NBA fans may not succumb to March Madness in the way that some basketball fans do, but there is no doubt that March is a very big month in the NBA. We are edging ever close to mid-April and the playoffs, which means that many teams are desperate for points and a bit of form, which could transform their season.
Betting becomes slightly more difficult at this time of year with so much on the line and some teams not giving it their all, but this also creates opportunity and excitement.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have clinched the Central Division, Oklahoma City Thunder have won the Northwest Division, Golden State Warriors have clinched the Pacific Division and the Southwest Division has been won by the San Antonio Spurs. The Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Clippers have also clinched a playoff berth, which means that there are still plenty of spots up for grabs.
Of course, not every team still have playoff dreams and there are currently eight teams that have been eliminated from the playoffs, and these teams are:
- New York Knicks
- Brooklyn Nets
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Phoenix Suns
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Orlando Magic
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Phoenix Suns
- Los Angeles Lakers
The week ahead in the NBA schedule runs as follows:
Tuesday 29nd March 00:30 BST Tip-off time / 01:30 CEST
- Oklahoma City Thunder @ Toronto Raptors
- Brooklyn Nets @ Miami Heat
Tuesday 29nd March 01:00 BST Tip-off time / 02:00 CEST
- Atlanta Hawks @ Chicago Bulls
- Phoenix Suns @ Minnesota Timberwolves
- New York Knicks @ New Orleans Pelicans
- San Antonio Spurs @ Memphis Grizzlies
Tuesday 29nd March 02:00 BST Tip-off time / 03:00 CEST
- Dallas Mavericks @ Denver Nuggets
- Los Angeles Lakers @ Utah Jazz
Tuesday 29nd March 03:00 BST Tip-off time / 04:00 CEST
- Sacramento Kings @ Portland Trail Blazers
Tuesday 29nd March 03:30 BST Tip-off time / 04:30 CEST
- Boston Celtics @ Los Angeles Clippers
The Celtics face a tough challenge in Los Angeles against the Clippers but taking the Boston side at +3, at odds of 1.90 isn’t going to be a bad bet to get your basketball betting week started in the right manner. The Heat should be fancied at home to the Nets so take Miami Heat at -10, at odds of 1.90 and for the Over/Under market, look to go OVER 212.0 which you can find at odds of 1.90.
The Thunder away to the Raptors could be the game of the day and look to take Toronto Raptors at +3, which you can find at odds of 1.90.
Wednesday 30th March 00:00 BST Tip-off time / 01:00 CEST
- Chicago Bulls @ Indiana Pacers
- Charlotte Hornets @ Philadelphia 76ers
- Brooklyn Nets @ Orlando Magic
Wednesday 30th March 00:30 BST Tip-off time / 01:30 CEST
- Oklahoma City Thunder @ Detroit Pistons
Wednesday 30th March 01:00 BST Tip-off time / 02:00 CEST
- Houston Rockets @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Wednesday 30th March 03:30 BST Tip-off time / 04:30 CEST
- Washington Wizards @ Golden State Warriors
The Bulls away to the Pacers is sure to be a big game while the Thunder know that a trip to Detroit is never easy. The Cavs may find that the Rockets put up a challenge in Cleveland but the game of the day is likely to be the Warriors welcoming the Wizards.
Thursday 31st March 00:30 BST Tip-off time / 01:30 CEST
- Atlanta Hawks @ Toronto Raptors
Thursday 31st March 01:00 BST Tip-off time / 02:00 CEST
- Los Angeles Clippers @ Minnesota Timberwolves
- Phoenix Suns @ Milwaukee Bucks
- Denver Nuggets @ Memphis Grizzlies
Thursday 31st March 01:30 BST Tip-off time / 02:30 CEST
- New Orleans Pelicans @ San Antonio Spurs
- New York Knicks @ Dallas Mavericks
Thursday 31st March 02:00 BST Tip-off time / 03:00 CEST
- Golden State Warriors @ Utah Jazz
Thursday 31st March 03:00 BST Tip-off time / 04:00 CEST
- Washington Wizards @ Sacramento Kings
Thursday 31st March 03:30 BST Tip-off time / 04:30 CEST
- Miami Heat @ Los Angeles Lakers
There is a raft of games on in the early hours of Thursday morning for British and European fans with the Pelicans in San Antonio looking like one of the top games. The Hawks in Toronto is also likely to be an intriguing match-up as things start to get exciting in the race for the playoffs.
Friday 1st April 00:00 BST Tip-off time / 01:00 CEST
- Brooklyn Nets @ Cleveland Cavaliers
- Orlando Magic @ Indiana Pacers
- Chicago Bulls @ Houston Rockets
Friday 1st April 01:00 BST Tip-off time / 02:00 CEST
- Denver Nuggets @ New Orleans Pelicans
Friday 1st April 02:30 BST Tip-off time / 03:30 CEST
- Los Angeles Clippers @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Friday 1st April 03:00 BST Tip-off time / 04:00 CEST
- Boston Celtics @ Portland Trail Blazers
The Celtics in Portland is likely to be a big match while the Bulls in Houston is also likely to grab the attention. The Nuggets in New Orleans is another game that looks like being a big draw for fans getting involved on April Fools Day.
Saturday 2nd April 00:00 BST Tip-off time / 01:00 CEST
- Philadelphia 76ers @ Charlotte Hornets
Saturday 2nd April 00:30 BST Tip-off time / 01:30 CEST
- Dallas Mavericks @ Detroit Pistons
- Brooklyn Nets @ New York Knicks
Saturday 2nd April 01:00 BST Tip-off time / 02:00 CEST
- Orlando Magic @ Milwaukee Bucks
- Toronto Raptors @ Memphis Grizzlies
- Cleveland Cavaliers @ Atlanta Hawks
Saturday 2nd April 02:00 BST Tip-off time / 03:00 CEST
- Minnesota Timberwolves @ Utah Jazz
Saturday 2nd April 03:00 BST Tip-off time / 04:00 CEST
- Miami Heat @ Sacramento Kings
Saturday 2nd April 03:30 BST Tip-off time / 04:30 CEST
- Boston Celtics @ Golden State Warriors
- Washington Wizards @ Phoenix Suns
The Celtics travel to the Golden State Warriors and the Wizards travel to Phoenix in the late games for UK and European fans but these could be of particular value in the playoff hunt. The Cavs in Atlanta is likely to be a good game, as will be the Raptors trip to Memphis.
Sunday 3rd April 00:30 BST Tip-off time / 01:30 CEST
- Indiana Pacers @ Philadelphia 76ers
Sunday 3rd April 01:00 BST Tip-off time / 02:00 CEST
- Detroit Pistons @ Chicago Bulls
Sunday 3rd April 01:30 BST Tip-off time / 02:30 CEST
- Toronto Raptors @ San Antonio Spurs
Sunday 3rd April 02:00 BST Tip-off time / 03:00 CEST
- Sacramento Kings @ Denver Nuggets
Sunday 3rd April 03:00 BST Tip-off time / 04:00 CEST
- Miami Heat @ Portland Trail Blazers
Sunday 3rd April 18:00 BST Tip-off time / 19:00 CEST
- New Orleans Pelicans @ Brooklyn Nets
Sunday 3rd April 20:30 BST Tip-off time / 21:30 CEST
- Dallas Mavericks @ Minnesota Timberwolves
- Charlotte Hornets @ Cleveland Cavaliers
- Washington Wizards @ Los Angeles Clippers
- Oklahoma City Thunder @ Houston Rockets
Sunday 3rd April 23:00 BST Tip-off time / 00:00 (Monday 4th April) CEST
- Memphis Grizzlies @ Orlando Magic
- Utah Jazz @ Phoenix Suns
Sunday is a great day for UK and European NBA fans with games in the early hours and the evening. If you are planning on setting a day aside for basketball action, this is the top day of the week. The Hornets in Cleveland, the Clippers welcoming the Wizards and the Thunder in Houston look like being three excellent games, and they are on at a reasonable hour for basketball fans this side of the pond.
The Pistons in Chicago could also be an excellent game.
Monday 4th April 00:00 BST Tip-off time / 01:00 CEST
- Chicago Bulls @ Milwaukee Bucks
Monday 4th April 00:30 BST Tip-off time / 01:30 CEST
- Indiana Pacers @ New York Knicks
Monday 4th April 01:00 BST Tip-off time / 02:00 CEST
- Portland Trail Blazers @ Golden State Warriors
Monday 4th April 02:30 BST Tip-off time / 03:30 CEST
- Boston Celtics @ Los Angeles Lakers
The Celtics taking on the Lakers is always a brilliant game for old school basketball fans and the Warriors welcoming the Trail Blazers should carry an interest for plenty of fans. The Bulls in Milwaukee may also have an impact on the playoff race which will be red-hot by the end of the NBA schedule for the week ahead.
At 3-1 down in the NBA Finals, many people predicted that the Cleveland Cavaliers would lie down, perhaps looking for the pain to be over and done with for another year. After all, they were facing the record breakers, the team that had shown themselves to be the best of the best by a good...