No better way to head into the weekend than catching up on our FREE NBA picks, placing some bets and watching them cash in as the night’s games happen!
Our picks went at a blistering 87% last night, including three games with a perfect 3/3 and we are confident that with the increase in games, comes an increase in correct tips and we can’t wait to share them with you!
New Orleans Pelicans @ Indiana Pacers – 7PM ET
Tonight has two teams on opposing sides of 20+ point games last time out, as the New Orleans Pelicans get on the road to take on the Indiana Pacers. On Wednesday night we saw the Pelicans defeat the Suns by 22 points while the Pacers were blown out by the Bucks by 20 points.
Domantas Sabonis had 33 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in just 31 minutes, but no one else could get it going for Indiana. The Pacers lost the first quarter by eight, second quarter by nine and then third quarter by 17 to be down by 34 heading into the last. The positive of the blow out is that there was a much more even distribution of minutes in the rotation, however you can rarely take positives out of a 20 point demolition.
28 PTS | 7 REB | 6 AST for @Zionwilliamson
23 PTS | 6 AST | 4 REB for @B_Ingram13
18 PTS | 6 REB | 4 3PM for @ZO2_
Another double-double for @RealStevenAdamsLast night was a fun one. pic.twitter.com/WYaxEgh259
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) February 4, 2021
On the other hand, New Orleans had a surprise win over Phoenix, and they didn’t just win, they dominated, especially in the second half. Just a two point halftime lead extended to 14 after three quarters and then ended up at 22 as the Pelicans had a monster 75 points in the last 24 minutes of action. Zion Williamson continued to put up numbers with 28 points on 12/14 shooting, along with seven boards and an equal team high six assists.
The matchup between Sabonis and Williamson is going to be intriguing as the former likes playing with touch and finesse from all over the floor while the latter goes hard in the paint and uses his size to get what he wants. We won’t go as far as saying that whoever wins that head to head matchup will win the game for his team, but it would definitely help.
New Orleans are just 2-5 after a win and are just 3-7 on the road, so we like the Pacers to bounce back here.
NBA Pick – Indiana Pacers (-150)
NBA Spread – Indiana Pacers -3 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Over 226.5 (-110)
Chicago Bulls @ Orlando Magic – 7PM ET
This is a contest between two struggling teams, one due to injuries and the other due to the roster that is constructed. Chicago has been struggling this season despite All Star level play from Zach LaVine while Orlando has had multiple starters miss games due to injury and Aaron Gordon will miss again tonight with an ankle sprain.
The Magic lost a home and home set to the Raptors, their third and fourth straight, and are losing touch with the playoff spots out East. Nikola Vucevic had a massive 21 points and 18 boards in Tuesday’s 108-123 loss, but the Magic allowed Fred VanVleet to put up a Raptor record 54 points on 11/14 from deep.
They will need to play much better defense against LaVine and the Bulls, as they can light it up and put bulk points on the board. However on Wednesday, against the Knicks who allowed the fewest points per game, LaVine had just 24 points and Chicago was restricted to 103 in their four point loss.
This will be a tough battle between sides that are stuck in mediocrity, but the Bulls are 0.500 in away games while Orlando is just 4-7 at home this season and we like a much healthier Chicago side to get the win on the road.
NBA Pick – Chicago Bulls (-130)
NBA Spread – Chicago Bulls -2 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Over 221.5 (-110)
Toronto Raptors @ Brooklyn Nets – 7:30PM ET
Since James Harden joined the Brooklyn Nets, they are 7-3 and have the best offensive rating in the league. They now host the Toronto Raptors who after a slow start, are starting to heat up.
The Raptors just won a home and home set against the Magic and Tuesday’s game was special for so many reasons. Kyle Lowry had a 14 point triple double with four steals but the star of the show was Fred VanVleet who broke the Raptors’ franchise record with 54 points on 73.9% shooting from the field, including 11/14 from deep.
How will they back up that performance against a team that is infinitely better than the one they just played? Well Toronto are just 3-7 on the road and have won just one game against a team with a winning record all season.
THINGS WE LOVE TO SEE:
⭐️ @KDTrey5 leading the whole Association ⭐️
⭐️ @KyrieIrving in starting position ⭐️THINGS WE LOVE TO SEE BUT KNOW WE CAN DO BETTER:
⭐️ @JHarden13 in 3rd place in the backcourt ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/bsoZ5KB804
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 4, 2021
The Nets are now 14-9 for the season, including their 7-3 record since Harden joined and seem to be unstoppable on offense at the moment. In a clash with the Clippers, who had the league’s best record at the time, Brooklyn came out on top and looked in control for the entire second half. Kyrie Irving seemed like he couldn’t miss after putting up 39 points including 6/8 from three while James Harden had another triple double with 23 points, 12 rebounds and 14 boards.
The Raptors have been much better lately but are still a way off playing at the level of Brooklyn. While the Nets’ last four losses were all to teams below 0.500, we like them to continue their momentum and pick up another W tonight.
NBA Pick – Brooklyn Nets (-210)
NBA Spread – Brooklyn Nets -5.5 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Over 243 (-110)
Milwaukee Bucks @ Cleveland Cavaliers – 7:30PM ET
A central division clash between one of the East’s best, the Milwaukee Bucks, and one of the East’s biggest risers, the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Bucks have won two straight but are actually just 4-6 on the road, but this looks a perfect opportunity to fix that up in the first of a two game set in Cleveland.
The Cavs have managed just one win from their last four and two from their last season, most recently getting blown out by the Clippers at home. Despite the Clippers being on the second night of a back to back and the Cavs getting 27 points from Collin Sexton and 23 points from Darius Garland, only one other Cavs player scored in double figures and were outscored by 19 in the second half.
That will not work against the Bucks who have pieces all over the board that can make players on either end of the floor. Their most recent performance saw them defeat the Pacers by 20 points behind a triple double performance from Giannis Antetokounmpo, finishing with 21 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists and two steals.
The Bucks made 21 threes, won the rebound count and had less turnovers in the game and will be too strong and too much for the Cavs to handle. Jrue Holiday is one of the best defensive guards in the league and will be able to nullify the SexLand combo while Cleveland has no clear answer for Giannis.
NBA Pick – Milwaukee Bucks (TBA)
NBA Spread – Cleveland Cavaliers +10.5 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Over 228 (-110)
Utah Jazz @ Charlotte Hornets – 8PM ET
One night after extending their league best record in a 112-91 victory in Atlanta, the Utah Jazz will face up again, this time playing the Charlotte Hornets. Utah has won an incredible 12 of their last 13 games and now come up against the most profitable underdog in straight up betting for the season.
Charlotte’s most recent game was a 111-118 loss to the Sixers, but they are an impressive 8-8 as underdogs this season. LaMelo Ball enjoyed a second straight start with an equal team high 22 points, along with seven boards, three assists and two steals while Gordon Hayward also had 22, adding six boards and nine assists with it.
6th game with 20+#PerformanceLeader | @UofUHealth pic.twitter.com/HBudVY6Cdb
— utahjazz (@utahjazz) February 5, 2021
Utah were dominant in Atlanta last night with Jordan Clarkson leading the way off the bench with 23 points and seven boards while Bojan Bogdanovic had 21 points on 64.3% shooting. The Jazz won all four quarters and only had one player reach 30 minutes, so they should still be fresh for tonight’s clash.
They are 2-1 on the second night of back to backs so far this season and should prove too much across the board for Charlotte to handle.
NBA Pick – Utah Jazz (TBA)
NBA Spread – Utah Jazz -7.5 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Under 222.5 (-110)
Washington Wizards @ Miami Heat – 8PM ET
A rematch of Wednesday night that saw the Washington Wizards upset the Miami Heat by three points. The Heat were favored by 5.5 points and the Wizards were without Russell Westbrook and despite trailing after three quarters, the Wizards dug deep to come out on top in MIami.
Bradley Beal once again led the way with 32 points, his 17th straight game with at least 25 points to start the season, the fifth longest streak in NBA history. Westbrook will be back for tonight’s clash and with the pair back together, we don’t see how Miami will be able to slow them down, and score enough to keep up.
Tyler Herro led the way for Miami with 20 points while Jimmy Butler (19p, 8r, 9a) and Bam Adebayo (17p, 11r, 6a) both had good all around games, but they could only manage 100 points, which seems to be more of a trend than an anomaly now. Miami ranks just 26th in offensive rating this season and when compared to the exact same stage as last season, they have the worst win differential with -8.
The Heat only have one win from their last eight games while Washington have two wins in their last three games. With that being said, the Heat, led by Butler, play with too much pride and Erik Spoelstra is too smart of a coach to allow his team to keep slipping like this.
NBA Pick – Miami Heat (-260)
NBA Spread – Washington Wizards +6.5 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Under 228.5 (-11)
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Oklahoma City Thunder – 8PM ET
The first of a two game set between these Northwest Division rivals sees the Minnesota Timberwolves get on the road for a pair against the Oklahoma City Thunder. These two sides were who many expected to be anchored to the bottom of the West and while Minnesota has the equal worst record in the league, OKC have surprised many with their competitive play, especially on the road.
After a 30 point loss to the Rockets two nights earlier, the Thunder, who were without best player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, came out hard on Wednesday night in a 104-87 win. Kenrich Williams had just his fourth game of the season with at least 20 minutes and led the team in scoring with 19 while Darius Bazley continued his breakout season with 18 points and 12 boards.
𝙒
That’s a season low for opponent points. #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/W0uk1YF6uu— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) February 4, 2021
Oklahoma City will be looking for a similar defensive effort against Minnesota who are struggling without Karl-Anthony Towns. The Wolves should have won their Wednesday night clash with the Spurs, but gave up a 18-32 last quarter, losing by just three points. Malik Beasley had another great shooting night with 29 points on 67% shooting and they will need all of that and more against the Thunder.
OKC is just 2-7 at home while the Wolves are 1-9 on the road, but with Gilgeous-Alexander out again for the Thunder, we like Minnesota as slight road underdogs in this one.
NBA Pick – Minnesota Timberwolves (TBA)
NBA Spread – Minnesota Timberwolves +1.5 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Under 218.5 (-110)
Detroit Pistons @ Phoenix Suns – 9PM ET
The Phoenix Suns’ performance on Wednesday night was far from what we expected, losing to the Pelicans by 22 points. They now have a chance to atone against the Detroit Pistons who are just 1-9 on the road and have lost two straight, both by double figures.
The Pistons have had two nights off since a 12 point loss in Utah where they trailed by 23 points at halftime and only cut into the lead after the Jazz took their foot off the gas. Jerami Grant had 27 points while Josh Jackson had 22 points and eight rebounds off the bench, but had more turnovers, made seven less triples and they weren’t able to make up the difference.
Phoenix trailed by just two points at half time but gave up 75 points in the second half and were blown out of the water. Devin Booker ended up with 25 points but Chris Paul only put up seven shots for the game and they allowed the Pels to shoot over 51% from the field for the game.
While their second half was one of the worst by any team for the entire season, Phoenix is a much better side and will get back on the winners list with this one.
NBA Pick – Phoenix Suns (-370)
NBA Spread – Phoenix Suns -8.5 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Under 215.5 (-110)
Boston Celtics @ Los Angeles Clippers – 10PM ET
The matchup of the night sees the Boston Celtics in the Staples Center, going up against the Los Angeles Clippers who are returning home after a five game road trip where they went 3-2.
After falling to the Nets the night before, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard put the team on their backs in a 22 point victory over the Cavs. George put up 36 points on a blistering 8/9 shooting from deep while Leonard controlled the pace with 24 points on 64.3% shooting.
📊 36 PTS / 65 FG% / 8 3PM / 6 AST
A dominant night on the offensive end for @Yg_Trece. #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/lLuYNiv3la
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) February 4, 2021
The Clippers got a big lift off the bench from Ivica Zubac who had 10 points, 16 boards, two steals and three blocks and he will be needed against a deep Celtics frontcourt rotation.
The Celtics followed up a big road win over the Warriors with a five point loss to the Kings one night later. Kemba Walker missed on the second night of the back to back, meaning Jayson Tatum had to step up as a ball handler. He ended up with a game high 27 points but also had a personal season high 10 assists along with nine boards and two steals. Walker is expected back for this one but will it be enough to overcome LA?
The two sides have a pair of players who are playing at an All Star level, LA with Leonard and George, Boston with Tatym and Jaylen Brown, but the Clippers’ pair have the edge in that head to head matchup while all of their role players are playing very nice complimentary basketball at the moment.
NBA Pick – Los Angeles Clippers (TBA)
NBA Spread – Los Angeles Clippers -5 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Over 221 (-110)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of Bet365.
