NBA Best Bets Today (Predictions for Joel Embiid, Kyrie Irving, Grizzlies-Knicks and More)
By Peter Dewey
Fresh off a perfect night in the NBA Best Bets column, we're back today with five picks for a loaded NBA slate.
The best part?
We've got something for everybody, as today's picks feature a total, a spread and a moneyline pick as well as two prop bets.
We may want to call this the Joel Embiid edition since I'm backing him in multiple ways tonight, but that's up to the people. Let's dive into the action!
All odds courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook.
NBA Best Bets Record to Date
- NBA Best Bets Record: 107-113-2
NBA Best Bets Today
- Memphis Grizzlies-New York Knicks UNDER 217 (-110)
- Philadelphia 76ers -10 vs. Washington Wizards (-110)
- Denver Nuggets Moneyline vs. Utah Jazz (+130)
- Joel Embiid OVER 32.5 Points (-105)
- Kyrie Irving OVER 2.5 3-Pointers (+105)
Memphis Grizzlies vs. New York Knicks: UNDER 217 (-110)
I’m not going to hold a grudge against the Grizzlies after they burned me on Monday against the 76ers, but I’m also not going to back either side in this matchup.
The Knicks are far too inconsistent for me to get to this number on either side, but I do think there is some value on the total in this game.
New York plays at the slowest pace in the NBA this season, and it has been one of the best teams to bet the under on (28-22-1 on unders this season).
This total is a bit too high for my liking, as the Knicks have played six of their last games below this number. To further this point, both New York and Memphis are top-12 in the NBA in defensive rating this season.
I grabbed this totalt at 217 last night when the line was released, simply because I don’t believe the Knicks ever want to play a fast-paced game around this number.
I think this game is more of a grind it out affair, and if the Knicks can play to their style at home, it’s almost sure to go under.
Washington Wizards vs. Philadelphia 76ers: Sixers -10 (-110)
The Wizards are the worst road team in the NBA against the spread this season, going just 7-17-1.
This game is setting up to be a blowout for the Sixers with MVP favorite Joel Embiid back in the lineup.
Philly upset the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday without Embiid, and now they’ll face a Wizards team without their best offensive player, Bradley Beal, and top Embiid defender, Thomas Bryant, who sprained his ankle yesterday.
The Wizards are on the second game of a back-to-back and banged up facing the league’s best player over the past month. What could go wrong?
The Sixers are now top 12 in offensive and defensive rating this season, and I’m laying the points with them to get this done at home.
Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz: Nuggets Moneyline (+130)
I am all over Denver in this game and there are a variety of reasons as to why.
Denver has been playing well lately, winning seven of its last 10 games, and MVP candidate Nikola Jokic has been dominant over his last 20 games. He is averaging 26.2 points, 14.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game while shooting 55.1 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from deep over that stretch.
The Jazz, on the other hand, are not the same team when Rudy Gobert doesn’t play, and they will be without him, Donovan Mitchell and Joe Ingles on Wednesday.
Utah is just 1-8 when Gobert doesn’t play this season, and it has lost five straight games heading into this matchup.
Losing your defensive anchor and leading scorer at the same time is a recipe for disaster, and the numbers back up Utah’s poor record as of late. This team is losing because it simply has been horrible with Gobert out.
When Gobert is out of the lineup, the Jazz have a defensive rating of 122.0 this season, which would be the worst mark in the NBA by far. That, coupled with the lack of offense with Mitchell out makes this a perfect spot to take the Nuggets as an underdog.
Joel Embiid OVER 32.5 Points (-105)
Joel Embiid has been dominating as of late, and I’m going to back him against a struggling Wizards defense in this game.
Embiid has cleared 32.5 points in five of his last six games, and he’s averaging 33.9 points per game on 54.2 percent shooting from the field and 36.2 percent from 3 over his last 20 games.
The Wizards are down center Thomas Bryant, who hurt his ankle in last night’s loss, and Embiid already dropped 36 on them earlier this season.
I’ll take the over for him at -105 in this game.
Kyrie Irving OVER 2.5 3-Pointers (+105)
I took this prop last night, and Kyrie Irving cashed in with another three 3-pointers against the Phoenix Suns.
Kyrie has been solid from deep, hitting three or more 3-balls in five of his last six and six of his last nine games. The other things I love about this prop is that Irving has taken six or more 3-pointers in six straight games.
The Sacramento Kings are horrible defensively this season, ranking 29th in defensive rating, so I wouldn't be surprised if Kyrie has a big game as the Brooklyn Nets try to snap their five-game skid.
Peter Dewey’s betting record is 107-113-2 (-15.11 units) in the NBA this season. You can find all of his picks here.