NBA Wednesday night offers up the last full slate before the league winds down on Thursday prior to the All-Star Weekend. The league has 11 games scheduled with two matchups featured on ESPN. The Nets and Knicks kick it off in the battle of New York, followed up by Jazz – Lakers to close out the night. Keep a close eye on roster updates throughout the day, as more players may rest than normal, with teams knowing they are headed into an extended break. Let’s dive into the best NBA bets today, picks and NBA betting tips for Wednesday, Feb. 16.
Best NBA Bets Today: Game Tips & Betting Predictions
Jazz vs. Lakers Best Bet
The Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers face off in Los Angeles on Wednesday. This will be the final game for both squads before the All-Star break. Utah is playing excellent basketball as of late, winning six straight games during their homestand. They will look to break a five-game road skid tonight. The Lakers are desperate to get back in the win column and head into the break on a positive note. The team morale is at an all-time low after losing seven of their last nine games, dropping to five games under .500. These two teams have met once this season, with the Jazz securing the victory 101-95 in Utah.
The Jazz are finally healthy and have turned the momentum around over the past two weeks after a midseason scare where they dropped 11 of 13 games. Rudy Gobert returned to the lineup on Monday after a nine-game absence. Gobert accounted for 14 points and seven rebounds in a 135-101 win over the Rockets in his first appearance back. It was the sixth consecutive victory for the Jazz, who have covered the spread in five straight outings. The Jazz have a 36-21 record, holding the top spot in the Northwest Division, four games ahead of Denver. Utah ranks first in offensive rating and 10th in defensive rating. The Jazz have five players averaging in double figures, with Donovan Mitchell leading the team in points per game with 25.5. Utah averages the most points per game (114) and second-most 3-pointers made per game (14.6). The Lakers will need to lock in on the perimeter defense if they hope to stand a chance against a Jazz team that has been shooting lights out.
The Lakers have been plagued by injuries this season, and the chemistry has not been there. Los Angeles comes into tonight’s game with a 26-31 record, sitting ninth in the Western Conference standings. LeBron James is questionable for tonight’s matchup with a knee injury. Do not be surprised if James decides to sit this out one and focus on getting ready for the second half of the season. Avery Bradley (knee) and Carmelo Anthony (hamstring) are both ruled out for tonight. Anthony Davis is probable with wrist soreness. Davis has been able to battle through the wrist pain, averaging 23.8 points and 12 rebounds in the month of February. The Lakers offense ranks 23rd in offensive rating and are averaging 111 points per game. Their defense is middle of the pack, ranking 17th in defensive rating and allowing opposing teams to score 112.6 points per game. Russell Westbrook continues to struggle in all aspects of his game, with below-average output across the board to start the year. Frank Vogel has even benched Westbrook down the stretch in the fourth quarter in recent games this season, which has caused some tension. It will be interesting to see how Westbrook handles his relationship with Vogel and the decisions around his workload throughout the remainder of the season.
These teams are averaging a combined total of 214.6 in their last five matchups. Their first matchup this season ended with a total of 196 points. The Lakers average a combined score of 223.5 points on the year, and the Jazz average a combined score of 220.8 points. The total has gone under in five of Utah’s last six games. Los Angeles pace has slowed down greatly with Davis back in the lineup, ranking 16th in the league since his return. The Lakers desperately needs more from Davis, especially on the defensive end. A win tonight for the Lakers would give them some much needed confidence. Given their season averages and recent matchup totals, this line seems to be set a few points too high. This game should end in the 218- to 222-point range, so take the under with confidence on Wednesday.
Best Bet for Today’s Game: Total Under 226.5 Points
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Spurs vs. Thunder Best Bet
The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder meet for the third time this season on Wednesday. The Spurs need a win after losing five of their last eight games. The Thunder are looking to string together consecutive wins after squeezing out a victory against the Knicks in overtime on Monday night. San Antonio is coming off a 120-109 loss to Chicago on the road in their most recent game Monday night. These two teams split the first two matchups, with both teams winning on their home court.
The Spurs saw their two-game win streak snapped after a fourth quarter meltdown against the Bulls on Monday. The Spurs are 22-36 on the season, sitting 12th in the Western Conference standings. San Antonio ranks 14th in offensive rating and is scoring 111.8 points per game on the year. They rank first in the league in assists, dishing out 28 per game. The Spurs are 18th in defensive rating and are allowing opponents to score 111.8 points per game. Dejounte Murray has stepped up his production this season, averaging a career high in points (20), rebounds (8.3) and assists (9.4) per game. Tre Jones is doubtful for Wednesday’s game due to knee soreness. Josh Richardson and Romeo Langford could see their first minutes on Wednesday after being acquired in a trade from the Celtics. Gregg Popovich is never one to give out his true lineup strategy, so stay close to updates as the game gets closer to tip.
The Thunder snapped a five-game losing streak in their previous game, as they defeated the Knicks on the road in an overtime thriller on Monday night. The Thunder enter Wednesday with a 18-39 record and bottom of the Western Conference, with only the Houston Rockets holding a worse record. In the midst of all the losing, Josh Giddey has been stellar for the Thunder. Giddey is averaging 12.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists on the year. He has posted a triple-double in back-to-back games and is coming off a career high 28 points against the Knicks. The Thunder will be shorthanded once again on Wednesday, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (ankle), Luguentz Dort (shoulder) and Kenrich Williams (knee) all out on Wednesday. The Thunder rank dead last in offensive rating and are averaging 101.1 points per game. Oklahoma City has held their own on the defensive end of the floor, ranking eighth in defensive rating and allowing opposing teams to score 107.7 points per game.
Oklahoma City is 24-33 overall and 12-15 over/under at home. San Antonio is 30-26 over/under overall and 11-17-1 over/under on the road. The under has cashed in each of the Thunder’s last five games against the Spurs. San Antonio’s game total is averaging 11 fewer points on the road versus at home this season. These two teams rank 29th and 30th in free throws made per game and are both below-average 3-point shooting teams. Over their last five matchups, the combined total is averaging 206.2 points. The Thunder will be without their top two scorers, posing a challenge for the 30th-ranked offense in the league. This may not be the prettiest of games on the slate, but it is an opportunity to take the under in a game showcasing the league’s worst offense.
Best Bet for Today’s Game: Total Under 218 Points
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