Best bets for Wednesday's NBA games 🏀
Best bets for Wednesday's NBA games
ESPN PLUS ($ MATERIAL)
Trades have drastically reshaped several teams as the NBA trade deadline draws near. With the All-Star break just over a week away, the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors have the best records in the NBA. The race for playoff seeding and the NBA title at large is constantly changing, as is the race for draft positioning as teams look for a chance at Zion Williamson and other top prospects.
With all of the trades and injuries in play, staying ahead of the curve can allow for profitable betting conditions on any given night. With a big slate of games every Wednesday, we've asked a few of our NBA experts -- Doug Kezirian, Jordan Schultz and Andre Snellings -- to give their best bets for the night.
Lines displayed are from Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook on Wednesday afternoon. As always, shop around for the best price.
Charlotte Hornets at Dallas Mavericks (-6)
Total: 215
Snellings: The Mavericks have one of the best home records in the NBA at 18-7, but they just pulled off a franchise-altering trade that almost completely remade their team. With DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews and Dennis Smith Jr. now on the Knicks, and the centerpiece of their return package, Kristaps Porzingis, still on the shelf, it is hard to imagine that the current Mavs are as strong as they were pre-trade. And the Mavericks are only 5-6 with a +1.5 average scoring margin in their last 11 games anyway. They only won by more than five points three times during those 11 games. Meanwhile, over that same stretch, the Hornets went 7-4 with a +3 average scoring margin -- and they only lost by more than five points three times in those 11 games.
Pick: Hornets +6
Kezirian: There's plenty of justified optimism for the Mavs following their recent trade with the New York Knicks. However, Kristaps Porzingis is injured, and the Mavericks have a lot of moving parts right now. While coach Rick Carlisle tries to figure it all out, Charlotte is coming off a disappointing loss in which it blew a 20-point lead at home. I expect a motivated and focused Hornets squad to start strong.
Pick: Hornets +3, first half
Washington Wizards at Milwaukee Bucks(-12)
Total: 230
Schultz: The recent news of John Wall's ruptured Achilles only complicates matters for the free-falling Wizards. Despite admirable efforts from Bradley Beal -- he is averaging a career-high 24.8 PPG -- Washington has dropped four of its last five, including a 16-point home defeat to Milwaukee on Saturday. To make matters worse, the Wiz showed no fight and zero pride in surrendering 137 points to woeful Atlanta during Monday night's loss.
The Bucks meanwhile, rank in the league's top five of both offensive and defensive efficiency (No. 1), and are third in 3-pointers made. Owners of the league's best record, Coach Bud and Milwaukee have struck the perfect offensive balance by leaning heavily on the Greek Freak and first-time All-Star Khris Middleton while maintaining superior ball movement, spacing and constant motion. Bottom line: This is a terrible spot for Washington and we should expect nothing short of a sizable defeat.
Pick: Bucks -12
Denver Nuggets at Brooklyn Nets (-2)
Total: 224
Snellings: The Nuggets have been battling for the top spot in the Western Conference all season. The Nets have been surprisingly competitive in the Eastern Conference playoffs race, but their season-long level of play doesn't compare. Recently, it hasn't been that much more competitive. During their last 10 games, the Nuggets are 8-2 with a +9.7 average scoring margin, while the Nets are 6-4 with a +1 scoring margin and enter the game on a three-game losing streak. The Nuggets shouldn't be getting points in this matchup.
Pick: Nuggets +2
Houston Rockets (-2.5) at Sacramento Kings
Total: 234
Kezirian: These two teams combined for 244 points in their only other meeting this year, and this has all the makings of another track meet. The Kings lead the NBA in fast-break points and fast-break efficiency. They will clearly look to push the pace, relying on their youth and depth in addition to the speed of promising point guard De'Aaron Fox. The Rockets lead the NBA in 3-pointers attempted and made, and no team has a higher percentage of their points coming from behind the arc.
Pick: Over 234
ESPN PLUS ($ MATERIAL)
Trades have drastically reshaped several teams as the NBA trade deadline draws near. With the All-Star break just over a week away, the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors have the best records in the NBA. The race for playoff seeding and the NBA title at large is constantly changing, as is the race for draft positioning as teams look for a chance at Zion Williamson and other top prospects.
With all of the trades and injuries in play, staying ahead of the curve can allow for profitable betting conditions on any given night. With a big slate of games every Wednesday, we've asked a few of our NBA experts -- Doug Kezirian, Jordan Schultz and Andre Snellings -- to give their best bets for the night.
Lines displayed are from Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook on Wednesday afternoon. As always, shop around for the best price.
Charlotte Hornets at Dallas Mavericks (-6)
Total: 215
Snellings: The Mavericks have one of the best home records in the NBA at 18-7, but they just pulled off a franchise-altering trade that almost completely remade their team. With DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews and Dennis Smith Jr. now on the Knicks, and the centerpiece of their return package, Kristaps Porzingis, still on the shelf, it is hard to imagine that the current Mavs are as strong as they were pre-trade. And the Mavericks are only 5-6 with a +1.5 average scoring margin in their last 11 games anyway. They only won by more than five points three times during those 11 games. Meanwhile, over that same stretch, the Hornets went 7-4 with a +3 average scoring margin -- and they only lost by more than five points three times in those 11 games.
Pick: Hornets +6
Kezirian: There's plenty of justified optimism for the Mavs following their recent trade with the New York Knicks. However, Kristaps Porzingis is injured, and the Mavericks have a lot of moving parts right now. While coach Rick Carlisle tries to figure it all out, Charlotte is coming off a disappointing loss in which it blew a 20-point lead at home. I expect a motivated and focused Hornets squad to start strong.
Pick: Hornets +3, first half
Washington Wizards at Milwaukee Bucks(-12)
Total: 230
Schultz: The recent news of John Wall's ruptured Achilles only complicates matters for the free-falling Wizards. Despite admirable efforts from Bradley Beal -- he is averaging a career-high 24.8 PPG -- Washington has dropped four of its last five, including a 16-point home defeat to Milwaukee on Saturday. To make matters worse, the Wiz showed no fight and zero pride in surrendering 137 points to woeful Atlanta during Monday night's loss.
The Bucks meanwhile, rank in the league's top five of both offensive and defensive efficiency (No. 1), and are third in 3-pointers made. Owners of the league's best record, Coach Bud and Milwaukee have struck the perfect offensive balance by leaning heavily on the Greek Freak and first-time All-Star Khris Middleton while maintaining superior ball movement, spacing and constant motion. Bottom line: This is a terrible spot for Washington and we should expect nothing short of a sizable defeat.
Pick: Bucks -12
Denver Nuggets at Brooklyn Nets (-2)
Total: 224
Snellings: The Nuggets have been battling for the top spot in the Western Conference all season. The Nets have been surprisingly competitive in the Eastern Conference playoffs race, but their season-long level of play doesn't compare. Recently, it hasn't been that much more competitive. During their last 10 games, the Nuggets are 8-2 with a +9.7 average scoring margin, while the Nets are 6-4 with a +1 scoring margin and enter the game on a three-game losing streak. The Nuggets shouldn't be getting points in this matchup.
Pick: Nuggets +2
Houston Rockets (-2.5) at Sacramento Kings
Total: 234
Kezirian: These two teams combined for 244 points in their only other meeting this year, and this has all the makings of another track meet. The Kings lead the NBA in fast-break points and fast-break efficiency. They will clearly look to push the pace, relying on their youth and depth in addition to the speed of promising point guard De'Aaron Fox. The Rockets lead the NBA in 3-pointers attempted and made, and no team has a higher percentage of their points coming from behind the arc.
Pick: Over 234
