NBA Odds, Picks & Predictions: Tuesday (2/25)
Right after the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade, NBA fans around the world circled tonight’s Mavericks-Lakers game. Unfortunately, Anthony Davis is still out and won’t play.
However, Luka Doncic is available and starting to get comfortable with Los Angeles. This will be one of two matchups featured on TNT. I’ve got a best bet for the Lakers-Mavericks game and one other.
Check it out below!
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Tuesday’s Best NBA Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Boston Celtics at Toronto Raptors
The Boston Celtics are 41-16 and playing incredible basketball right now. They just took care of business against the Knicks, 116-105, and have won five straight games heading into tonight’s showdown against the Raptors.
On the other hand, the Raptors are just 18-39. One more loss, and they’ll be at 40 losses before 20 wins. However, the Raptors still earned a win over the Suns last time out. This will be Toronto’s fourth consecutive home game. Let’s also not forget that the Raptors stunned the Celtics at home earlier this season, 110-97, holding the Celtics to below 40% from the field.
However, that likely won’t happen again.
After all, the Celtics rank fourth in the NBA in points per 100 possessions. Boston has also shot a 56.3% effective field goal percentage and currently leads the NBA in turnover percentage, giving the ball up below 12% of the time.
Conversely, the Raptors have allowed 116.5 points per 100 possessions. The defense is in the bottom ten in all major categories, including defense free throw rate, rebounding, and effective field goal percentage. The Celtics will likely take the former loss to the Raptors personally. They’ll be able to take advantage of Toronto’s bad defense.
In addition, the Celtics have limited teams to 110.8 points per 100 possessions. Toronto likely won’t consistently get high-quality looks tonight since the Celtics have held teams to an effective field goal percentage of 52.5%. The Celtics have also been very good at limiting free throws, and the Raptors are not even consistently getting to the foul line.
Let’s back the Celtics to take care of business at -10.5.
Pick: Celtics -10.5 (-115)
Dallas Mavericks at Los Angeles Lakers
The Dallas Mavericks would be really fun at full strength. However, newly acquired players like Caleb Martin and Anthony Davis are unavailable due to injury. In addition, Daniel Gafford won’t be back anytime soon. That said, the Mavericks could get some reinforcements tonight. Dwight Powell is a game-time decision, and P.J. Washington has played in the last couple of games.
Behind Kyrie Irving, the Mavericks are still a top-ten offense. Dallas has scored 116.8 points per 100 possessions and has shot an effective field goal percentage of 55.8%. However, anything Dallas does well, the Lakers do just as well on defense.
On the flip side, the offensive glass is the one area where Los Angeles has struggled on offense, but it’s likely the Lakers attack the offensive glass more. Dallas has allowed more than 30% of offensive rebounds per game, so there’s room for the Lakers to add more second chances. Additionally, the Mavericks have only forced 13.5% of turnovers. The Lakers should be strong with the ball tonight and win the turnover battle.
After a 126-102 blowout loss to the Warriors, it’s hard to imagine the Mavericks will give us much of a fight in tonight’s matchup in Los Angeles. I’m backing the Lakers at -9.5.
Pick: Lakers -9.5 (+100)