The NBA regular season resumes with a jam packed slate this Sunday, 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 6 NBA picks for today's contests. Continue below for our NBA best bets and predictions for Sunday, February 23.
NBA Best Bets, Predictions, Picks, Odds: Sunday, February 23
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 1 p.m. | |
  | 3:30 p.m. | |
  | 6 p.m. | |
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 9:30 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. | ||
Knicks vs. Celtics
By Milly Props
Josh Hart has stayed Under this line in 24 of 47 (51.1%) of games with Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns in the lineup, averaging 5.6 assists and 9.6 potential assists in those contests. However, Boston is a brutal matchup when it comes to picking up assists, especially for Hart.
The Celtics allow the 3rd-fewest assists per game in the league. Boston tends to leave its defenders on an island and rarely sends help, but when they do, they consciously rotate off the weakest 3-point shooter, which would be Hart in this instance.
In his last two games against Boston, Hart tallied 3 assists on both occasions (4 and 5 potentials). Hart has stayed Under this number in 13 of 18 matchups vs. bottom-10 teams in the league in assists allowed, averaging 4.4 assists on 8.4 potentials.
He's also gone Under this line in 21 of 30 games (70%) in which he recorded 10 or less potentials.
Over 41% of Hart's assists come at the rim, and Boston allows the 3rd-fewest assists per game at the rim (8.11). In the last two months, that number is down to 6.78 per game.
Hart has stayed Under in 10 of 14 games against teams the bottom-10 in assists allowed at the rim. I'll back Hart to fall short of 6 assists today.
Pick: Josh Hart Under 5.5 Assists (-135)
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Mavericks vs. Warriors
Max Christie is 7-for-7 in getting this over for the Mavs since being traded there.
We have no reason to believe this will end here, even against a Warriors defense that has Draymond Green and now Jimmy Butler.
Christie is averaging north of 17 points, while shooting for an absurd efficiency in Dallas.
He's legit, and also, they need him given how shorthanded they are.
Pick: Max Christie Over 12.5 Points (-115)
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Pistons vs. Hawks
By Joe Dellera
The Pistons take on the Hawks this Sunday in what sets up to be a strong matchup for Cade Cunningham.
The Hawks play at the second-fastest Pace in the league and have a middle of the road defense.
I expect their defense to slide without both Jalen Johnson (injury) and De’Andre Hunter (trade) as the season progresses.
Plus, the Hawks allow the sixth-most assists per game to their opponents.
Cade has crushed in this spot. He’s tallied double digit dimes in all three games against Atlanta this season with 13, 11, and 14 assists on 21, 18, and 24 potentials.
It’s a matchup he’s exploited in the past, and I’ll back him to do so again on Sunday.
Pick: Cade Cunningham Over 9.5 Assists (-113)
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Grizzlies vs. Cavaliers
With Wembanyama sidelined for the remainder of the 2024-25 regular season due to a blood clot in his shoulder, the Defensive Player of the Year race has reopened.
Wemby was a heavy favorite to win the award before the season-ending injury/condition, but he has not played in 65 games, so he will unfortunately be ineligible.
Jaren Jackson Jr. and Evan Mobley are now nearly co-favorites to win DPOY this season. And they face off tonight.
Triple-J has been fantastic on the defensive end of the floor all year, but recently, he has been recording many blocks. In fact, he has logged two or more blocks in four of his past five outings.
Cleveland does shoot a lot of 3s (fourth-most 3-point attempts in the league), but the Cavs also rank in the top-half of the league in field goal attempts inside of 5-feet, so Jackson will still have opportunities to get blocks near the rim.
The DPOY race won't be won or lost tonight, but Jackson could certainly push himself further ahead with a strong outing against Mobley and the Cavs tonight.
Pick: Jaren Jackson Jr. Over 1.5 Blocks (-105)
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Spurs vs. Pelicans
This may be the first time I've included NBA journeyman center Kelly Olynyk in a writeup, let alone the lead. But Olynyk is a large part of the handicap, along with fellow 6-foot-11 inch center Yves Missi, as to why I like the Pelicans to beat the Spurs tonight.
Subtract Victor Wembanyama from San Antonio and the Spurs are back to their lottery ways.
Minus Wembanyama against the Pistons this past Friday, the Spurs were out-rebounded 53-32, while giving up 20 offensive rebounds and 21 second-chance points in a 125-110 loss to Detroit playing a home game in Austin, Texas.
Now the Spurs have to travel to New Orleans. The Pelicans will have the best player on the floor, Zion Williamson, and they've beefed up their rebounding by acquiring Olynyk.
The Pelicans played their first game with Olynyk two days ago. They lost to the Mavericks on the road. New Orleans, though, had a +11 ratio during Olynyk's 23 minutes.
There are intangibles Olynyk provides that don't show up in the box score, such as stretching the floor for his teammates and providing a degree of maturity and professionalism.
Given the Pelicans' improved rebounding and homecourt advantage, I don't see the Wembanyama-less Spurs winning this one.
Pick: Pelicans Moneyline (-120)
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Thunder vs. Timberwolves
By Kyle Murray
McDaniels has been playing big minutes as of late, but he is more of a defensive specialist and not necessarily a super-efficient stat producer for the box scores.
This number appears to be a bit inflated after two strong games (one against this same Thunder team), but McDaniels projects for only 22 Points + Rebounds + Assists (PRA) tonight.
I'll back him to stay Under 25.5 PRA in a tough matchup against Oklahoma City.
Pick: Jaden McDaniels Under 25.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-115)
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