It's a jam-packed Friday of NBA action. Nine games are on the schedule with plenty of intriguing matchups all over the board. Let's take a look at a few of these games for our best NBA picks & predictions.
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Friday’s Best NBA Picks & Predictions
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook unless otherwise specified)
Memphis Grizzlies at New Orleans Pelicans
We're getting another matchup between these underachieving Western Conference teams. Although they have not had a lot to cheer about this season, the previous three matchups have been exciting. Despite high point totals on the board - 236.5, 236.5, 240.5 - Memphis and New Orleans have produced plenty of points. They've gone 3-0 to the over in these games and cover that number by an average of 19 points.
Friday's matchup has the lowest total of any game between these two. It's a perfect time to play the over again. Neither team shoots the ball well, but neither defends the floor well. For what New Orleans lacks in shooting, they make up for by not turning the ball over and playing at a top-three pace in the league. Memphis also likes to get out and sports one of the best mid-range percentages in the league, which will help against one of the worst mid-range defenses in New Orleans.
This is a perfect matchup for both of these offenses. That's why both teams have scored at least 122 points in all three matchups and the point totals soar. There's no reason to believe that won't happen again here. With the lower total line, it's a perfect spot to play the over again.
Pick: Over 234.5 Points (-115)
Brooklyn Nets at Utah Jazz
We've gone over many times the success the Jazz have had scoring at home this season. With an 8.5 scoring differential between games played at home and on the road, the Jazz have one of the biggest home advantages in the league. This is a big reason why Utah is 15-11 against the spread (ATS) and 19-7 to the over at home on the season.
Typically, this is a spot I'd love to take the over. Brooklyn’s defense is atrocious and gives up the second-worst opponent effective field-goal rate (eFG%) and the worst opponent three-point rate in the league. Utah should have no issue scoring on Friday night. The concern is on the other side of the court.
Brooklyn has struggled significantly on the offensive end all season, especially lately. In January alone, Brooklyn has averaged just 104 points per game (PPG). In the third leg of a West Coast road trip, where they've averaged just 95.5 points in the first two games, I don't see them scoring enough to keep up with a good home offense in Utah. I'll be backing the Jazz to cover as one of my best bets.
Pick: Jazz -3.5 (-102 at BetMGM)
Detroit Pistons at Golden State Warriors
The nationally televised nightcap includes the Pistons traveling to San Francisco to take on the Warriors. It will be the second night of a back-to-back for Detroit with a Thursday matchup in Phoenix. Normally, this is a spot to fade a strong ATS team like Detroit, but Detroit is 6-0 straight up (SU) and 3-3 ATS in their last three games on no rest.
One reason Detroit has had a ton of success in these back-to-back situations is its depth. They're a team that can comfortably go 10 or 11 deep on any given night. Those fresh legs will give them an advantage against a Warriors team coming home after a four-game road trip where they lost Jimmy Butler for the season to a knee injury. The biggest place we'll see Golden State suffer is on the defensive end, like we saw when they allowed 124 points to the Jazz on Wednesday night.
Detroit's depth allows it to be competitive night in and night out. This is a big reason they've had such success this season and sit atop the Eastern Conference. The Warriors are finally back home, but without Butler, this is a prime spot for an emotional letdown in a nationally televised game. I'll back the Pistons to cover and round out my betting card.
Pick: Pistons -1.5 (-105)
