Betsided

NBA Best Bets Today (Predictions for Tyrese Haliburton, Rockets-Pelicans and Mavericks-Celtics)

By Peter Dewey

Tyrese Haliburton could have a big game against the Hawks.
Tyrese Haliburton could have a big game against the Hawks. / Scott Taetsch/GettyImages
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Today’s one of the biggest days in all of college basketball, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to forget about the NBA.

I’ve got a trio of NBA picks to make today, as we’re eyeing two road dogs and a Tyrese Haliburton prop. 

Let’s break down Sunday’s picks: 

All odds via WynnBET Sportsbook.

NBA Best Bets Record to Date

  • NBA Best Bets Record: 148-150-3

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

NBA Best Bets Today

  • Tyrese Haliburton OVER 17.5 Points (-110)
  • Houston Rockets Moneyline vs. New Orleans Pelicans (+195)
  • Dallas Mavericks +7.5 vs. Boston Celtics (-110)

Tyrese Haliburton OVER 17.5 Points (-110)

Tyrese Haliburton has been an absolute beast since being traded to the Indiana Pacers, clearing this number in eight of his 12 games with the team while averaging 19.2 points per game and shooting 50.6 percent from the field over that stretch. 

Haliburton has cleared this line in almost every game he’s played without Malcom Brogdon in the lineup, and now he gets the Atlanta Hawks' No. 27 defense with Brogdon out due to a concussion. 

He’s coming off a 19-point game on 17 shots, and I expect his usage to be up with Brogdon out. Haliburton is averaging just over 13 shots per game since coming to Indiana. 

Houston Rockets vs. New Orleans Pelicans: Rockets Moneyline (+195)

C.J. McCollum and Brandon Ingram are both out of the lineup on Sunday against the Houston Rockets, as McCollum is in the league’s health and safety protocols while Ingram has a hamstring injury. 

The New Orleans Pelicans have lost four straight games, and they’ve been awful without Ingram this season, going a shocking 2-15 in the 17 games he’s missed this season. 

New Orleans hasn’t really kept games close lately either, losing by 24 to the Charlotte Hornets and 21 to the Memphis Grizzlies over this four-game slide. 

It’s a rare occurrence when I want to back Houston, but Jalen Green has been playing really well as of late, and Houston isn’t going to be outclassed talent wise with Ingram and McCollum out. 

I’ll back the Rockets to pull off the upset in this one. 

Dallas Mavericks vs. Boston Celtics: Mavs +7.5 (-110)

We’ll get a great matchup between two of the NBA’s top young stars in Boston today, as Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks come to town to face Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics.

I am very surprised that Boston is laying nearly eight points in this game, as the Mavericks have been one of the hotter teams in the NBA since the All-Star break. 

Over the last 10 games, Boston is No. 2 in offensive rating and No. 6 in defensive rating while the Mavericks are 11th and 14th in those respective categories. 

Boston has been the better team, but you can’t count out Doncic willing this Mavericks team to a win. 

Boston is just 13-18-1 against the spread as a home favorite this season, so I’m going to take the points with the Mavericks, as I think Boston is a bit overvalued here.

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