We take the 1-1 split last night and hopefully you sprinkled a little on the OKC money line. We gave that out in the OddsShopper discord at +150 – just another reason to be part of the entire OddsShopper site and community. Wednesday presents a 12-game slate with some interesting spots; including the Thunder on the second leg of a back to back, and the Pacers and Bucks playing the second of a home and home. Even the Utah Jazz are laying points! It’s another jam packed night so let’s hit the best side and total plays with some help from OddsShopper.
Best NBA Bets Today: Picks, Side Bets & More
Best NBA Side Bet: Blazers-Mavericks
Ever since knocking off the Suns in Phoenix on Christmas Day, the Dallas Mavericks have dropped three of their last four games. Not good for a team with title aspirations and two star players in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. The latter’s absence due to injury has been an issue, but Irving played 32 minutes in his return against Utah and Dallas still got blown out of the building. They now embark on a two game set against the bottom feeding Portland Trail Blazers. With all the injuries and Q tags, Anfernee Simons is the big one who is trending towards playing.
As of now, Portland is getting 11 points in the first of two straight in Dallas. They have a rest day on Thursday, but the Mavs are seeing the same bad team two times in a row, both at home. It’s hard for teams in this spot to get up for the first game, knowing they will most likely brutalize this team in two straight games. Add the chaos and lack of cohesion with this Mavs team – winning just four of their last ten games – and it’s a nice recipe to take the points.
Portland’s hope for staying in this game rests on the Mavericks dysfunction and Doncic and his teammates simply going through the motions. The Blazers are dead; they sit at 9-23 with nothing to play for, but are extremely dangerous in this particular spot. The entire market currently sits at 11.5 except for one book, but thanks to OddsShopper we see FanDuel giving us +12.
Best NBA Side Bet: Trail Blazers +12 at FanDuel
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Best NBA Total Bet: Thunder-Hawks O/U 248.5
The Thunder come off a huge win at home against the Boston Celtics. OKC is red hot right now so there isn’t any major concern of mental letdown, but they do hit the road and take on a bottom five team in the East. While the Hawks can certainly score, they have zero interest in defending. The Thunder are good for 115-120 points against this weak Atlanta team but still have three more road games following tonight, the next one coming on Friday after just one day of rest.
These are the inflated totals that are being targeted right now thanks to the Pacers and Hawks just running up scores, regardless of outcomes. The 248 is simply too high with an ask of the Hawks to get 120+ points. OKC turns over opponents and scores baskets as a result, they are one of the best teams in the NBA in that area. The Hawks will love to push this thing but they aren’t talented enough to control tempo against the Thunder, not when OKC is more interested in pressuring Atlanta with the ball and taking time on the road for shots.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads an incredible story this year but even the Thunder can have an off night. This game ends in either a massive upset or the Thunder cruising – either way it stays under 248. Thanks to OddsShopper we found 248.5 at ESPN Bet where other books are sitting at 248 and even 247.5.
Best NBA Total Bet: Thunder-Hawks Under 248.5 (-110 at ESPNBet)
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