NBA Wednesday best bets: Suns' struggles will continue vs. Kings
We got back on track Tuesday with a 2-1 mark, which could have easily been 3-0 if not for the Jazz's late-game surge in what was otherwise a close affair. Still, we'll gladly take a 12-7 record into Wednesday's value-rich lineup.
Lakers (-6, 217) @ Thunder, 8 p.m. ET
There are some real concerns in the Lakers' locker room, especially with stars LeBron James (ankle) and Anthony Davis (knee) not at 100%. James missed Tuesday's overtime win over the Spurs and could miss Wednesday's matchup, which would weaken Los Angeles' already shaky defense.
All of that said, this is still a monumental mismatch on paper, and there's no reason the market should price the Thunder so tightly here. Oklahoma City's eight-point loss to the Warriors on Tuesday was its closest contest of the season, as the tanking Thunder have lost by an average of 18.5 points through four games. It won't look pretty, but the Lakers should get it done in this one.
Pick: Lakers -6
Grizzlies @ Trail Blazers (-2.5, 234), 10 p.m.
At what point do we start to take the Grizzlies seriously? Memphis is 3-0 against the spread through three contests and ranks 10th in net rating (+4.2) behind a superstar turn from Ja Morant, who leads the NBA in points per game (35.0) on a ridiculous 58% mark from the floor.
Morant should have his way with a Trail Blazers defense that, despite preseason optimism, is still entirely pedestrian through the first three matchups. Portland has more talent on paper, but the Grizzlies are simply playing better basketball and deserve more respect in the betting market.
Pick: Grizzlies +2.5
Kings @ Suns (-8, 224.5), 10 p.m.
The Kings have faced a murderer's row to start their campaign, but they've handled themselves encouragingly well. Sacramento beat the Blazers in the season opener and challenged both Utah and Golden State into the fourth quarter before allowing a late run. Now the Kings will face a Suns team coming off a blowout loss to (who else?) Portland that exposed some defensive concerns for the reigning West champs.
Phoenix surrendered 134 points in that 21-point defeat and will have its hands full against Sacramento's surging backcourt, which features one of the NBA's best perimeter defenders in Davion Mitchell. The rookie floor general has held star guards Stephen Curry, Donovan Mitchell, and Damian Lillard to a combined 20 points on 6-of-18 shooting across roughly 60 possessions on defense. If he can thwart Devin Booker on Wednesday, it's hard to see the Suns managing a blowout victory.
Pick: Kings +8
C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at cjackson.cowart@thescore.com.