NBA Best Bets Today (Predictions for Darius Garland, Hawks-Cavs and Grizzlies-Pelicans)

After going 2-2 in our NBA Best Bets on Monday, I'm back with three picks for Tuesday's night's loaded slate.

We're really focusing on the Atlanta Hawks-Cleveland Cavaliers matchup, as I think Cleveland is criminally underrated in this game. The Cavs have moved to one-point underdogs at WynnBET since I placed my bet on them, and you'll find that's an even better number than what I go early on Tuesday morning.

Let's break down the three picks for tonight's action:

Let’s get into the four-pack of picks for Feb. 14:

All odds via WynnBET Sportsbook.

NBA Best Bets Record to Date

• NBA Best Bets Record: 123-130-2

NBA Best Bets Today

• Cleveland Cavaliers -1.5 vs. Atlanta Hawks (-110)
• Memphis Grizzlies -4 vs. New Orleans Pelicans (-110)
• Darius Garland OVER 20.5 Points (-115)

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Atlanta Hawks: Cavs -1.5 (-110)

Atlanta will be without one of its best players in this game, as John Collins (heel) is out through the All-Star break. 

Darius Garland has been battling a back injury for Cleveland, but he dropped 27 points in his last game after sitting out the team’s win over the Indiana Pacers. 

The Hawks may be the most bizarre team to bet on in the NBA. Last week, I noticed that they hadn’t covered the spread in a loss all season, and that has continued entering this game. 

Atlanta is currently 0-30 against the spread when it loses and 24-2 against the spread when it wins the game. Absolutely nuts. 

Atlanta has been an underdog at home just five times this season, going 2-3 ATS in those games, and I think the Hawks could be looking at another loss tonight. 

Losing Collins is killer against the frontcourt of Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and Kevin Love, and Atlanta is just 2-4 when Collins is out of the lineup this season and 22-47 all time when he misses a game. 

Cleveland has been elite against the spread all season, as it has the third best ATS record in the NBA at 34-20-3. With Garland back in the lineup, this is a perfect spot to back the Cavs on the road. 

Memphis Grizzlies vs. New Orleans Pelicans: Grizzlies -4 (-110)

The Grizzlies are the best team in the NBA against the spread this season, going 39-19, and they’ve been on an insane covering run since Christmas Day, going 20-5 ATS. 

This is a great spot for Memphis, as the Pelicans are just 5-5 against the spread in the second game of a back-to-back this season. 

The Pelicans have been playing much better as of late, and I discussed why the C.J. McCollum trade makes a ton of sense for their play-in hopes, but I don’t think they’ll be able to hold of this Memphis team on Tuesday. 

Six of the Grizzlies last eight wins have come by double-digits, so as long as Ja Morant (questionable) plays in this game, I’ll be backing Memphis. 

Darius Garland OVER 20.5 Points (-115)

Darius Garland has been dealing with a back injury, but he’s dropped 27, 27 and 24 points in his last three games and now he’s facing an Atlanta team that ranks 27th in the NBA in defensive rating on Tuesday. 

Garland is averaging 20.1 points per game while shooting over 47 percent from the field, and he’s the engine that makes the Cavs go. While Caris LeVert will take some shots from Garland, he has also opened things up for the young guard on the offensive end. 

I don’t trust Atlanta’s defense to hold up in this game with John Collins out, so I’ll back Garland to stay hot ahead of his appearance in the All-Star Game.

Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record in the NBA this season here.