Bryan Bash posted a 3-6-1 record across ten NBA picks on March 21, 2026, finishing the night with three wins, six losses, and one push. The handicapper found success with spread favorites Atlanta and Charlotte while also cashing an underdog ticket with Orlando, but struggled with several close losses including heartbreaking buzzer-beater and overtime defeats.
Heat at Rockets
Bash’s pick of Houston -2.0 resulted in a Loss in dramatic fashion as the Rockets won 123-122 but failed to cover. Amen Thompson’s tip-in at the buzzer gave Houston the thrilling victory after Kevin Durant’s potential game-winner bounced off the rim. Durant scored 27 points to move past Michael Jordan into fifth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with 32,294 career points. Reed Sheppard led Houston with 23 points and 14 assists, while Bam Adebayo dominated for Miami with 32 points and 21 rebounds. The Rockets shot efficiently at 52.3% from the field and 45.7% from three-point range, but the one-point margin left Bash just short of a cover.
Lakers at Magic
Taking Orlando +3.0 proved successful as the pick Won despite the Magic falling 105-104. Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 33 points and 8 assists, but Los Angeles couldn’t pull away enough to cover the spread. The Magic shot just 29.7% from three-point range but made up for it with 91.3% free throw shooting. Orlando built a 35-30 second quarter to stay within striking distance, with Paolo Banchero contributing 16 points, 6 assists, and 3 steals in the narrow defeat.
Warriors at Hawks
Atlanta -10.0 delivered a comfortable Win as the Hawks dominated 126-110. Dyson Daniels scored a season-high 28 points and CJ McCollum added 23 as Atlanta bounced back from having their 11-game win streak snapped. The Hawks shot an impressive 54% from the floor and won their 10th straight home game despite playing without Jalen Johnson. A dominant 39-20 third quarter put the game away, with Atlanta outscoring Golden State by 19 points in that frame alone. The Warriors managed just 29 rebounds compared to Atlanta’s 41, contributing to the lopsided final margin.
Cavaliers at Pelicans
New Orleans +4.5 resulted in a Loss as Cleveland rallied for a 111-106 victory. The Pelicans led 88-76 entering the fourth quarter, but the Cavaliers exploded for 35 points in the final period while holding New Orleans to just 18. James Harden, scoreless in the first half, poured in 20 second-half points including 13 in the decisive fourth quarter. Donovan Mitchell added 27 points with 12 coming in the final frame. Cleveland’s massive 55-40 rebounding advantage and that catastrophic fourth-quarter collapse doomed the Pelicans and Bash’s ticket.
Grizzlies at Hornets
Charlotte -16.0 cruised to a Win with a 124-101 victory, the Hornets’ third straight. LaMelo Ball scored 29 points and went 7-of-14 from three-point range to lead Charlotte, which has won five of six and posted a 21-6 record since January 22. Brandon Miller added 22 points and Moussa Diabate grabbed 14 rebounds. The Hornets shot 52.9% from the field and 41.9% from beyond the arc while dominating the glass 49-34. Memphis shot just 40.7% from the field as their struggles continued.
Clippers at Mavericks
Dallas +6.5 ended in a Loss as the Clippers prevailed 138-131 in overtime. Darius Garland scored a season-high 41 points with 11 assists, while Kawhi Leonard added 34 including a late bucket to force overtime. The Clippers shot an outstanding 56.7% from the field and 50.0% from three-point range, then dominated the extra period 16-9. Los Angeles outscored Dallas 16-9 in overtime with Derrick Jones Jr. hitting a pair of crucial threes. The loss extended Dallas’s home losing streak to 11 games, their longest in 32 years.
Bucks at Suns
Phoenix -11.5 resulted in a Loss as Milwaukee upset the Suns 108-105. Ryan Rollins had 26 points and 10 rebounds to lead the short-handed Bucks, making a tough floater with 23.8 seconds left to seal the win. Milwaukee won for just the third time in 12 games while Phoenix lost their fifth straight. The Bucks shot 50.0% from the field and 41.0% from three-point range, while the Suns struggled at 55.6% from the free throw line. A massive 42-26 second quarter gave Milwaukee momentum they never relinquished.
76ers at Jazz
Utah +6.0 came up short in a Loss as Philadelphia won 126-116. VJ Edgecombe posted 22 points and 13 rebounds while Quentin Grimes led all scorers with 26 points for the 76ers. Philadelphia dominated the paint 74-52 and controlled the boards 56-39 despite committing 17 turnovers. The Jazz shot just 22.5% from three-point range, though they were excellent at the free throw line at 93.5%. Ace Bailey led Utah with 25 points and 5 blocks, but the poor perimeter shooting and rebounding disadvantage proved too much to overcome.
Pacers at Spurs
San Antonio -19.0 failed to cover in a Loss despite the Spurs winning 134-119. Keldon Johnson and Dylan Harper each scored 24 points as San Antonio never trailed, with Harper going 9-for-13 in his first NBA start. Victor Wembanyama added 20 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 blocks. However, Indiana kept it close enough to cover, with Andrew Nembhard scoring 25 points and the Pacers shooting 51.8% from the field and 45.7% from three-point range. The 15-point margin fell well short of the 19-point spread despite extending Indiana’s franchise-record losing streak to 16 games.
Thunder at Wizards
Washington +21.0 resulted in a Push as Oklahoma City won 132-111, exactly 21 points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points to extend his NBA record of 63 consecutive road games with at least 20 points. The Thunder pulled away with a dominant 29-15 fourth quarter and controlled the boards 55-34. Four players were ejected following a first-half scuffle between Jaylin Williams and Justin Champagnie. Oklahoma won their 11th straight game, but the final margin landed precisely on the number.
Bash’s difficult night was marked by several close calls that didn’t break his way, including the Rockets’ buzzer-beater that won but didn’t cover and the Clippers’ overtime victory. While he found success with two double-digit favorites in Atlanta and Charlotte, plus the Magic as an underdog, the six losses—many by narrow margins—defined the evening’s results.
