NBA Best Bets Today | Expert Picks for Friday, March 8

Michael Crosson Sports Betting Expert

2 minute read

The NBA regular season continues with a loaded eight-game slate on Friday, March 8, headlined by a nationally televised doubleheader on ESPN as Wolves vs Cavs tips off the early window, and then Bucks vs Lakers takes center stage a little bit later in the evening.

Read along for our top three NBA best bets and expert picks for Friday, March 8.

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NBA Best Bets | Expert Picks for Friday, March 8

Timberwolves vs Cavaliers

by Michael Crosson

Last night, the Timberwolves managed to escape with a gutsy road win over Indiana behind a monster 44-point performance from Anthony Edwards that also included a crucial block of Aaron Nesmith in the closing moments to seal a 113-111 victory for Minnesota.

Tonight, however, things are expected to be a little more difficult for the T-Wolves as they hit the road again for Cleveland as short underdogs against a Cavaliers team that’s in a bit of a rough patch in the absence of five-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell.

Mitchell has missed the last four games for Cleveland – and in those games, the Cavaliers have posted a modest record of 2-2, which includes an impressive win over the Celtics.

Don’t be fooled by their recent fluke win over Boston though. The Cavs have not played good basketball during Mitchell’s latest absence. Cleveland ranks 25th in offensive rating and 10th in defensive rating across their last four contests. Which is a huge dropoff for a Cavs team that ranks 16th in offensive rating and 3rd in defensive rating on the season.

Granted, the T-Wolves will likely take a step back with Karl-Anthony Towns sidelined for the foreseeable future. However,  Minnesota is still a very good basketball team regardless of his presence – and they may even be better at the defensive end of the floor.

The Timberwolves lead the entire NBA in defensive rating at 108.6, and we shouldn’t see much negative change in that department in the absence of Towns – who owns an individual defensive rating of 116.5, which ranks 11th out of the 16 players that have participated in 10+ games for Minnesota this season.

With Towns and Mitchell both sidelined, I believe the absence of Mitchell makes Cleveland far more vulnerable than the absence of Towns makes Minnesota moving forward. All of the Cavs’ main concerns lie with their offense – and now they are down their lone elite offensive weapon. Whereas, the T-Wolves arguably still have their top scoring threat at their disposal in Anthony Edwards. Give me the short road ‘dogs.

Pick: Timberwolves ML (+102)

Bucks vs Lakers

by AAA Sports

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Rockets vs Trail Blazers

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Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson began his time at VegasInsider as a freelance NBA writer back in 2019 while he continued to study Psychology and Biology at James Madison University. Following his graduation in 2021, Michael joined the team full-time, and he's been with VI ever since. Michael still writes NBA, NFL, and MLB for VI, as well as gambling industry news. He's also become a crucial part of our editorial production team. More from Michael Crosson