Today's NBA slate may not be jam-packed, but that doesn't mean there's no betting value on the board.
Despite only five games populating Thursday's schedule, our staff came through with four best bets, including picks for Wizards vs. Knicks, Thunder vs. Jazz and Grizzlies vs. Timberwolves.
So, whether you're looking for a couple of player props or spread picks, we have you covered.
Check out all four of our best bets for Thursday's NBA slate below, and come back tomorrow for even more NBA betting coverage.
Ready to get in on the NBA betting action in North Carolina? You’ll soon be able to join in on NC sports betting, as the state is expected to come online in 2024.
NBA Best Bets Tonight
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
  | 9 p.m. | |
| 9 p.m. | |
  | 10 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NBA Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Wizards vs. Knicks
By Joe Dellera
The Knicks host the hapless Wizards tonight at the Garden in a matchup they should dominate.
New York has been dynamic when its starting lineup is intact, and over the course of the entire season, it's seventh in Net Rating (+5.0), per Cleaning the Glass. Compare this to the Wizards, who are 27th with a Net Rating of -10.6.
The one thing about the Knicks and Tom Thibodeau-coached teams is they have dominated against bad teams. When the Knicks play teams in the bottom 10 of point differential, they're an impressive 13-1 with a +18.1 point differential.
The Knicks have destroyed the Wizards in their two previous games, winning by 16 and 21 points with both matchups being played in Washington.
New York should take care of business tonight, and I'm comfortable laying double digits despite the rest disadvantage.
Pick: Knicks -11.5
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Thunder vs. Jazz
Jazz +3.5
Since moving Kris Dunn to the starting lineup on Dec. 16, the Jazz are 13-4 straight up and ATS.
The move is unconventional because it slides Collin Sexton — who is generally thought of as a lead guard — to an off-guard role, which is unusual given his lack of size at just 6-foot-3. But it’s worked wonders so far thanks to the spacing in Utah.
Even more recently, the starting lineup of Dunn, Sexton, Lauri Markannen, Simone Fontecchio and John Collins is 8-1.
Meanwhile, the Thunder have shown some signs of slowing down — at least temporarily. They’re coming off back-to-back road losses to the Lakers and Clippers and are set to play their fourth game in three nights.
I don’t expect their slump to last forever, but I like the Jazz as home dogs after getting an extra rest day on Wednesday.
Take Utah down to +2.
Pick: Jazz +3.5 (Play to +2)
Kris Dunn Over 1.5 Steals + Blocks
By Joe Dellera
Kris Dunn has been excellent since being elevated to the Jazz’s starting unit.
In 16 games as a starter, he's averaging 5.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.94 blocks per game. His toughness and tenacity on the defensive side of the ball cannot be understated.
Now, he gets a matchup with a Thunder team that has protected the ball pretty well throughout the season but finds itself in a tougher schedule spot playing on a back-to-back and its third game in four days.
Couple that with OKC playing at a top-10 pace in the league, and this could lead to some sloppy play.
In the 16 games he has started, Dunn has exceeded 1.5 stocks in 12 of them. I like him to do so again tonight.
Pick: Kris Dunn Over 1.5 Steals + Blocks
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Grizzlies vs. Timberwolves
The Grizzlies are firmly in "somebody's gotta get these buckets" mode, and Luke Kennard is one of the somebodies.
Kennard has alternated between going over and under this 12.5-point mark in four straight, scoring 14 twice and 11 exactly twice.
His minutes have been at 29, 33 and 32 in their last three games, and that's because of the wide array of injuries, including ones to Ja Morant, Marcus Smart and Desmond Bane in their backcourt.
Kennard is, in a basketball sense, also going to be one of Memphis' best offensive weapons against Minnesota out of necessity because someone has to shoot over the top of that defense.
He's a perennial 40-plus percent shooter from deep and has been for years, but now he should see more volume and usage in his team's depleted state.
With that, I also could see him going over 2.5 made 3s.
Pick: Luke Kennard Over 12.5 Points
