NBA Picks

The Portland Trail Blazers make the second stop on a 3-game road trip on the Eastern Seaboard with a meeting in the nation’s capital with the Washington Wizards. The Blazers suffered a 102-94 loss to the Boston Celtics on Monday night, playing without leading scorer Deni Avdija due to a back ailment. He is a question mark for Tuesday’s game, and it’s a tough turnaround with no rest. The Blazers were able to cover as +8.5 underdogs in Boston. While the Blazers are 5-1 against the spread in the past 6 games, they are 3-4 ATS in 7 outings this season when playing on no rest.

The Wizards have dropped 9 in a row since Jan. 6, with their most recent victory coming against the visiting Orlando Magic. While Washington hasn’t been able to pick up many wins, it is doing a decent job in the covers department — going 3-1 ATS in the past 4 games. There is plenty of risk taking the Wizards at home, as they have dropped the past 5 games at home against the Blazers while also going 0-5 ATS. However, I’m banking on the Blazers running on fumes in this back-to-back situation — and we can go a little more aggressively on Washington if Avdija is unable to go.

Trail Blazers vs Wizards prediction: Washington +7 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to +6.

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Just about 2 weeks ago the Sacramento Kings took down the New York Knicks and will now be taking to the road to try and repeat the feat. They have suffered a few heavier losses since then, but will have a much better chance of staying in the game tonight. One person they did not have available when they last took on the Knicks was Domantas Sabonis. He has recorded 14 combined assists over his last 2 games so he provides this team with a great playmaking boost, along with someone who can match up well against Karl-Anthony Towns. Zach LaVine and Malik Monk are both listed as questionable to play but if they are cleared, this Kings offense could be in full swing.

Over the last 10 games there is not much to separate these sides in terms of performance. They have ranked 19th and 24th in net offensive and defensive rating. The Kings have however been far more efficient offensively, ranking 4th in true shooting percentage during that stretch. With the Knicks down in 23rd, that difference could be telling, especially with both teams in the bottom 10 of the league in pace during that time. There might not be enough possessions for the Knicks to create major separation in this game. Take the points on the Kings.

Sacramento Kings vs New York Knicks prediction: Kings +13.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to Kings +12.5.

Life without Giannis continues for the Bucks who have lost their superstar to a calf injury which will keep him out 4-6 weeks. That’s a big blow to an already hopeless situation in terms of catching the play-in tournament, if that timelines if correct Antetokounmpo will return early March when the Bucks’ faith will already likely be sealed. Without him they are just 3-11 SU in 14 games played, with two of those defeats coming at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers who they face on Tuesday.

The Sixers just played one of the weirdest games of the season against the Hornets on Monday, losing by 37 points. The game was competitive after the 1st quarter as Philly was down 28-22, but then the Hornets just shifted into a different gear and entering the 4th quarter they led by 50. Maxey scored a season low 6 points, while Embiid and Paul George both sat out. I’m hoping the Sixers can hit the reset button quickly as they return home for a game with the Bucks. Having Embiid back will be massive, he’s been on his best behavior averaging 28.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game over his last 8 outings.

Just one day after arguably their worst performance of the season, the Sixers are now double-digit favorites. That’s a bit of an overreaction to Giannis not playing, I’m thinking Milwaukee will be playing with a lot of pride here and after seeing that disaster of a performance on Monday I’m just not sure I trust the 76ers. Backing the points makes the most sense – the last 10 meetings have seen an average of 231.2 per game and the over has cashed in 5 of 6 meetings. Go with the over.

Bucks vs 76ers prediction: Over 219.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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The Brooklyn Nets haven’t won very many games this season, and it’s very unlikely that they’ll be able to get the job done against the Phoenix Suns. The Nets have dropped seven of the past nine meetings in the series, although they’ve at least held their own against the number, going 4-2 against the spread (ATS) in the past six meetings. We’ll look to the Over instead, which has cashed in three of the past four meetings, and six of the previous eight games in the series. That includes a 126-117 victory by the Suns at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Jan. 19 as the Over (214.5) cashed.

The Under has been a frequent result for the Suns lately, cashing in the past two games, and four of the past six. The total has also gone low at a 9-3 clip in the previous 12 games. Phoenix has been having a difficult time filling the basket, going for 106 or fewer points on offense in four of the past six games. However, while that sounds ominous for Over bettors, the Nets have allowed 115.1 PPG, and they’re 28th in the NBA, allowing teams to hit 49.0% from the field, while ranking dead-last in the NBA with teams hitting 38.3% from behind the arc. Look for Phoenix to score plenty, helping to cash the Over.

Over 212 (-110) at time of publishing. Playable to 213.5.

An easy win over the Kings is exactly what the East leading Pistons needed after their home loss to the Rockets a few days ago. Cade Cunningham led the way with 29 points and 11 assists, but now things get a lot trickier as they head to the Mile High City for a date with the Nuggets. This will be the first of two meetings, Detroit has a chance to overturn a pretty bad run in head-to-head meetings with all the players currently out for Denver. They’ve won just 2 of 16 against this team, Denver has also swept the last 2 regular season series and they’ve won the last 3 meetings by double-digits.

All of those numbers go out the window with Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon out, the Nuggets are severely handicapped without their 3-time MVP even if they’ve posted a 9-5 SU record over the 14 games he’s missed this season. Jamal Murray is finally putting up consistent All-Star numbers, but will it be enough against the defense of the Pistons? In their last 2 games the Nuggets put up just 102 and 107 points on the mediocre Bucks and a pretty bad Washington Wizards team. Denver has covered in just 1 of 4 home games, interestingly enough they have more 7 wins on the road than at Ball Arena this season.

Health will play a huge part in Tuesday’s game. Unlike the Pistons who have only Caris LeVert on the injury report, Denver has been decimated with injuries with 3 starters and a couple of rotation players currently being out. If the best team in the East cannot beat an injury hit Nuggets team by at least 7 points, then they have to take a real close look in the mirror. Take Detroit.

Pistons vs Nuggets prediction: Pistons -6.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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The Los Angeles Clippers have won 8 of their last 9 games and 15 of their last 18 heading into a road date with the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night. Once 6-21, the Clippers are firmly back in Western Conference play-in contention at 21-24. Of their 15 victories during this stretch, 9 have come by double-digits. That includes a 118-101 drubbing of the Jazz on January 1. Although that game was in Los Angeles, it’s not like a whole lot should change when the setting shifts to Utah. The Jazz don’t exactly have the most extreme home-court advantage in the NBA. This is simply a tale of 2 teams going in different directions, so my Clippers vs Jazz prediction is for the visitors to win and cover.

Facing one of the hottest teams in the association, it feels like the Jazz are just going to punt this game. It is the opening leg of a back-to-back situation and they probably have a better chance of beating a struggling Warriors squad on Wednesday. Keyonte George (24.2 ppg) is being given the night off for load management and Jusuf Nurkic (11.2 ppg, 10.2 rpg) is doubtful due to illness. Lauri Markkanen (27.9 ppg) has not played since January 12 because of conditioning reasons. There is a chance that Markkanen could return on Wednesday, but there is little reason for Utah to do that if George and Nurkic aren’t going to play. The home side might as well rest up its entire arsenal for Wednesday against Golden State. It’s surprising that the spread for this one is not in double-digits. The only reason why this isn’t a max play is because Kawhi Leonard is questionable for the Clippers.

Clippers vs Jazz prediction: Los Angeles -8.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to -10.

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