The NBA regular season resumes with a fully loaded slate this Saturday, with a total of 11 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 7 NBA picks today's matchups. Continue below for our NBA best bets and predictions for Saturday, February 8.
NBA Best Bets, Predictions, Picks, Odds: Saturday, February 8
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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. |
Pacers vs. Lakers
By Joe Dellera
The Pacers take on the Lakers on Saturday in a game where the Lakers are likely without their biggest stars.
Luka Doncic has already been ruled out, and LeBron James was downgraded to doubtful.
While Mark Williams likely makes his debut, he has not been an elite rim protector up to this point.
Pascal Siakam should thrive here. He is averaging 20.7 ppg. However, this is up to 23.9 over his last 10 games.
He has also found success against the Lakers averaging 23.4 ppg while exceeding this 21.5 points line in 5/7 since 2022.
Stylistically, Siakam can get the looks he wants.
The Lakers do not have a true rim deterrent anymore without Anthony Davis, and Siakam is nimble enough to give Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Dorian Finney-Smith difficulty if they’re tasked with covering him.
While the Lakers have the best allowed eFG% in the league since AD played his last game (prior to January 30), much of this seems unsustainable as their expected harm in nearly 10 percentage points higher than actual.
On the season, they are getting torched from midrange and at the rim, two areas from which Siakam crushes. I’ll grab over 21.5 Points.
Pick: Pascal Siakam Over 21.5 Points (-110)
Rockets vs. Mavericks
I would advise Miriam Adelson and her family not to attend today's Mavericks' home game. The team's owner is deploying extra security inside and outside of American Airlines Center, as Dallas fans remain up in arms about losing Luka Doncic, a 25-year-old five-time All-NBA guard, in exchange for 31-year-old, injury-prone Anthony Davis.
All of this has to be extremely distracting for the Mavericks, as they return home from a five-game road trip that began January 29, which culminated with a surprising victory against the Celtics this past Thursday. Dallas upset Boston despite not having Davis in that game.
Davis has been out recently with an injury, an abominable strain, but is expected to play today for the first time since Jan. 28.
Dallas still could be missing PJ Washington, who is second on the team in rebounding and is the third-leading scorer. He's missed the Mavs' past two games for personal reasons.
While the Mavericks try to get adjusted to being home and dealing with what could be a crazy situation, the Rockets are in serious stop-the-pain mode having lost five in a row.
The Rockets will be going all out to salvage this finale of a four-game road trip against their in-state, division rival.
Houston is 17-10 away from home. The Rockets are 11-5 SU and ATS on the road since December.
Since mid-January, the Rockets own impressive road victories against the Celtics, Cavaliers and Nuggets. They nearly defeated the Knicks and Grizzlies, who they lost to by one point on the road.
Pick: Rockets +3.5 (-115)
Thunder vs. Grizzlies
Even with Chet Holmgren sidelined for almost two months, the Oklahoma City Thunder still posted the best defense in the league, with a 104.9 rating. But now the Gonzaga product is back with the team, and one can only presume that his mere presence will help raise the OKC’s levels even more.
The Thunder enter Saturday’s matchup against Memphis on a four-game winning streak, in addition to six straight victories in this head-to-head series.
Over the last 10 meetings, OKC has had a 7-3 mark, and the total is 7- 2- 1 to the under. Those numbers might just point to a strong correlation between the Thunder’s defense and its success in this matchup.
The Grizzlies like to get up and down the court at a blistering pace, leading the league with 104.59 possessions per game. While those extra possessions often result in easy fastbreak points, OKC also has the best transition defense in the league.
This Thunder team has a knack for doing just enough to slow the Grizzlies down and help disrupt their rhythm.
I expect we’ll get a slower pace than the projected total of 242 points, and if OKC can dictate the tempo, look for the visitors to come away with another victory.
Pick: Thunder ML (-130)
Celtics vs. Knicks
Jaylen Brown has cleared 21.5 points in all eight games he has played without Jrue Holiday this season, and Holiday is out tonight.
Brown will also be the beneficiary of a likely OG Anunoby absence, who is doubtful again with a foot sprain.
Brown is averaging 29 points games without Holiday, scoring no fewer than 23.
I like this up to 22.5, and don't hate it above 23.5 either.
Pick: Jaylen Brown Over 21.5 Points (-115)
Jazz vs. Clippers
Kawhi Leonard played 33.5 minutes in the Clippers' most recent game, as his playing time has continued to increase steadily since his return from injury. He shot 3-for-6 from deep against Indiana.
Now he faces a Jazz defense that has allowed the highest frequency of above the break 3-point attempts since the start of 2025 (31.7%). Twenty-eight percent of Kawhi’s point production has come from above the break 3-pointers, only 5% from the corners.
He played them twice last season lighting them up for 4 and 6 made three-pointers.
The Jazz continue to have a similar defensive philosophy that allows a ton of C&S above the break 3s. Should see plenty of volume with increased playing time, he hit this at a 64% rate last season.
Pick: Kawhi Leonard Over 1.5 Three-Pointers Made (-110)
Trail Blazers vs. Timberwolves
We don't mind riding this Blazers train another night, even as Portland hits the road for the first time in over two weeks.
Remember, this recent Portland uptick (10-1 in last 11) actually began away from home when sweeping a Miami-Orlando-Charlotte road trip.
The current win streak is now at six after their Thursday win over Sacramento when Anfernee Simons scored 30.
Portland is also doing it with defense lately for Chauncey Billups, allowing just 101 points per game across the uptick.
Note the Wolves lost 2 of 3 to the Blazers back in November, well before Portland caught its updraft, though Anthony Edwards is on fire heading into tonight, scoring a combined 90 points in his last two games. Play Trail Blazers.
Pick: Trail Blazers +6.5 (-112)
Warriors vs. Bulls
All eyes on Jimmy Butler, who is expected to make his Warriors debut against one of his old teams tonight in Chicago.
No matter, Golden State hasn't been the most-reliable road favorites in the NBA, covering just one of its last six laying points away, as well as dropping five of their last six outright on the road.
Fitting Butler into the mix with Steph Curry might not be an automatic thing, either, and note the Warriors are only 13-23 since Thanksgiving week.
The Bulls got outscored by 26 in the second half of their 131-106 loss at Chase Center on January 23, but did show they could win minus Zach LaVine when rallying to beat the Heat on Wednesday in the first game after the trade, and some of their recently-added pieces (including G Kevin Huerter) may be available tonight. Play Bulls.