NBA Best Bets Today, 2/6: Picks, Predictions & Player Props - Thursday
Nic Claxton underperformed, but so did the Brooklyn Nets as a whole. The Washington Wizards (unbelievably) bullied the Nets, and earned their third consecutive victory along the way. The Well provided for NBA best bets, but the wrong player proposition was suggested. Nikola Vucevic earned 11 rebounds once again, but went zero for four behind the three point line.
Yves Missi, of the New Orleans Pelicans, was nowhere near his rebounding line, and the under was a successful prediction. This saved what could have been a terrible day of NBA best bets, instead the damage was slight. We dust ourselves off and get prepared for a profitable day.
NBA Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 2/6
There are six matches today, two of which are nationally televised on TNT. Today’s NBA best bets look to take advantage of teams playing in their second of back-to-back matches.
Once again bold moves are taken, but a sweep would yield a +4.22-unit return on investment!
Rockets vs. Timberwolves Prediction: Houston -7 Alt Line (+210 on Bet365) *Bet of the Night
The Minnesota Timberwolves invite the Houston Rockets to the Target Center, and it is projected to be a close match. The spread is currently -1 in favor of the home team, but there are not positive odds for either team's money line.
The Timberwolves hosted the Chicago Bulls last night and had the game under control before the fourth quarter. Only four of eleven home teams won yesterday, Minnesota was one of them. But the Rockets have had a full day’s rest to prepare for the Timberwolves, and should fine their rhythm.
Anthony Edwards put on a show last night; 37 minutes, 49 points, and 9 rebounds. One of his greatest performances, and if history is indication his numbers will drop against Houston. The second of back-to-back games will leave Edwards with tired legs, and he has shown a significant drop in points after a high minute, great effort game.
The Rockets come in with a four game losing streak and only 0.5 games ahead of the Denver Nuggets for third in the Western Conference. They need to halt the losing streak, and gain traction on Memphis before the All-Star break.
Take the alternate spread, and spike it up to -7 for the Rockets. The Timberwolves could punt on this match, or be physically outmatched by Houston. The Rockets allow just 108.6 points per game, and could hold Minnesota to under 100. It’s a bold move, but a move Fantasy Alarm is confident in.
Kings vs. Trail Blazers Prediction: Portland -2.5 Alt Line (+125 on Bet365)
One teased up line is not enough, the Betting Bungalow suggest teasing up the Portland Trailblazers to -2.5 from +1. It’s another match that the sportsbooks are throwing out and waiting on the sharks to move in on before alternating lines. A one-point spread is essentially a toss-up in the NBA, but the Portland Trail Blazer will win against the Sacramento Kings.
First and foremost, the Kings did not finish their game until 9:45 PM PT, had to gather everything, and travel to Portland for their second match in as many games. Second, the Kings lost their best scorer and added new pieces to their roster yesterday evening. They are a mix and match of players that have not developed any rhythm with each other, and it has shown over their last two games.
Last, and most importantly, Portland is the hottest team in the Association. They have won five in a row, and nine of their last ten games. They have played themselves back into contention, and are only 4.0 games back from eighth place in the Western Conference.
Has Head Coach Chauncy Billups finally molded his team into a mid tier team? Possibly, but the Northwest Division is once again the best in the NBA, and the gauntlet is going to be tough after the All-Star break. However iron sharpens iron, and Portland should take care of the visiting Sacramento Kings who come from one of the worst divisions in the NBA, the Pacific.
The Moda Center will be rocking, and Portland will secure their sixth win in a row. Put a unit on the alternate line, which is only a slight tease of 3.5 points.
NBA Player Props & Other Picks Today, 2/6
There was recently a double-unit NBA best bets wager on a player that made his first appearance in this column.
Today we go back to the player expecting the same results.
Pacers vs. Clippers Prediction: Kawhi Leonard Over 5.5 Rebounds (-115 on Bet365)
Two 28-win teams battle it out at the Intuit Dome. The Los Angeles Clippers host the Indiana Pacers in what should be a close match. The sportsbooks have it as a -5.5 point advantage for the Clippers, but the Clippers lost as -8.5 favorites against the Lakers in their most recent match.
Fantasy Alarm did not suggest for the Clippers to cover then and are not now. However a successful double unit wager was predicted for Kawhil Leonard, and he covered 4.5 rebounds. The sportsbooks have moved his rebounding line up one and removed the juice. The pick is for him to cover once again against the Eastern Conference’s fourth ranked team.
Leonard has six or more rebounds in his last four games, and the Pacers allow the eleventh most rebounds per game, 52.7. Lately the Pacers have been even more pathetic at rebounding, allowing an average of 62.3 per game over their last three games.
Indiana allowed 60 in their most recent match, and have a higher average on the road, 54.6 per game. The Clippers are currently sixth in the Western Conference, but only 3.0 games away from eleventh and out of the play-in. They are expected to win, and will come out with effort and enthusiasm.
Expect Leonard to be more of a presence and be a large factor in stopping their two-game losing streak. Put a unit on him to have at least six rebounds tonight.
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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.