NBA Best Bets Today (Predictions for Kings-Spurs, Dejounte Murray and Grizzlies-Celtics)

The NBA Best Bets column is running hot, and we're looking to keep that going with three more picks on Thursday night.

Tonight, I have a pair of picks in the San Antonio Spurs-Sacramento Kings game as well as an upset pick.

Let's break down Thursday's action!

All odds via WynnBET Sportsbook.

NBA Best Bets Record to Date

• NBA Best Bets Record: 140-140-2

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

NBA Best Bets Today

• San Antonio Spurs -6.5 vs. Sacramento Kings (-110)
• Memphis Grizzlies Moneyline vs. Boston Celtics (+120)
• Dejounte Murray OVER 22.5 Points (-125)

Sacramento Kings vs. San Antonio Spurs: Spurs -6.5 (-110)

The Sacramento Kings were blown out by 30 by the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night, dropping their road record to a dismal 8-23 on the season. 

Now, Sacramento will get a short turnaround on Thursday when it takes on the San Antonio Spurs… you guessed it… on the road. 

The Kings haven’t been horrendous on back-to-backs this season (6-6 against the spread), but I can’t trust them in this spot given how poorly they play on the road. 

Sacramento is just 9-14 against the spread as a road underdog this season, while the Spurs are an impressive 9-4 as a home favorite in the 2021-22 campaign. 

I love betting on this Spurs team, and with the Kings’ defense ranking 29th in the NBA, I think the fast-paced Spurs will have a chance to exploit them tonight. 

San Antonio plays the No. 4 pace in the NBA, and the Kings like to push the ball as well, clocking in at No. 7. The difference? The Spurs are 13th in offense and 19th in defense while the Kings are 21st and 29th in those respective categories. 

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Boston Celtics: Grizzlies Moneyline (+120)

I am surprised to see Memphis as an underdog in this game, as the Celtics are without star Jaylen Brown (ankle) in this matchup. 

That’s huge for the Grizzlies, who have been elite when they hold the rest advantage this season. Memphis is in that spot again tonight, and it is 13-5 against the spread and 15-3 straight up when it comes into a game with more rest. 

The Celtics’ offense is going to need a ton out of Jayson Tatum to keep up with Memphis, and I think Ja Morant and company may be able to expose a Boston team that has played a rather favorable schedule as of late. 

I’ll take the Grizzlies to win this game. 

Dejounte Murray OVER 22.5 Points (-125)

This is an easy pick for me on Thursday night, as Dejounte Murray and the Spurs are facing the league’s second worst defense that is also playing the second night of a back-to-back. 

Murray has cleared this number in three of his last six games, and he dropped 25 on the Kings the last time these two teams played. 

Murray has also seen his shots increase as of late, taking 19.2 shots per game over his last 10. With Derrick White in Boston, the ball should be in Murray’s hands a ton in this game.