Best bets for Wednesday's NBA games
Best bets for Wednesday's NBA games
ESPN PLUS ($ MATERIAL)
Post-All-Star break action is in full swing in the NBA, and as teams on opposite ends of the spectrum battle for either playoff contention or lottery position, each night presents at least a few games with solid betting value. Staying ahead of the curve on how teams will perform in the second half of the season should allow for profitable betting conditions.
On Wednesday nights, typically the busiest night of the week, our NBA experts -- Andre Snellings, Jordan Schultz and Doug Kezirian -- give their best bets for the night's slate of games. Lines displayed are from Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook as of Wednesday morning. As always, shop around for the best price.
Indiana Pacers (-1) at Dallas Mavericks
Total: 215.5
Snellings: The Pacers have won eight of their last 10 games by an average scoring margin of +10.8 PPG during that span. The Mavericks have lost five games in a row and seven of their last 10 with a scoring margin of -6.1 PPG. The Pacers also seemingly have more motivation to win, as they are battling to stay ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics for the third seed in the East. The Mavericks are settled into the lottery, currently eighth from the bottom in the NBA in a season in which they owe their first-round pick to settle a trade if they don't earn one of the top-5 picks. Overall, the Pacers seem like they should be giving more than a single point in this matchup.
Pick: Pacers -1
Kezirian: After absorbing the initial blow of Victor Oladipo's season-ending injury, the Pacers have been a pleasant surprise. They have won eight of 10 games and covered seven during that stretch. Meanwhile, Dallas recently demonstrated its intentions with a mid-season trade, acquiring injured All-Star Kristaps Porzingis. The Mavericks are headed towards the lottery, having lost five straight games overall and against the spread. Dallas still plays hard and Rick Carlisle is an excellent coach, but I have been impressed with Indiana's effort and Nate McMillan is in the discussion for Coach of the Year.
Pick: Pacers -1
Washington Wizards at Brooklyn Nets (-5)
Total: 238
Schultz: Washington is not invested in winning games right now. In fact, since dealing Otto Porter Jr. to the Bulls, the Wizards have dropped five of seven games, including four straight. Brooklyn meanwhile, is playing with tremendous confidence and purpose, in pursuit of its first playoff appearance in four years. With Caris LeVert healthy, the Nets have three lethal offensive weapons on the perimeter, all of whom do different things: Recent 3-point champion Joe Harris leads the NBA with his sniper-like 47.8 percent shooting from deep. First-time All-Star point guard D'Angelo Russell (20.5 PPG, 6.7 APG) is making every correct read, while the dynamic LeVert (15-7-5 with zero turnovers in just 26 minutes during Monday's beatdown of the Spurs) is back to his slashing ways. Give me the playoff-bound Nets -- big -- and let's keep this red-hot streak alive.
Pick: Nets -5
Portland Trail Blazers at Boston Celtics (-2.5)
Total: 226.5
Snellings: These teams lock horns tonight (8 p.m. ET, ESPN/WatchESPN) with nearly identical records, seemingly moving in opposite directions. The Celtics have lost all three games since the All-Star break and five of their last seven overall, and stand at 5-5 inwith a -0.9 average scoring margin in their last 10 outings. The Trail Blazers are undefeated since the break, and have gone 8-3 with a +9.4 average scoring margin in their last 11 games. The Celtics are on the second half of a back-to-back after being dominated by 23 points on Tuesday, are dealing with another public disagreement among their players, and just don't seem like they should be giving any points in this matchup.
Pick: Trail Blazers +2.5
Detroit Pistons at San Antonio Spurs (-4.5)
Total: 220.5
Kezirian: While the Lakers' struggles have justifiably commanded the spotlight, the Spurs are also worthy of attention. San Antonio has lost six of seven and failed to cover in 10 of its last 11 games. The lone cover was the team's first game after the All-Star break, when they were fresh. The Spurs own one of the league's oldest rosters and their eight-game "Rodeo Road Trip" seems to be wearing on them. Most NBA players will share that the first game home off a lengthy road trip typically feels like another road game, so I will back a Pistons squad that is trending in the right direction. Detroit has won seven of its last eight.
Pick: Pistons +4.5
Houston Rockets (-4) at Charlotte Hornets
Total: 227.5
Schultz: Wait, is Scott Foster in the building? No? OK, good! All jokes aside, despite enduring its fair share of problems, Houston may be in the early stages of a resurgence. Chris Paul is back in the lineup, which alleviates pressure off James Harden, who had his run of 32 straight 30-point games streak snapped. With CP3 back, the reigning MVP no longer has to dominate the ball -- at least not to the level we have grown accustomed to seeing of late -- nor does he have to create such a heavy dose of offense. Despite the Herculean efforts of All-Star Kemba Walker, Charlotte remains a middling roster that struggles to defend quality half-court offense. Harden being flanked by Paul will only add to Houston's 111.6 offensive efficiency rating -- second-best in the league -- and the Rockets will feast on the Hornets' leaky 21st-ranked defense.
Pick: Rockets -4
LA Clippers at Utah Jazz (-9.5)
Total: 227.5
Snellings: The Clippers are currently 0.5 games behind the Jazz for the sixth seed in the Western Conference, and both teams have won six of their last 10 games. The Jazz have produced better scoring margins on the season (+3.4, vs +0.6 for the Clippers) and over the last 10 games (+3.6, vs -1.4 for the Clippers). However, both teams are high-variance performers now, with each having at both a win and a loss by at least 27 points in their last six games. With the direct playoff race factored in, the odds of a close game or a Clippers outright win seem larger than the odds that the Jazz will blow LA out on Wednesday.
Pick: Clippers +9.5
ESPN PLUS ($ MATERIAL)
Post-All-Star break action is in full swing in the NBA, and as teams on opposite ends of the spectrum battle for either playoff contention or lottery position, each night presents at least a few games with solid betting value. Staying ahead of the curve on how teams will perform in the second half of the season should allow for profitable betting conditions.
On Wednesday nights, typically the busiest night of the week, our NBA experts -- Andre Snellings, Jordan Schultz and Doug Kezirian -- give their best bets for the night's slate of games. Lines displayed are from Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook as of Wednesday morning. As always, shop around for the best price.
Indiana Pacers (-1) at Dallas Mavericks
Total: 215.5
Snellings: The Pacers have won eight of their last 10 games by an average scoring margin of +10.8 PPG during that span. The Mavericks have lost five games in a row and seven of their last 10 with a scoring margin of -6.1 PPG. The Pacers also seemingly have more motivation to win, as they are battling to stay ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics for the third seed in the East. The Mavericks are settled into the lottery, currently eighth from the bottom in the NBA in a season in which they owe their first-round pick to settle a trade if they don't earn one of the top-5 picks. Overall, the Pacers seem like they should be giving more than a single point in this matchup.
Pick: Pacers -1
Kezirian: After absorbing the initial blow of Victor Oladipo's season-ending injury, the Pacers have been a pleasant surprise. They have won eight of 10 games and covered seven during that stretch. Meanwhile, Dallas recently demonstrated its intentions with a mid-season trade, acquiring injured All-Star Kristaps Porzingis. The Mavericks are headed towards the lottery, having lost five straight games overall and against the spread. Dallas still plays hard and Rick Carlisle is an excellent coach, but I have been impressed with Indiana's effort and Nate McMillan is in the discussion for Coach of the Year.
Pick: Pacers -1
Washington Wizards at Brooklyn Nets (-5)
Total: 238
Schultz: Washington is not invested in winning games right now. In fact, since dealing Otto Porter Jr. to the Bulls, the Wizards have dropped five of seven games, including four straight. Brooklyn meanwhile, is playing with tremendous confidence and purpose, in pursuit of its first playoff appearance in four years. With Caris LeVert healthy, the Nets have three lethal offensive weapons on the perimeter, all of whom do different things: Recent 3-point champion Joe Harris leads the NBA with his sniper-like 47.8 percent shooting from deep. First-time All-Star point guard D'Angelo Russell (20.5 PPG, 6.7 APG) is making every correct read, while the dynamic LeVert (15-7-5 with zero turnovers in just 26 minutes during Monday's beatdown of the Spurs) is back to his slashing ways. Give me the playoff-bound Nets -- big -- and let's keep this red-hot streak alive.
Pick: Nets -5
Portland Trail Blazers at Boston Celtics (-2.5)
Total: 226.5
Snellings: These teams lock horns tonight (8 p.m. ET, ESPN/WatchESPN) with nearly identical records, seemingly moving in opposite directions. The Celtics have lost all three games since the All-Star break and five of their last seven overall, and stand at 5-5 inwith a -0.9 average scoring margin in their last 10 outings. The Trail Blazers are undefeated since the break, and have gone 8-3 with a +9.4 average scoring margin in their last 11 games. The Celtics are on the second half of a back-to-back after being dominated by 23 points on Tuesday, are dealing with another public disagreement among their players, and just don't seem like they should be giving any points in this matchup.
Pick: Trail Blazers +2.5
Detroit Pistons at San Antonio Spurs (-4.5)
Total: 220.5
Kezirian: While the Lakers' struggles have justifiably commanded the spotlight, the Spurs are also worthy of attention. San Antonio has lost six of seven and failed to cover in 10 of its last 11 games. The lone cover was the team's first game after the All-Star break, when they were fresh. The Spurs own one of the league's oldest rosters and their eight-game "Rodeo Road Trip" seems to be wearing on them. Most NBA players will share that the first game home off a lengthy road trip typically feels like another road game, so I will back a Pistons squad that is trending in the right direction. Detroit has won seven of its last eight.
Pick: Pistons +4.5
Houston Rockets (-4) at Charlotte Hornets
Total: 227.5
Schultz: Wait, is Scott Foster in the building? No? OK, good! All jokes aside, despite enduring its fair share of problems, Houston may be in the early stages of a resurgence. Chris Paul is back in the lineup, which alleviates pressure off James Harden, who had his run of 32 straight 30-point games streak snapped. With CP3 back, the reigning MVP no longer has to dominate the ball -- at least not to the level we have grown accustomed to seeing of late -- nor does he have to create such a heavy dose of offense. Despite the Herculean efforts of All-Star Kemba Walker, Charlotte remains a middling roster that struggles to defend quality half-court offense. Harden being flanked by Paul will only add to Houston's 111.6 offensive efficiency rating -- second-best in the league -- and the Rockets will feast on the Hornets' leaky 21st-ranked defense.
Pick: Rockets -4
LA Clippers at Utah Jazz (-9.5)
Total: 227.5
Snellings: The Clippers are currently 0.5 games behind the Jazz for the sixth seed in the Western Conference, and both teams have won six of their last 10 games. The Jazz have produced better scoring margins on the season (+3.4, vs +0.6 for the Clippers) and over the last 10 games (+3.6, vs -1.4 for the Clippers). However, both teams are high-variance performers now, with each having at both a win and a loss by at least 27 points in their last six games. With the direct playoff race factored in, the odds of a close game or a Clippers outright win seem larger than the odds that the Jazz will blow LA out on Wednesday.
Pick: Clippers +9.5