March 1 is a big day in the NBA because any players signed off waivers after that date are ineligible for a playoff roster. There are still Hall of Fame caliber players out there in LaMarcus Aldridge and Carmelo Anthony if a team thinks one can get them over the top. Melo has been rumored to sign with Phoenix to join Kevin Durant. Speaking of that, KD’s Suns debut is one of two intriguing matchups early this week. Check back for NBA odds.

Top NBA Betting Picks of the Week (February 27th, 2023)

C2C Power Rankings (through 2/24 games)

1. Bucks
2. Celtics
3. Nuggets
4. 76ers
5. Cavs
6. Kings
7. Suns
8. Grizzlies
9. Clippers
10. Knicks pic.twitter.com/Z1DsSyFA5m

— Coast 2 Coast (@Coast2CoastNBA) February 25, 2023

Miami Heat vs. Philadelphia 76ers

• When: Monday, February 27, 2023, 7:00 PM ET
• Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
• TV: NBCSP, BSSUN
• Radio: 560 The Joe WQAM (Heat) // 97.5 The Fanatic (76ers)
• Live Stream: NBA League Pass
• NBA Betting Odds: Heat (+6) // 76ers (-6)

NBA TV has this potential Eastern Conference playoff preview – the teams play again Wednesday in Miami. The Heat enter the week on a four-game skid after a 108-103 upset loss in Charlotte on Saturday. Guard Tyler Herro called losing games on back-to-back nights coming out of the All-Star break “disappointing.”

“This is a point in the year where we can either come together or we can go away and split,” said Herro. He led the team with 33 points on Saturday. After the entire team struggled on a blowout loss to the Bucks on Friday, Herro ensured that wouldn’t happen again. It was his most points in a game since he exploded for 41 points against Houston in December.

Recent signee Kevin Love recorded a double-double on Saturday with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Love was a game-time call for Saturday’s matchup due to a knee problem, but aside from the fact that he ended up starting, he also posted his first double-double since being acquired by Miami from Cleveland. Jimmy Butler had 28 points and six assists Saturday. He’s averaging 21.4 points, 5.2 assists and 5.1 rebounds across nine February appearances.

Philadelphia had a five-game winning streak snapped Saturday in a 110-107 home loss to Boston. Jayson Tatum hit the winning 3 with 1.3 seconds left that capped Boston’s comeback from 15 points down in the third quarter and he finished with 18 points, 13 rebounds and six assists. Joel Embiid caught the ensuing inbounds pass, and his 70-foot heave hit nothing but net at the other end — yet it came a split second after the final buzzer sounded.

Embiid was spectacular, finishing with 41 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in just under 40 minutes for Philadelphia (39-20). But that didn’t stop the 76ers from losing for a third time in three meetings with the Celtics (44-17) this season. That coupled with Boston holding a four-game lead in the standings with 23 games to play severely hurt the 76ers’ chances of catching their rival.

The Heat and 76ers meet for the first of three matchups this regular season. This marks as the second-latest the two teams have faced each other for the first time, with only their first meeting on March 5 during the lockout 1998-99 season being later. Last season, the teams split the series, 2-2.

This marks the sixth of eight occurrences this season in which the Heat will play the same opponent in consecutive games. They previously did so five times this season, winning both games against Charlotte (11/10 & 11/12), Washington (11/23 & 11/25) and Milwaukee (1/12 & 1/14) while splitting the two games against Toronto (10/22 & 10/24) and Boston (11/30 & 12/2).

NBA Betting Pick: 76ers

Phoenix Suns vs. Charlotte Hornets

• When: Wednesday, March 1, 2023, 7:00 PM ET
• Where: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
• TV: BSSE-CHA, BSAZ
• Radio: Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (Suns) // 92.7 FM WFNZ (Hornets)
• Live Stream: NBA League Pass
• NBA Betting Odds: TBA

This looks like a mismatch on paper but it’s a big night because it’s expected to be the Suns debut of Kevin Durant off his knee injury suffered with Brooklyn before the big trade. Last Thursday, Durant played 5-on-5 with his new teammates for the first time.

“When guys watch him work, I think it’s something that inspires people to get after it in their own workouts,” Coach Monty Williams said. “Because they’re not going to find anybody that goes as hard as Kevin. When he’s doing his individual stuff it’s amazing to watch.”

Durant was dealt to the Suns just before the trade deadline in a blockbuster deal that sent Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson and several draft picks to the Nets. Durant has averaged 30 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 38 games this season. He is 27 points shy of surpassing Oscar Robertson (26,710 points) for 13th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, as Durant currently sits at 26,684 points over his career.

He is on pace to become the first player in NBA history to average 25 points on 55% shooting from the field and 90% from the line. For a player of his size, Durant is also unprecedented as a ball handler.

As good as Durant’s Brooklyn teammates were on offense, the setup in Phoenix has a higher ceiling. Devin Booker is averaging 26.5 points per game yet will become the team’s second option. Chris Paul, one of the best point guards of the 21st century, has been picking apart defenses at elite levels for over a decade — and that was without Durant and Booker patrolling the wings. Durant brings a wealth of talent to Phoenix on both ends of the floor, but it’ll still take some time for he and his new teammates to build chemistry before competing for a championship.

Charlotte is going through yet another lousy season but we’d expect owner Michael Jordan on hand for this one to wee Durant, Booker and Paul in their lone visit of the season. The Hornets lost in Phoenix 128-97 on Jan. 24 and have dropped four straight in the series.

NBA Betting Pick: Bucks if Giannis plays

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READ MORE: Top NBA Betting Picks of the Week – March 6th, 2023