PICKS & PARLAYS

The Washington Wizards (16-46), carrying a seven-game losing streak and a 5-24 road record that ranks among the league's worst, travel to Smoothie King Center to face the New Orleans Pelicans (20-44) on Sunday, March 8, tipping off at 7:00 PM ET. Trae Young suits up for just his second game as a Wizard, still shaking off ten weeks of rehab rust after logging 12 points and six assists on a 19-minute restriction in his Thursday debut against Utah. Anthony Davis (finger, season), Kyshawn George (elbow), Jamir Watkins (foot), D'Angelo Russell (non-injury related), Tristan Vukcevic (thigh), and Cam Whitmore (shoulder, season) all remain out for Washington. New Orleans returns home from a six-game road swing with Zion Williamson healthy after playing through his right ankle sprain in Friday's loss at Phoenix, and Trey Murphy III carrying a career-high 21.9 points per game and three straight outings at 21 or more. The Pelicans opened as 9.5-point home favorites, total sitting at 242.5, in what projects as a matchup between two bottom-ten defenses with a significant talent advantage sitting at home.

The New York Knicks (41-23), riding the Eastern Conference's most convincing stretch run at 16-5 in their last 21 games, fly into Crypto.com Arena to face the Los Angeles Lakers (38-25) on Sunday, March 8, tipping off at 3:30 PM ET on ABC, one day after dismantling Denver 142-103 on the road while the Lakers pulled their own 128-117 win over Indiana with Luka Doncic torching the Pacers for 44 in the first three quarters. LeBron James (left elbow contusion, left foot arthritis) and Maxi Kleber (lumbar back strain) are both questionable for Sunday, while Deandre Ayton returns after sitting out Friday, and Miles McBride remains out for New York through the playoffs following core muscle surgery. New York opens as a 3.5-point road favorite with the total at 227.5, a number that looks clean on paper but comes loaded with a LeBron health question that could swing this line before tip, a Jalen Brunson who has quietly gone cold since the All-Star break, and a Lakers squad that is 19-12 at home and absolutely has the firepower to keep this one competitive.

The Wizards and Pelicans and the Pistons and Heat are squaring off on Sunday, with Dejounte Murray and New Orleans looking for a win in front of their home crowd. Duncan Robinson and the Pistons visit Miami seeking to capture a big win. McBets is targeting both players in his two game parlay.

The Knicks will look to reassert themselves in the East on Sunday afternoon as they take on the Lakers on ABC. Can OG Anunoby help the Knicks stay hot on the road? The Wolf is targeting the star guard in his Knicks vs. Lakers best bet today for Sunday, March 8th.

Jayson Tatum finally returned for the Celtics on Friday night, and will take the court for the second time on Sunday in a showdown with the Cavs. Can the Celtics reclaim their dominance on Sunday with a statement road victory as their star returns? The Wolf analyzes the top Jayson Tatum props and EV edges from the oddschecker+ Positive EV Tool for Celtics vs. Cavs on March 8th.