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Top NBA Odds, Picks & Predictions: Tuesday (12/12)

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There are five games scheduled for tonight’s NBA slate. Two of those five games will be featured on TNT.

Those two games are also arguably the most exciting games of the slate.

Therefore, I’ve added a best bet for tonight’s two nationally broadcasted games. Let’s sweep the board!

Go premium to view top prop bets based on Cover Probability, Expected Value & Star Rating >>

Tuesday’s Best NBA Bets

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook | All wagers are for 1 unit

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks

Fresh off an NBA In-Season Tournament Championship, the Lakers will look to regroup for a regular season game against the Dallas Mavericks.

The Lakers have listed Anthony Davis and LeBron James as game-time decisions. Meanwhile, the Mavericks have Kyrie Irving also listed as a game-time decision. However, Dallas won’t have Grant Williams, Maxi Kleber, or Tim Hardaway Jr.

The only star player guaranteed to play in this game is Luka Doncic. He’s added 32 points per game on 48.5% from the field. He’s also held the Mavericks score 119.7 points per 100 possessions with an effective field goal percentage of 56.8%. Dallas also turns the ball over just 12.1% of the time but likely won’t see the foul line often against the Lakers.

The Lakers have limited teams to a 15.2 free throw rate and have also held teams to 111.1 points per 100 possessions this season.

Dallas played yesterday and earned a 120-113 win over the Grizzlies on the road. The Mavericks didn’t have Irving, Williams, or Kleber in that game, either. However, the Lakers are playing much better basketball than the Grizzlies right now.

They match up poorly with the Mavericks. The Lakers are weak on the offensive glass but often get to the foul line. However, the Mavericks have held teams to a 17.7 free throw rate, which is the third-best defensive rate. The Lakers will get quality looks. They’re just inefficient on the glass to earn second chances.

Therefore, I’ll back the Mavericks at +1.5.

Bet: Mavericks +1.5 (-110)

Golden State Warriors vs. Phoenix Suns

Both teams should be well rested. Neither team has played in three days.

The Suns have already defeated the Warriors in two games this season. However, both games finished with a deficit in the single digits.

In this game, Kevin Durant is listed as a game-time decision for the Suns, with Grayson Allen and Nassir Little out for this game. Meanwhile, Chris Paul is questionable for tonight’s game with the Warriors.

That said, the Warriors are very good on the offensive glass. Golden State has earned 31.1% of offensive rebounds and should have success on the glass in this game. However, the Warriors don’t always get the best looks. They’ve got a 53.8% effective field goal percentage this season. That won’t fly against a Suns team that has limited teams to a 52.5% effective field goal percentage.

On the other hand, the Suns will see the foul line often. The Warriors have a defensive free throw rate of 22.5, while the Suns have a free throw rate of 26.2. The Suns are second in the NBA in that category.

Phoenix is also solid on the offensive glass, and while the Suns turn the ball over at a high rate, the Warriors are earning a low rate of turnovers on defense.

The Suns are a little better in many areas, allowing them to win multiple games against the Warriors. I like the Suns to earn another win and cover tonight against the Warriors.

Bet: Suns -3.5 (-110)

Make sure to check out our other best bets for Tuesday:

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