Top NBA Picks and Predictions Today (Damian Lillard Set To Lead Blazers To Another Win)
The weekend has started and BetSided is ready for all the games on this great Saturday night.
We have another 8-game slate tonight, and the team has our favorite bets from the best matchups of the night ready.
Here are our top picks for Saturday’s games.
Trail Blazers vs. Mavericks Prediction and Pick
The Mavericks, as expected, are a one man team around Doncic, and it's worked so far. The guard has led the league in usage the past two seasons, and it's even higher this season, up to over 39%. He is averaging a league high 33 points per game with eight rebounds and nearly eight assists as he does everything for Dallas.
However, it hasn't led to covers for the Mavs, who have actually underwhelmed relative to expectations because the team is unable to pull away from their opponents because they are predictable down the stretch. Doncic has kept the team afloat, but they are 3-7-1 against the spread (ATS) this season.
Meanwhile, the Blazers have been fantastic from a wins and losses view and against the number, going 10-2 ATS through 12 games. Portland has done it on the defensive end, sixth in points allowed per 100 possessions, and has the switchable wings to check Doncic.
This is simply too many points for a Portland team that has been able to compete without Lillard in the lineup. Now that he is back, expect a thriller in Dallas. – Reed Wallach
Rockets vs. Pelicans Prediction and Pick
The Pelicans have far more talent than the Rockets, but the team has continued to flounder as a favorite, going 2-5 against the spread as a favorite this season. Overall, the team is 5-7 ATS.
While the Rockets leave a ton to be desired on both sides of the floor, bottom ten in points scored and allowed per 100 possessions, I think this team can stay within the double digit spread. The Pelicans allow the sixth-highest three point attempts in the league per game, nearly 36, and the Rockets will happily put them up. With more variance coming from beyond the arc, there's more opportunity for Houston to stay close to New Orleans.
Houston isn't the most efficient offense, 27th in effective field goal percentage, but the team is playing far better from the first handful of games - ranking third in points per 100 possessions over the last week (four games). For what it's worth, New Orleans is 10th in that same time frame.
I'll take Houston at a big number to stay cooking on offense and make this a game. – Reed Wallach
Hawks vs. Sixers Prediction and Pick
Atlanta used a second half push a few days ago to take down the Sixers, but I think the opposite will be the case today. Joel Embiid dominated the first half, scoring 21 points. It’s clear the Hawks didn’t have a great answer for him. If he can dominate in both halves, I like Philly to get the win this time.
Both teams shot terribly from three, which will change today. While it seems that a three-point renaissance would favor the Hawks, I think the opposite.
If Joel Embiid has shooters around him, Atlanta will be forced to either double or leave the shooters open. The Hawks were bailed out by a bad Embiid performance and bad shooting from Philadelphia.
Expect some positive regression from the stars today and a Philly home win. – Donnavan Smoot
Celtics vs. Pistons Prediction and Pick
Boston has played Detroit five times since the start of last season. While the Celtics are 1-4 ATS, they have beaten the Pistons by double-digits twice and by exactly 9 points twice. They consistently win comfortably against the Pistons.
The Celtics have the best offense in the league and the Pistons are 27th in offensive rating. The difference between their offenses is 11.8 points per 100 possessions.
Defense aside, the Pistons just don’t have the offense to keep up with the Celtics. Detroit has struggled heavily to get going this season, and today will be no different. – Donnavan Smoot
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.