Our FREE NBA picks have the best predictions for all seven of tonight’s games, including the winner, which teams will cover and whether the total points will go over or under!
The Brooklyn Nets go for a ninth straight win when they host the Dallas Mavericks while the Washington Wizards will look to continue their surge up the standings against the shorthanded Minnesota Timberwolves.
Find out who all of our winners are below!
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Philadelphia 76ers – 7PM ET
After back to back wins that snapped a 10 game losing streak, the Cleveland Cavaliers will look to make it three in a row against the Philadelphia 76ers. It may be a tough ask for Cleveland as Philly is on top of the Eastern Conference and has a 14-2 home record.
They added to that with a 111-97 win over Dallas on Thursday, using their defense and a 36-21 second quarter to take control of the game. Joel Embiid finished with 23 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals in just 28 minutes and Ben Simmons continued to play well at both ends of the floor.
The one worry is that Tobias Harris missed most of the second half with a knee injury and has already been ruled out for this one. He could probably afford to miss this one though as, despite winning two straight, the Cavaliers have been struggling lately.
Ben Simmons said he’s the best defensive player in the NBA after the Sixers win over the Mavs last night. pic.twitter.com/0MuN1wDvM4
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 26, 2021
A 3-12 road record sums up Cleveland’s season, full of inconsistency and lacklustre performances. However, they were impressive in their 112-96 win over Houston, especially on the second night of a back to back. Jarrett Allen is thriving as the lone centre in the main rotation, putting up a massive 26 points, 18 rebounds and four blocks.
They will need his interior presence against Embiid, who is the current leader for MVP in many people’s eyes. The Philly big man is too good to be slowed down and especially if Harris misses, he will need to step up and put in a big performance, something he isn’t shy of doing. Take Philly to win comfortably at home here.
NBA Pick – Philadelphia 76ers (-600)
NBA Spread – Philadelphia 76ers -10.5 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Over 221.5 (-110)
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Washington Wizards – 7PM ET
The Washington Wizards are on some sort of tear at the moment, winning six of their last seven including three of four on the road. They now get back home for a very winnable game against the Minnesota Timberwolves who will now have Malik Beasley join D’Angelo Russell on the sidelines.
Beasley has been averaging over 20 points per game and will be tough for the Timberwolves to replace tonight. The loss is massive for a side that has already lost six straight and is struggling to piece together a full team, four quarter performance. Their most recent performance was a 126-133 overtime loss in Chicago. Karl-Anthony Towns had 24 points, eight rebounds and five assists but Beasley top scored with 25, highlighting how big the void he leaves.
Washington should be looking to continue their good form and take advantage of a shorthanded Timberwolves side at home. Thursday night saw the Wizards pull out a 112-110 win in Denver with Bradley Beal top scoring with 33 points while Rui Hachimura added 20 and Russell Westbrook had a 16 point triple double.
Minnesota has a league worst 7-26 record, are just 3-15 on the road this season and will be too undermanned to pick up the win here. Washington has been scoring with ease over this seven game stretch and will be too much to handle tonight.
NBA Pick – Washington Wizards (-170)
NBA Spread – Washington Wizards -4 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Under 235.5 (-110)
New Orleans Pelicans @ San Antonio Spurs – 8PM ET
The New Orleans Pelicans are coming off a heartbreaking 125-129 loss in Milwaukee on Thursday night, but have the perfect opportunity to get back on track against a San Antonio Spurs side that is still missing multiple players due to COVID-19 protocols.
Their limited player availability may have cost them a win in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, falling 99-102 on a last second shot from Lu Dort. Dejounte Murray enjoyed the increased responsibility on both ends as he had a very nice line of 27 points, nine rebounds, six assists and two steals.
He didn’t get much help from the rest of his teammates and it is tough to see how that will change against New Orleans tonight. The Pelicans have a full roster available and were unlucky to not come away with the win on Thursday.
Last night, Zion Williamson became the 3rd player in Pelicans franchise history with 30 points in the paint, joining Julius Randle and Anthony Davis (3x).
He is the 2nd-youngest player with 30 points in the paint in the last 25 seasons. Deandre Ayton was 75 days younger in 2018. pic.twitter.com/1NcE7u7GmD
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 26, 2021
Zion Williamson had a massive game, scoring 34 points on 57.7% shooting while adding eight rebounds, six assists, a steal and a block while both Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball reached 20 points. They just didn’t have the composure down the stretch, missing two threes and picking up a charge in the final 65 seconds when they were down by just three.
They are a young, up and coming team though and performances like that will only make them better and stronger moving forward. We think that Stan Van Gundy will get them taking the positives out of that one and come out hard in San Antonio.
NBA Pick – New Orleans Pelicans (-140)
NBA Spread – New Orleans Pelicans -2.5 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Over 226.5 (-110)
Indiana Pacers @ New York Knicks – 8PM ET
The Indiana Pacers will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing showing in Boston last night, but will have a tough time doing so. The New York Knicks are coming off a massive 140-121 win over the Knicks on Thursday and will be full of confidence for this one.
Rookie sensation Immanuel Quickley top scored with 25 points off the bench while Julius Randle had a big 21 point, 14 rebound double double in the win. New York, who previously averaged the fewest points per game, scored their highest total for the season in the win and will be looking to hand the Pacers a third straight loss.
Domantas Sabonis had 24 points, nine assists and six boards last night but it wasn’t enough as the Pacers, who jumped to a 12-0 lead, couldn’t keep up with the Celtics. Myles Turner, who had a big night with 17 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks, will be important against the Knicks who are lacking in the big man department.
Indiana is 4-1 on the second night of back to backs this season and while they are out of form lately, they have the pieces to put wins on the board. New York has played good at home but we don’t think they will be able to back up Thursday night’s performance in this one.
NBA Pick – Indiana Pacers (-105)
NBA Spread – Indiana Pacers +1 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Under 216.5 (-110)
Utah Jazz @ Orlando Magic – 8PM ET
The Utah Jazz had a shock loss in Miami last night, but are lucky enough to get back out on the floor straight away and have a very good chance of getting on the winners list again. The Orlando Magic will attempt to spoil those plans and hand the Jazz a second straight win for just the second time this season.
Steve Clifford will be hoping for a much better effort from his men after a disappointing 92-129 showing in Brooklyn on Thursday. Nikola Vucevic was the lone bright spot, putting up 28 points and 12 rebounds but Evan Fournier managed just eight points and the team shot just 40.2% from the field and 25% from deep.
Making his 2nd #NBAAllStar appearance… Nikola Vucevic of the @OrlandoMagic.
Drafted as the 16th pick in 2011 out of USC, @NikolaVucevic is averaging 24.1 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 3.6 APG for the Magic this season. pic.twitter.com/IPkC4ByMgg
— #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) February 24, 2021
Utah, who boasts a top three offense and defense, should be able to take control in this one. Rudy Gobert, the defensive player of the year frontrunner, will slow down Vucevic while Donovan Mitchell, Mike Conley and Jordan Clarkson should be able to break loose against some second string guards.
Mitchell had 30 points last night, leading six Jazz players in double figures, but they lost the game on the other end by allowing Miami to put up 126 points. That is the most points they have allowed all month, but we like them to close out February in style. Orlando has been struggling lately and Utah is too good to lose two in a row, especially to the Magic.
NBA Pick – Utah Jazz (-500)
NBA Spread – Utah Jazz -9.5 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Under 217.5 (-110)
Denver Nuggets @ Oklahoma City Thunder – 8PM ET
The Oklahoma City Thunder have won two straight games and will look for a third straight when they host the struggling Denver Nuggets. Despite MVP level play from Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets fell to the Wizards on Thursday night and have now lost four of their last six.
Jokic had 24 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and two blocks in the loss while Jamal Murray continued his good shooting form with 34 points, six rebounds, six assists and two blocks of his own. The exceptional play from the duo wasn’t enough though as the Nuggets committed seven more turnovers and shot worse from the field.
OKC, who had six players in double figures last night, will be aiming for a third straight win, which would be the first three game streak of the season for the side. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander top scored again with 24 points but Theo Maledon and Darius Bazley had big double doubles to help the Thunder get over the line against the Hawks last night.
Given they are just 2-4 on the second night of back to backs this season, we don’t know if the Thunder can back it up and get their third straight. They are also just 6-10 at home and we think the Nuggets will run over the top of them.
NBA Pick – Denver Nuggets (-290)
NBA Spread – Oklahoma City Thunder +7 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Over 225.5 (-110)
Dallas Mavericks @ Brooklyn Nets – 8:30PM ET
The Brooklyn Nets keep rolling on, taking care of whoever is put in front of them. They have now won eight straight, five of which were by double figures, and will look to make it nine when they host the Dallas Mavericks tonight.
Thursday night saw the Nets demolish Orlando 129-92. Brooklyn actually lost the first quarter but a 19-41 second period gave them an 18 point half time lead that they never surrendered. Kyrie Irving top scored with 27 points while adding a team high 9 assists with Landry Shamet impressing off the bench, shooting 5/9 from deep on his way to 19 points and nine rebounds.
For the first time ever, the Brooklyn Nets have three All-Stars.
LET’S GOOOOOOO pic.twitter.com/v0wNOHuiIG
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 24, 2021
The thing that is most impressive about Brooklyn at the moment is their defense, keeping their opposition to an average of just 104 over their last four games. That defensive tenacity is how the Mavericks were undone in Philadelphia on Thursday. Dallas were held to just 43 points in the first half and had 18 turnovers for the game, three of which were shot clock violations.
Luka Doncic could manage just 19 points in the contest and in a game like that, the Mavs really missed Kristaps Porzingis, who hasn’t played in nearly two weeks. Even if he does return, the Nets are playing too well at the moment to bet against them.
NBA Pick – Brooklyn Nets (-115)
NBA Spread – Brooklyn Nets -1 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Over 233 (-110)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of Bet365.
