The NBA regular season is now under two weeks from its finale, ending on April 12. With that said, we’re in the homestretch of squads fighting for playoff positioning.
Some teams need every win they can get, while others may label this season as a lost cause and begin resting key pieces. This can provide clear angles for NBA predictions on PrizePicks Team Picks.
Let’s look at Tuesday, March 31’s seven-game NBA slate and highlight two matchups with NBA predictions and expert picks.
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Best NBA Predictions and Expert Picks: 3/31/26
The schedule begins with the Suns and Magic at 7:00 p.m. ET and finishes with a late-night 11:00 p.m. ET tip-off between the Trail Blazers and Clippers, which also caps NBC and Peacock’s primetime doubleheader on Tuesday.
The New York Knicks (48-27) vs. the Houston Rockets (45-29) is the first game of NBC’s doubleheader at 8:00 p.m. ET and PrizePicks Team Picks has this as a toss-up, with the Knicks tabbed as 1.5-point favorites.
Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks (24-51) and the Milwaukee Bucks (29-45) also collide at 8:00 p.m. ET and feature hefty injury reports. While the stakes may lack, there’s still an opportunity for value.
Stay tuned to the Playbook’s NBA coverage for continued predictions and picks throughout the playoffs and NBA Finals. Let’s break down our favorite NBA predictions and expert picks for Tuesday, March 31, on PrizePicks Team Picks.
Payouts are live as of publishing. All are subject to change.
Dallas Mavericks vs. Milwaukee Bucks Prediction on Spread – 3/31/26
NBA Spread Pick: Dallas Mavericks -1.5 (1.88x) | Milwaukee Bucks +1.5 (1.88x)
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
TV: NBA League Pass
- The NBA injury report lists Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) as out, and ESPN tabs Mavericks F P.J. Washington (illness) and F Naji Marshall (illness) as day-to-day.
- Most importantly, Mavericks F Cooper Flagg could be good to go, and he would likely stand out as the best active player in this matchup.
- The Bucks attempt 38.4 3-point shots per game (12th), paired with a 44.9% shot distribution (seventh), per Dunks & Threes.
- Dallas may have the answer by limiting teams to a 39.0% 3-point shot distribution (fifth) and 12.8 triples per game (10th).
- On the other side of the court, the Mavs rack up 53.4 points in the paint per game (fourth), while Milwaukee cedes only 45.5 points in the paint per contest, via NBA Advanced Stats.
- However, Giannis is inactive, taking away a major piece of the Bucks’ interior defense.
- In fact, Milwaukee has allowed 51.0 points in the paint per game over its last four games, while yielding 128.3 points per game (PPG) in the split.
New York Knicks vs. Houston Rockets Prediction on Over/Under – 3/31/26
Over/Under Pick: Over 216.5 (1.78x) | Under 216.5 (2x)
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
TV: NBC, Peacock
- According to NBA Advanced Stats, Houston has the second-slowest pace, while New York holds the sixth-slowest tempo.
- This leads to limited shot attempts, as the Knicks (fourth) and the Rockets (12th) each rank in the top half of the NBA for the fewest field goal attempts allowed per game.
- Dunks & Threes credits New York with a 42.9% 3-point percentage (11th), further supported by its 14.4 made treys per game (eighth).
- Houston features a strong perimeter defense that limits teams to 12.5 3-pointers per game (sixth) and a 40.0% shot distribution (seventh).
- The Rockets, meanwhile, attack the rim with 52.6 points in the paint per game (fifth), but the Knicks yield only 43.7 points in the paint per contest (fourth).
- Furthermore, New York allows a 31.0% shot distribution around the rim (10th).
- If each offense’s strength is limited, paired with a slow pace, points could be a rarity on Tuesday night.
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Rockets G Reed Sheppard vs. Knicks Projection: 13.5 Points
- While we focused on the Knicks’ strong rim protection, they have a leaky perimeter defense that allows 38.4 attempted triples per game (22nd).
- Rockets G Reed Sheppard leads Houston with 6.9 3-point shots per game while shooting an efficient 38.5% from deep.
- His volume from beyond the arc has spiked to 8.5 attempted treys per game over his last 10 games.
- This increased usage has led to 3.2 made triples per game in his past six outings, increased from 2.7 on the season.
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Without Giannis in the lineup, could the Bucks struggle against the Mavericks’ aggressive drivers? Meanwhile, the Knicks and Rockets’ strengths on offense could be limited, leading to a potential low-scoring battle.
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