The NBA lineup today is not one to miss. The contests include the Milwaukee Bucks squaring off against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center.

Check out our betting breakdown for the NBA’s action today.

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Friday at 8:52 PM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.

Today’s NBA Games: Betting Information

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Cleveland Cavaliers at Philadelphia 76ers Odds and Lines

The Cavaliers square off against the 76ers at 7:30 PM ET on Friday at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

• Favorite: Cavaliers (-3.5)
• Total: 229.5
• Moneyline: Cavaliers (-165) | 76ers (+140)

Toronto Raptors at Atlanta Hawks Odds and Lines

The Raptors will take the court against the Hawks at 7:30 PM ET on Friday at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

• Favorite: Hawks (-6.5)
• Total: 245.5
• Moneyline: Hawks (-275) | Raptors (+230)

Washington Wizards at Oklahoma City Thunder Odds and Lines

The Wizards hit the court against the Thunder at 8:00 PM ET on Friday at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

• Favorite: Thunder (-14.5)
• Total: 241.5
• Moneyline: Thunder (-1400) | Wizards (+800)

Miami Heat at New Orleans Pelicans Odds and Lines

The Heat will take on the Pelicans at 8:00 PM ET on Friday at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

• Favorite: Pelicans (-2.5)
• Total: 223.5
• Moneyline: Pelicans (-150) | Heat (+125)

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Phoenix Suns at Houston Rockets Odds and Lines

The Suns meet the Rockets at 8:00 PM ET on Friday at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

• Favorite: Suns (-3.5)
• Total: 228.5
• Moneyline: Suns (-150) | Rockets (+125)

Los Angeles Clippers at Memphis Grizzlies Odds and Lines

The Clippers play the Grizzlies at 8:00 PM ET on Friday at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee.

• Favorite: Clippers (-9.5)
• Total: 224.5
• Moneyline: Clippers (-500) | Grizzlies (+360)

Milwaukee Bucks at Minnesota Timberwolves Odds and Lines

The Bucks will play the Timberwolves at 10:00 PM ET on Friday at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

• Favorite: Timberwolves (-4.5)
• Total: 224.5
• Moneyline: Timberwolves (-190) | Bucks (+155)

Click here for a full betting preview

Denver Nuggets at Portland Trail Blazers Odds and Lines

The Nuggets play the Trail Blazers at 10:00 PM ET on Friday at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.

• Favorite: Nuggets (-8.5)
• Total: 218.5
• Moneyline: Nuggets (-450) | Trail Blazers (+340)

Charlotte Hornets at Golden State Warriors Odds and Lines

The Hornets will meet the Warriors at 10:00 PM ET on Friday at Chase Center in San Francisco, California.

• Favorite: Warriors (-13.5)
• Total: 229.5
• Moneyline: Warriors (-1200) | Hornets (+725)

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NBA action continues this week, and we preview the Saturday card, including Cavaliers vs 76ers, Clippers vs Grizzlies, and Bucks vs Timberwolves.

We have NBA tips throughout the year, and there is excellent value available at the best betting sites in Australia!

Saturday NBA Betting Tips

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Cleveland Cavaliers vs Philadelphia 76ers @ Wells Fargo Centre

The Cavaliers are one of the hottest teams in the NBA, having won six of their last seven.

However, their only recent loss came to the 76ers, so they need to bounce back against their Eastern Conference rivals.

The 76ers haven’t had all favours in the injury department, especially with Joel Embiid. However, they’re doing well enough to stay competitive.

Both games against the Cavaliers have been close, and that will likely be reflected in betting markets. The Cavaliers won the first game 122-119 on the road before losing 123-121 at home.

We expect bookmakers to have an even market framed, but because they’re playing so well, we’re picking the Cavaliers to get the job done on the road.

Punters could get value odds because they’re on the road, so snap up the early NBA lines.

Bet: Cleveland Cavaliers

Los Angeles Clippers vs Memphis Grizzlies @ FedExForum

Despite not having their best player in Ja Morant, the Grizzlies found some spirit before the All Star break.

They won their last two games against the Houston Rockets and Milwaukee Bucks, and beating the Bucks is a great effort.

Playing at home hasn’t helped the Grizzlies, who are 7-20 at FedExForum. However, they are good enough to cause an upset over the Clippers.

The Clippers have firmed with NBA Championship betting markets, and their 36-17 record is testament to that. They haven’t been the most consistent team going around, but they looked good when beating the Warriors 130-125.

Having Kawhi Leonard and Paul George at your disposal should mean championship wins. It’s eluding the Clippers, but they should be beating teams like the Grizzlies, especially with some rest under their belt.

Take the visitors to win and make their way up the Western Conference standings. We expect the Clippers to be around $1.60 with NBA odds.

Bet: Los Angeles Clippers

Milwaukee Bucks vs Minnesota Timberwolves @ Target Centre

Despite getting a new coach, and Doc Rivers at that, there are major concerns for the Milwaukee Bucks.

They ended the first half of the season with consecutive losses to the Miami Heat and Memphis Grizzlies, and that doesn’t look good on the form card.

We’re not sure what’s going wrong with the Bucks, who are 35-21, but firing your coach doesn’t always bode well.

Looking to add to their worries are the Timberwolves, who are playing well after posting four consecutive wins. They defeated the Bucks 129-105 a couple of weeks ago, which is an ideal form guide.

Many believe the Timberwolves will come back to the pack, but they have the players to make their mark in 2024.

We expect the home side to come out ahead and give the Bucks more problems.

Bet: Minnesota Timberwolves

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The San Antonio Spurs and Sacramento Kings are looking to do a hard reset following this year’s All-Star break, and both will have a golden opportunity to start fresh in tonight’s NBA odds.

Let’s get right into it with our in-depth preview and NBA picks for Spurs vs. Kings on Thursday, February 22.

Spurs vs Kings odds

Spurs vs Kings predictions

Believe it or not, it’s the San Antonio Spurs who have been playing the better basketball of the two lately.

While the Spurs still struggle offensively, they have managed to climb into the top half of the league in points allowed per 100 possessions in February. This defensive improvement will surely come in handy against a Sacramento Kings team known for its offensive prowess.

San Antonio has been an above-average team in defending the rim and the 3-point line this month, and the latter should come into play against a Kings team that launches threes at a very high rate but have fallen off a bit from outside in February. They’ll be playing at home, too, where they’re shooting 1.5 points worse this year.

Although the Spurs haven’t been overly generous to bettors this year, they have been better on the road than at home when getting points, and they have a clear edge with their improved 3-point defense.

On top of that, San Antonio’s been rather prolific in the mid-range — an area where the Kings have struggled all season long, and some of this team’s bite in the frontcourt could be gone or at least limited with Domantas Sabonis questionable (illness).

My best bet: Spurs +11 (-110 at DraftKings)

Spurs vs Kings same-game parlay

Spurs +10.5

Victor Wembanyama 2+ threes

Victor Wembanyama 10+ rebounds

I’ll start by combining the Kings spread with Victor Wembanyama to hit a pair of threes. He’s now done so in six straight games, taking 4.8 per game from deep, and the 20-year-old Unicorn is shooting 36% from downtown since the calendar turned to 2024.

To round out the SGP, we’ll be exploiting Sacramento’s deteriorating rebounding. The Kings have ranked 14th in that area for the year, and are down to 19th place for February. Although Wembanyama is currently experiencing a bit of a cold streak with his rebounding numbers, he has still managed to reach double digits in rebounds for 27 of his 49 games.

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Is it Mismatch Day in the NBA? There are seven teams favored by a touchdown or more on Thursday’s NBA odds board. The biggest of which is the Denver Nuggets.

The reigning NBA champs are an eye-popping 15-point home favorite for tonight’s matchup against the lowly Washington Wizards. The Wizards’ nine wins this season are only, um, bested by the poor Detroit Pistons.

Denver stumbled a bit heading into the All-Star break, and have spent much of the season struggling to cover big numbers. Does Washington have some value as a massive road dog? 

I break down this matchup and bring you the best bet, plus a same-game parlay in my NBA picks and predictions for Wizards vs. Nuggets.

Wizards vs Nuggets odds

Wizards vs Nuggets predictions

The Denver Nuggets’ goal in the unofficial second half of the season seems pretty simple. Be as healthy as possible in order to have the best chance to defend their NBA title.

They come out of the All-Star break with a 36-19 record and sit in fourth place in the Western Conference, just three games behind the first-place Minnesota Timberwolves. However, Denver went into the break in a bit of a slide.

The Nuggets had lost three in a row heading into All-Star weekend, thanks to an offense that was sputtering. The team averaged just 99.7 points in those losses. Now, some of that can be attributed to the fact that starting guards Jamal Murray and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope have both been nursing injuries and have missed some time.

Someone who has tried to pick up the slack has been Aaron Gordon. The Nuggets power forward is averaging 13.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game this season, but his production has seen an uptick lately. Gordon is putting up 15.1 points per game over his last nine games while shooting a solid 56.2% from the floor. He’ll have a great opportunity to keep that going in a great matchup against a Washington Wizards team devoid of any magic.

While a losing streak like this has been rare for the Nuggets, they are the norm for the Wizards, who went into the break losers of eight in a row. They now have five losing streaks of six games or more this season. 

Washington has not been good offensively, but on defense, they leak like a sieve. The Wizards rank 27th in defensive rating and 25th in opponent-effective field goal percentage. A lot of damage is done on the inside. Washington surrenders the second most points in the paint per game in the NBA.

While that might make you think about betting on some Nikola Jokic props, he tends to get numbers with less value due to his success and popularity. 

So, Gordon is the guy. Nearly 68% of his field goal attempts come from within five feet of the basket and the rest are mostly threes. His point total for this one is sitting at 14.5 and he’s gone Over that number in five of his last nine games.

My best bet: Aaron Gordon Over 14.5 points (-115 at DraftKings)

Wizards vs Nuggets same-game parlay

Aaron Gordon Over 14.5 points

Aaron Gordon Over 6.5 rebounds

Reggie Jackson Over 8.5 points

Buckets won’t be the only way Gordon impacts the game. He’s putting in more work on the glass of late as well, averaging 7.0 boards per game over his last 15 contests. The Wizards are the worst team in the NBA when it comes to rebounding rate. Add Over 6.5 rebounds for Gordon as well. 

Another player who has stepped up for the Nuggets has been backup guard Reggie Jackson. The veteran is averaging 10.9 points per game this season while shooting a solid 37.2% from beyond the arc. 

Both Jamal Murray and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are probable to play in this game, but they aren’t completely off the injury report and I wouldn’t be surprised if Nuggets head coach Mike Malone didn’t push them too hard here. Which could mean more of a run for Jackson. Add the Over on his 8.5 points.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Wizards vs Nuggets spread and Over/Under analysis

As noted, the Nuggets are the biggest favorites on the NBA betting board tonight, laying a whopping 15 points against the visiting Wizards at opening. And maybe that number is big enough to scare off some bettors because that’s where the number sits as of Thursday afternoon.

Now, the Nuggets are undoubtedly the better team in this matchup, ranking ninth in the Association in net rating compared to the Wizards 26th. Nikola Jokic could be a massive matchup problem for the Wizards as well. 

That said, this is a big number. Something the Nuggets haven’t done well this season is covering big numbers. They are just 2-7 ATS in their last nine games when laying 10 or more points. A recent example of this was their back-to-back games against the Portland Trail Blazers on Feb. 2 and 4 where they were favored by 14 and 15 points. The Nuggets won both games but only by 9 and 12 points. 

And with some key players still nursing some injuries I wouldn’t be surprised if Denver let off the gas late and allowed Washington to grab a backdoor cover. I’m staying away from the spread in this one.

When it comes to the total, that hit the board at 230.5 and that’s where it remains as of writing. Both teams have been trending toward the Under this season but for different reasons.

The Wizards as 25-29 O/U thanks to ranking 25th in offensive rating. The Nuggets are one of the best Under teams in the NBA at 19-35-1 thanks to an underrated defense and an offense that ranks 28th in pace. I’d have a slight lean to the Under here.

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Wizards vs Nuggets betting trend to know

The Nuggets are 2-7 ATS in their last nine games when favored by 10 or more points. Find more NBA betting trends for Wizards vs. Nuggets.

Wizards vs Nuggets game info

Wizards vs Nuggets latest injuries

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This article is part of our NBA Picks series.

For the latest NBA Odds, including NBA Futures and NBA player props, visit RotoWire’s NBA Betting page. We also have betting tools like Historical NBA Odds and ATS Standings. For up-to-date NBA player news and NBA Injury Report info, head to RotoWire’s NBA Lineups page.

Not sure where to bet? Check out our information on NBA Betting Apps and NBA Betting Sites.

If you play fantasy basketball, check out RotoWire’s NBA Fantasy Advice and helpful tools like our Current Fantasy Basketball Rankings and NBA DFS Lineup Optimizer.

Best Bets

De’Aaron Fox over 2.5 steals (+144) vs. Spurs

FanDuel, 2:48 PM CT

Alex Barutha: We’re getting significant plus money here, which makes this wager especially enticing. Fox is on a defensive hot streak, recording multiple swipes in 10 of the past 11 games (2.9 average) and at least one swipe in 18 of the past 19 (2.3 average). Importantly, the Spurs are sloppy. Over the past 30 days, they own the highest turnover rate, and they’re allowing the third-most steals to point guards during this stretch. 

Tre Mann O23.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-105) at Utah

DraftKings Sportsbook, 1pm CT

Nick Whalen: The Hornets will come out of the break still down LaMelo Ball, which means Mann should continue to start and play big minutes. He’s gone over this number in two of three games with Charlotte thus far, and he gets a fantastic matchup against the Utah Jazz, who rank dead-last in defensive rating and near the top of the league in pace over the last 10 games. No team gives up more assists and rebounds to point guards this season than Utah, making Mann’s O5.5 assists (-140) an intriguing play, as well.

 Jalen Brunson O6.5 assists (-144) at Philadelphia

FanDuel Sportsbook, 1pm CT

Nick Whalen: This has been one of my pet props all season, and we’re going right back to it out of the break. The Sixers are quite simply not the same team without Joel Embiid, having dropped seven of their last 10 while ranking 29th in defense and givin gup the second-most assists per game in the NBA over that span. While the Knicks will still be without OG Anunoby and Julius Randle, they should get some key pieces back tonight in Bojan Bogdanovic, Isaiah Hartenstein and Donte DiVincenzo. I’m also interested in Brunson O36.5 PTS+AST (-115) – a number he’s gone over in 11 of the last 15 games.

The Charlotte Hornets (13-41) may not have the most impressive record, but they have been impressive as of late. They come out of the All-Star break carrying a three-game winning streak on the back of stellar play from Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges. 

They will look to build on their streak on Thursday as they travel to face the NBA odds favorite Utah Jazz (26-30), who are trying to make it into the Play-In Tournament, sitting 2.5 games behind the final spot. The Hornets may be catching the Jazz at the right time, who are currently on a four-game losing skid and have also lost seven of their last nine and 10 of their last 14.

Can Brandon Miller extend Charlotte’s winning streak and keep the Jazz reeling? Or will Lauri Markkanen and company finally end the Jazz’s losing ways?

Continue reading for my free NBA picks and predictions for the Hornets vs Jazz matchup on Thursday, February 22nd.

Hornets vs Jazz odds

Hornets vs Jazz predictions

NBA action picks back up on Thursday night following the All-Star break with a whopping 12 games on tonight’s slate, and no game is arguably uglier than the Hornets vs Jazz matchup. The two teams combine for the fewest number of wins on the slate, and they currently rank 21st (Charlotte) and dead last (Utah) in turnover rate.

The Jazz would be the highlight of this matchup on paper, but things have been ugly for Utah as of late. Losers of four straight and 10 of their last 14, the Jazz have been outright horrendous as of late.

During that 14-game stretch, they‘ve ranked 27th in net rating and 30th in defensive rating. To their credit, they’ve ranked eighth in offensive rating and first in rebounding rate during that span, but it has all been for naught, given the points they’ve let up. In fact, they’ve given up an average of 134 points during their current four-game skid.

Maybe the Jazz will find better luck tonight against a Hornets team that has ranked 26th in offensive rating on the year. And while Charlotte is on a three-game winning streak, it didn’t exactly put up eye-opening offensive numbers in the process, managing just 122 and 111 points against the Hawks and Pacers heading into the break, the second-and fifth-worst teams in defensive rating on the year.

Charlotte just has not been great at generating good looks, managing the fourth-worst effective field goal percentage on the year. And on the other side they haven’t really been impressive either, allowing a league-worst 57.9% effective field goal percentage to date.

My best bet: Jazz -9.5 (-110 at FanDuel)

Hornets vs Jazz same-game parlay

While Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges have been the offensive motor as of late, an unsuspecting Nick Richards may actually be the player to benefit most from tonight’s matchup.

45.5% of the Hornets’ points this season have come from inside the paint this year, good for the 10th-best mark. The Jazz have allowed 52.3 points per game in the paint, putting them in the bottom third.

Richards has scored 12+ points in four straight games and in eight of his last 13, and his line for Thursday’s matchup sits at 11.5.

Another plus-matchup spot plays towards the aforementioned plethora of turnovers both of these teams commit, particularly the Hornets. Utah’s Collin Sexton averages 3.4 points per game on fast breaks, which ranks 15th-best in the league. What makes his ranking very impressive is that none of the 14 players ahead of him average fewer than 30 minutes per game (Sexton averages 24.6).

However, Sexton has seen a noticeable increase in playing time and usage since early January, and during that time (since January 13th) he actually has ranked seventh in fast break points. The only players ahead of him: Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, Devin Booker, Donovan Mitchell, De’Aaron Fox, and RJ Barrett.

This is an undeniably great spot for the speedy Sexton, which rounds out this same-game parlay.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Hornets vs Jazz spread and Over/Under analysis

Charlotte hasn’t just been poor in the win-loss column, it’s also been horrendous against the spread. Their 21-33 record in that regard is good for the third-worst cover rate on the season, and their 8-17 record on the road is the league’s worst.

And that comes despite having covered three straight during their current win streak. They had managed to cover just twice in the 10 games prior to that stretch.

The Jazz have played to a 30-25-1 record against the spread, with their 54.6% cover rate good for ninth-best in the league. They continue to be incredibly strong at home, going 18-9 in that split — the second-best mark in the league.

They’ve failed to cover in four straight and have covered just twice in their last seven, but had gone 14-6 against the spread prior to that.

The Hornets have been rather even on totals this year, going 28-26 to the Over. That evenness has carried over in home-away splits, playing to a 13-12 record favoring the Over on the road.

Conversely, Utah has gone 32-23-1 to the Over this year, good for a 58.2% rate of Overs; the third-highest on the season. The rate has been higher at home at 61.5%, playing 16-10-1 that way.

The Jazz have also gone 12-5 towards the Over in their last 17, largely in part due to their defensive struggles as of late.

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Hornets vs Jazz betting trend to know

The Jazz have hit the team total Over in 47 of their last 74 games (+16.15 Units / 19% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Hornets vs. Jazz.

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Hornets vs Jazz latest injuries

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The NBA returns for the second half of the season after a fun-filled All-Star Weekend. 

With the trade deadline and the ASG in the rearview mirror, the race for the playoffs should dominate headlines the rest of the way. 

Let’s dive into some of my favorite PrizePicks projections to target for Thursday night’s 12-game slate. 

Donte DiVincenzo (Knicks vs. 76ers) more than 19.5 points 

The Knicks have been dealing with multiple injuries since supplementing their roster at the trade deadline, but that has allowed for opportunities for others to step up into bigger roles.

Perhaps the biggest beneficiary has been DiVincenzo. 

In eight games since Julius Randle and OG Anunoby have been out with injuries, DiVincenzo has averaged 26.5 points per game.

He has scored more than 19.5 points in seven of those eight games. 

The matchup with the Sixers might not look ideal if looking at season-long stats, but they have really struggled defensively without Joel Embiid.

Over their last 11 games, since Embiid first injured his knee, the Sixers have the second-worst defensive rating in the league.  

DiVincenzo has been seeing incredible volume and should have no trouble beating this projection against the short-handed Sixers. 

Deni Avdija (Wizards vs. Nuggets) more than 22.5 points + rebounds 

The Wizards forward saw a massive minutes boost in the four games leading into the All-Star break, averaging 38.7 per game. The spike coincided with the trade of Daniel Gafford to the Mavericks. 

In addition to the trade opening up more minutes for Avdija, he has also seen a huge boost to his usage and rebounding rates.

In the four games since the Gafford trade, he saw his usage spike to 24.4% from 19.7% and his rebounding rate rise to 16.2% from 12.4%.

He has averaged 28.3 points and 11.5 rebounds during that time. 

Despite the tough matchup in Denver, the points-plus-rebounds projection is far too low for what appears to be a new role for the fourth-year forward. 

Austin Reaves (Lakers vs. Warriors) more than 17.5 points 

The Lakers have ruled out LeBron James with an ankle injury for their matchup with the Warriors.

James leaves behind a team-leading 29.1% usage rate and an average of 24.8 points per game that will need to be absorbed elsewhere. 

Per RotoGrinders CourtIQ tool, Reaves has posted a 24.1% usage rate (+3.1% above his season rate) with James off the floor this season.

Betting on the NBA?

His usage rate ranks third on the team among regular rotation players, behind just Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell.

Reaves has averaged 21.4 points per 36 minutes with James off the floor. 

The matchup is solid against a Warriors team that has played at the league’s 12th-fastest pace and ranks just 20th in defensive rating this season.

The Lakers should lean heavily on Reaves to help fill the massive scoring void left behind by James. 

After a seven-day All-Star Game break, the NBA regular season resumes Thursday night with a compelling battle between the Knicks and 76ers in South Philly.

The 76ers are positioned fifth in the Eastern Conference at 32-22.

However, they have struggled mightily since Joel Embiid’s suffered a knee injury Jan. 25.

The Sixers are 3-8 in their past 11 games, ranking 19th in offensive rating and 29th in defensive rating during that span — which can primarily be attributed to Embiid missing 10 of those contests.

Knicks vs. 76ers prediction

(7 p.m. ET, MSG)

The Knicks also have been on quite the roller coaster.

Just three weeks ago, they were the hottest team in basketball, closing January on a 15-2 run while leading the league in net rating during the month.

However, their run of dominance came to a screeching halt when the calendar hit February.

The Knicks have battled through injuries to key players, including their entire starting frontcourt, and have lost four straight games and five of their past six, averaging 106 points in the five losses with their only win coming against the lowly Grizzlies.

These teams have been difficult to feel out recently, but one thing that has remained consistent for both is their slow pace of play.

The Knicks rank 29th in pace on the season, and they’ve seen 13 of their past 17 games stay under the total.

Betting on the NBA?

Similarly, the Sixers have averaged 112 ppg during their latest stretch without Embiid, ranking 19th in pace and offensive rating in those 11 contests.

This total is too high for two offense-challenged teams.

Take the Under.

THE PLAY: Knicks-76ers Under 226 points (BetMGM).

It’s another exciting day of NBA basketball. Using our Basketball Forever betting bot we have simulated all of today’s games thousands of times to bring you the most reliable first basket predictions and bets for tonight’s slate.

1. KYLE KUZMA TO SCORE FIRST BASKET

Odds: +750
Edge: 0.8%
Probability: 12.6%
Matchup: Wizards vs. Nuggets (9:00PM EST)

Our Basketball Forever betting bot has identified the best NBA first basket bet for today’s NBA matchups, which is in the game between the Wizards vs. Nuggets. With a Probability of 12.6%, Kyle Kuzma is likely to score first basket in tonight’s game. Sitting at odds of +750 with FanDuel Sportsbook, our model has found an edge of 0.8%.

2. ANTHONY DAVIS TO SCORE FIRST BASKET

Odds: +450
Probability: 14%
Matchup: Lakers vs. Warriors (10:00PM EST)

Our next NBA first basket bet today comes in the Lakers vs. Warriors game. Using our betting bot, we have determined the probability of Anthony Davis scoring the first basket to be 14%. Our model found that Davis has the highest probability to get the first basket in tonight’s game.

We recommend wagering on Anthony Davis To Score First Basket in tonight’s matchup against the Warriors on BetMGM Sportsbook at +450 odds

3. DONOVAN MITCHELL TO SCORE FIRST BASKET

Odds: +450
Probably: 13.7%
Matchup: Cavaliers vs. Magic (7PM EST)

Another great option for first basket bets for tonight’s (2/22) NBA slate comes in the Cavaliers vs. Magic matchup. Our Basketball Forever betting bot has determined that the probability of Donovan Mitchell to get the first basket is 12.6% with the odds at +450 with BetMGM Sportsbook. We believe that this is a solid first basket wager with a good probability.

4. KRISTAPS PORZINGIS TO SCORE FIRST BASKET

Odds: +475
Probably: 12.4%
Matchup: Celtics vs. Bulls (7PM EST)

The last best NBA first basket bet for tonight comes in the Celtics vs. Bulls game. Our betting bot has found Kristaps Porzingis as the next best First basket bet for tonight. With a probability of 12.4% and odds of +475 on BetMGM Sportsbook. Our model recommends placing a first basket wager on Porzingis.

What Is an Edge in NBA Betting?

An edge occurs when the Dimers.com prediction model projects the probability of an event to be higher than the best odds available with the U.S Sportsbooks. Essentially, it means that the Dimers/Basketball Forever NBA model projects that a bet has a better chance of cashing than the sportsbooks do. That’s why the higher the edge, the better for you.

Although an edge does not guarantee a win, consistently taking picks with a higher betting edge can increase your chances of being a profitable bettor in the long run. This is an essential aspect of successful sports betting.

Responsible Gambling

Our commitment lies in advocating for responsible wagering to ensure a secure and pleasurable experience for everyone involved. Engaging in sports betting responsibly is paramount. Establishing a budget, comprehending the odds, and staying informed about the legal framework in your area are essential steps. Trusted platforms such as FanDuel and BetMGM actively support responsible betting practices, offering valuable resources to help individuals manage their wagering activities in a safe manner.

How to Join BetMGM

Famous for its wide range of betting options, BetMGM enables users to wager on virtually every aspect of major sporting events, including game results and individual player performances. Moreover, it provides comprehensive in-game betting features, allowing bettors to place wagers while the action unfolds, heightening the excitement. For newcomers, BetMGM offers an enticing welcome bonus that allows you to instantly enter the game of sports betting with a nice bankroll to work with.

BetMGM Sportsbook is available in the following states: AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NJ, NV, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, and WY. 

How to Join FanDuel Sportsbook

FanDuel offers a user-friendly platform tailored for newcomers to sports betting. It boasts a diverse selection of betting options, encompassing traditional choices such as point spreads and moneylines, along with an extensive range of prop bets. Moreover, FanDuel extends a generous welcome bonus, providing new users with a layup as they start their betting journey.

FanDuel Sportsbook is available in the following states: AZ, CO, CT, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, and WY.

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We’re targeting a few underappreciated Los Angeles players against Golden State on Thursday with our top Lakers vs. Warriors NBA player props based on the best NBA odds from our best NBA betting sites.

The NBA is back in full force Thursday after a brief hiatus for the All-Star break. And neither the Los Angeles Lakers (30-26) nor the Golden State Warriors (27-26) can afford a loss in Thursday’s nightcap, which tips off at 10 p.m. on TNT.

Both of these teams are among the favorites by our NBA play-in tournament odds to make the four-team tournament in the Western Conference, which is all too familiar for these squads in recent years. The Lakers currently sit ninth in the West, just ahead of the 10th-place Warriors, as each team tries to stay above .500 over the final two months of the regular season.

These teams combined for 289 points during the last meeting on Jan. 27, but the Lakers will be without LeBron James (ankle) this time around. Which players can take advantage of what should be another high-scoring affair?

Along with our NBA best bets for Thursday, here are our best Lakers vs. Warriors NBA player props and NBA picks (odds via our

best NBA betting sites; Pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Lakers vs. Warriors NBA player props: Thursday

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Lakers vs. Warriors props

Austin Reaves Over 4.5 1Q points (+110 via bet365)

With James sidelined for the Lakers, the natural instinct would be to bet teammate Anthony Davis’ points prop. Yet I find myself more drawn to Austin Reaves assuming a larger scoring role in James’ absence is coming, especially early in the game.

Since Reaves entered the starting lineup on Jan. 3, he’s scored 17 points per game while averaging 4.6 points in the first quarter of those 22 starts. Those numbers jump to 19.7 and 6.1, respectively, in seven games with James sidelined.

Reaves scored eight and 11 points in the first quarter of James’ last two games on the shelf, and I’d expect him to get off to a hot start against a Warriors defense that’s been struggling early in games this season. These +110 odds via bet365 are the icing on the cake for a bet that should be priced at even money, at worst.

Stephen Curry Over 5.5 threes (-113 via FanDuel)

You’ll never need to twist my arm to bet the Over on Stephen Curry’s 3-point prop, but this feels like an especially prudent time to back the greatest shooter in NBA history.

Curry was on an all-time heater in the week before the All-Star break, attempting 16-plus threes in four of his final five games and sinking seven-plus in each of those four contests. Then he went supernova in the Stephen vs. Sabrina 3-Point Challenge before resting up before Thursday’s return to action.

His reward? A date with an exploitable Lakers defense that ranks 28th in 3-point attempts per game allowed (37.8) and made triples given up to opposing point guards (3.4). It feels like a 3-point eruption could be brewing on Thursday night.

Rui Hachimura Over 0.5 blocks (+120 via bet365)

I’m less bullish on this bet than the other two, but this still feels like too generous of a price on Rui Hachimura to clear a fairly reasonable bar.

Hachimura is coming off a career-best performance before the All-Star break, when he scored 36 points against the Utah Jazz with James on the bench. That should help secure his playing time on Thursday, especially with James sidelined for the second straight game.

The 26-year-old has blocked at least one shot in five of six games this season when he’s received at least 33 minutes, like what he saw in that win over the Utah Jazz and should see again in this one. With at least one block in three of his last four games, too, I’ll happily grab this +120 price at bet365 on Hachimura staying active on the defensive end.

Lakers-Warriors NBA player props made Thursday at 1:35 p.m. ET.

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