The NBA regular season resumes with another excellent Wednesday slate as there are 11 matchups on the docket tonight. So, our staff of basketball betting experts dug into the latest odds and identified the best value on the board.
Our betting experts have looked over the odds and made NBA picks for nine matchups today. Continue below for our NBA best bets and predictions for Wednesday, February 5.
NBA Best Bets, Predictions, Picks, Odds: Wednesday, February 5
NBA Best Bets Today
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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. | ||
Cavaliers vs. Pistons
By Steak Friend
The Cavs have beat the Pistons 11 times in a row, but this is not your same old Pistons team. This is the second night of a back-to-back for both teams, but Cleveland is coming off an emotional loss to the other top dog in the East in Boston.
I would not be surprised to see the Cavaliers come out flat and struggle a bit more than usual tonight offensively, which makes me lean Pistons.
If Dean Wade and Isaac Okoro are still out, the Cavs bench is not deep enough for a back-to-back in my opinion. The Pistons are relatively healthy except for Jaden Ivey who has been out for a while.
Pick: Pistons +5.5 (-110)
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Spurs vs. Hawks
By Joe Dellera
The Spurs will have to make adjustments moving forward with De’Aaron Fox joining the fold. One player who should succeed regardless is Victor Wembanyama. Wemby is a transcendent talent and even if Fox does not know all of the plays just yet, I bet he can find Wemby on the floor for some easy actions.
Wembanyama has dominated the Atlanta Hawks in previous matchups, scoring 21, 26, and a season-high 42 points against them.
His ability to score both inside and from beyond the arc makes him a nightmare matchup for Atlanta’s defense. While Fox’s arrival will naturally shift some of the team’s offensive usage, Wemby’s role should remain largely unaffected.
This matchup also presents a prime opportunity for an uptempo game, as the Hawks play at the second-fastest pace in the league. And with Fox now running the floor in San Antonio, the Spurs could also look to embrace a faster playing style moving forward.
Pick: Victor Wembanyama over 24.5 Points (-110)
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Spurs vs. Hawks
De'Aaron Fox could make his debut for the Spurs in this game. Fox is a great player, but there's going to be an adjustment period as he learns his new teammates and vice versa.
The Hawks just returned from a three-game road trip where their defense was awful. However, it's been better at home. Atlanta held the Rockets to 100 points in its last home game.
If you discount a 144-point performance against the Bucks, the Spurs are averaging 106.5 points in their last four games.
Pick: Under 241.5 Total Points (-110)
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Bucks vs. Hornets
The Bucks and Hornets have met twice this season. The Hornets won, 115-114, at home for a total of 229 points during the first meeting in mid-November. Then, the Bucks got revenge, 125-119, at home for a total of 244 points a week later.
Now the teams are meeting for a third time and the total opened lower than the closing line of the first two matchups. Perhaps the oddsmaker was influenced by Milwaukee scoring only 96 points against the Thunder in its last game two days ago. OKC is the No. 1 defensive team in the NBA. The Bucks also rested all of their best players in what was a give-up spot.
The Hornets surrender eight more points per game than Oklahoma City and the Bucks should have most, if not all, of their key players back on the court. Even if they don't, I still like the Over believing this total is too short.
The Bucks are a top-12 scoring team. They rank No. 2 in three-point shooting. Milwaukee was averaging 122.1 in its last 10 games before their matchup against the Thunder.
Charlotte just surrendered 124 points to the Wizards in a 10-point loss last night. The Bucks rank 15th defensively permitting an average of 112.8 points a game. That average shoots up to 131.5 points if you go by Milwaukee's last four games.
Pick: Over 218 Total Points (-113)
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Grizzlies vs. Raptors
Over the past week and a half, 7-foot-4 rookie center Zach Edey has started to look more comfortable within the Grizzlies offense and with the pace they like to play at. While there are still some matchups (i.e., Houston) that can cause Edey some trouble, this will certainly not be one of them.
The Raptors will roll out Jakob Poeltl at center and Edey has the size and strength to body him underneath and get position for post-ups and putbacks.
So far this season, Toronto is allowing the sixth-most points per game to opposing centers. This is a great sign for Edey, who has scored at least 15 points in two of his past five games and appears to be building some positive momentum on that end of the floor.
The key for Edey has been logging enough minutes, as sometimes head coach Taylor Jenkins opts for different lineups or the big man finds himself in foul trouble.
However, this is a matchup that Jenkins and company can take advantage of, and I expect they will do just that, especially since they have started to utilize Edey and star guard Ja Morant in the pick-and-roll more frequently.
Pick: Zach Edey 15+ Points (+400)
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Heat vs. 76ers
By Milly Props
Since Jimmy Butler's most recent suspension, Kel'el Ware has stepped into the starting lineup and Tyler Herro has taken on a bigger facilitating role.
Without Jimmy and with Ware starting:
- MIL: 9 AST (17 pAST)
- BKN: 8 AST (13 pAST)
- ORL: 12 AST (18 pAST)
- CLE: 6 AST (14 pAST)
- SAS: 8 AST (17 pAST)
- CHI: 9 AST (N/A)
In the games above, Herro averaged 8.7 AST on 15.8 pAST. Over the last six games, Herro is averaging 36.6% AST%, which would rank 8th highest in the league with the likes of Chris Paul, James Harden, and more.
Joel Embiid is already ruled out for this one, so the Sixers are lacking any kind of rim protection, especially against Miami's double-big lineup. The Sixers rank #24 in AST on the season and have allowed big assist games to guards without Embiid — Derrick White 9 (Jayson Tatum 11 in same game), Jamal Murray 11, Malik Monk 8, Austin Reaves 8 (LeBron James 9 in same game), Zach LaVine 8.
Herro has seen 13+ pAST in every game since Ware has been a starter and has covered this line in 10/16 with 13 or more pAST in a game and 8/12 when Ware is active
Pick: Tyler Herro 6.5+ Assists (-115)
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Bulls vs. Timberwolves
The Chicago Bulls will be playing their third game in four nights which is always a spot to watch for on the hardwood.
Tired legs lead to unders and blowouts. Not only will the Bulls be on a tight schedule – they’ll be fresh on the second night of a back-to-back where they have to travel to Minnesota. To make matters worse, the Bulls just traded their best player (Zach Lavine) for three role players – and rumors are swirling they are likely to flip two of the three.
Not only will they be down their best player), but they'll also might be down the trade pieces they just acquired. Best case scenario Zach Collins or Tre Jones play some minutes, but they have zero knowledge of the system and have no chemistry with the team yet!
The Timberwolves have not been the team we saw last year. They are just 4-17 ATS as a home favorite, but we have seen some sparks lately. When they play bad teams they seem to beat up on them.
The Wolves are in the midst of a 5-game home stretch and are currently 0-2 against the Wizards and a Fox-less Kings squad. This team has to get up and bounce back against a tired Bulls team who just lost their leader.
Pick: Timberwolves -11 (-114)
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Warriors vs. Jazz
Isaiah Collier has cashed this in five straight, including against the Warriors on January 28.
This is betting on a combination of the Warriors' perimeter defense being exploitable, Collier's floor generalship, his increase in opportunity, and his overall playmaking.
Collier is averaging 12.4 points and 8.1 assists per game over his last 11.
Pick: Isaiah Collier Over 17.5 PTS+AST
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Pelicans vs. Nuggets
By Nick Parsons
These teams have been playing several lower-scoring games of late, including in the Nuggets 123-113 win over the Pels just two nights ago. However, in my opinion, everything definitely points to more of a "shootout" in the rematch on Wednesday.
Note that looking back New Orleans has seen the total go OVER the number in seven of its last ten in trying to avenge a SU/ATS road loss vs. an opponent.
Denver has won three straight and has hit a favorable part of its schedule. I say the Nuggets keep the offensive momentum rolling here, but the Pelicans give them a much tighter battle here on Wednesday.
Either way, overall I believe a faster pace will lead to more points. The play is the OVER.
Pick: Over 239.5 Total Points (-110)
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Magic vs. Kings
Orlando is due for a bounce-back performance. The Magic have struggled lately, losing four straight and nine of their past 10. Tonight is a great buy-low spot for the Magic, on the road against a new-look Sacramento Kings squad. The Kings traded former All-Star De’Aaron Fox over the weekend and added veteran Zach LaVine to their roster. While the future is bright in Sacramento, we will fade this new-look roster in its first game together.
Pick: Magic +5 (-110)
