Sunday NBA Betting Guide (2020)

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With NBA All-Star weekend now less than a week away, the NBA season has already crossed the halfway point as the battle for playoff positioning is beginning to heat up. While much of the focus as we end February and begin March will be on the college basketball landscape, the NBA still offers bettors ample opportunity for edges in games that mean just as much if not more to their team’s future prospects. Let’s take a look at two games that tip-off this evening that I’ll be getting down on.

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Utah Jazz at Houston Rockets (-3.5, O/U 232.5), 7:00 PM EST (via PointsBet)

With the loss of big man Clint Capella at the trade deadline, the Rockets have now seemingly taken a stance that small ball and speed will be a large part of their gameplan going forward. That approach to the game hit a snag on Friday night at Phoenix when the Rockets dropped a 127-91 decision, giving up 51 points to the Sun’s frontcourt of Kelly Oubre Jr. and DeAndre Ayton. Russell Westbrook did sit out that game on rest from playing the night prior, and shooting guard Eric Gordon also left early with a leg injury and remains questionable for this evening. The Rockets will have to figure out this new rotation and quick, as they welcome in a Jazz team who sits a half-game ahead of them in the fourth spot in the Western Conference playoff race. The Jazz have faced issues of their own as of late, dropping five of their last six following a run that saw them win 19 of 21. In this one, I expect the difference to be the Jazz utilizing their All-Star center Rudy Gobert to take advantage of the Rockets currently chaotic front three rotation.

Pick: Jazz +3.5

Miami Heat @ Portland Trail Blazers (-5, OU 232.5), 9:00 PM EST (via PointsBet)

Since opening up at Portland -3, we have seen this line continue to rise as money has been hammering the Trail Blazers at home in what I believe is for good reason. One big reason could potentially be Miami’s numbers on the road which have been putrid this season. Currently ranked fourth in the East with a home record of 22-3, the Heat have been unable to find much of any rhythm on the road, currently amassing a record of 12-4 away from home including 11-14-1 ATS. The Trail Blazers come into this one fresh off of a 42-point performance from All-Star Damian Lillard on Friday, a game in which they were robbed at the end after a non-call on what was an obvious goaltending. The Heat will also be without Jimmy Butler and Tyler Hero tonight, as they look to close out what will be three road games in five nights, a tall task for any team in the league. While they do get the added boost of their newly acquired trio of Andre Iguodala, Jae Crowder, and Solomon Hill being in uniform, I think we see an adjustment period for the chemistry that Portland is poised to take advantage of tonight.

Pick: Trail Blazers -5

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