NBA Picks & Expert Basketball Predictions

In Doncic's first full game for the Lakers sans LeBron James against the Brooklyn Nets on March 10, the five-time All-Star recorded his second triple-double in purple and gold by registering a line of 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists in over 41 minutes. His playmaking intangibles were on full display with his shot failing him that evening (9-of-26 from the field), and with the Bucks owning the fourth-best defense since the All-Star break (109.5 points allowed per 100 possessions), a similar situation could unfold on the road Thursday.

Doncic has recorded 12 or more assists in three of his last four games, and now James (groin) isn't around to run the offense in intervals by his side. So much is going to be asked of him in nearly all facets of the game until his 40-year-old teammate returns, and with the exception of perhaps Austin Reaves (10 assists in loss to Nets), no one left standing is capable of getting the remaining Lakers quality looks with the roster lacking playmakers. 

Milwaukee's blueprint for success should be to test Doncic's recovering calf and force him to make ill-advised decisions away from the basket. Expect fewer points and more dimes as a result from the 26-year-old as another potential triple-double looms. 

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The Lakers fell to the Nets 111-108, shooting 43.5% overall and 47.5% from three. Gabe Vincent led with 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Los Angeles averages 112.9 PPG on 48.0% shooting but allows 111.1 PPG.

Milwaukee lost 115-114 to Indiana despite Brook Lopez's 23 points on 81.8% shooting. The Bucks average 114.6 PPG on 48.1% shooting while holding opponents to 112.5 PPG.

Key matchup: The Bucks’ efficient offense (48.1% FG) vs. the Lakers' solid defense (111.1 PPG allowed). Milwaukee's rebounding edge (44.3 RPG) could be crucial.

Doc's Free Pick: Bucks -6.5

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Cam Thomas has only made five appearances for the Brooklyn Nets since Jan. 4, but his usage has slowly expanded from game to game with his 27-point performance in a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 11 being his strongest of the bunch. He's attempted no fewer than 17 shots over those five outings, averaging 21.2 points but only converting 42.6 percent from the field.

The Chicago Bulls own the 25th-ranked defense in basketball by allowing opponents to score 115.7 points per 100 possessions. That, paired with their third-best overall pace of 103.54, means we're in store for a ton of points at the United Center and very little resistance, as Brooklyn's defense (115.2 points allowed per 100 possessions, 23rd) is only marginally better. 

Thomas has exceeded a combination of 27.5 points and assists in three of those five aforementioned games, but has gone well over that mark the last two times he's faced off with Chicago (36 and 32, respectively). He's slotted back into his No. 1 scoring option role on the Nets rather seamlessly and moved the likes of Cam Johnson and D'Angelo Russell down a peg in the process. 

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Trusting anyone on the Orlando Magic to produce on the offensive end outside of the one-two punch of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner these days comes with a great deal of risk, but battling the 30th-ranked defense of the New Orleans Pelicans can provide solace during these uncertain times. New Orleans sits 29th in both opponent's 3-pointers made (14.7) and attempted (40.3), as well, and it's that number which could help Magic guard Cole Anthony succeed from behind the arc on Thursday.

Anthony has knocked down the second-most triples for Orlando over the last five games with eight at a steady 40-percent clip. He's made two or more in two of his last last three outings, but did only shoot 1-of-6 during the Magic's recent 13-point loss to the Houston Rockets on March 10.

Nonetheless, the fact that Anthony only needs to make two against a feeble Pelicans defense at plus money makes this a worthwhile investment. Something has to wake up Orlando's scoring attack, and if playing New Orleans doesn't accomplish that, then nothing will. 

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Keegan Murray can often be the forgotten cog on the Sacramento Kings, showing regression as a scorer (15.2 points last season to just 12.3 in 2024-25) now that DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine are in the picture. That's not to suggest he's not capable of huge outputs, yet Murray has only scored 20 or more points on four occasions when compared to the 18 times he did so a year ago. 

Reaching 13 points versus the Golden State Warriors would seem rather pedestrian for most scoring wings, but for someone like Murray, it would serve as the third time he's done so in his last five games should he pull it off. He's coming off a nine-point box score in Sacramento's blowout 29-point loss to the New York Knicks on March 10, but in his defense, no one on the Kings looked particularly great that day.

Murray has scored exactly 13 points twice already this season in this matchup, and that's all he'll need to reach an OVER here. 

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