Jordan Horrobin

The Toronto Raptors face the Orlando Magic on Sunday for the first of two matchups in three days in Central Florida.

The pregame narrative: Scottie Barnes has put up strong numbers in both games against Orlando so far this season, and I’m counting on that to continue. In addition to a Barnes prop and an alt total, I’m backing Wendell Carter Jr. in a +325 SGP.

Check out my Raptors vs. Magic same-game parlay predictions for March 2.

Raptors vs. Magic predictions

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Parlay: Under 213.5 points | Barnes 30+ PRA | Carter 8+ rebounds (+325)

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Under 213.5 points (-167): Unders are generally a good call when betting on Orlando games, and Toronto seems like a worthy dance partner in that regard.

• Unders are 38-23 (62.3%) in Magic games this year, per Team Rankings. That includes a 20-11 unders record at home.
  
• As for the Raptors, unders are 16-12 (57.1%) when they’re on the road — compared to just 13-19 at home.

• In Toronto’s past seven road matchups, the average total was just 208.7 points. This under cashed in five of those games.

Dating back to March 2024, unders are 4-0 in the past four matchups between Toronto and Orlando. Both previous meetings this year finished below 205 points.

SGP legs

Barnes 30+ points/rebounds/assists (-150): Orlando is a tough matchup for any stat-stuffers on the other side, but Barnes is well worth a look at this number.

For starters, he cleared this mark in both prior games against the Magic this season:

• Jan. 3: 32 PRA in 37 minutes
• Jan. 21: 36 PRA in 34 minutes

Both of those games were in Toronto, mind you, but it’s still encouraging to see success against one of the NBA’s elite defensive squads.

In his past 30 games against any opponent, Barnes has averaged 20.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 5.7 assists (33.7 PRA).

He’s cashed this milestone in 23 of those 30 games.

Carter 8+ rebounds (-205): Carter was recently re-inserted into the Magic’s starting lineup, and that makes quite a difference for his rebounding potential.

• As a starter (31 games), Carter is averaging 8.5 rebounds in 27.3 minutes.

• As a reserve (17 games), he’s averaging 5.6 rebounds in 21.8 minutes.

Jakob Poeltl has been on a minutes restriction in two games since returning from injury. If that continues, Carter will have an even greater opportunity to feast on the glass.

Carter has cashed this prop in both games against the Raptors this year, including once when he grabbed nine rebounds in just 18 minutes off the bench.

In his past six games, he’s averaged 11.0 rebounds and hit this milestone five times.

Picks made at 11:10 a.m. ET 03/02/2025.

I’m backing three players to fill the net in Sunday’s NBA prop bets.

The pregame narrative: CJ McCollum draws an excellent matchup that he’s taken advantage of in the past, while Bam Adebayo is shooting at a matchup-proof clip right now. Elsewhere, Josh Giddey is on a bona fide heater as a scorer and passer.

Check out the best NBA prop bets for March 2.

NBA prop bets

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Best bet: McCollum over 19.5 points (-104)

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The Utah Jazz allow the most 3-point attempts per game (40.8), and McCollum has already taken full advantage this season.

In back-to-back home games against the Jazz in January, McCollum shot a combined 11-of-24 from deep. He scored 26 and 45 points, respectively, in those games.

I strongly considered taking McCollum over 2.5 threes (-141) as the best bet, but the price on his points prop was more compelling.

Besides, if McCollum is hitting the over on one of these props he’s likely cashing both.

Of his 26 games this year with three-plus 3s, McCollum scored 20-plus points 22 times. He finished with exactly 19 points in each of the four outliers.

This season, McCollum has scored 20-plus points in 24 of 45 games (53.3%). Utah, which allows the most attempted 3s and the fourth-most points per game (119.3), serves as a stellar matchup for him to cash in again.

Utah also allows the third-most points to opposing point guards (25.62/game), per Betting Pros.

Key stat: McCollum is averaging 30.8 PPG over his past five matchups against Utah, cashing this bet every time.

Best NBA picks

Adebayo 20+ points (-105): Shortly after Jimmy Butler played his final game for the Miami Heat, Adebayo started to pick up the offensive slack.

Since Jan. 27, Adebayo has averaged 21.5 points in 13 games. And the production has been steady.

• 18+ points in 12 of 13
• 20+ points in 8 of 13

With a career-low 48.2% field goal rate this season, it’s been a down year for Miami’s centre as a scorer. But he’s posted a 54.7 FG% since Butler left, so maybe we’re starting the old Adebayo return.

The New York Knicks, who Adebayo faces tonight, have allowed the 20th-most PPG to centres over their past 30 games (21.07).

Though the matchup isn’t a plus for Adebayo, it’s not daunting enough to deter me from making this pick.

Giddey over 26.5 points/assists (-107): What has gotten into Giddey lately? I’m not sure, but I’m buying in tonight.

Giddey has been going off lately, posting some truly outsized numbers over his past five games:

• 23.2 PPG
• 8.8 APG
• 30+ pts/ast in 5 of 5 games

He’s only averaging 19.7 PA on the season, and he’s been a starter the whole way through.

But with Zach LaVine gone, and both Ayo Dosumnu and Nikola Vucevic missing time recently, there’s been more opportunity for Giddey to shine.

Dosunmu and Vucevic are both out again on Sunday.

Fast-paced teams are helpful for overs, and that’s what we have when the Chicago Bulls face the Indiana Pacers. Both teams rank in the top six in possessions per game.

Picks made at 9:20 a.m. ET on 03/02/2025.

The Los Angeles Lakers host the Los Angeles Clippers for the first of two matchups in three days.

The pregame narrative: I’m skeptical that the Lakers will be at full strength on Friday night, which is the primary reason why I’m siding with the visiting Clippers on the moneyline. I also expect solid performances from Ivica Zubac and Austin Reaves.

Check out my Clippers vs. Lakers same-game parlay predictions for Feb. 28.

Clippers vs. Lakers predictions

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Parlay: Clippers ML | Zubac 12+ rebounds | Reaves 30+ PRA (+270)

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Clippers moneyline (-182): The Clippers have yet to see the Luka Doncic version of the Lakers, and they could be left waiting another couple of days.

Doncic returned from a calf injury less than three weeks ago. If he plays tonight, it’ll be his first back-to-back since Nov. 4.

It’s his birthday today, and it happens to be a marquee matchup … but I still don’t expect him to play.

Even if he does, though, the Clippers should have the upper hand due to yesterday’s off-day. The Clips are 10-5 SU and 11-4 ATS with a rest advantage, per Team Rankings.

Also, Norman Powell was upgraded to questionable on the injury report after missing the past four games. Having the team’s leading scorer (24.2 PPG) back in the lineup would be nice.

SGP legs

Zubac 12+ rebounds (-155): Zubac averages 12.5 rebounds, which ranks fourth in the NBA. All we need is a regular output from him in what should be a great matchup.

• The Lakers allow the eighth-most rebounds to opposing centres (15.52), per Betting Pros.

• LAL’s top rebounder this season, Anthony Davis, is now employed elsewhere. And with Rui Hachimura ruled out — plus the possibility of no Doncic — there are very few imposing rebounders remaining.

Zubac snagged 10 rebounds when he last faced the Lakers, but that was in just 28 minutes because the game turned into a blowout.

In eight games since then, Zubac has averaged 12.1 rebounds in 32.4 minutes, cashing this bet five times.

Reaves 30+ points/rebounds/assists (-205): It might be a bit rash to think that Reaves is part of a three-headed monster with Doncic and LeBron James, but he’s playing up to that level right now.

The undrafted guard has taken on a lot more responsibility in Year 4, and he’s making the most of it. On the season, Reaves is averaging 29.6 PRA — up from 25.7 PRA a year ago.

February has been a special month for Reaves, and not just because of his career-high 45 points a few weeks back.

All month long, he’s been a remarkably productive player:

• 23.5 PPG
• 4.6 RPG
• 6.1 APG
• 92.6 FT%
• 30+ PRA in 9 of 11 games

On Feb. 4, Reaves posted 20 points, six rebounds and nine assists against the Clippers.

With or without Doncic, Reaves should be up to the task for this PRA milestone tonight.

Picks made at 3:00 p.m. ET 02/28/2025.

One guard and two forwards are featured in Friday’s NBA prop bets.

The pregame narrative: Tyrese Haliburton draws a nice matchup against the Miami Heat and should be a threat to tally 10-plus assists. I expect Chet Holmgren and Kawhi Leonard to make their mark as scorers.

Check out the best NBA prop bets for Feb. 28.

NBA prop bets

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Best bet: Holmgren over 17.5 points (+100)

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The Oklahoma City Thunder are at their best when Holmgren is healthy, stretching the floor as a 7-footer with an enviable shooting stroke.

And that’s what we’re seeing right now.

After two and a half months on the shelf with a hip fracture, the second-year big man returned on Feb. 7 and was brought along somewhat slowly.

He isn’t playing back-to-backs, and he’s only crested the 30-minute mark twice through six games. But his results in the past three games are very encouraging:

• 20.3 PPG
• 57.9 FG%
• 50.0 3PT%
• 84.6 FT%
• 18+ points in all 3 games

Tonight’s matchup between the Thunder and the Atlanta Hawks has a projected total of 242 points. It should be fast-paced, and Holmgren should have ample opportunities to build on this offensive rhythm.

I considered backing Holmgren over 1.5 threes (-121) as my best bet, partially because the Hawks allow the fifth-most 3s per game. But given that Holmgren hasn’t attempted more than five 3s in any post-injury game, this felt a bit safer.

With a scoring touch from all over the floor, this is a number Holmgren should be able to clear.

Key stat: In his lone matchup against the Hawks this season, on Oct. 27, Holmgren scored 25 points on 8-of-12 shooting (6-for-8 from the free-throw line).

Best NBA picks

Haliburton 10+ assists (-103): After back-to-back years averaging double-digit assists, Haliburton has taken a step back this season.

Still, his 8.7 APG ranks fourth in the NBA, and he’s cranked up the passing volume lately.

• In his past five games, Haliburton has averaged 10.8 assists while logging 19.6 potential assists per game (i.e., passes that lead directly to a shot).

• Last month, in his most recent matchup against the Heat, Haliburton racked up 15 assists.

Dating back to February 2023, Haliburton has cashed this prop in four of six matchups with Miami.

The Heat allow the fifth-most assists per game to opposing point guards (9.57), per Betting Pros.

Leonard over 1.5 threes (-129): Leonard has long been an accomplished 3-point shooter, it’s just that he doesn’t always take a bunch of shots from outside.

But he’s in enough of a groove right now that I’m looking to back him.

• In his past five games, Leonard has shot 12-for-25 (48.0%) from beyond the arc.

• He has 2+ threes in 4 of 5 games … and the outlier was a game where he didn’t attempt any 3s.

It’s too soon to have a full handle on the Los Angeles Lakers’ defensive profile with Luka Doncic, but the early returns show a team willing to yield more 3s to provide support around the rim.

Since Doncic’s first game as a Laker on Feb. 10, the team has allowed the third-most attempted 3s per game in the NBA.

Picks made at 9:10 a.m. ET on 02/28/2025.