The NBA resumes on Thursday night after nearly a week off for the All-star break. Our expert handicappers are back with their free NBA picks and analysis for tonight.
Dave Price
Phoenix Suns @ Cleveland Cavs
Thu, Feb 21 ’19, 7:05 PM ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers are at least trying to win games. They have gone 3-5 SU in their last 8 games and are 5-4 ATS in their last 9 games.
The Phoenix Suns aren’t even trying to win games. They have lost 15 straight coming in and are just 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games overall.
Phoenix is 1-9 ATS in its last 10 games when playing on 3 or more days rest.
Cleveland is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games against a team that wins less than 40% of their games.
The home team is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings. Take Cleveland.
Pick: Cavs +1 (-110) at 5Dimes
John Martin
Miami Heat @ Philadelphia 76ers
Thu, Feb 21 ’19, 7:05 PM ET
Joel Embiid is out tonight for the Philadelphia 76ers. He is the most important player on their team, and it’s really not even close.
Embiid averages 27.3 points and 13.5 rebounds per game. Without him, the Heat should have their way inside with Hassan Whiteside and Bam Adebayo.
The Heat have actually done their best work on the road this season where they are 15-14 SU & 18-11 ATS.
Miami is 17-4 ATS in road games after losing four or five of their last six games over the last two seasons.
Philadelphia is 2-10 ATS after covering three of their last four against the spread this season.
The Heat are 38-15-2 ATS in their last 55 road games against a team with a winning home record.
The road team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings. Give me the Heat.
Pick: Heat +6 (-110) at Bovada
Jack Jones
Boston Celtics @ Milwaukee Bucks
Thu, Feb 21 ’19, 8:05 PM ET
The Milwaukee Bucks have been the single-most underrated team in the NBA this season. They are 43-14 SU & 34-21-2 ATS this year and have the best record of any team in the NBA. Considering they only lead the Raptors by one game, they can’t afford to let up coming out of the All-Star Break.
Milwaukee will have no problem getting up for Boston, which knocked them out of the playoffs last season. After losing to the Celtics 113-117 on the road in their first meeting this season, they exacted some revenge with a 120-107 road win as 2-point favorites. And now they get the Celtics at home tonight for the first time this season.
The Bucks are 23-5 SU & 17-11 ATS at home this season, outscoring opponents by 13.2 points per game. And home-court advantage has been huge in this series as the home team is 10-1 SU & 8-3 ATS in the last 11 meetings.
The Celtics are 6-14 ATS in their last 20 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. The Bucks are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games vs. NBA Atlantic Division opponents. Milwaukee is 19-6-2 ATS in its last 27 vs. Eastern Conference foes. Bet the Bucks Thursday.
Pick: Bucks -5½ (-103) at Pinnacle
Rob Vinciletti
Sacramento Kings @ Golden State Warriors
Thu, Feb 21 ’19, 10:35 PM ET
Be surprise to this one get in the 250’s tonight. The last 3 in the series have gone over and home favorites of 10 or more with 4+ days rest that lost as a road favorite before the break have played over in 14 of 20 in the first game back.
Sacramento has played over in 6 of 8 vs .600 or better opponents, 21 of 28 vs the West and 5 straight with 3+ days rest. The Warriors are 9 of 13 over of late vs the West and 12 of 17 on Thursdays.
Look for this game to play over the total. Take Sacramento and Golden St. to play over the total. RV- GC Sports
Pick: OVER 239 -106
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