NBA Best Bets Today (Predictions for Josh Giddey, Celtics-Pistons, Jazz-Lakers and More
By Peter Dewey
We're inching closer to .500 in the NBA Best Bets column, and I've got four picks for tonight's action as the All-Star break nears.
The Atlanta Hawks continue to be a great team to bet on when they win (25-2 ATS), but they are 0-30 ATS when they lose. Despite that, I think they win and cover tonight behind Trae Young.
We've also got another Josh Giddey player prop, but this one may be going a different way than you think.
Let's break down all of tonight's picks!
All odds via WynnBET Sportsbook.
NBA Best Bets Record to Date
- NBA Best Bets Record: 125-131-2
NBA Best Bets Today
- Detroit Pistons-Boston Celtics UNDER 216.5 (-110)
- Atlanta Hawks -6 vs. Orlando Magic (-110)
- Utah Jazz -4.5 vs. Los Angeles Lakers (-110)
- Josh Giddey UNDER 16.5 Points (-110)
Detroit Pistons vs. Boston Celtics: UNDER 216.5 (-110)
The Boston Celtics have won nine straight games and are now the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference heading into the second leg of a back-to-back against the Detroit Pistons.
Boston’s defense has been insane over the past 10 games, moving it all the way into the No. 2 spot in defensive rating in the NBA.
I don’t know if I want to lay the 13.5 points with the Celtics on a back-to-back, as they’ve gone 5-4-1 against the spread in that spot so far this season.
However, Boston was able to rest players in the blowout win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, and I think the Celtics defense shows up once again tonight.
The Pistons rank 29th in the NBA in offensive rating, and if Joel Embiid was slowed by Boston on Tuesday, I can’t see the Pistons’ offense getting much going tonight. Boston beat Detroit 102-93 earlier this month, so I think the total at 216.5 is just a little too high.
Give me the under with Boston’s defense playing better than anyone else in the NBA.
Atlanta Hawks vs. Orlando Magic: Hawks -6 (-110)
The Magic had gone on a nice run to pick up some wins, but they have lost three straight games heading into Wednesday’s matchup.
The against the spread numbers don’t look good for Atlanta (3-7 ATS on the second game of a back-to-back, 3-6 ATS as a road favorite), but there is one trend that I am taking above the rest.
The Magic are dead last in the NBA in terms of ATS record as a home underdog, going 6-17 this season.
The Hawks offense is elite, even without Collins, as it ranks No. 2 in the NBA this season. The Magic clock in at No. 28 in offensive rating.
This is going to be a narrative changing game for a Hawks team that is 25-2 against the spread when it wins.
Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Jazz -4.5 (-110)
The Utah Jazz have won six straight games heading into their matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night.
Los Angeles is the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference, and it has yet to find success with LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook leading the way.
There is no way that I can get to this number for the Lakers, even at home.
The Jazz have been on fire since Donovan Mitchell returned to the lineup, and that has continued through Rudy Gobert’s return as well. Utah is the No. 1 offense in the NBA, while the Lakers rank 23rd in offensive rating this season.
Even though they’ve struggled, this is just the sixth time the Lakers have been an underdog at home this season. They are 2-3 against the spread so far in that spot, but I expect that record to get worse tonight.
Utah should be able to get whatever it wants against this Lakers defense, and with LeBron listed as questionable, I am staying far far away from the Lakers tonight.
Josh Giddey UNDER 16.5 Points (-110)
Josh Giddey Appreciation Night ends on Wednesday.
Giddey has been unreal as of late, winning us three different props in the past week on the NBA Best Bets column, but this points total is too high even though Giddey had 28 in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s overtime win over the New York Knicks.
Giddey has cleared this line just twice in his last 10 games, and he’s only done it 12 times all season.
The rookie simply doesn’t take enough shots, as his 22-shot game against the Knicks was an anomaly. Prior to that game, he was averaging 12.9 field goal attempts per game over his last 10 contests.
Fade Giddey as a scorer on Wednesday.
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record in the NBA this season here.