NBA Best Bets Today (Predictions for Julius Randle, Suns-Mavs and Warriors-Pacers)
By Peter Dewey
We’ve got three games in the NBA on Thursday night, and we should be in for a treat when the Phoenix Suns take on the Dallas Mavericks.
While Luka Doncic and Devin Booker battle it out, the New York Knicks host the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday as they try to snap a two-game skid.
Steph Curry and Klay Thompson will take on the Indiana Pacers in the late game as well, giving us three must-watch games, and must-bet games, tonight.
That’s right, I have at least one pick in every one of these games. Let’s jump into it!
All odds courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook.
NBA Best Bets Record to Date
- NBA Best Bets Record: 97-100-2
NBA Best Bets Today
- Phoenix Suns -2.5 vs. Dallas Mavericks (-110)
- Phoenix Suns-Dallas Mavericks UNDER 216.5 (-110)
- Indiana Pacers +11.5 vs. Golden State Warriors (-110)
- Julius Randle OVER 19.5 Points (-115)
Phoenix Suns vs. Dallas Mavericks: Suns -2.5 (-110) | UNDER 216.5 (-110)
Two of the hotter teams in the Western Conference face off on Thursday night, as the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks have both won four straight games.
Phoenix is without Deandre Ayton (ankle) for the second straight game on Thursday, but they handled the San Antonio Spurs without him the last time out.
The win over the Spurs moved the Suns to 11-6 against the spread as a road favorite this season, and they find themselves back in this spot again tonight.
Dallas has been great since Doncic returned to the lineup, but it hasn’t looked as dominant over the past few games.
These two teams have the top two defensive ratings over the past 15 games, and they are both in the top four this season. Dallas has gone below tonight’s total of 216.5 in 11 of its last 12 games, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a defensive battle tonight with the Mavs on a back-to-back.
I’m actually going to make two picks in this game, backing the Suns to cover and the under.
Indiana Pacers vs. Golden State Warriors: Pacers +11.5 (-110)
Am I crazy or is this way too many points to be giving the Pacers after they only lost by two to Golden State in their first meeting?
The Warriors have struggled without Draymond Green this season, going just 4-6, and he and Otto Porter won’t play in Thursday’s matchup.
While the Pacers are without Myles Turner, they got a huge game from Caris LeVert on Wednesday night and Malcolm Brogdon is back in the lineup.
The Warriors are just 4-7 against the spread in their last 11 games, and while they’ve been dominant at home (15-6-1 ATS), I can’t get to this number with Green out.
Indiana has been solid as an underdog this season, going 14-8 against the spread. The Pacers are also 5-2 against the spread on back-to-backs this season, the second best record in the NBA. I think the Warriors win, but give me the Pacers to cover and keep this game close.
Julius Randle OVER 19.5 Points (-115)
I’m surprised this Randle number has dropped below 20 points even though he had 21 points in the Knicks’ loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday.
Randle only scored 10 points in his first meeting with the Pelicans, but it was because RJ Barrett had a career-high 35 in the game and Randle took just nine shots.
Jules has cleared this number in four of his last eight games and is averaging 19.1 points per game on the seasons. New Orleans is just 24th in the NBA in defensive rating this season, so I think Randle can have a big game on Thursday.