Top NBA Betting Picks for Monday, February 22
We’ve got an exciting six-game slate on tap tonight. We don’t have a true marquee matchup on this slate, but the battle between the banged-up Lakers and the fast-paced Wizards promises some interesting betting action — even our experts read the game differently. If you’re looking to get some skin in the game, our experts are here with their favorite betting picks for this slate.
Here are the top NBA betting plays for Monday, February 22, provided by BettingPros experts James Bisson, Raju Byfield, and Isaiah Sirois (Main game odds courtesy BettingPros Consensus; lock and prop odds sites may vary):
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Betting Lock of the Day
Bisson: Wizards-Lakers Under 227.5 (-110 at FD Sportsbook)
This total opened at 226, and for some reason, it’s rising as we get closer to tip-off. It’s clear the Lakers’ offense is in tatters without Anthony Davis and Dennis Schroder. And that means doubling down on the defensive effort – which will likely mean another slower-paced game like the ones they had against Brooklyn and Miami. I don’t see how these teams combine for this many points.
Sirois: Bulls -1 (-109 at DK Sportsbook)
The Houston Rockets haven’t won a game without Christian Wood, and yet they’re just one-point underdogs for this game against the Bulls. With Victor Oladipo doubtful, too, it’s hard to see how Houston can keep up with Zach LaVine and the rest of Chicago’s lineup. The Rockets rank fourth-worst in offensive efficiency over their last four games (and fifth-worst on the year), while the Bulls rank 12th-best over their last three (and 16th-best on the year). While Houston has played better defense than Chicago this season, their defensive efficiency has cratered from fourth-best to ninth-worst over their last three. The Bulls should easily win and cover a small spread tonight; my model favors them by a 3.3-point margin.
Top Team Prop of the Day
Bisson: Mavericks Over 119.5 (-110 at FD Sportsbook)
I’ll happily take the rested Mavericks to rack up 120-plus points against a weary Grizzlies team playing its fifth game in seven days. And let’s not forget how Dallas was playing before its lengthy respite, averaging 128 points over a five-game span in which it went 4-1. The conditions are ideal for the Mavs to light up the scoreboard.
Sirois: Bulls First Quarter -0.5 (+100 at FD Sportsbook)
I don’t understand the first-quarter lines for this game. The total (54.5) sits far below the full-season averages (these teams combine for 55.7 points per first quarter and 58.4 points allowed per first quarter), and the Rockets have allowed 35.3 points per first quarter over their last three, all of which went over that mark. But the Bulls’ first-quarter spread sits in the plus money, and Chicago outscored the Rockets by 12 points in the first quarter of their last game — yet Houston had Wood and Oladipo! Houston has won just one opening frame since Wood’s injury, and I don’t expect them to get their second such victory tonight.
Top Player Prop of the Day
Bisson: Kristaps Porzingis Over 21.5 Points (-104 at FD Sportsbook)
I like doubling down on value plays wherever possible, and taking KP in a spot where Dallas is expected to crush makes a lot of sense. Porzingis has caught fire in February, averaging 22.8 points per game. Coupled with his 23.0 ppg average in Dallas victories, there’s good reason to expect Porzingis to soar past his point prop.
Sirois: Terry Rozier Under 3.5 Three-Pointers (-110 at DK Sportsbook)
Rozier is hot right now. That means his unders have more value than usual. The Jazz give up the fewest three-pointers per game (11) and the second-fewest to shooting guards (2.76). Rozier went 2-for-8 from deep when he played the Jazz earlier this month, and he played 36 minutes in that game. Rozier is due for regression, and I expect to see some of that tonight.
Check out our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet for the top bets of the day >>
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