NBA Picks

Donovan Mitchell took the night off, and the Cavaliers still delivered an important win over Indiana. Although they failed to cover the spread, Cavs fans will be happy with the win, as it shows their team is improving a lot these days with just 1 loss in 5 games. Next up is a tough road game in Minnesota, but with Mitchell coming back and Cleveland winning 5 of 7 games vs West opponents, the Cavs won’t go to Minny waiving the white flag of surrender. Last season, we saw Cleveland sweep the regular season series, that too will add to the confidence levels of this team going into Thursday’s game.

Anthony Edwards and his Timberwolves have put together a solid 3-game win streak, beating Miami (twice) and the Washington Wizards. The offense was clicking in all 3 of those games, but this team has excelled even more on the other end — holding opponents to just 109.3 points per 100 possessions, which is the 3rd-best defensive efficiency over the past 10 games. They do an excellent job in limiting opponents’ shooting from the perimeter – the T’Wolves allow only the 6th-fewest threes per game, with opponents shooting 35%. They’ve won 12 of 15 games vs East teams and are 4-1 SU/ATS in their last 5 overall.

It’s been an up and down season for the Cavaliers so far; are we ready to trust them on the road against one of the more consistent West teams? I’m sure they’ll put up resistance here, but their recent defeat to Detroit tells me they’re not yet close to being the team that dominated the East last year. I’ll be taking Ant Man and co. in this one.

Cavaliers vs Timberwolves prediction: Minnesota Timberwolves -2.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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This line reflects where these teams are trending, not just where they sit in the standings. Chicago enters this matchup on a 3-game losing streak, and the market is clearly signaling that Miami is the more reliable side right now. Chicago’s inability to sustain offense and defensive focus over 4 quarters makes them a high-risk option here. For this ticket to cash, Miami doesn’t need an offensive explosion. The Heat simply need steady execution and a handful of defensive stretches where Chicago’s offense bogs down. That scenario is far from hypothetical. The Bulls’ biggest issue all season has been scoring stability complemented by a defense that can get exposed.

Defensively speaking, Chicago has shown repeated lapses, especially against disciplined teams that can patiently hunt mismatches. Miami excels in exactly that area. The number implies Miami is clearly better, and the matchup supports that belief. If Chicago’s offense hits one of its familiar dry spells, Miami has a realistic path not just to cover, but to separate by margin.

Heat vs Bulls prediction: Miami Heat -7.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to -8.

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The Dallas Mavericks continue to show flashes of promise, but consistency has been difficult to come by, especially when they’re expected to control games. Rookie Cooper Flagg has been a notable bright spot after a slow start, putting together a strong December and now averaging 18.9 points per game on 47.8% shooting. Despite his emergence, Dallas has struggled to generate reliable offense and defensive stops as a unit, particularly late in games. Those issues have shown up at the betting window, where the Mavericks are just 2-9 ATS as favorites, frequently failing to separate even against inferior competition.

Utah enters this matchup with far more cohesion and momentum, looking like the more complete roster top to bottom. Keyonte George has taken a major step forward as a primary scoring option at 24.3 points per game, while Lauri Markkanen continues to perform at an All-Star level, averaging 27.8 points and creating matchup problems across the floor. The Jazz are surrounded by complementary pieces that fit well and allow their stars to thrive. Utah also comes in battle tested after taking Oklahoma City to overtime last night, nearly pulling off a road upset. With Dallas struggling to justify favorite status and Utah playing confident, connected basketball, the Jazz offer strong value as an underdog in this spot.

Mavericks vs Jazz Prediction: Utah Jazz +6.5 (-105) available at time of publishing. Playable to +5.5.

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