NBA Picks

But when Cade Cunningham suffered a collapsed lung, the Detroit Pistons needed someone to take on a greater workload, and that someone has been Jenkins. In the four games since Cunningham’s injury, Jenkins has averaged 38.9 minutes and 20 points.

The Pelicans are an interesting team to watch down the stretch – the rare sub .500 squad that’s still chasing wins. Dejounte Murray’s return has given New Orleans some extra spice, and I see him setting the table for his teammates again here.

Murray has racked up 32 assists across his last three outings, and there’s no reason for him to slow down with Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III (questionable) flanking him. Facing a fiery Detroit Pistons defense is no joke, but Jalen Duren and Co. gave up 130 points in last night’s OT loss to the Atlanta Hawks. That should leave some tired legs for Murray to exploit in this one.

The Knicks will need the best version of Towns to win the East, and his March numbers suggest he’s in rhythm as the postseason approaches. KAT is averaging 21.7 PPG this month on 57% shooting, and he’s nailed this Over in four straight outings.

Towns scored 35 points against the Hornets in December, and he’s getting good looks in a New York offense that’s passed the 120-point mark in three of the past four contests. His 3-point numbers are still down this year, but he drilled a pair of triples against the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday as part of a 21-point effort. Look for KAT to give the Charlotte frontcourt a long night.

The Hornets have quietly been the NBA’s best defense lately, holding 12 of their last 14 opponents to 111 points or fewer for an NBA-best average of 103.7 PPG allowed in that span. That drops even lower at home, where they face a Knicks offense that drops off on the road, where they rank 24th in scoring since 2026 began. With both teams playing at a slow pace, this sets up perfectly for a Knicks team total Under.

The Magic have somehow followed up a seven-game win streak with six straight losses, so good luck figuring out this Orlando team. But I can’t pass up a chance to wager against the Kings. That leads me to Paolo Banchero, who’s done his best to put the Magic on his back in the last two contests, with 36 points in Cleveland on the heels of 39 points against the Indiana Pacers – all on efficient shooting.

It should be more of the same here against the Kings, with Orlando missing Franz Wagner and Anthony Black. Count on Banchero to deliver, just as he did while dropping 30 points in the February meeting in Sacramento.

I’m willing to bet on Paolo Banchero’s efficiency carrying him in this matchup against a Sacramento Kings frontcourt that simply doesn’t have the personnel to handle his physical, downhill style. Even if this game turns into a blowout—as it very well could—he can still clear this number in limited minutes based on how effective he should be on a point per-minute basis. If the game stays even somewhat competitive and Banchero sees any fourth-quarter run, he's going way over this number. The free-throw line is also a major factor here. Sacramento doesn’t have a clean answer for defending Banchero without fouling, which should lead to easy points at the line. With Orlando slipping in the standings, this also feels like a spot where Banchero asserts himself as the best player on the floor and takes control offensively. I have him priced at -170 to clear this number, making this a strong play.