After a thrilling Super Bowl, I am ready to put my focus on the hardcourt, with 11 NBA games scheduled for Monday. If you haven’t already, be sure to sign up with DraftKings and take advantage of their special offer: Bet just $5 and win $150 on any sport. Now let’s get to my picks and insights to help you make the best NBA bets for Monday, Feb. 13.
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Best NBA Bets, Expert Picks & Predictions | Feb. 13
Nikola Jokic to Record a Triple-Double (+155 on DraftKings)
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. It’s getting a little ridiculous backing this prop seemingly every day, but books still aren’t properly valuing Jokic’s odds of accomplishing the feat in recent weeks. In fact, he’s put up 12 triple-doubles in just 17 games in 2023, a pace that seems too good to be true. However, based on his 21.9% rebound rate and 45.5% assist rate since the start of the year, up from 20.2% and 41.7%, respectively, before the new year, 35 minutes a night projects as enough to get the job done, even in difficult defensive matchups like this one against the Miami Heat. That makes it a lock piece of value for your betting cards tonight, even at plus money.
Los Angeles Lakers Moneyline vs. Portland Trail Blazers (-102 on FanDuel)
One of the more glaring numbers on the board last night was plus money available on the Lakers moneyline (or +2.5 if targeting the spread). Both of those numbers have moved the Lakers’ way since open, but it still remains off assuming LeBron James can suit up. He missed the Lakers’ past two games, but the Lakers only play two more games before the All-Star break, so it would be very odd to me that mere ankle soreness would keep him out of this one.
As it pertains to on the court for the Lakers, James and fellow star Anthony Davis have to enjoy the drastically improved shooting, surrounding them with trade deadline additions D’Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley. Plus, the Portland Trail Blazers will be without Jusuf Nurkic, Jerami Grant is questionable, and Josh Hart was unnecessarily shipped off to the Knicks for little on-court compensation. That makes me believe the wrong team is favored in this spot, making the Lakers the best moneyline bet on the board for today’s 11-game NBA slate.
