Bryan Bash posted a 2-1 record on Thursday, March 26, 2026, connecting on a pair of home favorites while falling short on a large spread in Orlando. The handicapper captured wins with the Charlotte Hornets and Detroit Pistons before the Orlando Magic failed to cover a sizable 15.5-point line despite securing the victory.
New York Knicks @ Charlotte Hornets
Bash opened his card with the Charlotte Hornets -1.0, and the home side delivered a comfortable 114-103 victory. The pick Won as Charlotte snapped New York’s seven-game winning streak behind a balanced offensive attack. The Hornets established control early and never relented, outscoring the Knicks 27-19 in the second quarter to build separation. Twenty-year-old Kon Knueppel led the way with 26 points on six 3-pointers, becoming the youngest player in NBA history with 250 three-pointers in a season while nearly recording his first career triple-double with 10 rebounds and eight assists. LaMelo Ball added 22 points and Brandon Miller contributed 21 as the Hornets won their fifth consecutive game. Charlotte’s rebounding advantage proved decisive, as they dominated the glass 43-24 while shooting an efficient 52.6% from the field. The Hornets controlled three of four quarters, with only a 27-20 fourth-quarter edge for New York preventing a larger margin.
New Orleans Pelicans @ Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons -4.5 proved to be Bash’s most comfortable winner of the night, as the home team cruised to a 129-108 victory. The pick Won by a wide margin as Detroit bounced back from a heartbreaking 130-129 overtime loss to Atlanta the previous night. The Pistons’ shooting performance was exceptional, particularly from beyond the arc where they connected at a blistering 53.6% clip (15-of-28), a remarkable figure for a team normally among the league’s worst 3-point shooting squads. Jalen Duren dominated inside with 30 points and 10 rebounds, while Kevin Huerter and Daniss Jenkins combined for 41 points, going 9-of-14 from three-point range between them. Detroit’s 56.5% overall field goal percentage and 34 assists reflected an offense firing on all cylinders. The Pistons took control with a 34-23 second quarter and sealed the blowout with a dominant 37-22 fourth-quarter performance. New Orleans struggled mightily at the free-throw line, converting just 45.8% of their attempts, which further hampered any comeback hopes.
Sacramento Kings @ Orlando Magic
Bash’s final selection, the Orlando Magic -15.5, resulted in a loss despite Orlando securing a 121-117 victory. The pick Lost as the Magic won by just four points, falling well short of the required margin. Paolo Banchero delivered his third consecutive 30-point performance with 30 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists as Orlando snapped a six-game losing streak. The Magic shot an impressive 54.1% from the field and 48.1% from three-point range, but Sacramento kept pace offensively with DeMar DeRozan’s 33 points and 11 assists leading the way. The Kings’ 42.4% three-point shooting and 30 assists kept them within striking distance throughout. Orlando built a 39-30 lead after the first quarter, but Sacramento chipped away in the middle periods, outscoring the Magic 60-54 in the second and third quarters combined. The narrow final margin left Bash on the wrong side of the large number.
Bryan Bash’s 2-1 performance on Thursday demonstrated solid handicapping on the two smaller spreads while the large Orlando number proved too much to overcome. The wins with Charlotte and Detroit were decisive, with both home teams controlling their games from start to finish and covering comfortably. The loss on the Magic highlighted the challenge of laying double-digit points, even when the side proves correct.
