Can Mavs take advantage of depleted Knicks?
It's NBA trade deadline day! News has already broke regarding some important but not marquee trades. More are sure to break throughout the day. It's a stressful time for many players around the league who await their future.
Following the 3 p.m. ET deadline, nine games are set to tip off. Here are our four best bets for Thursday night.
Mavs @ Knicks (+3.5, O/U 228.5)
The Knicks have been one of the NBA's best teams over the last month. They've covered the spread in eight of their last 11 games.
However, New York is physically broken right now. Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson remain out with injuries. OG Anunoby is also out. Jalen Brunson's status for Thursday is uncertain after he rolled his ankle last game.
Even if Brunson does play, he won't be at full health and doesn't have a full roster surrounding him.
The Knicks may be the NBA's grittiest team. They've squeaked out wins with role players stepping up over the last couple of weeks. However, New York's defensive rating has dipped over the last few games without Anunoby.
The Knicks also traded four players Thursday, including Quentin Grimes. New York's return package - Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks - won't be eligible to suit up versus Dallas.
The Mavs are desperate for wins as they try to crawl up the standings from the eighth seed. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving will be too much for a depleted New York squad to handle.
Pick: Mavs -3.5
Warriors @ Pacers (-6.5, O/U 249)
Whenever there's an astronomically high NBA total, it's safe to assume the Pacers are involved.
Indiana has the NBA's fifth-worst defense and top-rated offense. The Warriors' offense has looked better in recent weeks. They have the league's sixth-best offensive rating over the last 10 games. However, Golden State still has a below-average defense.
The Pacers rank second in pace, and the Warriors are 12th. This will be a fast, high-scoring game with little defense played.
Although Golden State played Wednesday night, the team demolished the Sixers. No Warriors starter played more than 30 minutes, so Golden State shouldn't have tired legs.
Pick: Over 249
Blazers team total: Over 116.5 points
The Blazers usually don't score more than 117 points. They aren't a top-tier offense by any measure. However, the circumstances are different Thursday night.
Portland plays the Pistons, the league's second-worst defense. Detroit allows 122 points per game to its opponents.
The Blazers are a 5.5-point favorite at home, but the team total is the safer pick. Wins are hard to achieve for a young Portland squad. However, the Blazers have reached at least 117 points in seven of their last eight wins. They haven't played since Sunday, while Detroit is on the second leg of a back-to-back after upsetting the Kings on the road Wednesday night.
Certain Portland players could be moved at the deadline, and the Blazers have a few impact players listed as questionable. But against the NBA's worst team, they'll will find enough offensive firepower to eclipse 117 points.
Odds: -120 (playable to -130)
Bulls @ Grizzlies (+5, O/U 216.5)
This line is on the move in the Bulls' favor. It's a risky play given Chicago could be a key player at the trade deadline. However, many reports indicate the Bulls are trying to stay competitive and keep their roster intact. If that's true, they likely won't move pivotal players.
Chicago's playing better as of late, winning three of its last five and remaining in play-in contention.
The Grizzlies are barely fielding an NBA roster right now. They have a remarkable number of players injured and are starting guys who might not even be on NBA teams next season. Memphis has lost six straight by an average score of 15.
The Grizzlies deserve credit for still competing and playing hard despite a lost season, but the Bulls should easily handle a weakened Memphis group.
Pick: Bulls -6
Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X @soshtry for more betting coverage.