On a somewhat busy seven-game NBA slate, sharp bettors have been very busy. Nearly every game has been hit with some sort of sharp action, but four in particular have seen an especially big impact from pro bettors.
On their cards tonight:
- 76ers @ Magic (7 p.m. ET)
- Wizards @ Celtics (7:30 p.m. ET)
- Spurs @ Timberwolves (8:30 p.m. ET)
- Warriors @ Lakers (10 p.m. ET)
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Philadelphia 76ers @ Orlando Magic
7 p.m. ET | FS-FL
Similar to the situation we saw a couple weeks ago with Kawhi Leonard, tonight's Sixers-Magic line movement may be serving as an indication that sharp bettors were already expecting Joel Embiid (rest) to miss this game. Philly is on its second day of a back-to-back.
The Sixers have undoubtedly been the popular side (drawing two-thirds of bets), but this line was moving away from them even before the Embiid news. They opened anywhere from -1 to -2.5, but were dropped to +1 before he was announced out. They're now +2.5.
Three Sports Insights Bet Signals — triggered whenever sharp action causes a market-wide line move — hit Orlando before the announcement, confirming that pros were a driving force in shifting this number.
As for where they stand now, it will probably take a bit more movement to tell.
Sharp angle: Magic (moved from +1.5 to -1 before Embiid announcement) [In New Jersey? Bet now at PointsBet]
Washington Wizards @ Boston Celtics
7:30 p.m. ET | NBCS-BOS
With the 8-1 Celtics hosting the 2-6 Wizards, oddsmakers opened this spread around Boston -10.5, but even a double-digit number wasn't enough to keep the public away.
The C's are drawing 70% of bets in what's been the most heavily bet game to this point (though that could easily change), and making up for 69% of the money being wagered on the spread.
While that doesn't help reveal any "big bettor" opinions, the movement on the spread is worth making a note of. Now sitting at a consensus of Celtics -8, it should be pretty clear which side sharps are buying.
Four SI Bet Signals have hit the Wizards to the Celtics' one, including the most recent two at +9.5 and +9, pushing the line to its current number.
Sharp angle: Wizards (moved from +10.5 to +8) [In New Jersey? Bet now at PointsBet]
San Antonio Spurs @ Minnesota Timberwolves
8:30 p.m. ET | FS-N
While the first two games listed haven't boasted an impressive bet-vs.-dollar discrepancy, this one is providing a perfect example of how seeking out bigger bets can lead to the sharper side.
The 33% of bets on the Spurs have generated 56% of actual money, meaning San Antonio is taking in much those bigger bets — the ones more likely to be made by sharps.
Sure enough, four more Bet Signals have hit the Spurs to just one on the Wolves, and after an initial public move brought this line to Minnesota -2, the professional action at that number (all four moves came at +2 or better) has brought the line right back to -1.5.
Sharp angle: Spurs (moved from +2 to +1.5) [In New Jersey? Bet now at PointsBet]
Golden State Warriors @ Los Angeles Lakers
10 p.m. ET | ESPN
One of the bigger movers on tonight's slate, the Warriors have fallen from openers of as high as +12 (most were more like +10.5) to the current +8.5 across the market.
Anthony Davis seems likely to miss this game, but all of that movement has come since news of his doubtful status was known, indicating it's probably been solely a result of sharp action.
Bet Signals at +11.5, +9.5 and +9 have hit the Warriors, while the Lakers have seen just one in their favor at -9. As you might've guessed, the move on the Dubs at +9 was the most recent, as it resulted in the current +8.5 listing.
Sharp angle: Warriors (moved from +10.5 to +8.5) [In New Jersey? Bet now at PointsBet]
