The National Basketball Association (NBA) has a total of 10 games on the slate, including a nationally-televised doubleheader on NBC/Peacock. The Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks square off at 8:00 p.m. ET in the first game of the doubleheader, while the Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers meet at 11:00 p.m. ET in the second end. Let’s build our bankroll with our best NBA picks & predictions for Tuesday, February 3.
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Tuesday’s Best NBA Picks & Predictions
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook | All bets are for 1 unit
Los Angeles Lakers (-320) at Brooklyn Nets (+260) | O/U 222.5 (-110/-110)
The Lakers (29-19) meet the Nets (13-35) at Barclays Center, as they wrap up a massive eight-game road trip. There have been a lot of ups and downs on the trip, going 4-3 straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS), with the Under going 5-2 on the journey, and 6-2 across the previous eight games overall.
Brooklyn is coming off an embarrassing 130-77 loss in Detroit as a 14-point underdog, emphatically putting an end to its 3-0 ATS run, while cashing low in three of the past four outings. The 77 points weren’t close to a season-low, though, as Brooklyn was blasted 120-66 at New York on Jan. 21. The Nets have lost by 54, 37, and 53 in three of the previous seven outings.
That being said, it’s a good idea to back Los Angeles to get the job done by at least four buckets. Only Bronny James (leg) and Austin Reaves (calf) are listed on the injury report, both carrying questionable tags. The Nets have Noah Clowney (back) listed as probable, as is Ziaire Williams (calf). Haywood Highsmith (knee surgery) remains out indefinitely.
We’re going to keep it short but sweet so that we can make three picks on the lengthy slate. Back the Lakers laying the points, and let’s go low on the total, too.
Picks: Lakers -8 (-110) & Under 222.5 Points (-110)
Philadelphia 76ers (+114) at Golden State Warriors (-134) | O/U 218.5 (-110/-110)
The 76ers (28-21) and the Warriors (27-23) meet at Chase Center in San Francisco. Philadelphia won the first meeting this season in a low-scoring, but thrilling 99-98 win on Dec. 4 at Xfinity Mobile Arena, although Golden State grabbed the cover as a 4-point underdog while the Under (223.5) cashed.
This is the second stop of a five-game road trip, and so far, so good for Philly. It belted the LA Clippers 128-113 on Monday night, covering as a 1.5-point favorite as the Over (219.5) cashed. But, now it faces a quick turnaround.
Philly won its most recent game on no rest, but that was at home on Jan. 27 in a 139-122 win over the Bucks as 10.5-point favorites while the Over (219.5) cashed. No rest isn’t necessarily a bad thing for the Sixers, though, as they’ve won five of the past six outright when playing on no rest, while going 8-1 ATS in 9 tries this season when playing the second end of a back-to-back. They’re 6-3 SU, with the Over 6-3, in those games, too.
Golden State lost 131-124 last time out on Friday, and it is just 2-4 SU/ATS in the past six games, with the Over going 7-2 across the previous nine outings.
Let’s back Philadelphia to grab the cover, and if you’re less conservative, roll the dice on a moneyline play. We’ll go Over on the total, too, based on the Philly B2B trends, and Golden State’s recent run against the total.
Picks: 76ers +2.5 (-110) & Over 218.5 Points (-110)
Phoenix Suns (-168) at Portland Trail Blazers (+142) | O/U 217.5 (-114/-108)
The Suns (30-20) and Trail Blazers (23-27) meet at Moda Center in the 11 p.m. ET tip on NBC/Peacock. Phoenix has won five of the past seven in this series, including a 127-110 win as a 1.5-point underdog in the most recent visit to the PDX on Nov. 18 in the first meeting this season. The Over (235.5) cashed then, and it is 3-0 in the past three in the series, all in Portland. In fact, the Over has hit in four straight meetings at Moda Center.
Phoenix was trampled 117-93 at home by the Clippers on Sunday, failing as a 3-point favorite while the Over (209.5) cashed. The Suns are just 2-4 ATS in the past six outings, while the Under has connected in four of the past six games, too.
For Portland, it was knocked around 130-111 by Cleveland on Sunday, failing as a 4-point ‘dog at home while the Over (227.5) cashed. Portland has dropped five in a row, while going 1-4 ATS in the skid. The Over halted a 4-0 run to the Under.
We’ll stick with the hotter team, pun totally intended, and that’s the Suns. Additionally, let’s go low on the total, based on the recent play of Rip City.
Picks: Suns -3.5 (-110) & Under 217.5 Points (-106)
Joe Williams is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Joe, check out his archive and follow him @winwithjoe