NBA Best Bets Today | Expert Picks for Wednesday, March 27

Michael Crosson Sports Betting Expert

4 minute read

The NBA regular season continues with a loaded 12-game slate this Wednesday -- which is headlined by an excellent nationally televised doubleheader on ESPN as Clippers vs. 76ers tips off a potential James Harden revenge game at 8:00 p.m. ET, and then Suns vs. Nuggets takes center stage for a heavyweight Western Conference showdown at 10:00 p.m. ET.

Read on for our top three NBA best bets and expert picks for Wednesday, March 27.

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NBA Best Bets | Expert Picks for Wednesday, March 27

Clippers vs 76ers

by Michael Crosson

For the last two months or so, the 76ers have struggled mightily in the absence of Joel Embiid. However, it seems like they are finally beginning to show some signs of life as we approach the final days of March.

Philadelphia played a back to back road set against the Clippers and Kings this past Sunday and Monday, and managed to split those two games. In the first contest, it seemed like the Sixers exerted all their energy as they held James Harden to 12 points on 0-for-6 from three-point range in a 121-107 win over LAC – and then quickly ran out of steam the following night in a 106-98 loss to Sacramento.

Given the dire circumstances for Philly though, the Sixers were likely relieved to salvage a 1-1 split to close their West Coast road trip before returning to the City of Brotherly Love for tonight’s contest.

Embiid has been sidelined for 28 of Philadelphia’s last 29 games. During that 29-game stretch, the Sixers have posted an abysmal record of 10-19, while ranking 23rd in the NBA in net rating – and last week, they opened their four-game road trip with back to back losses before finally getting over the hump with a win over the Clippers on Sunday.

Believe it or not though, the Sixers are actually trending upward as they return home tonight (especially on defense), despite coming off losses in three of their last four games.

For the most part, the Sixers’ offensive production has held steady in the bottom-10 of the league without Embiid in the lineup. They rank 22nd in offensive rating over their last 29 games, and they also rank 22nd in offensive rating over their last six games. 

However, Philly’s defense has been a totally different story. The Sixers rank 24th in defensive rating across their last 29 contests. But in their last six games, that number has shot all the way up to 8th – which might be a recipe for disaster, yet again, for a Clippers squad that has completely cratered at the defensive end as of late.

The Clippers have posted miserable records of 3-6 SU and 2-7 ATS in their last nine games, which is primarily due to the fact that they rank 29th in the NBA in defensive rating during that span; given they still posted a top-10 offensive rating in those nine contests.

With less than three weeks left to play in the regular season, figuring out which teams have the edge in these remaining games often comes down to motivation and effort due to situational factors.

The Clippers are tied for fourth in the Western Conference with a record of 44-27, and bear very little risk of falling to seventh and having to partake in the Play-In Tournament. While on the flip side, the Sixers are tied with Miami for seventh in the Eastern standings with a record of 39-33, with both teams trailing the Pacers by 1.5 games. So there’s still a chance the Sixers could dodge the Play-In if they can catch Indiana and fend off the Heat.

The Clippers seem content coasting to the finish line and jockeying for seeding as this veteran squad tries to rest and recuperate in preparation for a potential playoff run. While on the contrary, the Sixers are still pushing the pedal to the metal down the home stretch as they desperately try to dodge the Play-In Tournament – which has been on full display in their recent defensive metrics.

The Sixers simply want it more right now – and they’ll really want to win this one in front of their home fans against Harden. I’m taking the points with Philly.

Pick: 76ers +5.5 (-110)

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Suns vs Nuggets

by Stephen Nover

For more daily expert predictions, check out our NBA Free Picks page and our NBA odds!

Warriors vs Magic

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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