A 3-2 performance on Wednesday did not feel the way it should have. Josh Jackson sank Milwaukee’s chance of covering, and the Grizzlies/Timberwolves snuck past the over – what could have been. However, tonight is a new night and a chance to recover from two deflating beats. So without further ado, here are the best bets for tonight’s games:
Grizzlies (+2) at Timberwolves
Memphis have been impressive even without the help of young star Ja Morant (Questionable tonight). They have won three straight going into this matchup, scoring the ball at a respectable clip. By contrast, the Timberwolves have been ice-cold this season, ranking 28th in offense and 26th in defense. They are 1-6 against the spread in their last seven games against Memphis at home. The Grizzlies have played well on the road covering five times out of six. Everything seems to be trending towards a Memphis cover.
Jazz vs. Hawks UNDER 226.5 Points
The Hawks are looking to extend a one-game win streak after losing four in a row. Their scoring production has taken a hit in the absence of sharpshooters Danilo Gallinari and Bogdan Bogdanovic. Utah is not a great scoring team at 20th in the league, but they can defend, ranking 8th best in defensive efficiency. Over the last five games the Jazz played in Atlanta, the total has gone under four times. On top of that, the under has hit in 6 of Atlanta’s last seven road competitions. Utah will keep Atlanta’s offense in check, allowing the under to hit.
Celtics (-3) vs. Magic
The Celtics look to continue their streak of exceptional basketball against the Magic. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown’s stellar play have helped them win 6 of their last seven games. The Magic have not had any luck this season, losing both Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac to season-ending ACL tears. They have only covered the spread twice over their last seven games. On the contrary, Boston has covered five times out of their previous seven. Boston will take advantage of the injury-riddled Magic and get the cover.
Pelicans at Lakers OVER 218.5 Points
In their last six games, both the Pelicans and Lakers have recorded over 100 points. The Lakers are seventh in the league in scoring, and as the season goes on, New Orleans continues to climb up that list. The total has gone over in all of New Orleans’ past five games. Furthermore, in 11 games these teams have faced each other, the total has gone over eight times. Expect New Orleans to compete, giving the Lakers some trouble with the over hitting.
Clippers (-7) at Kings
The Kings are starting to wake up after sleepwalking into the 2020-2021 season. The bad news for them is that the Clippers came into this season with a vengeance. They are 3rd in the NBA in offensive efficiency, coupled with second-place in the Western Conference. Both Paul George and Kawhi Leonard have looked excellent of late and show no signs of slowing down. De’Aaron Fox is doing all he can, but the Kings have only covered once over seven games in January. The Clippers have covered eight times out of the last ten against Sacramento and will look to do the same tonight.
(Lines via BetMGM)
