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2016 NBA Picks: 4 Upsets to Consider For Wednesday Night

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The NBA gets rather busy on Wednesday night, with a fully loaded 11-game slate hitting the hardwood. The stars all come out for this one, as Russell Westbrook, James Harden and many more look to get wins in the middle of the week.

With such a heavy slate, there are bound to be some killer NBA betting opportunities. Per usual, one of the best areas to target are odd upset picks that could possibly be exploited. We took a look at tonight’s NBA schedule and came away with four potential underdog picks you may want to consider betting on:

Toronto Raptors (+4) @ Oklahoma City Thunder (-4)

OKC comes into the night as -4 favorites at home against the 4-2 Toronto Raptors, a place where they haven’t lost yet this year (4-0). This could be a tough spot for Russell Westbrook and co., however, as Toronto has them beat on the defensive end and may be able to match them offensively, as well.

It can’t help that Westbrook is what makes the Thunder’s offense go, and he’ll surely be followed all night be solid point guard stopper, Kyle Lowry. This game is going to hang heavily on who can dictate the pace, as well as the status of star center Jonas Valanciunas. If Jonas V sits, the Raptors could have some trouble defensively, especially at protecting the rim and getting rebounds.

Regardless, we expect a close, hard-fought game and will take Toronto to beat the spread.

Pick: Thunder 104, Raptors 101

Houston Rockets (8+) @ San Antonio Spurs (-8)

The battle for first in the Southwest Division starts tonight, as the Rockets hit up San Antonio for their first clash of the year with the Spurs. James Harden and Kawhi Leonard are both worthy MVP candidates, but it will be very interesting to see what prevails: the Spurs elite defense (allowing just over 97 points per game), or Houston’s high-flying offense (108 points per game).

It might not even be as simple as that, as Harden is running the point so well that no defense has really had much of an impact on him. San Antonio will want to glue Kawhi to Harden in this one, but even if they do, it might not keep the Rockets from making this a game. Houston coming in and handing San Antonio their second home loss of the young season feels like a reach, but they’ll make the Spurs run and at least hang around in this one.

Pick: Spurs 108, Rockets 104

Portland Trail Blazers (+10) @ Los Angeles Clippers (-10)

Portland and L.A. do not like each other and when two rivals clash, anything goes. That wasn’t quite the case when they met up earlier this year, when we got about three good quarters of action before the Clippers pulled away with a win. That was in Portland, too, while this showdown drops down in the Staples Center, where the Clips are 3-1 on the year.

Los Angeles has looked like a true title contender in the early going, thanks to a strong offense and the league’s best defense (allowing just 89 points per game!). Still, the first meeting was fairly hard fought and only decided by eight points. With Damian Lillard and co. naturally wanting a little revenge, we need to make some room for a great back and forth contest tonight.

Look for Portland to give the Clips a solid fight and beat the spread.

Pick: Clippers 107, Blazers 102

Philadelphia 76ers (+11.5) @ Indiana Pacers (-11.5)

This is our first true upset pick of the night. It’s understandably safer to just pick the Sixers to beat the spread here, but the Pacers have a lot of issues they need to iron out and this feels like a fantastic spot to target Philly’s first win of the young season.

The Sixers still don’t defend and they won’t have Joel Embiid (rest) in this one, but Indy has even worse defensively (yep, it’s possible), giving up an astonishing 113 points per contest. Paul George isn’t playing elite ball, Rodney Stuckey is hurt and newcomers Jeff Teague and Thaddeus Young have struggled with their consistency in their new surroundings.

We can safely expect the Pacers to put up a fight at home against probably the worst team in the league, but their defense and chemistry is just so bad right now. They’ll figure it out eventually, but it may take a bad loss to the Sixers before they wake up.

Pick: Sixers 104, Pacers 101

4 NBA Upset Picks For Friday Night’s Games

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The NBA gives us a full, meaty slate again on Friday night, with a jam-packed 9-game schedule coming our way. It’s a star-studded affair, too, with the likes of John Wall, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Blake Griffin and so many others gracing the hardwood in some big games tonight.

We could hand out our regular NBA picks for this slate, but with so many games, this feels like a good spot to concentrate more on the upset specials that could be worth betting on. Here are our favorite underdog NBA picks for Friday night:

Memphis Grizzlies (+6) Over Los Angeles Clippers (-6)

The Clippers have honestly looked fantastic for much of the young NBA season, but they finally slipped up the other night in a loss to the Thunder. Losing to Memphis tonight certainly isn’t in their plans, but Memphis has rebounded from a slow start and can be tough at home.

If we’re betting straight up, the Clippers are still our pick, but Memphis isn’t even 100% healthy and will want to fight a rival tooth and nail in this one. Tony Allen is also back, so hitting outside shots could get a little more difficult for the Clips tonight. Brace for a slower-paced game and Memphis beating the spread.

Pick: Clippers 98, Grizz 95

Brooklyn Nets (+7) Over Charlotte Hornets (-7)

The Brooklyn Nets have been an odd team, as a few times now they’ve been on fire from outside and in just about every game they’ve really struggled on the defensive end. With Jeremy Lin sidelined with an injury, we can expect the latter to continue and the former to possibly be put on hold.

That being said, the Nets are at home and Charlotte can be a very hot and cold team. If Brooklyn doesn’t rest Brook Lopez, he could have a big game and the Nets could keep it close at the Barclays Center.

Pick: Hornets 104, Nets 101

Miami Heat (+7) Over Toronto Raptors (-7)

Miami is our first straight up upset pick of this grouping, as Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside headline a fairly underrated team that can dictate the pace of games. Toronto can, too, but the only guy really firing on all cylinders for them at the moment is DeMar DeRozan. With Justise Winslow potentially locking him down defensively, this could be a great spot for Miami to stage a nice road upset.

Pick: Heat 97, Raptors 96

New York Knicks (+8) Over Chicago Bulls (-8)

It’s the Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah revenge game we’ve all been waiting for. It’s easy to see the allure of this matchup, as Chicago’s prodigal son returns home and after a “meh” start to the year, could be ready for his first true breakout game.

Even if Rose doesn’t blast off in his first trip back to the United Center, perhaps Chicago finally goes completely cold from the floor. They’ve gotten by on jumpers thus far, but still will need to prove the oddsmakers wrong for a while before we fully buy into them as a high end playoff contender.

Look for Rose to get his revenge and the Knicks to get the upset road win.

Pick: Knicks 101, Bulls 99

That does it for our Friday night NBA upset picks. We’ve got two teams beating the spread and two flat out pulling off upsets. Bet at your own risk, but regardless the path you take, we wish you luck in your NBA betting endeavors tonight.

Thunder Over Warriors and Thursday’s NBA Predictions

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Last night we took an exclusive look at upset specials with our NBA picks, and if you went with our logic, you may have won big. We pointed out four underdogs that were at least with a cursory glance, and when the night was over, New Orleans beat the spread in OT, OKC upset the Clippers in L.A. and the Lakers somehow beat the Hawks in Atlanta.

The two we really went after and vouched for were the Pellies and Thunder, but either way, those three upsets were very much on the map and hopefully you were able to cash in on them.

Tonight the NBA slate quiets down a bit with just five games, so we’re back to a regular preview piece on each game. If you’re thinking of doing any pro basketball betting tonight, lean on our analysis and NBA picks for Thursday night:

Sacramento Kings (-1) @ Orlando Magic (+1)

Orlando finally gets a break tonight, as they head back home to the Amway Center after an ugly three-game road trip where they went 1-2 and got housed twice. The Magic made big moves this summer to improve their defense, yet they’ve been absolutely atrocious in that department (allowing 105 points per game) and now they welcome DeMarcus Cousins and co. into town.

The matchup does not bode well for the Magic, as Nikola Vucevic is not a good defender and very well could get in foul trouble early in this one. On the flip side, Sacrmaneto’s slower pace under new head coach David Joerger is improving their efficiency and overall defense. If they can bounce back from a tough OT loss to the Heat, they should get a nice road win here and get to 3-3.

Pick: Kings 106, Magic 104

Boston Celtics (+10.5) @ Cleveland Cavaliers (-10.5)

Boston was seen by oddsmakers as Cleveland’s main competition out of the Eastern Conference coming into the new year, so we’ll get to see right away if that’s the case. Then again, the Celtics are down both Al Horford (concussion) and Jae Crowder (ankle) and will be playing the second game of a back to back set when they enter the Quicken Loans Arena tonight.

None of that is good news for Boston, who absolutely could still fight back against this unkind spread, but probably will ultimately wilt on the road. They’re going to be very good again this year, but beating the Cavs in Cleveland at full strength would be a reach. As they stand, a win and even beating the spread feels impossible.

Pick: Cavs 108, Celtics 96

Denver Nuggets (+3.5) @ Minnesota Timberwolves (-3.5)

Denver is hurting at shooting guard right now with both Gary Harris and Will Barton out for this one, but this still figures to be a fairly even matchup in Minnesota. The Wolves are a bit banged up, as well, with veteran point guard Ricky Rubio also sidelined.

This is a battle to escape the bottom of the Northwest Division at the moment, and given Minnesota’s home edge, superior defense and equal offense, we give them the nod. That’s largely due to a likely big game out of KAT, who has endured three tough matchups to start the year and should find work to be easier down low in this one.

Pick: Timberwolves 105, Nuggets 101

Indiana Pacers (-2.5) @ Milwaukee Bucks (+2.5)

This is another game that should be fairly fast-paced and hopefully competitive. Both of these teams come in at 2-2 and have shown two things: they want to run the floor and score points, but can’t stop anyone at the other end. Milwaukee has the ever so slight edge with this game at the Bradley Center tonight, but it won’t be enough to get to 3-2.

Indiana is still trying to see what works best with their new pieces, but they have Paul George and a more stacked starting five. The talent gap is pretty wide here and Milwaukee just doesn’t have enough reliable outside shooting. This one should be fast and provide points, but the Pacers should pull away in the end.

Pick: Pacers 102, Bucks 99

Oklahoma City Thunder (+10.5) @ Golden State Warriors (-10.5)

Russell Westbrook said tonight’s showdown with ex-teammate Kevin Durant is just another game, but we don’t buy that for a second. These teams hate each other and there is no doubt both will be fired up for this one – specifically Russ and KD.

The Thunder come in as one of two undefeated teams in the league, and the only remaining perfect squad in the Western Conference. It’d only be fitting for the Dubs to be the ones to hand them their first loss, but an OKC win early in the year actually provides the more interesting narrative. Not only would it drop the Dubs to 0-2 at home (blasphemy!), but it’d also stir up those “the Warriors are awful” conversations.

it’s going to take time for KD and everyone to click and figure it out, while the Thunder have better chemistry right now and Russ is just flat out possessed. Obviously Golden State is a big favorite here, but we expect this game to be competitive with a ton of chatter. OKC to beat the spread makes a ton of sense here and we’ll even go as far as to say they’ll get the win behind a huge effort from Westbrook.

Pick: Thunder 108, Warriors 106

2016 NBA Picks: 4 Upsets to Target on Wednesday Night

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Tuesday night provided a relatively chalky slate for NBA betting, but regardless, we had ourselves a day when it came to our NBA picks.

When it was all said and done, we were a solid 6-3, despite calling our picks ahead of news that both Marc Gasol and Mike Conley would sit for the Grizzlies. Oh, and no one saw the Jazz beating the Spurs in San Antonio.

Needless to say, on a night that saw a few crazy NBA upsets, we thought we’d switch things up with our picks on Wednesday night. With tonight’s slate (10 games) even bigger than last night, there are undoubtedly going to be some fun NBA underdog picks to consider. Let’s take a look at our favorite four:

New Orleans Pelicans (+6.5) @ Memphis Grizzlies (-6.5)

This is a good spot to say two things: our mentioning of these upset picks to target doesn’t necessarily mean we think these teams will win. It’s up to you where to bet, how much and what the precise bet will be.

That being said, the 0-4 Pelicans need to win eventually and while I doubt they’ll actually get the job done on the road against the Grizz, I do think they have a decent chance of keeping it close. The reality is this team is ravaged by injuries and they are just not good right now, but a massive performance by Anthony Davis could at least give them a chance to hang around late.

Memphis hasn’t been some world beater, either. They’re just 2-2 on the year and got absolutely smoked last night while they rested Mike Conley and Marc Gasol. They’re good at home and should be pretty fresh even coming off a back to back, but New Orleans has somehow remained very competitive (four of five losses coming by 8 points or less).

I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Pellies hang tight in another loss.

Pick: Grizzlies 108, Pelicans 102

Oklahoma City Thunder (+7.5) @ Los Angeles Clippers (-7.5)

This is probably my favorite upset pick of the night, as Russell Westbrook is going bonkers right now (averaging a ridiculous 38.7-12.3-11.7 line) en route to a perfect 3-0 start for the Thunder. This is a very interesting spot for OKC, as we’ll finally learn if they’ve been merely playing down to their weak competition, or if they just are a one-man show without much substance.

Facing the Clippers on the road should tell us a whole heck of a lot, seeing as Los Angeles is sporting a strong defense (allowing just 93 points per game) and is also perfect at 3-0. Conventional wisdom says the Clippers stay hot on their home floor, but with this spread, OKC is the bet. You could go for a total upset, but at a minimum betting the spread makes good sense here. I still think the Clips win to flex their muscle a bit and show the Thunder what’s up, but this game should be close and very high-scoring.

Pick: Clippers 106, Thunder 101

Los Angeles Lakers (+12.5) @ Atlanta Hawks (-12.5)

The Lakers are probably not winning this game, let’s get that out of the way. That being said, Atlanta has not been tested at all en route to a 3-0 start and it’s very possible this could end up being a trap game with a showdown with the Wizards lying ahead for the Hawks.

The key here would be Atlanta losing focus and D’Angelo Russell coming out and having a huge game. I sincerely doubt it and it’s tough to even have the Lakers hanging here, but this is a huge spread and the logic isn’t awful.

Ultimately, we still like the Hawks all-around tonight.

Pick: Hawks 107, Lakers 94

Philadelphia 76ers (+12.5) Over Charlotte Hornets (-12.5)

The deal is similar here, as the Hornets get a tasty home matchup with a Sixers team they’ll naturally overlook. Philly is winless and doesn’t have a ton of (healthy) talent, so naturally the Hornets could yawn at this one and expect it to be a little easier than it might end up being.

This could truly be a tougher game than the Hornets anticipate, as Philly has been surprisingly competitive this year, with strong efforts against the Thunder and Magic in two close losses. They’ll be without Joel Embiid and probably won’t actually beat the spread, but a gaudy spread like this always needs to be considered.

This could be a sneaky play, but ultimately we’d favor the Hornets, overall.

Pick: Hornets 105, Sixers 90

These are probably the four best NBA upset picks for tonight based on either the spread or actual logic. Of the four, we love OKC to beat the spread and maybe even push for the win, while we also would not be shocked to see The Brow beast in a close contest in Memphis.

Hopefully any upset picks you shoot for work out. Regardless of how you bet tonight, good luck!

NBA Picks For Tuesday Night’s Games

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The NBA has been quiet the past few nights, but it storms back in full force on Tuesday, with a strong nine-game slate to play with. NBA betting fans will come out for tonight’s action, as James Harden and LeBron James get things started at 6 pm ET.

The stars are out to play on this slate, as Harden vs. James is just the beginning to a jam-packed night that includes studs like DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis and the Golden State Warriors. Let’s take a look at each matchup and see which way you’ll want to be leaning in our Tuesday night NBA picks:

Houston Rockets (+9.5) @ Cleveland Cavaliers (-9.5)

James Harden and LeBron James usually make for good television when they face each other, and that’s what we’re mostly expecting when the two start tonight’s action off at Quicken Loans Arena tonight. Houston’s offense could make this an exciting matchup, but the Cavs are brutal at home and their schedule has allowed them to come in pretty well rested.

I could possibly see an offensive explosion here, but Cleveland dictates the pace well and plays good defense. Even if it gets out of control, the Cavs still have the offensive fire power to withstand the Rockets. That being said, I think Houston still shows up for this one and give the Cavs a mild fight. It won’t be close, but this is a weird spread given the talent, so Houston barely beating it makes sense here.

Pick: Cavs 109, Rockets 100

Los Angeles Lakers (+9.5) @ Indiana Pacers (-9.5)

This is another rough game when you look at the spread, as the young Lakers still aren’t very good despite a 1-0 start. Indiana is also at home, where they’ve historically been quite good, while Paul George and co. will also want to bounce back from an ugly loss to the Chicago Bulls. Look for that to happen in a big win for the Pacers.

Pick: Pacers 106, Lakers 90

Orlando Magic (-5) @ Philadelphia 76ers (+5)

Someone wins tonight, as the Magic and Sixers are both winless and face off tonight in Philly. This is a very tough game to call, seeing as Joel Embiid is set to get up to 24 minutes tonight and Orlando is truly awful on the road. That being said, Embiid may not be on hand when it counts in this one and Orlando still appears to be the better team on paper.

We expect a close game here, so while we’ll take Orlando to win, we wouldn’t be shocked if this one goes to OT and stays very close. Philly should beat the spread.

Pick: Magic 105, Sixers 102

New York Knicks (+4.5) @ Detroit Pistons (-4.5)

Carmelo Anthony and co. visit Detroit tonight to try to become the first team to beat the Pistons at their home base this year. The Knicks have actually been pretty competitive through two games, but they still haven’t come together all the way and the Pistons feel like the deeper, more well-rounded team. Look for the Pistons to hold down the fort and cover at home.

Pick: Pistons 97, Knicks 92

Sacramento Kings (+4) @ Miami Heat (-4)

The Kings have to be super tired coming into tonight, as they played last night and have played four games in the last eight days. I doubt we need a whole lot more analysis for that, as Miami is fresher, at home and plenty talented in a matchup that should favor them.

Pick: Heat 107, Kings 101

Memphis Grizzlies (+3.5) @ Minnesota Timberwolves (-3.5)

Memphis heads to Minnesota tonight, where they’re oddly the underdogs against a young Timberwolves team that hasn’t won yet this year. News also broke that Ricky Rubio will be out tonight (and for a while), so you have Mike Conley going up against rookie point guard, Kris Dunn.

The advantage lies with the Grizz, especially with them currently listed as the underdog. I’ll chase that all day and at worst play them to beat the spread.

Pick: Grizz 102, Timberwolves 98

Milwaukee Bucks (+3.5) @ New Orleans Pelicans (-3.5)

Anthony Davis hosts the Bucks tonight, in a game where he should devour their souls. Milwaukee tends to struggle on the road and they’re not good this year defensively (or offensively). It’s basically going to be The Brow versus Giannis Antetokoumpo and while that could be fun, this might be the perfect spot for the Pellies to earn their first win of the year.

Pick: Pelicans 105, Bucks 101

Utah Jazz (+10.5) @ San Antonio Spurs (-10.5)

Utah comes into San Antonio still without Gordon Hayward or Alec Burks, and as we all know, being short-handed against the Spurs works out great. Derrick Favors has also been limited (knee), so as decent as Utah should eventually be, they aren’t currently in good enough shape to hand the Spurs their first loss of the new season.

Pick: Spurs 104, Jazz 88

Golden State Warriors (-5.5) @ Portland Trail Blazers (+5.5)

This is the game of the night when it comes to targeting the Over, but given how shaky the Dubs have been so far, it’s a fair bet that could go either way if you’re picking the actual winner. Portland has looked pretty good this year, with their lone loss coming against a very good Clippers team.

I don’t expect Portland to rise up and get the win here, but they should stick with the Dubs and have a good shot at beating the spread.

Pick: Warriors 111, Blazers 107

Clippers Stay Perfect and Monday’s NBA Predictions

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The NBA slows down a bit on Monday night, as we try to pick up the pieces of a crazy weekend. If we haven’t all learned from past year’s by now, weekend basketball is about as unpredictable as it gets. Naturally, we’ll hopefully all have a better handle on tonight’s four-game slate.

That being said, it feels like a pretty wide open slate, as all four games are likely to have an obvious outcome. We see one potential upset looming, however, so let’s take a look at all four Monday night NBA matchups and see which way you’ll want to be leaning with your NBA bets:

Chicago Bulls (-6) @ Brooklyn Nets (+6)

You have to admired the Brooklyn Nets, who have been in all three games so far this year despite casting a band of misfits as their key players. Jeremy Lin, Trevor Booker and Bojan Bogdanovic have looked good together, though, while big man Brook Lopez returns tonight after sitting out Brooklyn’s last game due to rest.

It’s very likely the wheels come off eventually for the Nets, but we need to appreciate the fact that this team is well-coached, plays hard and last year enjoyed most of their success at home at the Barclays Center. This could also be a great spot for the undefeated Bulls to unravel a bit. Dwyane Wade and co. have looked great through two games, but their severe lack of shooting could come back to haunt them.

All of that could be true tonight, but if there is a reason to buy into the new-look Bulls for one more night, it’s probably a showdown with the beatable Nets. That being said, Brooklyn has fought hard so far this year, so don’t be shocked to see them beat the spread tonight.

Pick: Bulls 105, Nets 102

Denver Nuggets (+7) @ Toronto Raptors (-7)

Denver is going to be a very big problem for teams that don’t play defense, as they’ve shown their ability through two games (110 points per game on offense). Unfortunately, I’m not buying them as a winner on the road just yet and I’d be much more concerned with their leaky defense (giving up 108 points per game).

It’s tough to win in Toronto as it is, but when you can’t defend and you’re on the road, troubles arise. The Raptors nearly pulled off an upset win over the defending champion Cavs the other day and you better believe they’ll want to turn right around and protect their home base. If not, they’d be sliding into a 1-2 hole.

Pick: Raptors 107, Nuggets 96

Sacramento Kings (+7) @ Atlanta Hawks (-7)

This might be my favorite upset pick on tonight’s NBA slate, as the Kings seem like a really tough out (2-1) in the early going here, with an improved defense (allowing 99.7 points per game) potentially being the driving force to a better season. Atlanta at home is never easy, but the Hawks have coasted to two easy wins so far this year.

One huge reason why the Hawks have been so tough is their elite defense (allowing just 85 points per game), but two games is a small sample size and this could be a big opportunity for David Joerger’s Kings to prove they’re not the same old mediocre crew we’re used to. I think Sacramento at least beating the spread is in play here, but I like the Kings to stage a nice road upset behind a huge game from DeMarcus Cousins.

Pick: Kings 98, Hawks 96

Phoenix Suns (+10.5) @ Los Angeles Clippers (-10.5)

Both of these teams are entering the second game of a back to back set, but the Suns are on the road and L.A. stays at home after playing earlier in the day on Sunday. Advantage goes to Clippers all around, but a closer look reveals their starters didn’t need to grind themselves into the ground yesterday, so Los Angeles should be much fresher.

Normally I’d give the Suns a chance to beat the spread here, but the Clippers usually are very good at home and they’ll be better rested. Phoenix has the ability to put up points, but they’re giving up over 110 on the other side per game and have a tall order on the road against a superior team. This might be the easiest call of the night.

Pick: Clippers 108, Suns 97

NBA Picks: Previewing and Picking Friday Night’s Games

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After a quiet Thursday night in the pro basketball realm, things pick back up considerably on Friday, with eight NBA games donning the schedule. We made out okay with our NBA picks from last night, going a solid 3-1 in what was a pretty easy slate, if we’re being honest.

Things get a little trickier tonight, however, so let’s take a look at each matchup in Friday night’s NBA picks:

Cleveland Cavaliers (-3.5) @ Toronto Raptors (+3.5)

LeBron James and the Cavs head up to Canada on Friday night, where the Raptors await for a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals. Toronto does provide a tough test on paper, as they defend well and slow the pace of games, plus this game is on the road. Cleveland looked fantastic in their home debut earlier in the week, however, and don’t feel like a team about to drop to 1-1. Toronto should keep it close, but the Cavs should pull away and cover in the end.

Pick: Cavs 101, Raptors 97

Indiana Pacers (-6.5) @ Brooklyn Nets (+6.5)

The Brooklyn Nets host the Indiana Pacers at the Barclays Center tonight, as the Pacers aim for a 2-0 start and the Nets try to avoid an 0-2 hole. This one should be an easy call, as the Nets simply do not have that much talent and the Pacers added solid veterans in Jeff Teague and Thaddeus Young this past summer.

In fact, Young’s return to Brooklyn after being traded away is a huge narrative tonight, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see him enjoy a nice game in a Pacers win. Indy could play around with the Nets early on, but they’re the far better team. Look for them to cover in this one and get to 2-0.

Pick: Pacers 106, Nets 98

Orlando Magic (+3.5) @ Detroit Pistons (-3.5)

Orlando was the same old team despite a new-look squad earlier this week, but they’ll try to turn things around in Detroit tonight against the Pistons. Both teams are 0-1 to start the year, but the clear advantage lies with the Pistons, who were fairy strong at home last year and look to be the superior club.

Orlando was atrocious on the road a year ago, so it will be very interesting to see how the Magic perform with their new additions away from home this season. Early on, the odds are likely they’ll struggle. Look for a big game out of Andre Drummond as the Pistons protect home base and get to 1-1.

Pick: Pistons 108, Magic 101

Charlotte Hornets (-1.5) @ Miami Heat (+1.5)

The Hornets and Heat gave us an epic playoff battle last year and during the regular season posted the exact same record. In the span of one summer, however, the Hornets got a little bit better and Miami regressed sharply. Dwyane Wade, Joe Johnson, Luol Deng and Chris Bosh aren’t in South Beach anymore and their absence puts a lot of pressure on a young Miami squad to improve a good amount rather quickly.

Miami might still be competitive behind Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside this year, but they aren’t the better team in this matchup. Look for the Hornets to prove that in a tight win.

Pick: Hornets 102, Heat 99

Phoenix Suns (+9.5) @ Oklahoma City Thunder (-9.5)

The Phoenix Suns certainly have talent and could matchup with the Thunder well when it comes to style, but they were terrible on the road a year ago and don’t promise to be competitive in this one. All eyes will continue to be on Russell Westbrook, who was a monster in OKC’s opening win over the Sixers.

We can expect more dominance out of Westbrook as he continues to get this OKC squad to play together. That being said, the Suns can still produce points and OKC let the Sixers of all teams hang around. Don’t be shocked if the Suns stick around and give the Thunder a go late.

Pick: Thunder 109, Suns 106

Houston Rockets @ Dallas Mavericks (pick’em)

This is probably the most difficult game to gauge, as both of these teams can fill it up offensively, but tend to leave a lot to be desired on the other end. James Harden dazzled in his debut as Houston’s main point guard, but all of his offensive glory couldn’t save the Rockets from an 0-1 start by the hands of…the Lakers.

If Houston is going to do anything of merit this year, they need to get something going early. Dallas feels like a team more in transition, as they have some nice young pieces but still don’t see to know where everything goes. Dallas does tend to play well at home and they do have quality talent, but something tells me Harden will be the difference in an explosive shootout.

Pick: Rockets 112, Mavs 110

Golden State Warriors (-11) @ New Orleans Pelicans (+11)

While the Rockets vs. Mavs game might be the toughest to predict, this has to be the easiest. Stephen Curry and co. can not be too pleased about losing at home to start the year, while the Pelicans clearly have nothing beyond Anthony Davis. The Brow went completely nuts two nights ago (50 points!), yet his team still lost to a mediocre Denver Nuggets team.

That’s not a good omen for the Pelicans, who shed some key players this summer and are still missing Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans. The Dubs should get it together for this one and it shouldn’t be close.

Pick: Warriors 114, Pelicans 97

Kyle Korver and 5 Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers For Thursday, 10/27

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Thursday night offers up a fun four-game slate in daily fantasy basketball, which is an interesting change of pace after a truly explosive (and loaded) 10-game slate on Wednesday night. A lot of tonight’s NBA DFS lineups will be fairly similar given the small slate, which naturally will mean you’re going to want to dig a little deeper in big GPP tourneys and try to uncover value no one else is using.

Differentiating your daily fantasy basketball lineups could be key, so let’s take a look at five appealing NBA DFS sleepers for tonight that can be had for $4k or cheaper at DraftKings:

Note: We’ll hit up each position, giving us five individual NBA DFS sleepers to consider for each spot ahead of Thursday’s slate.

Michael Carter-Williams, PG, Chicago Bulls ($3.6k)

Do we actually trust a scoring point guard who can’t shoot? No, and we even trust him less when he’s coming off the bench for a new team. That being said, there are two things we do like about MCW tonight: he’s cheap and he has a versatile skill-set.

Chicago traded for this guy and they have to know they don’t have much of a bench, so he’ll probably get some run behind Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade. His length makes him interesting, as he trips into rebounds, steals and assists. The guy has a knack for scoring, too, provided he doesn’t fall in love with a broken jumper from outside.

He’s not safe at all, but on a four-game slate, you’ll want to take a chance or three in some GPPs. Due to a versatile skill-set, he could rack up a bunch of meaningless stats in this one and for such a low price, wouldn’t take much to end up paying off.

Kyle Korver, SG, Atlanta Hawks ($3.3k)

Korver is insanely cheap for a guy who can get red hot from outside. I wouldn’t be interested in him at all if he were his usual price ($4k or more) but he still has a solid role with the Hawks and shooting guard isn’t that appealing at DK tonight.

Even if you do use Dwyane Wade, C.J. McCollum or Bradley Beal tonight, Korver could fit in nicely as an insanely cheap G or Util play on DraftKings. He does not do a whole lot other than score, but the hope here would be he catches fire at home in what should be a pretty fast-paced tilt with the Wizards. If Korver can put up 15+ actual points, he might be able to get enough rebounds, steals or assists to actually be a killer value play tonight. It all comes down to how hot he can get tonight, though.

Kyle Anderson, SF, San Antonio Spurs ($3.7k)

Due to recency bias, Kyle Anderson could be a fantastic GPP value play at DK tonight. Jonathan Simmons benefited the most from the absence of Danny Green in their season opener and given how balanded and deep the Spurs are, it wouldn’t be shocking to see that go back in Anderson’s favor. Both guys are strong value picks, but Anderson has a more versatile skill-set and should get about the same run.

Omri Casspi, PF, Sacramento Kings ($3.5k)

I’m not sure how much I trust Casspi, but here’s two things I’m pretty confident in: the Kings are going to run a decent amount of small ball this year and tonight they’re probably getting housed by the Spurs. San Antonio just wrecked the Warriors in Golden State, so do the math there.

Casspi is certainly not the most reliable DFS performer, but he can stroke the deep ball and can be fairly active on the boards. If he gets enough minutes tonight (and if they get trounced, he will), he should also tack on a few dimes and steals. The value is there to help you stack a sweet GPP team tonight and Casspi is a big reason why.

Ed Davis, C, Portland Trail Blazers ($3.8k)

Last, but not least, Ed Davis is another guy to consider due to recency bias, as well as matchup. He actually got good run in Portland’s season opener and just didn’t perform as well as he’s capable of. He could be needed even more than usual tonight, too, since the Blazers host a dominant frontcourt in Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan.

Davis is always a double-double threat due to his high energy, and if he gets added run he could be one of the top value plays on the night in daily fantasy basketball. He also represents a fun pivot play at center or power forward, as most people will feel more comfortable with Taj Gibson or Mason Plumlee, both of which are only slightly more expensive. I like them just fine, but Davis could match their production and also saves you salary cap space.

That does it for our look at cheap daily fantasy basketball sleepers for Thursday night. Remember, we’re not necessarily saying you should use all of these guys together or that they’re all locks. They’re GPP sleepers that have some logic behind them that could make them sneaky, profitable plays. It’s up to you when/where to use them. Regardless what you decide, we wish you luck in your daily fantasy basketball contests tonight!

NBA Picks: Predicting Thursday’s NBA Games

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We are already two days deep into the 2016-17 NBA season and we’ve learned a lot. For one, the Golden State Warriors aren’t invincible. They already got trounced – at home, mind you – by the San Antonio Spurs. James Harden and Anthony Davis are also going to be in the league MVP discussion, even though they both are 0-1 and aren’t locks to make the playoffs.

That’s just the top of the iceberg. There were a ton of awesome performances across the first 13 NBA games of the year and on Thursday night the story gets a little bit richer with four more contests. Let’s break all four games down and see which way we’ll want to be leaning via NBA betting in tonight’s NBA picks, per Bovada:

Washington Wizards (+3.5) @ Atlanta Hawks (-3.5)

The Wiz and Hawks start us off with the first contest of the night in a nice Eastern Conference rivalry that was very back and forth last year (2-2), but the Hawks dominated two years ago (3-1). What is even more interesting is the changes to these two teams, as the Wiz brought in new head coach Scott Brooks and also have big man Markieff Morris for a full season, while the Hawks handed Dennis Schroder a starting gig and signed center Dwight Howard.

Do the Hawks improve/regress? Are the Wizards a viable playoff threat under Brooks’ guidance? It sure is tough to say, but we’ll probably find out quite a bit tonight.

Atlanta plays host tonight, which alone gives them a mild bump in what could be a pretty tight game. Historically, Atlanta is the deeper team and plays better defense, plus Dwight Howard looks pretty determined this year. Only time will tell if that means anything for him and the Hawks, but I can see him eating Marcin Gortat’s lunch in this one. I don’t think Dennis Schroder can stop John Wall, but with Dwight in the paint, Wall may have to rely on his jumper a bit more. That’s not usually a good thing. I like a close game, but the Hawks should hold serve at home.

Pick: Hawks 99, Wiz 96

Boston Celtics (-1) @ Chicago Bulls (+1)

This is a very interesting game, as we should learn right away if the new-look Bulls are a team to be feared in the ever more competitive Eastern Conference. On the flip side, Boston looked fantastic last night in a win, and though likely tired, they’ll shoot for a fast 2-0 start. Doing so on the road at the United Center isn’t ideal, but they come in with the slightest of edges in what betting sites like Bovada are clearly tossing out as a pick’em contest.

Though tired, Boston looks like the better team going into the new year and they’ve taken the Bulls out lately (2-1 in last three meetings). It’s possible the additions of Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade and Robin Lopez jolt Chicago, but this team still suffers from a severe lack of shooting. That could be bad news against a Celtics team that typically plays pretty solid defense.

The simply reality here is the Celtics are favored to finish #2 in the East this year, while no one even knows if Chicago is a playoff team. We need to side on logic here and bank on the Celtics taking care of business while the Bulls try to find themselves in the early going.

Pick: Celtics 102, Bulls 99

Los Angeles Clippers (-2) @ Portland Trail Blazers (+2)

Lob City travels to Rip City for a rematch of a first round playoff series of a year ago. The Clippers were looking like winners in that series until they got ravaged by injuries and you best believe they’re going to want to dish out some payback on the Blazers en route to a 1-0 start. The Warriors are 0-1 inside their division, too, so there’s no time like the present to get a leg up on the supposed best team in pro basketball.

This is simply a matchup that favors Los Angeles in general, as Blake Griffin should feast on Portland’s weak interior defense and Damian Lillard isn’t necessarily as likely to erupt with the disruptive Chris Paul in his grill. That being said, Portland provides potent offense – especially on their home floor.

The Clippers are going to have their work cut out for them, and they’re not usually as in sync on the road, but in their 2016-17 debut, I think they get the job done.

Pick: Clippers 109, Blazers 106

San Antonio Spurs (-8.5) @ Sacramento Kings (+8.5)

The Spurs enter tonight with a cushy spread and it’s tough to imagine them coming up short. They had a day off after demolishing the Warriors at Oracle Arena and the Kings aren’t half the team Golden State is. DeMarcus Cousins and co. can certainly put up points and the Kings did win last night, but this team being any kind of tired on the second game of a back to back set should be bad news.

San Antonio has the coaching, talent, depth and style edge here. The only two things you can use to pull for the Kings are home court advantage and the desire to play up to San Antonio’s level. Kawhi Leonard should thrive against a bad Kings’ defense and also take Rudy Gay out of this one, which leaves just Boogie and not much else for Sacramento. This probably won’t be much of a game after the second half. Look for the Spurs to topple the Kings, cover and get to 2-0.

Pick: Spurs 114, Kings 102

2016 World Series Odds: Cubs vs. Indians Preview and Prediction

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The 2016 World Series kicks off on Tuesday night, when the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians get things going in game one at Progressive Field.

Cubs vs. Indians

It’s an emotional title series, as the Cubs make history by returning to MLB’s biggest stage for the first time since 1945. Chicago ends a remarkably long World Series drought, while they’ll have their first chance to actually win the entire thing for the first time since 1908.

Things could be emotional for the Indians, too, as Cleveland is fresh off of seeing the Cavaliers win their first NBA Finals championship in team history and will see The Tribe back on Major League Baseball’s biggest stage for the first time since 1997.

The Indians failed to capitalize on that World Series showdown with the then Florida Marlins, as they fell in one of the tightest title series ever, 4-3. The Tribe will be gunning for a win, though, which would be their first since winning in 1948.

World Series Betting

Suffice to say, this is a pretty historical and emotional World Series we’re gearing up for. The odds have favored the Cubs all year, as betting sites like Bovada gave them the best chance to win from the very beginning. Cleveland ended up being a solid favorite to make a deep playoff run as the year went on, but had you tossed some cash on them to win it all before the season even started, you could stand to win some money.

For the entire thing, here’s how the 2016 World Series odds are looking over at Bovada:

  • Cubs to Win -190
  • Indians to Win +170

You’re not coming away a massive winner, no matter who you bet on, but if you’re looking for a bigger payday, going with the underdog Indians to stage the World Series upset is the more profitable angle.

There is a lot more to consider for this series, like how the series itself could specifically unfold. It’s a tough series to gauge, too, considering we did not see these teams face in 2016. They played each other just four times in 2015, too, with these squads splitting those meetings right down the middle, 2-2.

If you want to bet the series, here are your betting options, per Bovada:

  • Cubs win, 4-0 +650
  • Cubs, 4-1 +350
  • Cubs, 4-2 +350
  • Cubs, 4-3 +400
  • Indians win, +2500
  • Indians, 4-1 +1100
  • Indians, 4-2 +650
  • Indians, 4-3 +550

You could make an argument anywhere here, but the best bet might be shooting for an Indians sweep. That does you much better than any other bet, as a $100 bet could get you back a cool $2,500.

Another interesting 2016 World Series bet could be the World Series MVP odds. Andrew Miller just was named MVP of Cleveland’s last series, so he naturally leads the way (+900). There are a ton of star hitters and pitchers that could vie for the World Series MVP, of course, depending on how things shake out.

In terms of talent and upside, here are a few fun World Series MVP sleeper picks:

  • Jose Ramirez – Indians (+5500)
  • Jason Heyward – Cubs (+5000)
  • Tyler Naquin – Indians (+4000

If you’re looking for a more favorable World Series MVP play that also could provide fun odds, consider these guys:

  • Corey Kluber – Indians (+1500)
  • Jake Arrieta – Cubs (+1200)
  • Jason Kipnis – Indians (+2000)

Game One Breakdown

Both of these teams come in hot, as Cleveland took care of high-powered Toronto Blue Jays offense last round with a 4-1 series win and Chicago ousted the Dodgers 4-2 by taking the last three games of the series.

It figures to be a true battle of the aces to get the 2016 World Series started, with Jon Lester looking to take the mound for the Cubs, who visit Corey Kluber and the Indians. Both of these pitchers have been great in the playoffs and churned out elite numbers across stellar 2016 MLB campaigns. It’s going to be tough sledding for two very potent offenses in this first game, and quite possibly much of the series.

The pitching advantage is moot here, as it’s a total wash and the Indians may get the mildest of edges due to starting the World Series at home.

These are two of the best offenses in baseball, but power might not be on fully display in this series. If that’s the case, pitcher duels may favor the Indians, start right away at home in game one.

World Series: Game 1 Pick

While the Indians do seem to have a mild edge to get this thing started, this first game (and really the entire World Series) feels like a toss-up. If we’re leaning on that, the narrative favors the Cubs, who have waited for 70 years just to get back here, and haven’t even won a World Series in 100+.

It’s time for the Cubs to rewrite history and we’ve got a feeling they get things started off the right way in game one, setting the tone for the rest of the series.

Game One Pick: Cubs 2, Indians 1