Free NBA Picks Today for Thursday, February 11th, 2021

Free NBA Picks Today for Thursday, February 11th, 2021
Thu 11th February 2021

Another successful night for our free NBA picks, going well over 60% and we are confident in our picks for tonight’s five games!

Can the Rockets get things back on track when they host Jimmy Butler and the Heat? Who will win the big Atlantic Division clash between the red-hot Raptors and the slumping Celtics?

We have all the answers you need before placing your bets on tonights game!

Miami Heat @ Houston Rockets – 7:30PM ET

Are alarm bells ringing for the Houston Rockets? They have dropped three straight, four of their last five and have dropped to third last in the West. They now host a Miami Heat side that has won three games in a row for the first time all season and is also relatively healthy for the first time all year too. 

Tuesday night saw Miami complete the mini sweep of the New York Knicks with a 98-86 win at home, despite trailing by six heading into the last quarter. The Heat kept the Knicks to just 14 points in the last period, coming through when it mattered most for the win. Jimmy Butler had an outstanding performance with 26 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists while Bam Adebayo put in 19 points, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks. The pair combined for 26/31 from the free throw line and will look for more of the same against a thin Houston front court. 

Houston’s third straight win as a 101-130 belting by the Pelicans, going down by 13 at half time and keeping close before a 20-38 last quarter put them to bed. John Wall (25 points, six assists) and Eric Gordon (23 points) both returned after resting in the first of a back to back set, but they were without Victor Oladipo who still can’t play back to backs as well. 

After being the best defensive side since trading James Harden, the Rockets have given up an average of 120 per game over their three game losing streak. They will have a chance to remedy that against a Miami side that averages the fourth fewest points per game in the league, however the Heat’s defense ranks seventh for points per game allowed and the Rockets are struggling even more at that end of the floor right now. Take the Heat on the road. 

NBA Pick – Miami Heat (TBA)
NBA Spread – Miami Heat +1.5 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Under 218.5 (-110)

Toronto Raptors @ Boston Celtics – 7:30PM ET

The Boston Celtics couldn’t get home any sooner after a five game West Coast road trip saw them go just 2-3 and has meant that they have dropped five of their last seven games. They host the Toronto Raptors who have two straight wins, by a combined 37 points, and have won five of their last six. These two Atlantic Division rivals have met just once this season, with Fred VanVleet putting up 35 points but Boston came out on top thanks to 40 from Jayson Tatum. 

The Celtics ended their road trip with a 108-122 loss to the league leading Jazz, despite 33 points and eight rebounds from Jaylen Brown in his first game back from a knee injury. Boston won the first quarter in a scrappy contest but it was all downhill from there, giving up 42 points in the third quarter and unable to catch up again. 

Toronto was on the court last night, a 137-115 win over the Wizards where seven different players scored in double figures. Norman Powell led the way with 28 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals while Chris Boucher had a big game off the bench with 17 points, 16 rebounds and two blocks. 

This is tough to pick as Boston and Toronto always have classic contests but Toronto is just playing that much better basketball at the moment. However, the Raptors are 0-3 on the second night of back to backs and Boston have too much talent to let this slide continue. 

NBA Pick – Boston Celtics (TBA)
NBA Spread – Toronto Raptors +4.5 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Over 222.5 (-110)

Indiana Pacers @ Detroit Pistons – 8PM ET

The Indiana Pacers have lost four straight games, most recently to the Brooklyn Nets last night, the same Brooklyn side that the Detroit Pistons beat one night earlier. Detroit have been playing some pretty good basketball lately, beating the Nets, Lakers and Sixers in their last eight games. 

Tuesday night’s win over the Nets saw Jerami Grant score a team high 32 points while Delon Wright had 22 and nine assists however Mason Plumlee got the game ball with 14 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, two steals and three blocks. Detroit dominated the game from the jump, scoring 38 first quarter points, and will be looking to do the same again tonight. 

The Pacers didn’t reach 38 points against the Nets until nearly four minutes into the third quarter, only putting up 94 for the game against one of the worst defenses in the league. Domantas Sabonis led the Pacers with just 18 points while Myles Turner and Jeremy Lamb combined for just six points on 2/9 shooting. 

While the form says that Detroit should be winning this, we like the Pacers to turn things around. Indiana are 3-2 on the second night of back to backs, Detroit still has the worst record in the league and is the only team in the league that hasn’t won back to back games this season. 

NBA Pick – Indiana Pacers (-145)
NBA Spread – Detroit Pistons +3 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Under 219 (-110)

Orlando Magic @ Golden State Warriors – 10PM ET

The Golden State Warriors return home from a four game Texas road trip, splitting games with both the Mavericks and Spurs. They now host a bruised, battered and struggling Orlando Magic side that has lost two straight and six of their last seven. 

Tuesday night saw the Magic lose their first game of a four game road trip to the Blazers, 97-106, where Nikola Vucevic put up 27, 15, two steals and two blocks and Terrance Ross score 22 points on 50% shooting. The Magic got off on the wrong foot, dropping the first quarter by 12 and now face a Golden State side that is 8-5 at home. 

After falling to the Spurs by five on Monday, the Warriors had a second opportunity to turn things around on Tuesday night, taking advantage of that with a 114-91 thumping. Steph Curry put up an efficient 32 points with six other Warriors scoring in double figures. 

Golden State has the seventh best defensive rating in the league and given that they are back home, against a shorthanded Orlando side, they should be getting this game easily. 

NBA Pick – Golden State Warriors (TBA)
NBA Spread – Golden State Warriors -8.5 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Under 230.5 (-110)

Philadelphia 76ers @ Portland Trail Blazers – 10PM ET

That Portland Trail Blazers side that beat the Magic on Tuesday now hosts the Philadelphia 76ers, who are in the midst of a four game road trip. These sides actually met last Thursday, with Portland missing Damian Lillard, on top of the already injured CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic, while Philly were missing Ben Simmons. The Blazers still managed to come out on top, 121-105, despite 37 points from Joel Embiid. 

In their 119-111 win over the Kings, Embiid was the star of the show yet again, putting up 25 points, 17 rebounds, six assists, two steals and two blocks while Tobias Harris came alive late to finish with 22 points and 10 rebounds. The Sixers actually went into the last quarter down four but Harris scored 12 of his 22 in the last period to help the Sixers extend their East-leading record. 

Portland had a handy win of their own on Tuesday evening, beating Orlando 106-97. Damian Lillard had a massive game with 36 points while Robert Covington, Derrick Jones Jr and Enes Kanter all had 10+ rebounds helping the Blazers control the interior and limit Orlando’s second chance opportunities. 

Despite their win over Sacramento, Philly performs much worse on the road, 7-5 compared to 11-2 at home, and they have already shown us that Portland can get the better of them. With that being said, the Sixers are still undefeated when all of their starters play and none of them are listed on the injury report for this one so Philly should be winning. 

NBA Pick – Philadelphia 76ers (-225)
NBA Spread – Philadelphia 76ers -5.5 (-110)
Total Points Pick – Under 229.5 (-110)

If you need more news, information and predictions, head over to our NBA hub page for all your basketball needs.

*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of Bet365

Tim is a keen follower of all American sports, in particular the NBA and NFL. He has followed both sports for over a decade and would happily sit down and watch every game, regardless of who is playing! No matter the sport, whether it be NFL and NBA or even MLB, NHL, UFC and all sports, Tim covers it from every angle, staying in the loop to bring you the most up-to-date information and the best picks and predictions on the market.