I was high on Grand Canyon, so what the Terps did to the Lopes left a big impression. The Rams have won and covered 11 straight, but they don't match up well with Maryland's dominant frontcourt. I doubt Kyan Evans can replicate his 6-of-9 shooting performance from deep. Look for the Big Ten to keep cashing tickets as the Terps pull away late.
Jerami Grant is doubtful, while Donovan Clingan and Anfernee Simons are questionable. And of course, Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams are out. Blazers forward Deni Avdija has been on a tear lately and he'll need to be active on the glass versus Boston. He only played 23 minutes on March 5 in Boston, grabbing six rebounds. But he's averaging 10.1 rebounds this month and has played 34-plus minutes in five of the past six games.