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NBA Picks: Rockets Over Thunder and 4 Upsets to Chase on Wednesday Night

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The NBA picks up the pace quite a bit on Wednesday night, as Big NBA Wednesday returns in full force with a crazy 11-game slate. We come in all smiles after a successful run on Tuesday’s slate saw us go a clean 5-0 with straight up NBA picks.

It’s going to be much more difficult to go perfect on such a busy slate, and it’s typically a good idea to corral your NBA betting on insane nights like this, too. Due to that, we’ll scale it back a bit tonight and focus only on four underdog NBA picks we really like. Let’s get to it:

Houston Rockets (+2.5) Over Oklahoma City Thunder (-2.5)

Anytime James Harden faces his former team, we need to pay attention. Harden absolutely lights these guys up, with almost 29 points per game averaged against them in his career. Last year specifically he put over over 33 points per game against OKC.

The Thunder sport the league’s 7th rated defense and obviously have a monster of their own in Russell Westbrook, but they’re only 4-3 on their home floor and they’re struggling badly (four straight losses) right now. On paper, Houston has been a little better and really pushes the envelope offensively. If Harden is on – and history suggests he will be – we love the Rockets as an upset pick.

Pick: Rockets 105, Thunder 102

Indiana Pacers (+3.5) Over Cleveland Cavaliers (-3.5)

This game is currently locked at most gambling sites like Bovada and others, as the odds will eventually be adjusted with the news that LeBron James will rest tonight:

That being said, Cleveland could still easily be viewed as the favorite with both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love still expected to suit up. The Cavs will be on the second of a back to back set, but they’re 9-1 on the year and they surely won’t want to lose.

Not wanting to lose is one thing, but no LeBron James changes things, especially with this game going down in Indy, where the Pacers are an elite 5-1 this year. They’re just mediocre overall and their defense is atrocious, but a big game out of Paul George wouldn’t be shocking. Regardless of what the final spread looks like, we’ll roll with the Pacers for the upset.

Pick: Pacers 104, Cavaliers 101

Phoenix Suns (+4.5) Over Denver Nuggets (-4.5)

This might be the funnest NBA game of the night, as the early Total reports as 221 and both teams can move the needle offensively. Vegas must be picking the Nuggets because they’re at home, but they’re actually 0-3 on their own floor so far this year and as usual, stink at defense.

The Suns can’t defend either and are a putrid 1-5 on the road, but there are going to be a lot of points here and both of these teams aren’t very good. In what amounts to a toss-up, we’ll at least take the Suns to beat the spread in what should be a shootout.

Pick: Nuggets 106, Suns 104

Philadelphia 76ers (+7.5) Over Washington Wizards (-7.5)

Our favorite upset of the night is Philly beating the spread. I doubt they go out and full blown upset the Wizards, who are without Brad Beal but still have John Wall and everyone else. The Sixers are down Joel Embiid, too, so the real goal will be just keeping this one close.

I think they can do that against the Wizards, who are just as bad at 2-7 right now and are 0-4 on the road. Their defense is trash and they’ll be without Beal and with Wall are a  minutes limit.

None of that is great news for the Wiz, but it should only aid Philly, who will shoot for their second win on the year (as well as at home). I don’t see Philly winning but, this spread is generous enough to pick them ATS.

Pick: Wizards 102, 76ers 98

Cavaliers vs. Raptors and Tuesday’s NBA Picks

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The NBA picks back up on Tuesday night with a solid five-game slate, featuring the second meeting of the year between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors.

LeBron James and co. got the win in Canada earlier this year, which served as a friendly reminded that the Raptors may not be quite ready to take down the Cavs in a rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference Finals.

The game was close, however, and DeMar DeRozan comes in extremely hot, averaging a ridiculous 34 points per game. It will be more than interesting to see if he can keep that up at Quicken Loans Arena, where the Cavs have lost just one game in this young season.

Let’s break down the matchup between the Cavs and Raptors, as well as the other four games on tonight’s slate as we issue Tuesday’s NBA picks:

Toronto Raptors (+6.5) @ Cleveland Cavaliers (-6.5)

Game two of a four-game season series tips off in Cleveland tonight, where the Raptors will surely look to avenge a loss from earlier in the year. It’s tough to see them getting it tonight, of course, as Cleveland is at home and pretty well rested. They should even get J.R. Smith (ankle) back tonight, so the Cavs can figure to be at full strength at both ends.

Cleveland usually does a fantastic job of taking care of business at home, so don’t be shocked if they put the clamps down and hand DeRozan one of his worse games of the young season.

Pick: Cavs 108, Raptors 102

Atlanta Hawks (-7) @ Miami Heat (+7)

The Hawks come into tonight’s clash with the Heat riding a four-game winning streak and have quietly looked like a title contender in the early going. They’ve only had three road games, but they’re 2-1 in those games and even took it to the Cavs in one of their wins.

This just doesn’t look good overall for Miami, who probably won’t have Goran Dragic and have struggled badly during a five-game losing streak. Look for it to hit six games tonight.

Pick: Hawks 101, Heat 95

Charlotte Hornets (-1) @ Minnesota Timberwolves (+1)

The tightest game of the night belongs to the Hornets and Timberwolves, who will do battle in Minnesota tonight. Charlotte enters with a solid 6-3 record and is playing fantastic defense with Nicolas Batum and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist out on the wings, so it makes sense that the Wolves could struggle offensively – especially if Zach Lavine is out again tonight.

Minnesota is 2-2 on their home floor, but they aren’t stopping anyone (giving up 105 points per game) and might be a little too short-handed to really challenge the Hornets. The oddsmakers call this close, but we like the Hornets to win it fairly easily.

Pick: Hornets 103, Wolves 89

Chicago Bulls (+4) @ Portland Trail Blazers (-4)

The Bulls go to Portland tonight in search of win number seven. After a nice 3-0 start, Chicago has been a little inconsistent (3-4 over their last seven) as their lack of shooting has unsurprisingly popped up a few times. They could be a little under-manned in this one, as Rajon Rondo is iffy to play.

They might be better off without Rondo, who isn’t shooting well or defending on a high level. His presence could be bad news against a red hot Damian Lillard, who is coming off of two straight huge performances and tends to play his best ball at home. The Blazers are the mild favorites, but we like Chicago’s slight defensive edge.

Pick: Bulls 106, Blazers 103

Brooklyn Nets (+7) @ Los Angeles Lakers (-7)

The Nets and Lakers both have a very good shot at a win tonight, but logic suggests L.A. has the clear edge. The Lakers are surprisingly decent in this young season, as Luke Walton has them off to a 6-5 start and they’re specifically keeping things together at the Staples Center (3-1).

Backing the Lakers by a gaudy seven points isn’t realistic, but the Nets don’t defend, are down Jeremy Lin and stink on the road (1-4). Los Angeles is the easy pick, but expect a ton of points and the Nets to keep it fairly close after getting housed by the Clippers here last night.

Pick: Lakers 108, Nets 104

Clippers Over Thunder and Friday Night’s NBA Picks

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Our NBA picks for Thursday night’s slate were nearly perfect, as we nailed Dwyane Wade and the Bulls getting a win in Miami, the Warriors over the Nuggets and the Pelicans getting their first win of the year.

The one game we couldn’t correctly pick? The Lakers somehow getting to 5-3 with a big road win over the Kings.

Sacramento should be ashamed of themselves.

Regardless, we’ll take a 3-1 record on any four-game slate, and if we can stretch that out to 6-2 on Friday’s 8-game slate, that ratio would also offer plenty of winnings. Hopefully that was the situation for you last night and again the same tonight. To get there, let’s first run through each matchup and see which way you may want to be leaning with your NBA betting:

Cleveland Cavaliers (n/a) @ Washington Wizards (n/a)

The betting info isn’t out for this one yet, as Wiz stud point guard John Wall keeps getting thrown out of games and shooting guard Brad Beal is iffy with a sore hamstring. Needless to say, this makes the Wiz (2-5) a tough bet against the 6-1 Cavs.

Wall is going to play and Beal might, but it probably won’t make a difference for a Washington team that does not defend. A close game still wouldn’t be shocking, but this may be best to go straight up in, and we’re taking the Cavs.

Pick: Cavs 106, Wizards 101

Indiana Pacers (-5.5) @ Philadelphia 76ers (+5.5)

Indiana griped about not having any team continuity recently and then they went out and beat the Sixers. That game was in Indy and Joel Embiid wasn’t playing, however. Now we get to see this matchup (one where the Pacers needed OT to get the win) in Philly with the Sixers a little stronger down low.

It’s obviously tough to trust the 76ers at any point, much less against a talented Pacers squad as they search for their first win of the year. We vouched for the Sixers last time, but tonight we’ll just give them a shot at beating the spread.

Pick: Pacers 107, Sixers 104

Toronto Raptors (+2.5) @ Charlotte Hornets (-2.5)

Charlotte has been surprisingly sharp all season, but tonight they’ll host a good Raptors team without their best defensive stopper. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has already been ruled out for this one, and while his absence should open up Charlotte’s shooting, his defense will be sorely missed.

It really is a big loss for a Hornets team that is allowing just over 96 points per game. Charlotte’s defense takes a hit, but this is a tough matchup, regardless. Toronto slows the pace and plays very good defense themselves. We’re calling for the mild upset her, as Toronto has their full arsenal and Charlotte’s four-game winning streak feels like it has gone on long enough.

Pick: Raptors 101, Hornets 98

Utah Jazz (-4.5) @ Orlando Magic (+4.5)

The Magic look like a team that will be very fun to pick on this year. They actually are somehow 3-5 through eight games and are 2-2 at the Amway Center, but they have no distinct identity. They are far worse on the road, but they don’t defend at all and they even struggle offensively. When both aren’t clicking, they’re a nightmare to watch.

That should be bad news tonight, since Utah has Gordon Hayward and possibly George Hill back and tend to play elite defense. The Jazz have been a middling unit so far (just 5-4), but that hasn’t kept them from giving up just 95 points per game on the year. They’re also getting used to playing on the road, as they’ve gone a solid 3-3 away from home. It’s unlikely they get tripped up versus the Magic in this one.

Pick: Jazz 101, Magic 96

New York Knicks (+5.5) @ Boston Celtics (-5.5)

Carmelo Anthony and co. have surprisingly looked pretty good this year, as they’re putting up points (103 per game) at a solid rate and slowly finding themselves defensively. They’re still just 3-4, though, and continue to struggle on the road (1-2).

Boston has had its own struggles (just 3-4, as well), but they’re at home and boast a more explosive offense. Not having Jae Crowder (ankle) could hurt them, but this is a game they should win and their three-game skid needs to end. Look for the Celtics to get back to .500.

Pick: Celtics 105, Knicks 101

Los Angeles Clippers (-5) @ Oklahoma City Thunder (+5)

Los Angeles heads to OKC tonight, as they get a second shot at the only team to have beaten them so far in this young NBA season. The Thunder did that in L.A., yet with a rematch in their own backyard (where they’re 4-1), the oddsmakers weirdly support the Clippers.

Perhaps the backing of Lob City has to do with the Clipper’s league-leading defense (allowing just 88 points per game) or their strong offense (105 points per game). Whatever the case, this game is naturally in danger of going the other way, and Vegas knows it. That being said, OKC has proven they’re one of the better teams in the Western Conference and they don’t lose at home easily. They’ll at least beat the spread in a tight one.

Pick: Clippers 104, Thunder 102

Detroit Pistons (+9.5) @ San Antonio Spurs (-9.5)

This is certainly one of the bigger spreads to both fear and target. Detroit is plain old awful on the road right now (0-4) and I don’t buy San Antonio losing this much at home forever (1-3!). The Spurs clearly have some issues right now, but Danny Green just got back and Tony Parker returns tonight. I fully expect the Spurs to start righting the ship at home and it begins tonight against the Pistons.

Pick: Spurs 98, Pistons 86

Sacramento Kings (+7) @ Portland Trail Blazers (-7)

This might be the weirdest game on Friday’s NBA slate, as the Kings just lost to the Lakers last night and will badly want to get that taste out of their mouths. That being said, Portland has picked up where they left off last year, going 5-4 through their first nine games while putting up 106 points per night.

DeMarcus Cousins could have his way in this matchup, but it feels like this is the same old Kangz and their 2-4 road record isn’t doing them any favors. They should fight, though, so I’ll take the Kings to beat the spread.

Pick: Blazers 109, Kings 107

NBA Picks: Can Anthony Davis and Pelicans Finally Win a Game?

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The New Orleans Pelicans are in bad company to get the 2016-17 NBA season going: they’re one of two winless teams in the league.

No one thought Anthony Davis and co. would be title threats suddenly after a bad 2015-16 run, especially with Jrue Holiday away from the team (personal) and Tyreke Evans (leg) still on the mend. But few probably thought they’d be here, either, staring at an ugly 0-8 start – one that is actually worse than the Philadelphia 76ers.

New Orleans hasn’t had it easy, to be sure. Not only are Holiday and Evans not around to help out The Brow, but the team let Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson walk this summer in free agency.

Suffice to say, it’s not all that surprising the Pelicans have struggled to find wins.

Of course, one would think they would have at least one by now, seeing as Anthony Davis is having a career year, averaging over 30 points and 11 rebounds per game.

Will those numbers finally help the Pellies get a win on Thursday night? Read on in Thursday night’s NBA picks to find out:

Chicago Bulls (+2) @ Miami Heat (-2)

Dwyane Wade should get ready for the tears on Thursday night, as he prepares to return to South Beach for the first time since leaving behind the Heat for his hometown Chicago Bulls. Chicago lost in Atlanta last night and could be a tough underdog bet to have much faith in with this road game coming on the second game of a back to back set, but it’s going to be awfully difficult to eliminate the Wade revenge factor.

The other issue is Miami is slumping, having lost two straight (just 2-4 on the year). They haven’t even been great at home (1-2) and tonight may be too much for them to handle with Wade returning in an emotional environment. The Bulls (4-4) have collapsed after a 1-3 start and could be tired, but this is basically a pick’em and they do look to be the better team on paper.

Ultimately, we can’t deny Wade in his return to Miami.

Pick: Bulls 101, Heat 99

New Orleans Pelicans (+5) @ Milwaukee Bucks (-5)

The big question arrives at the Bradley Center tonight; can the Pelicans win a freaking game, already? This would certainly be a good spot to imagine that happening, as betting sites like Bovada are giving the Pellies a decent spread here and they did give the Bucks (4-3) a run for their money in a wild 117-113 loss earlier this year.

The reality is neither of these teams are very good, as they both can’t defend and the Bucks don’t have a single player who can slow down The Brow. We’re surely headed for another back and forth game with a good amount of points, but the Pellies are the easy play here as they desperately hunt that first victory.

New Orleans should at least beat the spread tonight, but we’re also targeting them for a big road win.

Pick: Pelicans 108, Bucks 105

Golden State Warriors (n/a) @ Denver Nuggets (n/a)

The Dubs enter Denver tonight on the second game of a back to back set without any betting info available, largely due to Stephen Curry (ankle) being somewhat questionable for this one. Curry said he’s fine and that he’ll play, for what it’s worth.

Still, the Dubs should probably rest some of their guys in a road game they’d have a decent chance of winning, no matter who they sat. Denver isn’t terrible, of course, as they can certainly put up points and have looked solid during their 3-4 start. This is just their second game at home, too, which arguably makes their competitive start all the more impressive.

With or without Curry, however, the Warriors are the obvious favorite. Look for them to win and unless the spread is something crazy like +15, they’ll likely cover, as well.

Pick: Warriors 110, Nuggets 104

Los Angeles Lakers (+5.5) @ Sacramento Kings (-5.5)

This is the third game of the night that might be tough to call, as both the Lakers and Kings look better than they did a year ago. Los Angeles is a decent 4-4 after eight games and are putting up over 108 points per game. That could be troubling for the Kings, who are just 4-5 and have not displayed elite defense this year.

Of course, Los Angeles has not been nearly as good away from home this year (1-3) and their lack of defense (allowing 108 points per game) tends to put them in a tough spot. That likely will be the case tonight, with the Kings looking for their third win in a row in an effort to get back to .500. We could get a fairly tight game, but a big game from DeMarcus Cousins is safe to expect in a Sacramento win.

Pick: Kings 106, Lakers 102

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.

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