NBA Best Bets Today, 2/4: Picks, Predictions & Player Props - Tuesday
Stephen Curry just got off the hook, spoiling Fantasy Alarm’s Meatloaf, and now there is a sour taste in our NBA best bets bankroll. Jamal Murray was not needed as Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter displayed their great offense, thus going under 21.5 points.
Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz came through once again and proved to be one of the most reliable rebounders in the Association. That kept the damage to a minimum in yesterday’s NBA best bets and there will be an eye on Kessler’s rebounding lines going forward.
NBA Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 2/4
There are seven matches today, two of which are nationally televised on TNT. To read about the NBA best bets for the first match between the Celtics vs. Cavaliers, check out our article at Wager Alarm.
The Bet of the Night comes from the second match on TNT.
Lakers vs. Clippers Prediction: Kawhi Leonard Over 4.5 Rebounds (-145 on Bet365) *2.0 U, Bet of the Night
The Los Angeles Clippers host the Los Angeles Lakers at the Intuit Dome, and it is an important match. No longer will the court's logo have to be changed, as the Clippers are truly settling into their new home.
The Clippers destroyed the Lakers in the last match at the Intuit Dome, and are favored once again. They are -8.0 favorites at home, and there is a great deal of ‘weight’ to this match. The Lakers are fifth, and the Clippers sixth in the Western Conference, with only one game separating them. Should the Clippers win, they would move into fifth by leapfrogging the Lakers.
The Clippers have won six of their last ten matches, and Kawhi Leonard has played the last six games. He is averaging 24.5 minutes and 4.5 rebounds per game and appears to be healthy. He has earned five or more rebounds in his last four games, and five of his last six games.
The Lakers no longer have Anthony Davis, LeBron James is listed as day-to-day, and Luka Doncic is not expected to play. There are several rebounds available for Kawhi Leonard, and he should take advantage of the opportunities. Put two units on Kawhi to earn five or more rebounds against a depleted Lakers front court.
Knicks vs. Raptors Prediction: Karl-Anthony Towns Under 12.5 Rebounds (-115 on Bet365)
The unders have been brutal as of late, but one under has been particularly kind to the Fantasy Alarm Betting Bungalow. The starting All-Star center of the Eastern Conference, Karl-Anthony Towns. Towns is having an excellent season, but he has not been rebounding that well lately.
He has eleven or less rebounds in his last four games and six of his last eight. Teammate Josh Hart continues to attack the glass, and Towns has been playing tough Western Conference centers in his last five matches.
He and the New York Knicks now are playing an international match at Scotiabank Arena against the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors are on a roll and Toronto has become a tougher place to play. They have great rebounders in Jakob Poeltl, Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, and Bruce Brown.
Rebounding could be tough, and Towns has several factors working against him. Poor rebounding performances, a second game in as many nights, and international travel required after a come from behind game. He also does not close out games for the Knicks, and has a tendency to get in foul trouble.
Put a unit on Karl-Anthony Towns to once again record less than 13 rebounds.
NBA Player Props & Other Picks Today, 2/3
In looking for other NBA best bets, nothing seems as reliable as The Well.
With that in mind, we have a pick on the new-look Chicago Bulls.
Heat vs. Bulls Prediction: Nikola Vucevic Over 10.5 Rebounds (-130 on Bet365)
Nikola Vucevic has provided time and again for the Fantasy Alarm Betting Bungalow. He has filled many cups and is poised to do so again. The Well even was profitable after initially being declared a miss.
A stat correction provided profit in Vucevic’s most recent match. Now the Bulls host the Miami Heat at the United Center. The Bulls will be without Zach Lavine who has been traded away to join his old teammate DeMar DeRozan in Sacramento.
That should help clear the path for Nikola Vucevic who could still be traded before the deadline Thursday. Tonight, against a smaller Bam Adebayo, he should cruise his way to over 10.5 rebounds.
The Chicago Bulls surprisingly have a worse record at home than they do on the road. Three more losses at home. Look for Vucevic to continue his streak of elven or more rebounds against the Heat. Put a unit on The Well to deliver again.
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Bet Smart, Be Lucky - Iggy
*All odds accurate at time of writing and NBA best bets to be placed at 1 unit unless specified otherwise
Player News
Buddy Hield had 15 points (5-of-14 FGs), three rebounds, one assist, one steal and four three-pointers against the Timberwolves in Game 2 on Thursday.
Hield moved into the Warriors’ starting lineup in the first round and the team became somewhat reliant on his scoring. With Stephen Curry (hamstring) out in Game 2, Hield started and played 29 minutes. The 32-year-old shooting guard led the Warriors in field goal attempts, though no one in a Golden State uniform was able to reach 20 points. The Warriors weren’t able to overcome a double-digit first half deficit. Despite the four made three-pointers, they’re going to need more from Hield as the series shifts to Golden State, especially if Curry remains out.
Jimmy Butler had 17 points (6-of-13 FGs), seven rebounds, four assists, one steal and two three-pointers against the Timberwolves in Game 2 on Thursday.
Butler couldn’t get it done without Stephen Curry (hamstring) on the road in Game 2. The Warriors fell behind by double-digits early and never recovered. Butler had 17 points on 13 shots, which wasn’t far off from the 20 points he had in Game 1. Still, the Warriors have to regroup as they head home for Games 3 and 4 as they try to figure out a way to keep this series close until Curry can return to the court.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 20 points (7-of-13 FGs), two rebounds, three assists, one block and four three-pointers in Game 2 against the Warriors on Thursday.
Alexander-Walker was a key scorer off the bench in Game 2. He, Naz Reid and Donte DiVencenzo combined for 10 made three-pointers off the bench. In a game where the Warriors were desperate for scoring without Stephen Curry (hamstring), those bench points were too much to overcome as the Timberwolves won by 24 points.
Julius Randle had 24 points (10-of-17 FGs), seven rebounds, 11 assists and one three-pointer in Game 2 against the Warriors on Thursday.
Randle led the Timberwolves in scoring in the Game 2 victory. The 30-year-old power forward was just three rebounds away from a triple-double. He was a steadying presence in his 33 minutes as Anthony Edwards dealt with an ankle injury towards the end of the first half. Edwards recovered from his injury to play 34 minutes, but Randle is still the next most important player in this series for the Timberwolves.
Anthony Edwards had 20 points (6-of-13 FGs), nine rebounds, five assists, three steals, one block and two three-pointers in the Timberwolves’ 117-93 victory over the Warriors in Game 2 on Thursday.
Edwards appeared to suffer a sprained left ankle towards the end of the second quarter as the Warriors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis landed on his foot. Edwards turned the same ankle in the first round against the Lakers and appeared to re-aggravate the injury. The 23-year-old shooting guard would go on to start the second half and play a team-high 34 minutes in the Game 2 victory. Edwards will only have one full day off before the series resumes in Golden State for Game 3 on Saturday.
Warriors will start Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Quinten Post in Game 2 against the Timberwolves on Thursday.
No surprise here as Curry was always a long shot to make it back for Game 2 after leaving Game 1 with hamstring injury. While there has been a report that the 37-year-old point guard is expected to miss a week, there is no firm timetable for his return. The Warriors will go big with their starting lineup for Game 2 with center Quinten Post entering the lineup in Curry’s absence.