NBA Best Bets Today: Predictions for Timberwolves, Grizzlies, Heat and More

The NBA is entering a tough part of the season, as three games on Sunday have been postponed with teams experiencing a shortage in players due to the latest COVID-19 outbreak.

For all of us NBA bettors out there, the injury report has been our best friend with trying to figure out who to back due to all of the players sitting out.

As we all look to stay safe from COVID-19, I have a few plays on the games that are still going on in tonight's slate.

All odds courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook.

NBA Best Bets Record to Date

• NBA Best Bets Record: 51-66-2

NBA Best Bets Today

• Memphis Grizzlies -5 vs. Portland Trail Blazers (-110)
• Miami Heat -6.5 vs. Detroit Pistons (-110)
• Minnesota Timberwolves -3 vs. Dallas Mavericks (-110)
• Dewayne Dedmon OVER 9.5 Rebounds (+100)

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Memphis Grizzlies: Grizzlies -5 (-110)

The Memphis Grizzlies are one of the hottest teams in the NBA, winning nine of their last 10 and five straight games to climb into the No. 4 spot in the Western Conference. 

Memphis is a shocking 10-1 without Ja Morant this season. It hopes to continue that trend when it faces the Portland Trail Blazers and Damian Lillard on Sunday. 

Dame may be back in the lineup for Portland, but this team is still a league-worst 1-11 on the road this season. 

Memphis, on the other hand, is one of the league’s better home teams, going 11-6 straight up and 10-7 against the spread this season. The Grizzlies are also third in the NBA in ATS record at 19-11 on the season. 

Similar to their matchup last week, I think the Grizzlies are too good defensively for this Blazers team to keep up. Memphis has flipped the script on that end of the floor since Dillon Brooks came back, rising from a bottom three defense to 16th in the NBA in defensive rating. 

Portland is 28th in the NBA in defensive rating. It has been even worse on the road, ranking 30th in defensive rating and allowing 115.8 points per game. 

Memphis is rolling right now, and I think it can cover the five points in this matchup. 

Miami Heat vs. Detroit Pistons: Heat -6.5 (-110)

Detroit has lost 14 straight games and is on the second night of a back-to-back after losing to the Houston Rockets on Saturday. 

Rookie guard Cade Cunningham has looked impressive at times, but this Detroit team simply stinks, ranking 29th in offensive rating, 22nd in defensive rating, 29th in net rating and dead last in effective field goal percentage this season. 

Detroit has still covered in 13 of its 28 games this season, but it’s also lost 10 of its 14 games on this losing streak by eight or more points. 

Even with the Heat extremely banged up, Kyle Lowry, Gabe Vincent and Max Strus have come up big offensively to keep Erik Spoelstra’s team among the top contenders in the East. 

I think Miami can still win this game handily, especially with Detroit being on a back-to-back. 

Dallas Mavericks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves: Timberwolves -3 (-110)

The Mavericks have covered in three straight games without Luka Doncic, but I’m not as confident when they face a Timberwolves team that has looked impressive so far this year. 

Minnesota is eighth in the NBA in defensive rating, and it should make things tough on the Mavs without their best player. Jalen Brunson has done an admirable job filling in for Doncic, but he’s going to have to deal with Patrick Beverley on Sunday. 

After losing five straight, the Wolves have covered in their last three wins, taking those games by a combined 40 points. I’ll back them at this number with the Mavericks banged up and dealing with players in the health and safety protocols. 

Dewayne Dedmon OVER 9.5 Rebounds (+100)

Heat center Dewayne Dedmon has done an admirable job filling in for Bam Adebayo, scoring in double figures in four straight games and posting a pair of double-doubles in the process. 

Over his last nine games (all starts), Dedmon is averaging 9.4 points and 9.3 rebounds per game for Miami and is facing a Pistons team tonight that is dead last in rebounding percentage (47.7 percent) in the league. 

I think he can find double-digit boards and with his scoring coming along, I don’t mind sprinkling on him to get another double-double at +210 at WynnBET. 

BONUS Pick: Los Angeles Lakers Moneyline (+200) vs. Chicago Bulls

Both teams are dealing with COVID-19 absences, but as long as LeBron James is able to play, the Lakers have a chance of winning any game. 

I think he and the Lakers are undervalued against a Bulls team that could be rusty after having a week off.