Tuesday’s condensed five-game NBA slate has some exciting matchups on it. The national-TV doubleheader will be carried by TNT, featuring the Brooklyn Nets at New Orleans Pelicans & Los Angeles Clippers at Portland Trail Blazers. I usually love picking on these teams playing on the back-end of a back-to-back set or a long string of games during the week. Unfortunately, there won’t be any teams in an unusual set of circumstances.
Last night, I went 2-1 to bring my season-long record to 97-64-2 ATS (60.3%). Here are three more free NBA picks to keep things rolling in the right direction.
Table of contents
- Charlotte Hornets at New York Knicks (-5.5) – Total: 208.5
- Brooklyn Nets at New Orleans Pelicans (-3) – Total: 233.5
- Los Angeles Clippers (-7) at Portland Trail Blazers – Total: 224.5
Charlotte Hornets at New York Knicks (-5.5) – Total: 208.5
CHA: normal rest
NYK: normal rest, front-end b2b (vs ATL tomorrow)
Although the Hornets have won each of the last five meetings between the teams, there’s good reason to believe the Knicks will change the narrative. After all, New York is 7-2 SU/9-0 ATS in its last nine games. The Knicks also have strong marks at home (17-10-1 ATS) and as a home favorite (10-2). On the contrary, Charlotte is 1-4 SU/ATS in its last five games and hasn’t fared well as a road underdog, going 10-13 ATS in that split.
Betting Pick: Knicks (-5.5)
Brooklyn Nets at New Orleans Pelicans (-3) – Total: 233.5
BKN: normal rest, front-end b2b (@TOR tomorrow)
NOR: normal rest
I guess this will be a New York-themed type of article today. First, I went with my hated rival in the Knicks, and now I’ll move it along to the good guys. Despite missing key pieces like Kevin Durant, James Harden, Nick Claxton and Tyler Johnson, the Nets will have in the tank to get it done.
There are some excellent trends in Brooklyn’s favor, directly correlating to the other side’s struggles. The Nets have been strong as an underdog (11-5 ATS) and as a road underdog (6-3 ATS). On the flip side, the Pelicans are 10-19 ATS as the favorite and 6-12 ATS as a home favorite. Brooklyn is also 16-8 ATS versus Western Conference teams while New Orleans is 10-16 ATS. Lastly, the Nets have won four straight against the Pelicans, including the earlier meeting this season by 28 points.
Betting Pick: Nets (+3)
Los Angeles Clippers (-7) at Portland Trail Blazers – Total: 224.5
LAC: normal rest, front-end b2b (vs MEM tomorrow)
POR: normal rest, front-end b2b (vs DEN tomorrow)
There’s not a ton of value in taking the Clippers at such a large number like this, but there’s only five games on the schedule- I’m not coming in here with only two picks today! In any event, I might be onto something. LA has won five straight meetings against Portland, including two of them coming earlier this season- each win by 17 and 23 points, respectively. Not to mention, the Clippers are in much better form at the moment, going 8-1 SU/7-2 ATS over the last nine games. Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers are 2-5 SU/ATS in their last seven. Damian Lillard will be out for Portland, making the situation even more dreadful.
Betting Pick: Clippers (-7)
