Ah, Monday. When hope springs eternal, coffee hits like a sledgehammer, and the NBA schedule serves up just enough chaos to drive you crazy. But not today, friends. Today, we embrace the madness with open arms and sharper bets.
The Lakers get a gift-wrapped Rockets team staggering in on tired legs, the Wizards are somehow still playing basketball (and might even cover?), and the Celtics get to beat up on a Memphis squad that’s basically being held together by vibes and duct tape.
Let’s make Monday suck less, one bet at a time. Continue below for my NBA picks and predictions for March 31.
[quickslipbasic bookname=”Fanatics” booklogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/573837_FanaticsSportsbook20ALT.png” image=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2025/03/IMG_4969.jpg” buttontext=”Add These Picks to Your Bet Slip Instantly!” buttonlink=”https://www.scoresandodds.com/all/parlay?quickslip=1&onelink=/5kut/iw9e2f8u?sharedBy=QS_0105&ref=10001″][/quickslipbasic]
NBA Picks Tonight, Predictions, Expert Bets for Monday, March 31
Celtics vs. Grizzlies
[gamematchup league=”nba” awaylogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/nba/100/bos.png” awayname=”Celtics” awayslug=”boston-celtics” homelogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/nba/100/mem.png” homename=”Grizzlies” homeslug=”memphis-grizzlies” date=”Monday, Mar 31″ time=”7:30 p.m. ET” network=”TNT” col1text=”Spread” col2text=”Total” col3text=”Moneyline” col1awaytext=”-4.5″ col1awayline=”-110″ col1hometext=”+4.5″ col1homeline=”-110″ col2awaytext=”236.5″ col2hometext=”236.5″ col2awayline=”-110o / -110u” col2homeline=”-110o / -110u” col3awaytext=”-190″ col3hometext=”+160″ col3awayline=”” col3homeline=”” bookname=”bet365″ bookthumbnaillogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/240081_Bet365ALT.png” bookreviewslug=”bet365″][/gamematchup]
Boston is well-equipped to exploit Memphis’ lack of spacing and five-out counter.
Memphis is in disarray after firing Taylor Jenkins and multiple staff members, along with internal friction.
The Celtics play elite defense and thrive against teams with weak halfcourt offenses; Memphis is 14th in half-court offense.
Boston is 6-4 against teams above .500 as a road favorite this season. The model has been simple: fade Boston at home, back them on the road.
The Grizzlies are 5-11-1 (31.2%) this season against teams with a winning percentage of 60% or better. They can’t beat any of the elite teams.
Memphis wants to slow things down and run more pick-and-roll, and that’s not how you beat Boston.
Pick: Celtics -4.5 (-120)
_InlineAdBlock
Rockets vs. Lakers
[gamematchup league=”nba” awaylogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/nba/100/hou.png” awayname=”Rockets” awayslug=”houston-rockets” homelogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/758536_Lakers.png” homename=”Lakers” homeslug=”los-angeles-lakers” date=”Monday, Mar 31″ time=”10 p.m. ET” network=”TNT” col1text=”Spread” col2text=”Total” col3text=”Moneyline” col1awaytext=”+5″ col1awayline=”-110″ col1hometext=”-5″ col1homeline=”-110″ col2awaytext=”224.5″ col2hometext=”224.5″ col2awayline=”-110o / -110u” col2homeline=”-110o / -110u” col3awaytext=”+165″ col3hometext=”-200″ col3awayline=”” col3homeline=”” bookname=”bet365″ bookthumbnaillogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/240081_Bet365ALT.png” bookreviewslug=”bet365″][/gamematchup]
The line opened at Lakers -4.5. I actually make this -2.3, but I like the spot enough for the difference.
The Lakers face a fatigued Houston team on the second night of a back-to-back; Amen Thompson should miss this game after suffering a re-injury Sunday
Houston has been great against top teams, but the Lakers have been great with Luka Doncic alongside rim-runner Jaxson Hayes and floor spacer Rui Hachimura, going 6-3 straight up.
The Rockets’ best lineup is a two-big look, but they’ll struggle to play that vs. the Lakers’ spacing.
The Rockets won by 39 points Sunday. Teams to win by 35+ points and are road favorites the next game are 42-56 ATS since 2003, and 18-27 when they are a Western Conference team facing a conference opponent.
Pick: Lakers -4.5 (-115)
[relatedarticles article1imageurl=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2025/03/memphis-celtics.jpg” link1text=”Celtics vs Grizzlies Odds, Prediction, NBA Pick for Monday, Mar. 31″ link1=”https://www.actionnetwork.com/nba/celtics-vs-grizzlies-prediction-odds-parlay-pick-for-monday-march-31-qs” date1=”2025-03-31T14:38:33.000Z” article2imageurl=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2025/03/rockets-lakers.jpg” link2text=”Rockets vs. Lakers Prediction, Odds, Parlay Pick for Monday, March 31″ link2=”https://www.actionnetwork.com/nba/rockets-vs-lakers-prediction-odds-parlay-pick-for-monday-march-31-qs” date2=”2025-03-31T16:47:28.000Z” article3imageurl=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2025/03/nbabestbets331.jpg” link3text=”NBA Best Bets Today: Predictions, Picks, Odds for Monday, March 31″ link3=”https://www.actionnetwork.com/nba/nba-best-bets-today-predictions-picks-odds-for-monday-march-31-qs” date3=”2025-03-31T15:15:54.000Z”][/relatedarticles]
Heat vs. Wizards
[gamematchup league=”nba” awaylogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/nba/100/mia.png” awayname=”Heat” awayslug=”miami-heat” homelogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/nba/100/wsh.png” homename=”Wizards” homeslug=”washington-wizards” date=”Monday, Mar 31″ time=”7 p.m. ET” network=”MNMT” col1text=”Spread” col2text=”Total” col3text=”Moneyline” col1awaytext=”-8.5″ col1awayline=”-110″ col1hometext=”+8.5″ col1homeline=”-110″ col2awaytext=”218″ col2hometext=”218″ col2awayline=”-110o / -110u” col2homeline=”-110o / -110u” col3awaytext=”-380″ col3hometext=”+300″ col3awayline=”” col3homeline=”” bookname=”bet365″ bookthumbnaillogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/240081_Bet365ALT.png” bookreviewslug=”bet365″][/gamematchup]
I make this line closer to Washington +4.5, implying significant value.
The Wizards’ offense has been showing surprising signs of competency with stretch bigs like Alex Sarr.
Miami shouldn’t be laying this many points against anyone right now. The Heat are 4-7 ATS this season as a road favorite against teams with a win percentage worse than 45%
The Wizards are 42% against the spread this season. Lucky for them, Miami is 14-21 (40%) against teams under .500 ATS. The Heat don’t cover vs. bad teams.
Pick: Wizards +8.5 (-110)
[procard imageurl=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/527348_ProWeekly1500x8441.jpg” cta=”7 Days of PRO Betting Tools” firstupsell=”Track sharp CBB & MLB money” secondupsell=”Player prop & home run projections” thirdupsell=”PRO systems, premium articles & more!” buttontext=”TRY PRO NOW” buttonurl=”/pricing”][/procard]