The NBA regular season is back in full swing with another excellent slate this Friday, with a total of 10 matchups on the docket scheduled for today. So, our staff of basketball betting experts dug into the latest odds and identified all the best value on the board.
Our betting experts have looked over the odds and made 9 NBA picks for tonight's contests. Continue below for our NBA best bets and predictions for Friday, February 28.
NBA Best Bets, Predictions, Picks, Odds: Friday, February 28
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
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  | 7:30 p.m. | |
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  | 7 p.m. | |
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  | 10 p.m. | |
| 7:30 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. | ||
Cavaliers vs. Celtics
By Joe Dellera
We have a clash between Eastern Conference titans with the Cavaliers and Celtics looking to be in a class of their own as they vie for the right to the 1-seed and to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals.
One player who always takes a step up in this matchup is Donovan Mitchell.
Mitchell has absolutely cooked the Celtics in recent head-to-head battles. He has scored 29+ points in 10 straight games against them, and has cleared this mark in 13/14 games against the Celtics since 2021.
Mitchell knows his play needs to be elevated given how tough the rest of the matchups are for his teammates, and he thrives in these spots.
Mitchell is someone that always has monster potential, but this season he has taken a little bit of a step back to allow his teammates to flourish. This game won’t have that same scenario.
I’ll back Mitchell tonight.
Pick: Donovan Mitchell Over 27.5 Points (-110)
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Knicks vs. Grizzlies
Ja Morant has gone over this line in five of his last eight outings.
More importantly, this reads as a solid matchup play for the speedy point guard.
The Knicks are struggling mightily since returning from All-Star Weekend. The defense has dropped to 22nd, and a big part of that is how increasingly easy it has become to drive on this team.
If Morant is gonna do one thing, he is going to get into the lane.
Jalen Brunson isn't a defensive stopper, Mikal Bridges has been less than advertised, OG Anunoby as well (to some degree), and Karl-Anthony Towns isn't an anchor.
Tyrese Maxey was destroying the Knicks defense in the second half of last time out, and for Morant, the number is only at 21.5 because of his shooting efficiency (or lack thereof), but he should get to his traditional layups, floaters and free throws against this soft defense, and ideally, maybe hit a couple from deep.
Pick: Ja Morant Over 22.5 Points (-120)
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Nuggets vs. Pistons
By Kyle Murray
This is a big number for Cade Cunningham, but he has more than earned it, as he has been phenomenal this season.
Even with this lofty Points + Rebounds + Assists (PRA) line, he still projects incredibly, as I have him for north of 47 PRA thanks to a projection of 29.8 points, 11.6 assists, and 6 rebounds.
He gets a great matchup against the Nuggets tonight, who have allowed the 8th-most points per game and the most assists per game this season, and they are also on the second half of a back-to-back.
Pick: Cade Cunningham Over 42.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-115)
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Cavaliers vs. Celtics
By Alex Hinton
After reaching the pinnacle of winning the NBA Finals, it is not unusual for defending champions to sleepwalk through the regular season at times the following year. The Celtics have been no exception to that, but they still enter tonight's matchup at 42-17. However, when they have an opportunity to make a statement, they have done so.
The Knicks roster was "designed to take down the Celtics," yet the Celtics have blasted them in all three meetings, including twice in the last three weeks. They are also 3-0 against the Bucks and have wins against the Grizzlies and Nuggets among others. Overall, the Celtics are 20-11 against teams above .500 this season.
Tonight, Boston has an opportunity for another statement victory against Cleveland. The Celtics defeated the Cavaliers in five games in last year's Eastern Conference Semifinals. They also have won four of the last six regular season meetings with wins by three and eight points this season. will also be looking to bounce back from a 20-point loss to the Pistons.
While Cleveland has been the better against the spread this season, Boston has mainly struggled to cover large spreads. It will also be looking to bounce back from a 20-point loss to the Pistons. After an loss, Boston is 13-3 ATS and covering by an average of 10.1 points.
At -2.5, I feel very comfortable backing the Celtics tonight and would play this line up to -4.
Pick: Celtics -2.5 (-110)
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Trail Blazers vs. Nets
Word from Brooklyn is that top scorer Cam Thomas might make his first appearance in over a month tonight against the Blazers, though I worry that might upset some of the recent competitive chemistry with the Nets.
Jordi Fernandez was able to squeeze several wins out of Brooklyn earlier this month, as the non-Cam Nets learned to play slower and control the tempo.
Results were generally good but now Jordi has to fit Thomas back into the mix, and the measured pace that worked well for the Nets earlier this month might not function the same with a scorer like Thomas back in the fold.
I remain impressed with the Blazers, whose only losses the past month have come against serious playoff contenders (Minnesota, Denver twice, and the Lakers). Play Blazers
Pick: Blazers -1.5 (-110)
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Raptors vs. Bulls
The Chicago Bulls have a record of 1-4 in their last five games, but have covered the spread in four consecutive matchups.
Since the All-Star break, the Bulls have lost three games by a combined total of just 11 points.
Meanwhile, the Toronto Raptors have struggled on the road this season, holding a disappointing record of 5-22. In their recent 111-91 loss to the Pacers, the Raptors were missing Scottie Barnes.
Given the Bulls' strong offensive performance, they are likely to take an early lead against the Raptors and secure the win.
Pick: Bulls Moneyline (-125)
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Pelicans vs. Suns
