NBA Best Bets Today (Predictions for Jazz-Suns, Mavericks-Warriors and Tyrese Haliburton)
By Peter Dewey
We’ve got a loaded NBA slate on Sunday, and there are a pair of Western Conference showdowns that should be great games tonight.
The Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz will face off in a battle of last season’s top two seeds, and they’ll be followed by a Steph Curry versus Luka Doncic showdown in Golden State.
I have a pick in both of those matchups, as well as a player prop for Tyrese Haliburton in the Boston Celtics-Indiana Pacers matchup.
Let’s break down today’s picks:
All odds via WynnBET Sportsbook.
NBA Best Bets Record to Date
- NBA Best Bets Record: 131-137-2
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record in the NBA this season here.
NBA Best Bets Today
- Phoenix Suns Moneyline vs. Utah Jazz (+115)
- Tyrese Haliburton OVER 16.5 Points (-105)
- Golden State Warriors -3.5 vs. Dallas Mavericks (-110)
Utah Jazz vs. Phoenix Suns: Suns Moneyline (+115)
The Suns may be down Paul and Cameron Payne, but I am still shocked to see oddsmakers move them to underdogs at home against Utah.
Phoenix’s loss to the Pelicans was on the second night of a back-to-back, and I’m going to be all over the Suns to get the upset win tonight.
This season, the Suns are 8-2 straight up after a loss, the best mark in the NBA. In addition to that, we’re getting the Suns as a home dog for the first time this season. Phoenix is just 15-17 against the spread this season, but it has an average margin of victory of 8.5 points in those games. The Suns are tied for the best straight up record at home in the NBA at 26-6.
Utah may be playing well, but there’s no way I’m laying the points with the Jazz on the road, especially since they’ve been average as a road favorite this season (11-10 ATS).
This is as big of a buy low spot on the Suns as we may get all season.
Tyrese Haliburton OVER 16.5 Points (-105)
Tyrese Haliburton missed this line in his last game, but I think he’s due for a bounce back when the Indiana Pacers take on the Boston Celtics. Boston is No. 2 in the NBA in defensive rating, but it is on the second game of a back-to-back where it has hit the over in eight of 11 games this season.
This may be an uptempo game, as the Pacers are 27th in the league in defense, and I think Haliburton takes advantage. Haliburton cleared this line in his first four games with the Pacers, so I’ll buy low on him to get back on track in this game.
Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors: Warriors -3.5 (-110)
The Warriors 17-13-2 against the spread as a home favorite this season and have an average margin of victory of 11.8 points in those games. They’ve also won 26 of their 32 games at home this season.
Both of these defenses are top five in the NBA, but Curry and Doncic can take games over by themselves when they get going.
The Warriors didn’t exert much energy in a blowout win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, and now they are coming into this game fresh after two days off. The Warriors are 7-2-2 ATS this season with two or more days rest, and I think that benefits them against a Mavs team that had to play a tough game against the Utah Jazz on Friday.
Klay Thompson is questionable in this game, but I’m still bullish on the Warriors, especially if he suits up, considering that they beat the Mavericks by 38 the last time these two teams played.