There are 11 NBA games for us to sweat on a Friday night before the Sweet Sixteen. Keep an eye out for player news because the day after the trade deadline normally has a lot of uncertainty on who is playing and who is not.
Brooklyn Nets vs. Detroit Pistons (+5.5) Total: 222
The Brooklyn Nets have a bad habit of playing to the level of their competition.
The Pistons beat the Brooklyn Nets earlier this season and if James Harden is back, I can see the Nets being the most bet team on tonight’s slate. However, the Nets have a bad habit of playing to the level of their competition, so I will be fading Brooklyn tonight.
Edge: Pistons +5.5
Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks (-6) Total: 232
The Celtics and the Bucks run it back tonight in Milwaukee after the Celtics were able to cover the spread for their backers on Wednesday night. The two games these teams played against each other this season have each come down to the final possession and I don’t see any reason why that would not be the case tonight.
Edge: Celtics +6
Edge Finder Plus Tip: The Milwaukee Bucks are 15-8 to the Over as home favorites this season.
Phoenix Suns vs. Toronto Raptors (+4.5) Total: 225.5
The Suns continue their Sunshine State tour tonight with a stop in Tampa to face the Raptors. I said earlier this week that Toronto was an auto fade for me for the rest of the season. I meant that, especially because the Suns are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games.
Edge: Suns -4.5
Editor’s Note: Get an edge with our premium Betting Tools that are packed with live odds, betting trends, predictions, player prop projections, our extensive Edge Finder and much more. And don’t forget to use promo code WELCOME10 to get 10% off. Click here to learn more!
Denver Nuggets vs. New Orleans Pelicans (+2.5) Total: 231.5
The Nuggets have been a tough team for me to handicap this season, while the Pelicans have been playing better basketball as of late. New Orleans has won four of its last six games, including a win over Denver.
The Nuggets are 14-9 SU on the road this season, but I’m not comfortable backing them in this spot. The Total in this game opened up at 230, but currently it is 231.5 on PointsBet. Pelicans’ Totals have been coming down as of late and I think this game goes Under. Newly acquired Aaron Gordon is questionable tonight for the Nuggets.
Edge: Under 231.5
Houston Rockets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (-3.5) Total: 229.5
The two worst teams in the NBA meet up tonight in Minnesota because the schedule says so. The point spread in this game is irrelevant. There is no way I lay points with the Timberwolves, nor is there any way I back the Rockets. This game’s Total opened up at 225 and has been bet up to as high as 229.5. The Rockets don’t score a lot of points, so the Under should hit in this game.
Edge: Under 229.5
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Orlando Magic (+11.5 ) Total: 220
I’m not even sure who will be playing for the Magic tonight and the Blazers are an 11.5 point road favorite, but that may not be high enough. This will be an extremely public side tonight. I’m not going to fade it, but I will not bet it.
Edge: Under 220
[[ad:athena]]
Miami Heat vs. Charlotte Hornets (+1) Total: 214
This game opened up with the Miami Heat as 3-point favorites, but the Heat should not be the favorite in this game. Miami is on a five-game losing streak, will have a limited amount of players due to trade deadline moves and Charlotte has already scored an 8-point overtime victory when these two faced off earlier in the season. The Hornets should win again tonight.
Edge: Hornets +1
Indiana Pacers vs. Dallas Mavericks (-4) Total: 228.5
The Dallas Mavericks are 8-12 ATS at home this season, while the Indiana Pacers are 17-26 ATS overall. I’m tired of waiting for the Pacers to turn it around. I want to back them tonight, but I have learned my lesson the hard way. In games that the Pacers are road underdogs, the Over cashes 75% of the time.
Edge: Over 228.5
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Utah Jazz (+9.5) Total: 227.5
The point spread in this game is too high. Utah may be the best team in the league, but the Memphis Grizzlies are not pushovers. Memphis is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games and 10-7 ATS on the road this season.
Edge: Grizzlies +9.5
Atlanta Hawks vs. Golden State Warriors (-7) Total: 220
The Hawks face the Warriors tonight in Golden State and the Warriors will likely be without Stephen Curry and Draymond Green is also questionable. The Warriors are not a good team when Curry is off the court and they are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games. This game opened up with Atlanta as a 5.5-point road favorite, but that number has been bet up to 7. Normally, I would not lay points in a situation like this, but I think Atlanta needs to win tonight.
Edge: Hawks - 7
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Los Angeles Lakers (-3.5) Total: 208
The Lakers have not won since LeBron James suffered a high ankle sprain last weekend and tonight the Cavaliers look to hand the Lakers their fifth-straight loss. The opening line on this game had the Lakers as a 5.5-point favorite. Public bettors see that the Lakers are struggling, so they are fading them to back the Cavaliers, which are 6-15 ATS on the road this season. Make it make sense.
Edge: Lakers -3.5
PointsBet is our Official Sports Betting Partner, and we may receive compensation if you place a bet on PointsBet for the first time after clicking our links.
