NBA: Picks and Preview for Raptors vs Pelicans, Knicks vs Hawks, Suns vs Nuggets Games Tonight

Article By Mark Keast

Last Updated: 2024 Mar 5

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Pelicans Take on Injury-Depleted Raptors

The Toronto Raptors will complete their four-game homestand tonight when they host the New Orleans Pelicans. The Raptors will have just nine regular season home games remaining following tonight’s game and 11 road games, including a four-game trip (Mar. 7-13) starting in Phoenix on Thursday night. The Pelicans hammered the Raptors the last time the two teams met on Feb. 5, in New Orleans - 138-100.

NBA Schedule: Game Details

	Date	Time	Location	How to Watch
Raptors vs. Pelicans	March 5, 2024	7:30 p.m. EST	Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON	TV: Sportsnet; Radio: Sportsnet 590 The Fan
Knicks vs. Hawks	March 5, 2024	7:30 p.m. EST	Madison Square Garden, New York, NY	Bally Sports
Suns vs. Nuggets	March 5, 2024	10 p.m. EST	Ball Arena, Denver, CO	TV: TNT

Game 1: Raptors vs. Pelicans Insights

The Raptors (23-38, 12^th in the Eastern Conference) are coming off a 111-106 win over the Charlotte Hornets Sunday night. The big news on the betting front for the Raptors has been the injury to F Scottie Barnes, who underwent surgery on his hand in Los Angeles yesterday to repair a fracture. The Raptors’ all-star forward is likely gone for the season.

The Athletic is also reporting that SF Bruce Brown has been ruled out for tonight. C Jakob Poeltl dislocated a finger against the Hornets and has been ruled out for tonight, according to SI.com.

So tonight, that means a probable starting lineup of G Ochai Agbaji, SF RJ Barrett, SG Gary Trent Jr., PG Immanuel Quickley, C Kelly Olynyk. Does Poeltl still play? Keep an eye on the wires today for updates on that.

🏀 Bet on Raptors vs. Pelicans at DraftKings 🏀

Barrett recorded 23 points (10-16 FG, 3-6 3PT), eight rebounds, five assists and two steals in 35 minutes of action against the Hornets and has now scored 23 points in four consecutive games (Feb. 26 - Mar. 2) for the first time in his career. Quickley scored 22 points, 10 of which came in the first quarter, to go along with 11 assists, making his fourth double-double of the season — all of which has come as a Raptor.

The Pelicans (36-25, 5^th in the Western Conference) haven’t played since Friday – a 129-102 win over the Indiana Pacers, led by SF Brandon Ingram, with 34 points. G Dyson Daniels (knee) is out of the lineup. The Pelicans have one of the NBA’s better defences – 111.7 points allowed per game and are 18-13 on the road.

Player Props

If you’re into online betting, according to FanDuel this morning, most bet player props are led by Quickley to Record 10+ Assists (4.20) and Quickley Over 12+ Assists (12.00).

At PointsBet Canada, leading the way is Barrett Over 6.5 Rebounds (1.69) and Zion Williamson Over 22.5 Points (1.87).

Game 2: Knicks vs. Hawks Insights

The big news here is the health of Knicks PG Jalen Brunson (knee contusion) – questionable for tonight according to SportsNet New York. The Knicks are already beat up – SF OG Anunoby (elbow), PF Julian Randle (shoulder) and C Mitchell Robinson (ankle) are all out.

Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau says it’s “possible” Brunson plays, according to Sportsnet. The Knicks (36-25, 4^th in the Eastern Conference) won their last game – 107-98, on the road over the Cleveland Cavaliers, led by 28 points (11/22) from SG Donte DiVincenzo.

🏀 Bet on Knicks vs. Hawks at FanDuel 🏀

On the flipside, the Hawks (26-34, 10^th in the Eastern Conference) are missing their top player – G Trae Young - out for the foreseeable future after surgery to repair a finger injury. The Hawks have lost two in a row (last game was Saturday night, a 114-102 loss to the Brooklyn Nets), and are 2-2 without Young.

Player Props

On the NBA betting front, at FanDuel, Bogdan Bogdanovic Over 2.5 Made Threes (1.17), Josh Hart To Record a Triple Double (8.00), and Dejounte Murray Under 36.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (1.88) are seeing the most player prop betting action.

According to PointsBet Canada, most bet player props today so far are led by Murray Over 22.5 Points (1.83) and Bogdanovic Over 2.5 Threes Made (1.63).

Game 3: Suns vs. Nuggets Insights

At BetMGM today, they’re saying the Nuggets are generating the highest ticket percentage for betting on the team most likely to win the NBA championship – 15.1 per cent. They’re also getting the highest handle – 22.4 per cent. The Nuggets and L.A. Clippers are the favourites to win the Western Conference at 3.50. The Nuggets are seeing the highest ticket percentage for betting on the Western Conference crown – 17.9 per cent.

The Nuggets (42-19, 3^rd in the Western Conference, half a game out of first) are big betting favourites tonight. In Ontario, they’re among the most bet-on when talking Western Conference outright winners, along with the Suns (35-26, 6^th in the Western Conference). So, this should be a popular betting game.

The Nuggets have won six in a row; the Suns have lost two straight.

🏀 Bet on Suns vs. Nuggets at DraftKings 🏀

On the injury front - for the Nuggets, SF Vlatko Cancar (knee) is out; the Suns will be without SF Nassir Little (knee), SF Josh Okogie (abdomen), SG Damion Lee (knee), and SG Devin Booker (ankle).

C Jusuf Nurkic (calf) is day-to-day, according to ESPN. Nurkic set a Suns franchise record with 31 rebounds in their last game – a 118-110 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder Sunday. His injury status is also something to follow today.

If he plays, he will go up against his friend C Nikola Jokic, an MVP candidate, leading Denver in points (25.9 per game), rebounds (12.2) assists (9.2) and FG% (58.1). In the Nuggets’ last game, a 124-114 win over the L.A. Lakers Saturday, Jokic led all players in scoring, finishing with a team-high-tying rebound total, coming up three assists short of a triple-double performance (16-25 FG, 1-5 3PT, 10 rebounds, seven assists and one block in 39 minutes).

It's going to be tough for the Suns, battling injuries all season, and because of that the team has had challenges gelling. SF Kevin Durrant (team leader in points, 27.8, and FG%, 52.8) and Bradley Beal are in tonight, but that Booker injury really hurts them. Nuggets PG Jamal Murray was iffy to play against the Lakers because of an ankle issue but slotted in and finished with 24 points and 11 assists.

Player Props

On the NBA betting front, at FanDuel, most bet player props are Durant Over 33.5 Points + Assists (1.90), Durant to Record a Triple Double (34.00) and Jokic to Record a Triple Double (2.75).

At PointsBet Canada, it’s Durant Over 32.5 Points + Assists (1.80) and Jokic Over 8.5 Assists (1.71).

Our NBA Picks Today

Tough to find any avenue where things work out for the Raptors tonight. The Pelicans are rested, motivated. They beat them up in their last outing. The Raptors don’t have their best player, and possibly their starting center. Despite Barrett and Quickley rising to the occasion of late, this one has Pelicans’ rout written all over it. The NBA’s 17^th-ranked offence (Raptors) play the league’s 8^th-best defense (111.7), so we’re taking the Under at FanDuel.

Huge game for the Knicks, who are trying to stay in the meat of that Eastern Conference race while trying to get healthy again. They are playing at home, so take the Knicks ATS at BetMGM.

In the Suns-Nuggets game, avoid the Moneyline. Keep an eye on the injury report, and if both Booker and Nurkic (clearing space for Jokic) are out for the Suns, take the Nuggets ATS at 888 Sport.

	Moneyline	Spread	Over/Under
FanDuel	Raptors 4.85, Pelicans 1.20	Raptors +9 (1.93), Pelicans -9 (1.89)	229.5; Over 1.89; Under 1.93
BetMGM	Hawks 2.25, Knicks 1.67	Hawks +2.5 (1.95), Knicks -2.5 (1.87)	216.5; Over 1.95; Under 1.87
888 Sport	Suns 4.30, Nuggets 1.20	Suns +9.5 (1.85); Nuggets -9.5 (1.90)	223.5; Over 1.85; Under 1.90