NBA Picks Monday 03/18

We've got nine games tonight so let's cut out the chit-chat and get straight down to business. That business being picking winners. Let's goooooooo.

Current Record - 25-21-1 (win/lose/push) +1.75u

Sam's NBA picks will regularly be giving you picks for the day's hoop action. I recommend backing these individually but you're welcome to parlay them too. Each pick is staked at one unit.

Whilst we're here and talking about hoops, can we remind you that Oddschecker is the place for great March Madness content. Find our great articles here.

Knicks @ Raptors

I never thought that this day would come. I always dreamt that it would but it's finally here and it barely feels real. Yes, I'm backing the Knicks. I am neither deranged nor have I acquired a timemachine to take me to next year's KD, Kyrie and Zion dream team, I can wish.

The reason I'm backing the Knicks with this huge spread is simple. The Raptors have no Kawhi Leonard, no suspended Serge Ibaka, may be without Kyle Lowry and Danny Green is still not 100% fit. That's a lot of players missing and it's worth remembering that Toronto will be more interested in keeping players fit than risking them for what is effectively a pointless game.

They'll still probably win but the Knicks +11.5 is huge, especially when they have only lost one of their lats seven by over ten. The line has already shortened, so back this before it goes even lower.

Knicks +11.5

Bulls @ Suns

We've got ourselves a tank-off. Two woeful sides going toe-to-toe to #TankForZion. The Suns have all but secured their spot in the bottom three which gives them an increased chance at landing Zion. The Bulls are now fourth, which means they are so bad that they can't even tank properly. Put simply, the Bulls would be better off losing tonight, which if you watched the Pelicans debacle over the weekend, means that they probably will.

Suns -2.5