Bryan Bash posted a 1-2 record on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, connecting on one of three spread selections in a challenging night of NBA handicapping. The veteran capper found success with a comfortable Charlotte cover but fell short on both Cleveland and New York plays that won outright but failed to cover their respective spreads.
Orlando Magic @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Bash opened the evening with Cleveland -10.0 against Orlando, a play that resulted in a loss despite the Cavaliers’ 136-131 victory. Donovan Mitchell delivered a spectacular 42-point performance—his sixth 40-point game of the season—while James Harden contributed 26 points to extend Cleveland’s winning streak to four games. The Cavaliers shot an impressive 60.5% from the field and 89.7% from the free-throw line, but the final five-point margin fell well short of the 10-point spread. Cleveland’s inability to pull away proved costly for the cover, as Orlando’s Paolo Banchero countered with 36 points and six rebounds. The Magic stayed competitive throughout, outscoring Cleveland 34-31 in the fourth quarter to keep the game within single digits and deny Bash the cover.
New Orleans Pelicans @ New York Knicks
The second selection of the night saw Bash backing New York -8.5 against New Orleans, another play that resulted in a loss despite the Knicks’ 121-116 triumph. Jalen Brunson proved instrumental for New York with 32 points, including a crucial 15 in the fourth quarter, as the Knicks extended their winning streak to seven games. Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby each added 21 points, with Towns pulling down 14 rebounds in the victory. However, the final five-point margin again fell short of the spread requirement. New Orleans shot an efficient 44.1% from three-point range compared to New York’s 39.4%, keeping the game competitive throughout. The Knicks’ strong 42-28 first quarter gave them an early cushion, but the Pelicans chipped away in the middle quarters, outscoring New York 32-24 in the second and 32-27 in the third, ensuring the game remained close enough to stay inside the number.
Sacramento Kings @ Charlotte Hornets
Bash salvaged the evening with Charlotte -17.5 against Sacramento, a play that resulted in a convincing win as the Hornets demolished the Kings 134-90. Charlotte tied a franchise record with 26 three-pointers, shooting an exceptional 47.3% from beyond the arc in the 44-point blowout. Coby White led the assault with 27 points on six three-pointers, while LaMelo Ball added 20 points on six triples of his own. Moussa Diabate contributed 17 points and 11 rebounds as the Hornets cruised to their fourth consecutive victory. Charlotte dominated every quarter, building leads of 34-25, 38-22, 41-29, and 21-14 across the four periods. The Hornets’ rebounding advantage was substantial at 57-35, and Sacramento’s struggles were evident in their 40.7% field goal percentage and poor 63.6% free-throw shooting. The Kings managed just 90 points despite Daeqwon Plowden’s 22 points and Malik Monk’s career-high 14 assists, as Charlotte’s offensive explosion easily cleared the 17.5-point spread.
The 1-2 showing illustrates a common handicapping frustration: two correct side selections that failed to cover their spreads by a combined 8.5 points. While Bash correctly identified three outright winners, only the Charlotte blowout provided the necessary margin for a winning ticket, leaving the veteran capper in the red for the evening.
