Our free NBA picks are out for Saturday, February 5th, 2022! Make sure you check our NBA picks before the action kicks off.
Look below to find our free NBA picks for the best five games on today’s schedule!
Memphis Grizzlies @ Orlando Magic – 5pm ET
The Memphis Grizzlies wrap up their three game road trip on Saturday when they take on the Orlando Magic. The Grizzlies have won four of their last five, and this takes their season record to 36-18. Despite having a season record of 12-41, the Magic have won four of their last six, including wins over the Bulls, Pistons, Mavericks and Pacers.
Denis Kirilov
The Memphis Grizzlies will try to keep their fantastic 3rd place in the West for as long as possible. The team is the big surprise in the 2021/22 NBA season as they managed to keep their high-level performance for more than half of the campaign. Ja Morant and Desmond Bane are the players who made the difference for the Grizzlies this year, while Jaren Jackson Jr. has been a monster in defensive positions. However, they suffered a bit more losses than usual in their last matches, but they didn’t enter a big losing streak. Their most recent victory over the New York Knicks further suggests that the Grizzlies are still on top of their game.
The Orlando Magic, on the other hand, are a lot better than before as they won 4 out of their last 6 matches in the NBA. Defeating the Chicago Bulls and the Dallas Mavericks gave them even more confidence when facing strong opponents like the Memphis Grizzlies. However, their bad start to the season has definitely taken its toll on the overall situation as they are last in the East with 12 wins and 41 losses. The team shows a big potential in the face of Franz Wagner and Cole Anthony, but with most of their players being injured, the Magic surely don’t have many chances against stronger opponents. That’s why I will trust the Grizzlies to cover their spread on Saturday.
Denis’ NBA Pick: Memphis Grizzlies -7 (-110)
Michael Lantz
As we near the All-Star break, the Memphis Grizzlies continue their impressive play in the Western Conference. They’ve won four of their last five, with their only loss being a bit of a fluke overtime loss to a Joel Embiid-less Philadelphia 76ers squad. They’re sitting comfortably in third place in the Western Conference right now, with the Utah Jazz sitting four games behind them. That being said, they still have their eyes on Golden State’s second seed, and they won’t want any of the Western Conference opponents that sit behind them to get any hope. So, it’s vital that they grab as many wins as they can going forward.
happy friday errrbody. pic.twitter.com/uDJ1g5xSpj
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) February 4, 2022
That includes games against the Orlando Magic, who despite being 12-41, have shown some promise lately winning four of their last six. Orlando’s young core that includes Cole Anthony and Franz Wagner have been showing the league that the Magic might be a threat in a couple of seasons. Still, despite this team’s recent run of good play, I’m not sure they have what it takes to take down a team of Memphis’ caliber. I think Memphis covering is the best choice to go on this one.
Michael’s NBA Pick: Memphis Grizzlies -7 (-110)
Noah Dunlap
The Memphis Grizzlies, despite arguably being the youngest team in the NBA, just continue to roll right along behind guys like Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson, Jr. They’ve won four of five, and the only loss was an OT loss on the road in Philadelphia. They currently sit in the third spot in the Western Conference, with a 36-18 record, and have looked like one of the most enthusiastic, exciting teams to watch in the NBA all year long.
In this one, they wrap up a three game road trip down in Orlando, as they take on the Magic. The Magic are one of the worst teams in the league, as they come in at 12-41, but somewhat positive news for Orlando is that they have won four of their last six, including wins over two current playoff teams in the Bulls and Mavericks. However, despite the somewhat promising signs we’ve seen from them of late, I just think Memphis has too much talent, so I’m giving the edge to the Grizz and the spread in this one.
Noah’s NBA Pick: Memphis Grizzlies -7 (-110)
Miami Heat @ Charlotte Hornets – 7pm ET
Two Southeast Division rivals, the Miami Heat and the Charlotte Hornets come together on Saturday night in the NBA. The Heat managed to snap their three game losing streak last time out, with a win over the Spurs, 112-95. The Hornets are playing on back-to-back nights, and last time out they narrowly lost to the Cavaliers, 101-102.
Denis Kirilov
The Miami Heat take on the Charlotte Hornets in their Spectrum Center on Saturday night. The Heat have been fantastic from the beginning of the season and they also managed to give a lot of playing time to some of their bench players. The team snapped a 3-game losing streak with a win over the San Antonio Spurs in their last meeting, 112-95. With Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo finally healthy and ready to go for the Heat, their offense looks a lot more dangerous. On top of that, they are doing quite some work in defensive positions which further contributed to their second place in the East.
The Charlotte Hornets are falling much behind them in the standings, but despite their incredible 28-25 record, the team is 9th in the Conference. Their advantage over the first team below the Playoffs zone is just a couple of wins which might not be enough until the end of the season. That’s why they will need to find a decent run in order to increase their chances of making it through. The Hornets have lost their last three games in the NBA and I think this might be decisive for the outcome of the match against the Heat. Hence, my pick here will be in favor of the guests, hoping they will be able to cover the spread.
Denis’ NBA Pick: Miami Heat -3.5 (-112)
Michael Lantz
The Hornets kept it close with the Cavaliers last night, losing 101-102. While it might’ve been a tough loss for this Charlotte squad, it has to feel good knowing they’re able to compete with their conference’s best teams. Their offense had another 100+ points game, and they did a decent job on defense against an upstart Cavs team. But, they’ll hope this loss doesn’t weigh too much on them, as they have an even tougher matchup tonight against the Miami Heat.
After three straight losses, the Miami Heat got back on track on Thursday, beating the San Antonio Spurs by 17 points. They were able to hold down their second spot in the Eastern Conference, as they only sit 0.5 games back from the Chicago Bulls. They’ll look to overtake the Bulls for first in the Eastern Conference on Saturday night. This one should be a lot of fun as Charlotte’s high octane offense plays against the very balanced and elite Miami Heat. Charlotte has shown their ability to overpower opponents on offense, and after a bit of an offensive disappointment last night (if you call 101 points disappointing), I don’t expect them to duplicate that again tomorrow. But, I think defense plays a big part in this one as Miami’s is top-five and Charlotte’s is in the bottom five. I’ll pick Miami.
Michael’s NBA Pick: Miami Heat (-158)
Noah Dunlap
Well, after riding with the Miami Heat game in and game out, I’m glad they finally managed to snap a three game losing skid in their last outing, as they handled San Antonio with ease. And while the losing streak was unfortunate, I don’t think it was a sign of any real issues within the team, as they, in my opinion, are still the favorites to win the Eastern Conference. They have one of the best rosters in the league, with a core featuring Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, and Kyle Lowry. After a stretch where they dealt with some injury issues, they now have all of these guys back and healthy, and I expect them to make yet another push to try to run away and lock up the one seed in the conference.
I think this game does have the potential to be somewhat interesting for them, at least, as they take on a young, exciting Charlotte Hornets team that features one of the best young point guards in the NBA, as well as a guy in Miles Bridges who’s becoming a star in his own right. However, there is one really big problem with Charlotte right now, and it’s the fact that their defense has been non-existent at times this year. With a defense that struggles, and the fact that this is the second night of a back-to-back for them, having just lost a tough one to Cleveland last night, I think the safe play here is to just take the Heat to get the win, though it may be a touch closer than some may want.
Noah’s NBA Pick: Miami Heat (-158)
Phoenix Suns @ Washington Wizards – 7pm ET
The road trip continues on for the Phoenix Suns, who on Saturday night face off against the Washington Wizards. The Suns had their 11 game winning streak snapped last time out, thanks to the Hawks, 115-124. On the opposite side of things, the Wizards were finally able to snap their losing streak, which ended at six in a row, with a win over the 76ers, 106-103.
Denis Kirilov
The Phoenix Suns had their 11-game winning streak snapped against the Atlanta Hawks in a match where Trae Young erupted for 43 points. Overall, the Suns played quite well with Devin Booker and Miles Bridges leading the way for the team, but the better performance in the third quarter gave their opponents just enough advantage. This loss didn’t affect Phoenix’s position in the table as they remain on top of the NBA with 41 wins and 10 losses. They will most likely finish in the top 2 in the West, meaning that they can start improvising and experimenting with their roster.
The Washington Wizards found a way to put an end to their 6-game losing streak with a victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in their last match. Spencer Dinwiddie finished off with a triple-double, while Kyle Kuzma added 24 points for the final score, 106-103. However, their bad performance recently dragged them back to 11th place in the East as they now hold a 24-27 record. The Wizards will surely be looking to make the Playoffs this year, but the competition within their Conference is unparalleled. I think they might be able to contest the victory against the Suns, but I am not 100% for my pick of teams in this match. So, I will go forward and choose the option for “over points” as both teams have proven to be high-scoring ones.
Denis’ NBA Pick: Over 222 (-110)
Michael Lantz
After losing six straight games, the Washington Wizards pulled off an upset win, beating the Philadelphia 76ers 106-103 on Wednesday; without Bradley Beal. They’ll try to ride the momentum of that win going into Saturday as they take on basketball’s best team, the Phoenix Suns. Opposite of the Wizards, the Suns were on an 11-game win streak, until they fell to the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday. The Suns’ normally dependable defense was just not enough for a Hawks team that shot nearly 50% from three and 52.5% from the field.
Always competing 💪
Kuz and Deni got in some extra work after practice today ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/UXjCOCZgKk
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) February 4, 2022
The Suns shouldn’t run into that problem with this Wizards team that continues to be without Bradley Beal. Still, as the Sixers proved, you can’t overlook this D.C. team, as they still do have a fair amount of scorers including offseason acquisitions, Spencer Dinwiddie, Montrezl Harrell, and Kyle Kuzma. Even with those few on the team, they will have a hard time against the two-way Phoenix Suns. I expect Phoenix to bounce back from a rare loss and have no issues with the Wizards.
Michael’s NBA Pick: Phoenix Suns -7 (-110)
Noah Dunlap
Phoenix. Big.
The Phoenix Suns have been the best team in the NBA virtually all year long, including two separate double-digit game winning streaks, also one that just got stopped at 11 games by the Atlanta Hawks in their last outing. They have a magnificent trio that leads the way, consisting of Chris Paul, DeAndre Ayton, and Devin Booker, but also a really good supporting cast that makes them dangerous even when missing one or two of their stars. With them coming off the upset loss to Atlanta, I like them to be focused, and come out looking to prove a point in this one.
Meanwhile, they’re taking on a Washington team that has been atrocious for the entire year, except for the first month or so of the season, when they were actually the number one seed in the East. There’s talent on the roster, but they haven’t been playing well together as of late, and now they’re without their best player in Bradley Beal, who they’ve been without for an extended period of time. To their credit, they are coming off a big upset win over Philadelphia in their last game, but I think that momentum ends here, as I just don’t think they have anything for this Suns team they’re about to face, even with this one taking place in the nation’s capital.
Noah’s NBA Pick: Phoenix Suns -7 (-110)
New York Knicks @ Los Angeles Lakers – 8.30pm ET
The New York Knicks kick off a five game road trip on Saturday night, and their first stop is Los Angeles to take on the Lakers. The Knicks have lost four of their last five games, with their only win coming against the Kings, 116-96. The Lakers suffered a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of the Clippers last time out, 110-111.
Denis Kirilov
Two of the biggest disappointments this season will face each other on Saturday night in Crypto.com Arena. The Los Angeles Lakers host the New York Knicks as both teams are coming into this fixture on a 1-4 run. Moreover, the Knicks have won on just two occasions in their last nine meetings which further damaged their chances of qualifying for the Playoffs. They are now 12th with 24 wins and 28 losses as they will need to catch up with the likes of the Washington Wizards, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, and the Charlotte Hornets. Their task seems really tough, but with players like Julius Randle and RJ Barrett, the Knicks surely have a decent chance at making a decent run towards the end of the season.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been struggling to compete against the best teams this season as most of their victories came against opponents with less than 0.500 record. LeBron James has been doing everything he can in order to give this superteam these much-needed victories, but his efforts occasionally came up short. The Lakers are currently 9th in the West with a 25-28 record, but the easier competition will surely help them in making the Playoffs. I think we might see a surprise here as the Knicks are able to beat the Lakers in their home arena.
Denis’ NBA Pick: New York Knicks (+112)
Michael Lantz
Two teams that have massively disappointed this season face off at the Crypto.Com Arena on Saturday. The hosts Los Angeles Lakers have had some injury excuses, with both LeBron James and Anthony Davis missing significant time this season; resulting in them rarely playing together. Still, no excuses as the Lakers loaded their team with veteran talent this offseason. Even with James out right now, the team should be playing better with talents such as Davis, Russell Westbrook, and Malik Monk available to play.
On Saturday they host the New York Knicks, who after securing the four-seed last season, are currently sitting in 12th. After a season that was built on defensive identity, the team went after the likes of Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier for scoring help, but in the process lost the defensive mindset they built a team on. It also doesn’t help that they lost Derrick Rose to surgery earlier in the season, losing a respected veteran and big-game scorer. Still, the talent is there for the Knicks, they’ve just had a problem with consistency. They can surprise any team; facing a Lakers team without LeBron who’s been inconsistent themselves might be a good shot for them to get a streak going to make a run at a play-in spot for the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Still, with this one being in Los Angeles, I’ll go with a Lakers team that’s currently sitting in ninth and trying to jump the Clippers in the Western Conference standings after falling to them by one point the other night.
Michael’s NBA Pick: Los Angeles Lakers (-132)
Noah Dunlap
This is a matchup between two extremely disappointing teams so far this season. The Los Angeles Lakers, despite putting together a team full of current and former All-Stars, they simply haven’t been able to gel, and they’ve been way too reliant on LeBron to lead the way for them. The problem is that LeBron has missed a substantial amount of time now, which has created more issues for Los Angeles. They come into this one having lost a tight one to the Los Angeles Clippers Thursday night.
Now they take on a New York Knicks squad that has also disappointed in a major way this season. They started the year off hot, but have since somewhat fallen apart, with Julius Randle being the only player giving them consistent minutes. If he could get real help, I think this is a team that could make some noise, but without the consistent help from a supporting cast, I just don’t know how you trust anything about this Knicks team right now. That’s why, despite the disappointing season, and the struggling of late, I’m still taking the Lakers here to pick up a big win at home.
Noah’s NBA Pick: Los Angeles Lakers -2 (-112)
Milwaukee Bucks @ Portland Trail Blazers – 10pm ET
One of the last games on Saturday night’s slate in the NBA will see the Milwaukee Bucks face off against the Portland Trail Blazers. The Bucks have won five of their last seven games, and this takes their season record to 32-21. The Trail Blazers are playing two nights in a row, and are coming into this game after playing the Thunder and in that game they lost, 93-96.
Denis Kirilov
The Portland Trail Blazers have been struggling a lot recently, losing their last four matches in the NBA. Their last meeting against the OKC Thunder was another disappointing one after losing 93-96. The Blazers continue to be somehow in 10th place in the West with 21 wins and 32 losses as they might end this season without Damian Lillard who underwent a surgery to repair injured abdomen. On top of that, Norman Powell and Robert Covington have been traded to the Los Angeles Clippers and despite the fact that they will get Eric Bledsoe and Keon Johnson, the situation doesn’t look anything near bright for them.
The Milwaukee Bucks, on the other hand, have had plenty of ups and downs this season. The defending champions are currently 4th in the Eastern Conference with a 32-21 record. Although they are really close to the top of the table, I wouldn’t say they are as good as the previous year. The Bucks’ biggest issue is the lack of consistency among their bench players who occasionally struggle from the field. However, they will now face the Blazers who are in a really bad spot at the moment which makes me choose the 2021 NBA Champions.
Denis’ NBA Pick: Milwaukee Bucks (-420)
Michael Lantz
After making a bit of a perplexing trade on Thursday morning (the Blazers traded Norman Powell and Robert Covington to the Clippers for Eric Bledsoe and a few others), the Blazers fell just short to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the evening, losing 93-96. It seems by trading away that solid talent, and with Damian Lillard sidelined, the team is starting to look toward the future. This will likely mean building around young guard Anfernee Simons, who is having the breakout year many believed he was capable of having. One night after a loss to the Thunder, things won’t get easier for the Blazers as they face the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.
Back tomorrow. #RipCity pic.twitter.com/ws1WDLVDKC
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) February 5, 2022
After a couple of blowout losses to tough opponents (the Bucks lost to the Cavs by 16 and to the Nuggets by 36), Milwaukee looked a bit more normal on Tuesday as they took out the Washington Wizards by double digits. Still, this was a Wizards team without Bradley Beal, so some will still have questions of concern for the Bucks. While a Damian Lillard-less Blazers team might not fully restore confidence, it wouldn’t hurt. Even without Lillard, and now Powell, the Blazers have plenty of offensive firepower, including Simons and CJ McCollum. Unfortunately, they’re incredibly lackluster on defense, an aspect of the game a team like the Bucks should be able to take advantage of. I’ll go with Milwaukee in this one.
Michael’s NBA Pick: Milwaukee Bucks -9 (-110)
Noah Dunlap
So far in Portland, Chauncey Billups simply hasn’t worked out, even though I don’t think that’s necessarily his fault. They’ve been without Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum for much of the year, and when one of them is in the lineup, the other isn’t. Now, on top of all of that, they traded away most of the mid-level talent on the roster, as it appears they may have finally entered into rebuilding mode. All of this led to them dropping a contest to Oklahoma City last night, which is a bit embarrassing, seeing as OKC is one of the worst teams in the league.
Now they host the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks, and I don’t think it gets any better for Portland. The Bucks enter this one playing better as of late, winning five of their last seven, although they aren’t getting enough help from role players, as they’re too reliant on the MVP-level play of Giannis to lead the way. If his play slips, they seem to struggle a bit. While that’s a bit concerning, I don’t think that matters too much in this one, as I think this is a Milwaukee team that is simply better than the Blazers right now in nearly every facet of the game. Give me Milwaukee and the spread in this one, even with them being on the road.
Noah’s NBA Pick: Milwaukee Bucks -9 (-110)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
