As has been the case on most weeknights this winter, the NBA isn't drawing the same kind of betting attention that's being given to the college game. At the time of writing, the most heavily bet NBA matchup tonight (Pelicans-Rockets) would be the sixth-most heavily bet game on the college slate.
Still, sharp bettors are finding some value in the NBA tonight. They've hit three games, starting with Thunder-Magic at 7 p.m. ET, and caused notable line moves in each.
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Orlando Magic
7 p.m. ET | FS-OK
Sharp angle: Magic (moved from +6 to +4.5)
The Magic have been among the least popular teams on tonight's board. At 20-30 to OKC's 31-18, that shouldn't come as a surprise, especially at what looks like a pretty short spread.
But while only 26% of bettors are taking a shot on the home dog, Orlando has fallen from +6 to +4.5 thanks to sharp action.
The minority of bets behind Orlando has generated a slightly larger percentage of actual dollars (41%). That indicates slightly more balanced overall action, and of course means that the Magic are drawing bigger bets — ones more likely to be made by wiseguys.
That sharp indication is confirmed by an impressive count of six Sports Insights Bet Signals hitting Orlando, the most recent of which came at +5 to drop this line to its current number.
Chicago Bulls @ Brooklyn Nets
7:30 p.m. ET | WGN
Sharp angle: Bulls (moved from +8 to +7)
The Bulls have seen a very similar story unfold since opening as 8-point underdogs.
Chicago, in fact, is even less popular. Sitting 15.5 games behind the Nets in the Eastern Conference, the Bulls have drawn just 21% of bets. Once again, though, they've fallen a point from their opener, from +8 to +7.
Per SI Bet Signals, pros hit the Bulls at +7.5 to cause the most recent half-point move to +7.
Phoenix Suns @ San Antonio Spurs
8:30 p.m. ET | FS-AZ
Sharp angle: Suns (moved from +13.5 to +13)
The Suns haven't won since Jan. 12 and will be without No. 1 overall pick DeAndre Ayton for a sixth straight game tonight. Not exactly a recipe for generating public love.
Eighty percent of bets in this game are coming in on the Spurs, but following the same pattern as the two games above, this line has fallen from its opening number.
A Sports Insights Bet Signal from this morning served as confirmation of sharp action taking the points, action that's been strong enough to convince oddsmakers to move this line away from a very popular side.
