Friday’s nine-game NBA schedule is loaded with excitement to take us into the weekend. The national-TV doubleheader will be handled by ESPN, giving us the Chicago Bulls at Philadelphia 76ers and Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Clippers.
Last night’s 1-2 record now brings me to 19-10-1 ATS for the season. Here are four more NBA picks for tonight’s games:
NBA Picks Today (2/19/21)
- Chicago Bulls at Philadelphia 76ers (-9.5) – Total: 229.5
- Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics (-3.5) – Total: 226.5
- Phoenix Suns (-2.5) at New Orleans Pelicans – Total: 230.5
- Oklahoma City Thunder at Milwaukee Bucks (-11) – Total: 232.5
Chicago Bulls at Philadelphia 76ers (-9.5) – Total: 229.5
CHI: normal rest, front-end b2b (vs. SAC tmrw)
PHI: normal rest-
-CHI: 6-4 SU/9-1 ATS as road underdog
-PHI: 11-1 SU/7-5 ATS as home favorite
The 76ers should have Ben Simmons back but I still like the Bulls to cover the zaftig spread. As we can see, Philly has been great outright in these situations as a home favorite. However, the team isn’t covering a ton of games while Chicago is. The 76ers haven’t looked great over the last few games so I don’t see them covering the number.
This game features two of the NBA’s top scorers: Joel Embiid, 29.7 points per game (4th) – Zach LaVine, 28.5 PPG (6th).
Betting Pick: Bulls (+9.5)
Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics (-3.5) – Total: 226.5
ATL: normal rest-
BOS: 3 games in 4 days, 4 games in 6 days
I got burned by the Bucks last night going with them on the revenge narrative against the Raptors. Luckily, the Celtics don’t have to face as good of a team tonight in the Hawks, so they should be able to return the favor after getting beaten on Wednesday by them.
Betting Pick: Celtics (-3.5)
Phoenix Suns (-2.5) at New Orleans Pelicans – Total: 230.5
PHX: 2 full days rest, front-end b2b (@MEM tmrw)
NO: 3 games in 4 days, 4 games in 6 days
-PHX: 2-5 SU/ATS as road favorite
-NO: 4-0 SU/ATS as home underdog
This seems like a no-brainer to go with the trends that are staring us right in the face. As you can see above, the two teams are telling different stories when faced in these separate scenarios.
Betting Pick: Pelicans (+2.5)
Oklahoma City Thunder at Milwaukee Bucks (-11) – Total: 232.5
OKC: 3 games in 4 days, 4 games in 6 days
MIL: back-end b2b (vs. TOR yesterday), 3 games in 4 days, 4 games in 6 days
After what I saw last night, I have to take OKC with the points in this one. Milwaukee has now lost five straight games and now finds itself on the back end of a B2B set and a string of four games in six days.
OKC has been strong as a road underdog at 11-4 ATS. It may not seem like the most glamorous pick but the points here seem like too much value to pass up.
Betting Pick: Thunder (+11)
