The NBA schedule makers must have been in a good mood when they put this one together because tonight’s slate is stacked.
We've got the Boston Celtics visiting the Philadelphia 76ers in a classic Eastern Conference showdown, the Los Angeles Clippers taking on the Milwaukee Bucks in a cross-conference clash, and the Phoenix Suns facing the San Antonio Spurs in Austin, featuring Kevin Durant's return to Texas.
There's money to be made, whether it’s playoff-level intensity, revenge narratives, or a good old-fashioned tank-off. Let’s bet some NBA. Here are my quick-hit bets for Thursday, February 20.
NBA Picks & Predictions for Thursday, February 20
- Celtics -7.5
- Magic Team Total Over 111.5
- Cavaliers -13
- Nuggets Team Total Over 123.5
- Over 227.5
Celtics at Sixers
| Celtics Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7.5 -108 | 223.5 -112o / -108u | -290 |
| 76ers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7.5 -112 | 223.5 -112o / -108u | +235 |
The Celtics are road favorites coming out of the All-Star break. League-wide, road favorites coming out of the All-Star break are 39-25 ATS since 2003 and 4-5 ATS in the last five seasons. Looking specifically at Boston, it is 4-1 ATS in the last five years coming out of the All-Star game.
Joe Mazzulla is 11-5 ATS vs. the Sixers in his career as head coach with the Celtics. He's also 5-3 against Philadelphia on the road.
I make this Celtics -9, though it’s a Sixers game, so trying to figure out how to power rate it with their injuries is a nightmare.
The Sixers will have their trio of stars, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George, together for the 14th time this season, but they are just 4-9 ATS with those three this season.
PICK: CELTICS -7.5
Magic at Hawks
Magic Odds Spread Total Moneyline Hawks Odds Spread Total Moneyline
This is a little bit of a leap of faith. The idea is that a full week off and time to practice means the Magic can get back on the same page and figure themselves out offensively. A reset of sorts.
Opponent team totals are 16-8 to the over in Hawks home games. I make this team total 116.
Orlando is still without Jalen Suggs, and the Magic team total is 15-6 to the under, so that’s terrifying. Again, this is a bit of a leap of faith that they’ve figured out things over this break.
PICK: MAGIC TEAM TOTAL OVER 111.5
Cavaliers at Nets
| Cavaliers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-13 -110 | 225.5 -108o / -112u | -850 |
| Nets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+13 -110 | 225.5 -108o / -112u | +575 |
With the road favorites coming out of the All-Star break ATS numbers we previously mentioned (39-25 since '03, 14-5 in the last five), I'm backing the Cavs to cover.
Cleveland is 64% ATS on the road, Nets 42% ATS at home, and it is well and truly tank time.
The Cavs are 14-7 this season as a double-digit favorite. They beat the bad teams and cover as well. While frisky, the Nets are 10-12 as double-digit dogs, including just 1-6 at home.
I make this, hilariously, Cavs -19.
PICK: CAVALIERS -13
Hornets at Nuggets
| Hornets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+16 -108 | 230 -110o / -110u | +750 |
| Nuggets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-16 -112 | 230 -110o / -110u | -1200 |
The Nuggets team total in home games is 18-9 to the over this season. Denver is the second-best offense this season vs. bottom-10 defenses.
The kicker? Teams have only had to face Denver in their first game out of the All-Star break six times since 2003. The Nuggets' team total is 6-0 to the over in those games.
PICK: NUGGETS TEAM TOTAL OVER 123.5
Lakers at Trail Blazers
| Lakers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3 -115 | 227 -108o / -112u | -155 |
| Trail Blazers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3 -105 | 227 -108o / -112u | +130 |
I expect the Blazers to drop off after the break as they pivot toward the draft. The market has moved about 1.5 points in favor of the over.
The Lakers’ offense will be absolutely lights out in time, but the defense will be worse. Los Angeles is 52% to the over in road games, Blazers 59.3% to the over at home.
PICK: OVER 227.5
