Zack's Picks (2 Live)
Boston will be undermanned tonight as double digit favorites against the 76ers. …
Zack's Past Picks
Conference tournaments are underway today throughout the country. Out in Las Vegas the WCC’s first game will be San Diego versus Pacific. The Toreros had just two conference wins the entire season but showed competitive spirit over their final five games. This resulted in ending their sixteen game losing streak in a victory over Portland to end the year. Pacific is also a good opponent for the Toreros who they split the season series against. Take the points here with San Diego.
Jonas Valanciunas is going into his eleventh game tonight as a member of the Sacramento Kings. He is starting to develop a rhythm with his new teammates as he has scored in double figures in three straight games. Key injuries to Domantas Sabonis and possibly Malik Monk who is questionable, should give Valanciunas more opportunities. Four games this season he has scored 20 or more points, with one of those games being against Denver in December as a member of the Wizards. Take Valanciunas points prop over.
Sacramento has two key starters out tonight in Domantas Sabonis and Malik Monk, but the line has not budged. That’s in large part due to Nikola Jokic being listed as questionable along with Aaron Gordon. I’d not be surprised for both to be ruled out before a key road trip of back to back games against Oklahoma City Sunday and Monday. Take the Kings before the line drops down.
A year after being the darlings of the NCAA tournament, the NC State Wolfpack have sunk to the bottom of the ACC. They are just 4-14 in league play and will not be apart of the ACC tournament. This gives a little extra incentive to the upperclassmen to finish out the season on a positive note. Their last two home games they have won against Wake Forest and Boston College. Look for good effort once again on their home floor as home underdogs against Pittsburgh.
Wendell Carter Jr. typically is two points lower in the prop market for his points offering. Tonight the Orlando Magic will face the Raptors on the back end of consecutive games. In Sunday’s matchup Carter got to the free throw line for eight attempts making seven. He also showed his value to be on the floor for this matchup with an all around game of 14 points, 5 assists, and 9 rebounds. Take Carter Jr. to clear double digit points once again.
With Domantos Sabonis sidelined with a hamstring injury, the Sacramento Kings will need other players to step up. Two games ago Keegan Murray put in a season high twenty six points, and helped keep the Rockets at bay with key baskets in their latest victory. I also expect Dallas to increase their defensive attention to DeMar DeRozan. On February 10th against Dallas, DeRozan put in a season high forty two points. Take Murray in a secondary scoring role tonight, over on his points.
Today, the Atlantic Sun conference tournament continues for a second day of action. Time and time again postseason play harkens the phrase a team will have a hard time defeating the same opponent a third time. Typically in college basketball that task would be reserved for a neutral court setting. Not in the Atlantic Sun as Jacksonville hosts an Eastern Kentucky team they defeated in both matchups. Expect the atmosphere on their home court to put a bit of pressure on the home team. Take the underdog here in Eastern Kentucky.
The Governors have two recent ugly losses against the worst teams in the Atlantic Sun, a 6-25 West Georgia team, and a 5-26 Bellarmine team. Yet, Austin Peay defeated North Florida by eight points in the first matchup, and a big factor for me is today’s arena. North Florida which ranks tops in college basketball in three pointers made per game, shot poorly from beyond the arc at Flowers arena in the regular season (8 for 33). Take Austin Peay as the line move went the wrong way here.
Illinois has dropped out of the Top 25, and now surprisingly has double digit losses with eleven overall. Often times in any sport once a great streak ends, the momentum fades for a mini stretch for that team. I’m expecting that here with Michigan who continues to toe the line of close wins, with their last nine wins by four points or fewer. Take the Illini here plus the points.
It has been a frustrating season for Greg Paulus and Niagara who saw their up and coming team last season, get hit hard by the transfer portal. The Purple Eagles have shown fight against top level teams in-conference, including defeating Quinnipiac. Three out of their last four losses have been by less then three points. Look for Manhattan to put an end as they build off their seven point win over Niagara earlier this season.
I’ve touched on Marist not playing up to the standards they have shown throughout MAAC conference play. The grind of playing a Friday to Sunday game catches all teams. Marist has had issues scoring in three out of their last four games where they have scored sixty four points or less. Saint Peter’s also held them to fifty six points in their first meeting. Take the underdog here with Saint Peters.
The Boston Celtics are coming off back to back losses where they have folded in second halves. Detroit outscored them by 20 points, and Cleveland by 17 in the second half of the Celtics losses. Look for Jamal Murray to start the month of March the way he ended February, in what was his best month scoring wise in the season averaging 25 points per game. Play his points over.
Sacramento heads to Houston tonight after a couple of blowout wins against lowly teams in Charlotte and Utah. Those victories by double digits allowed their veteran in DeMar Derozan to scale back his offense. Tonight that changes and I expect Derozan to demand the ball more and elevate his game. In the latest matchup against the Rockets he took 23 shots, which is the second most attempts he has had over the last twenty games. Play Derozan’s points prop over.