NBA Picks and Parlays for March 5, 2020

Welcome back to sports intel for another day of free NBA picks and parlays, and my NBA picks for March 5.

NBA Picks & Parlays March 5

Today we start out with the Los Angeles Clippers heading into Houston to take on the Rockets, tipping off at 8 Eastern at the Toyota Center.

Some books have LA as 1 point favorites, others with the Rockets 1 point favorites while others have it as a pickem.

This is Thursday’s game which holds the most weight as far as standings go, with Houston currently fourth in the west, a game and a half back from the nuggets and trail the Clippers by 2 and a half.

This is the 4th time this year these two teams have met with the Rockets winning AND covering two times already. Houston will bel looking to bounce back after a tough loss to the Knicks on Monday.

They will be without forward DeMarre Carroll but this rotation can survive just fine without him. Sure, they were caught with their pants down against the Knicks but they are in a great spot to play a statement game against this steaking Clippers team.

Los Angeles is playing with a healthy roster and has reeled off five straight wins as they creep closer to the Lakers for the top spot in the West.

While The Clippers are hot and could threaten for the No. 1 seed in the West, the Rockets seem to have their number this year. They have already beat them twice and that was before they committed 100% to their revolutionary style of small ball. That is no hyperbole. They have crafted a manner of playing that will be an absolute nightmare for any team facing them from now on.

Houston has a +9.6 point differential in their last five games and is shooting 47.5% from the field. I think they continue to run circles around opponents and get the win & cover tonight against the Clippers.

Hornets Host Denver

Next up we head to the Spectrum Center where the Charlotte Hornets host the Denver Nuggets.

The Nuggets are winners of 17 of their 29 road games and are just one game back from the Clippers in what is shaping up to be a tight race in the Western Conference. On Monday the Nuggets got smoked by the lowly warriors 116-110 after falling apart in the fourth, getting outscored by 15 points in the last 12 minutes of play.

While the Nuggets are an above-average road team, the Hornets have won just 9 of 29 games at home and are six games outside of the 8th seed in the East. With just 20 games left on their schedule, it will be very difficult for them to make the playoffs. Charlotte is coming off a tight loss to the Spurs after also failing in the fourth quarter and combined for 17 turnovers on the night.

Each of these teams has seen a few struggles lately, splitting their last eight games. But It’s the Nuggets who really need this win that much more. I think they bounce back after a shaky loss and cover this -8.5 spread against a Hornets team who is quickly falling out of contention.

Warriors and Raptors Parlay

Finally, I have a parlay pick for you on the Warriors and Raptors game tonight.

Toronto looks to take over the Chase Center tonight and spoil Steph Curry’s long-awaited return to this lineup.

When you look at these teams’ records its amazing to think that this is a rematch of last year’s finals. The Raptors are 43-18 while the warriors are 14-48, my how the might have fallen.

While the Raptors haven’t been at their best of late, losing four of their last seven, teams don’t have to be at their best to beat the Warriors this year.

Not to be outdone, Golden State has lost nine of their last 11 and will look to end the season on a high note with Curry back on the court.

I think that Curry will provide a surprising boost for this team, at home, after sitting out for so long. He just doesn’t seem like the type of player to be as affected by ring rust as others might be. The Warriors have allowed Curry to take his time and really ensure that he is ready to come back, which I think he is.

While this doesn’t mean the Warriors will suddenly be any type of contender, they might at least be able to give the Raptors some trouble early on in this game. I think this early push by the Warriors will end up pushing the total OVER of 223.5. I think the Raptors eventually do pull away from the Warriors despite having their best player back and end up with the win and covering the 8 point spread.

That’s all for my NBA picks for March 5 folks, but check back again tomorrow for another free NBA picks video from us at Sports Intel.