It's that time of year when fans are scrambling to do the maths and work out if their team can still make playoffs.
One club in with a distant shot is the Sacramento Kings, who will need to produce something special when they take to the court in Boston.
The feature game sees LA play an embarrassed Toronto, who will look to end LeBron's playoffs streak.
Our final NBA betting pick looks at the Utah vs Minnesota clash, which will go a long way in determining the fate of several teams in the West.
Sacramento Kings @ Boston Celtics
NBA Odds: Kings $3.85 (+8.0) / Celtics $1.28 (-8.0)
Currently sitting in 5th place on the Eastern Conference ladder, the Celtics need to win as many of their remaining games as possible if they want to avoid playing the likes of Philadelphia and Toronto first up in the playoffs.
For this game, they return home after a 4-game road trip.
This would be welcome news for most NBA franchises, but Boston haven't been all that good at home this campaign.
They have won 24 of their 34 home matches, which while a reasonable effort, is well down considering the high hopes Celtics fans had coming into the season.
Their recent road trip was a success, where they won 3 of the 4 games including a nail-biter against today's opposition Sacramento.
Buddy Hield made 3 free-throws to tie the game with less than ten seconds remaining, before Gordon Hayward made a tricky jumper with just 2 seconds on the clock to win the game.
Despite this clutch shot, Hayward has had an underwhelming season.
But then so have a bunch of the Boston's players.
With a list stacked with high-quality ballers, it's only a matter of time before Boston come good.
Even though they copped 140 points last time out, their defence has been generally stingy this campaign.
They will need be on their toes when Sacramento come to town though.
That's because the Kings have the capacity to rattle of bucket after bucket, their speed and three-point accuracy having already caused plenty of teams grief this campaign.
Boston isn't a good match up for the Kings though.
That's because Sacramento like to play in fast-paced games, where De'Aaron fox can hurt opponents in transition.
The Kings average a league-high 21 points from fast breaks per game.
The Celtics however play slow, not allowing teams to hurt them on fast breaks, giving up just 13.5 per game.
Expect the Celtics to shut down on defence, and grind out a victory here.
Key NBA Stat
Boston have won their previous 3 games against Sacramento: Celtics to win @ 1.28
Free NBA Pick: Celtics to cover -8.0 point line @ $1.92
Reasoning: With the formula to beat the Kings down pat, Boston should win comfortably at home.
Los Angeles Lakers @ Toronto Raptors
NBA Odds: Lakers $5 (+10.0) / Raptors $1.10 (-10.0)
While they can still mathematically make the playoffs, it's only a matter of time before the news comes through that will break NBA fans' hearts.
That LeBron James won't contest the playoffs for the first time since 2005.
The Lakers, like everyone else, thought that acquiring LeBron was essentially a ticket to guarantee a playoffs berth.
But LeBron can't do it all by himself. He's had very little support from his teammates this campaign.
The Lakers' next best player, Brandon Ingram, was recently ruled out for the season due to injury.
However, Kyle Kuzma's return from injury gave the LA franchise a boost last time out.
Kuzma scored 21 points and added 5 boards and 4 assists to his stat sheet.
This helped the Lakers to a 16-point win over the Bulls.
But unsurprisingly, it was LeBron who took over, with 36 points and 10 rebounds.
Even with this win, the Lakers sit 6 wins outside the Western Conference top 8.
Every game is critical, so expect LeBron and his teammates to give every bit of effort in this match.
The bad news for them is the away trip to Toronto has long been one of the most difficult in the NBA.
This season, the Raptors are 27-7 on their home court, which is the third best record in the league.
However, the Lakers won't be without a hope.
That's because the Raptors are coming off arguably their worst performance of the year, going down to the Cavaliers by a whopping 25 points.
Only two teams have won fewer games than the Cavs this season, to give you an idea of how they are going.
The Raptors will need to find some mental toughness to come back from this humiliating loss.
Key NBA Stat
Toronto have triumphed in all of their previous 8 games against LA: Raptors to win @ $1.10
Free NBA Pick: LA Lakers to cover the +10.0 point line @ $1.92
Reasoning: With LeBron's playoffs streak slipping through his fingers, you know he'll come out and dominate, and give the Lakers every possible shot of pulling off the upset.
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Utah Jazz
NBA Odds: T-Wolves $6.10 (+11.0) / Jazz $1.14 (-11.0)
The other team who can practically wave their playoff chances goodbye are the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The T-Wolves have had an underwhelming season, given the quality of their roster.
Persistent injuries to point guards Derrick Rose and Jeff Teague haven't helped, while new recruit Robert Covington's has also struggled for fitness.
But above all, it has been Minnesota's road record that has cost them.
They have only won 9 of their 35 away games. This is an awful record for a team with playoffs aspirations.
Considering that this game is also away from home, it's no surprise that the Timberwolves are starting as heavy outsiders with the bookies' NBA odds.
Utah are currently the team that occupy the 8th and final playoffs spot on the Western Conference ladder.
While the Jazz haven't been in the best form of late, they are still heavily backed to get the job done here.
With big Rudy Gobert in the paint, Jinglin' Joe Ingles' all-round game, and Donovan Mitchell's untapped talent from the back of the court, the Jazz will be a danger team no-matter who they come up against in the post-season.
But first they have to get there.
Two consecutive home defeats against the Pelicans and Thunder hasn't put them in a place they want to be.
However, with a very cruisy run home, the Jazz are morals to make the playoffs.
The last piece in the jigsaw is upping their three-point shooting percentage.
At just 34.8%, Utah are sitting at 22nd in the league.
Unless the T-Wolves shoot lights out from deep, then the Jazz will win comfortably here.
Key NBA Stat
The Timberwolves have lost their last 6 road games, by an average margin of 14 points: Utah to cover the -11.0 point line @ $1.92
Free NBA Pick: Utah to cover the -11.0 point line @ $1.92
Reasoning: Minnesota's away form is too poor to tip anything else.
Mar 15, 2019 07:01 PM
AAP
Key NBA Stat
Free NBA Pick: Celtics to cover -8.0 point line @ $1.92 
