The Suns captured another victory on Tuesday, defending their home court and improving their record to 41-9. Wednesday is another action-packed day in the NBA with nine games scheduled across the league. The game totals stay hot, and there have been quality edges to be found over the past few weeks. This column will continue to use the same analytical approach to attack today’s slate. Let’s dive into the best NBA bets, picks and NBA betting tips for Wednesday, Feb. 2.
NBA Best Bets: Game Tips & Expert Betting Predictions
Wizards vs. 76ers Best Bet
It is back to the well with the Wizards after watching yesterday’s performance against the Bucks. Milwaukee handled Washington on their home court with a final score of 112-98. Washington will travel overnight to Philadelphia to take on a 76ers squad that is clicking on all cylinders. These two teams are going in opposite directions and tonight will not get any easier for the Wizards. Outside of Kyle Kuzma, the Wizards are struggling to pick up the missing production with Bradley Beal out of the lineup. According to reports, Beal met with a specialist to look at his wrist and will be reevaluated in one week.
Coincidentally, the last win for the Wizards came against the 76ers on Jan. 17 by the score of 117-98. Since then Washington has managed to drop six straight games, and their season is starting to fall apart. Thomas Bryant exited Tuesday’s game with an ankle sprain and is unlikely to play Wednesday, which is another hit to Washington’s lineup. The Wizards rank 21st in offensive rating and 22nd in defensive rating this season. Their offense is averaging 99.7 points per game over the last five games, while their defense is allowing 113.6 per game. The Wizards have faced four straight top-10 defenses, three of which have held the Wizards to under 100 points. Tonight they are on the second of a back-to-back, up against another top-10 defense on the road.
The 76ers will defend their home court on Wednesday with the rest advantage over Washington. Furkan Korkmaz (knee) and Shake Milton (back) remain out for Wednesday. Philadelphia is 31-19 on the season, top of the Atlantic Division. Joel Embiid is averaging 29.1 points and 4.4 assists, while Tobias Harris is averaging 18.7 points and 3.7 assists. Tyrese Maxey is coming off a 33-point performance, including a clutch bucket with 26 seconds left in overtime to give the 76ers the lead over the Grizzlies and secure the victory. Philadelphia ranks 11th in offensive efficiency and is averaging 107.9 points per game on the season.
These two teams have faced off twice this year, with the game totals ending at 213 and 215. Washington has gone under the game total in four of their last five games, with an average combined total of 213.6 points. Philadelphia is 20-29-1 over/under on the season and 9-15 over/under at home. Both teams rank bottom ten in pace. The Wizards rank 28th in offensive rating and 27th in effective field goal percentage over the last five games and have struggled to find a rhythm. While Wizards have a lengthy trend of going over the game total on no rest, this is a different team without Beal in the lineup. Look for Philadelphia to control the tempo and take home the victory inside Wells Fargo Arena.
Best Bet for Tonight’s Game: Total Under 213.5 Points
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Hornets vs. Celtics Best Bet
Tonight is a battle of two Eastern Conference teams looking to gain ground and stay in the playoff picture. The Charlotte Hornets travel to face the Boston Celtics Wednesday night inside TD Garden. The Hornets will look to forget their most recent performance on Sunday, where they were crushed 115-90 by the Clippers. The Celtics are playing some of their best all-around basketball leading to victories in four of their last five games. These two teams will compete for the third time this season, and they have split the first two matchups, with each team winning on the road.
Charlotte continues to impress folks across the league with their pace and offensive production. Their struggles come on the defensive end of the floor, where they rank 26th in defensive rating on the season. Charlotte leads the league scoring 114.5 points per game, but it is also allowing the third-most points to opponents (114.6). Kelly Oubre Jr. said he would be available on Wednesday after missing the last two games with an ankle sprain. Gordon Hayward cleared health and safety protocols but will not travel with the team missing his sixth straight game. Miles Bridges contributes 20.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. LaMelo Ball is averaging 19.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 7.7 assists a night this season. The Hornets are top five in the league in 3-pointers made per game.
For the season, Boston ranks 20th in the league in scoring offense, with an average of 108 points per game. The Celtics are showing more consistency of late, ranking seventh in offensive rating over their past five games. Boston is fourth in the league in rebounding with 46.2 per game. The Celtics will have a clear advantage on the glass against a Hornets defense that is allowing the second-most rebounds to opponents per game. If Boston can take advantage on the boards, it will open up plenty of second-chance opportunities. The Celtics have played excellent defense throughout the year, ranking fourth in defensive rating and holding opponents to 104.6 points per game.
The Hornets love to push the pace and put up the third-most field goal attempts per game. Charlotte is averaging a combined score of 232.4 points per game over their last five games. The Hornets were on a nice run before getting shut down by the Clippers in their last outing. Head-to-head the over is 9-4 in the last 13 meetings overall. The over is also 13-3 in Hornets last 16 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points. Even though Boston is playing some stout defense over their last five games, the Hornets will give their defense a test tonight. Take the over with confidence in Wednesday’s matchup.
Best Bet for Tonight’s Game: Total over 223.5 Points
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