NBA Best Bets Today: Predictions for Knicks-Spurs. Nets-Mavs and Julius Randle

The NBA has moved its big night to Tuesday for the remainder of the NFL season, which means we get a pair of prime time games on TNT in tonight’s three-game slate. 

First, the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers renew the league’s oldest rivalry, then the Brooklyn Nets and Kevin Durant face the Dallas Mavericks and Luka Doncic. 

Not too bad, Adam Silver. I’m in. 

Then again, when would I not be in for the NBA? 

We’re coming off a few .500 nights in the NBA to start the week, but tonight I’m hoping to get back on track by backing… my New York Knicks? That’s right. 

Here are all of my picks for Tuesday night’s slate:

All odds courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook.

NBA Best Bets Record to Date

• NBA Best Bets Record: 42-50-1 (-11.0512 units)

NBA Best Bets Today

• New York Knicks Moneyline vs. San Antonio Spurs (-110)
• Brooklyn Nets -1.5 vs. Dallas Mavericks (-110)
• Julius Randle OVER 9.5 Rebounds (+100)

New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs: Knicks Moneyline (-110)

Can you trust the Knicks after losing three straight games to fall under .500 for the first time this season? 

If there is a spot to trust New York, it’s on the road, where it is 6-4 against the spread. This is only the second back-to-back of the season for the Spurs, and they failed to cover in their first earlier this year.

This line has moved from New York -2.5 earlier today, but I'm still going to back the Knicks to get the win here.

These teams play very contrasting styles, as the Knicks are 25th in the league in pace while San Antonio is fifth. That being said, the Spurs have been much better defensively, No. 10 in defensive rating, compared to New York.

Give me the Knicks on the road where they simply have been a better team in the 2021-22 season.

Brooklyn Nets vs. Dallas Mavericks: Nets -1.5 (-110)

The Brooklyn Nets are looking to bounce back from a loss to the Chicago Bulls when they face the Dallas Mavericks in Texas on Tuesday. 

Brooklyn has struggled against the spread this season, but it still is 16-7 straight up heading into the matchup with the 11-11 Mavs. 

Dallas is viewed as a contender in the West, but it’s hard to keep giving the Mavs that credit when they rank 20th in the NBA in offensive rating and 18th in defensive rating. 

Are we seriously still considering the Mavericks a contender in the West? 

Dallas is 23rd in the NBA in net rating (minus-1.8) and just lost back-to-back games to the Zion Williamson-less New Orleans Pelicans and Ja Morant-less Memphis Grizzlies. 

Yes, Brooklyn is just 8-14-1 against the spread this season, but it’s rare you’re going to find the Nets as just 1.5-point favorites with both Kevin Durant and James Harden healthy. 

Even though Luka Doncic is probable in this game for the Mavs, I think Dallas is being overvalued in this spot. The Mavericks have covered just once in their last five games and haven’t covered in a loss since Nov. 19. 

I don’t think the Mavs will win this game, so I’m rolling with the Nets all day in Dallas.

Julius Randle OVER 9.5 Rebounds (+100)

Julius Randle and the Knicks desperately need this win, and there’s been talk that Tom Thibodeau could turn to the smaller Nerlens Noel at center in the starting lineup over Mitchell Robinson on Tuesday night. 

Randle has picked up double-digit rebounds in 13 of his 23 games this season and five of his last eight contests. He’s averaging 10.0 boards per game this season, and I think the Spurs (17th in rebounding percentage) give him a good chance to hit the over tonight. 

San Antonio is allowing 46.7 opponent rebounds per game this season which is the sixth most in the NBA.

BONUS PICK: RJ Barrett OVER 13.5 Points (-125)

RJ Barrett has really struggled over the past month, dropping his points per game average all the way down to 14.0, but he showed some signs of improvement with 13 points against the Denver Nuggets in the Knicks' last game.

Barrett has the ability to score 18-plus a night, but he's in a shooting slump at the moment. With his prop number falling all the way to 13.5, it may be time to jump back on the RJ train and hope for a bounce-back performance.