Monday NBA Picks
Our team of writers and handicappers hand out their NBA picks and predictions for Monday, March 2.
Atlanta Hawks at Washington Wizards, 7:00PM ET
A trip to the nation’s capital might help the Atlanta Hawks bounce back from their latest disappointing loss.
Mired in a slump, the Hawks look to sweep the season series from the lowly Washington Wizards for the first time in 11 years Monday night.
Atlanta (33-26) lost 88-87 at home to the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday. The Hawks rallied from a 13-point deficit, but then squandered a five-point lead in the final 1:42. LeBron James’ free throw with 1.6 seconds left sent Atlanta to its fifth loss in seven games.
"We kind of have another chance. We have Washington (Monday) night, so we have to focus in there," said Hawks forward Marvin Williams, who had 14 points and 10 rebounds. "So we have to come ready to play."
Atlanta – still holding on to the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs – should have little trouble regaining its confidence against Washington (14-45) – owner of the East’s worst record.
NBA Free Pick: Atlanta – View Game Matchup | Best Line:
New Orleans Hornets at Philadelphia 76ers, 7:00PM ET
Thanks to some late-game heroics, the New Orleans Hornets are in position for their longest winning streak of 2008-09.
The Hornets seek their fifth consecutive victory overall and a fourth straight win against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night, when they meet at the Wachovia Center.
New Orleans (36-22) picked up its sixth win in eight contests since the All-Star break Sunday night, 99-96 at New Jersey. David West scored 14 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter, while Chris Paul’s go-ahead jump shot with 40 seconds remaining helped the Hornets to their fourth four-game winning streak of the season.
NBA Free Pick: New Orleans – View Game Matchup | Best Line:
Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami Heat, 7:30PM ET
Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade is coming off arguably the best week of his NBA career. For the Heat to be successful over the next week, he might need to play even better.
In a matchup featuring the league’s top two scorers, Wade looks to continue his surge Monday night when Miami opens a daunting portion of its schedule against LeBron James and the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers.
A year after missing 31 games due to injuries, a healthy Wade has led the Heat (31-27) to the fifth-best record in the East. He is averaging a league-high 29.0 points – 0.7 more than James – and virtually carried his team on his back this past week, scoring or assisting on 59 percent of Miami’s baskets in four games.
Wade scored a career-high 50 points in a loss to Orlando on Feb. 22, and followed that two days later with a 31-point, 16-assist effort in a win over Detroit. He had 21 points and 10 assists in a loss to Atlanta on Thursday, one night before a gutsy performance in a 120-115 win at New York.
Against the Knicks on Friday, Wade scored 46 points – 24 of them in the fourth quarter and 15 coming in a dramatic 19-0 spurt that erased a 15-point deficit in the final nine minutes. In addition to all the scoring, the five-time All-Star added 10 assists, eight rebounds, four steals and three blocks.
NBA Free Pick: Miami – View Game Matchup | Best Line:
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Posted: 3/2/09 12:04PM ET