NBA Best Bets Today: Predictions for Knicks, Cavs, a Khris Middleton Prop and More

We've got a loaded Tuesday slate in the NBA, with eight different games and two MVP candidates (Steph Curry and Nikola Jokic) facing off tonight.

While I don't have a play in the Golden State Warriors-Denver Nuggets matchup, I'm looking to outperform last night's 2-2 record with four more picks for tonight's games.

Mikal Bridges missing his player prop for points last night isn't going to deter me from looking for value on two more overs tonight, involving Khris Middleton and a surprising Miami Heat player.

Plus, you know I'm backing my New York Knicks against the banged up Minnesota Timberwolves.

Let's break down these picks!

All odds courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook.

NBA Best Bets Record to Date

• NBA Best Bets Record: 67-76-2

NBA Best Bets Today

• New York Knicks -4.5 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (-110)
• Cleveland Cavaliers -4.5 vs. New Orleans Pelicans (-110)
• Khris Middleton OVER 17.5 Points (-125)
• Gabe Vincent OVER 12.5 Points (-115)

New York Knicks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves: Knicks -4.5 (-110)

The Timberwolves deserve some love for winning without Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards and D’Angelo Russell on Monday, but can we trust them on a back-to-back?

I don’t think so. 

The Knicks have been a tough team to bet on this season, but they’ve been slightly better on the road, going 8-7 against the spread. 

The big thing for me in this game is that New York should have RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin, Immanuel Quickley, Kevin Knox and Quentin Grimes all at full strength after their stints in the league’s health and safety protocols. 

With New York getting healthy, this is a prime spot to take advantage of a Minnesota team that is down several players and on a back-to-back. 

The Knicks seem to have found some continuity with Kemba Walker back in the rotation, and I’ll lay the 4.5 with them simply because Minnesota is putting together a makeshift roster. 

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New Orleans Pelicans: Cavs -4.5 (-110)

The New Orleans Pelicans will likely be down Brandon Ingram (Achilles) in addition to Zion Williamson (foot) when they take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night. 

Ingram’s injury throws a wrench into what has been a solid few weeks for the Pelicans. They lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder with Ingram exiting early on Sunday, and now they have to face a Cavs team that has been really solid so far this season. 

Cleveland is 9-0-1 against the spread when favored this season, and it has a great chance to improve to 10-0-1 tonight. New Orleans is 0-7 without Ingram this season, and it is averaging just 100.7 points per game in those matchups. 

Cleveland’s No. 2 defense should have no problem slowing down the Pelicans’ attack, and I think that 4.5 may be a generous line even though Cleveland has players in the health and safety protocols. 

Khris Middleton OVER 17.5 Points (-125)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton is having a bit of a down year scoring the ball, averaging 18.3 points per game while shooting 41.7 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from beyond the arc. 

However, Middleton has looked a lot better as of late, clearing the 20 point mark in nine of his last 11 games. Tonight, he and the Bucks will face a makeshift Orlando Magic squad that is just 26th in defensive rating and 25th in opponent effective field goal percentage. 

I’m surprised to see Middleton’s prop this low, especially since he had 17 points on Christmas Day, which was one of the two times he’s scored fewer than 17.5 points this month. 

I’ll gladly back the over in this matchup. 

Gabe Vincent OVER 12.5 Points (-115)

We’re digging deep for this pick, as Vincent has taken a bigger role for Miami with Kyle Lowry (health and safety protocols) out of the lineup. 

Vincent has started the last eight games for Miami, and he’s averaging 15.0 points per game while shooting 44.4 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from 3. He’s playing 33.4 minutes per game over that stretch and taking 12.4 shots per game. 

Miami is going to need Vincent to keep it going on Tuesday against a Washington Wizards team that is 21st in the NBA in defensive rating. Vincent has this prop in five of six games, including three straight.