Wednesday was the night of the underdogs, with five of the nine dogs winning outright. On Thursday the NBA has six games scheduled, with two featured in the spotlight on TNT. Suns – Hawks kicks it off at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed up by a clash between the Lakers and Clippers to cap off the night. Let’s dive into the best NBA bets, picks and NBA betting tips for Thursday, Feb. 3
NBA Best Bets: Game Tips & Expert Betting Predictions
Kings vs. Warriors Best Bet
The Warriors will host the Kings on Thursday night in a Western Conference matchup. Golden State and Sacramento meet for the third time this season, with the Warriors winning the first two games by double digits. Golden State opens this game as a significant home favorite. Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox sat out of Wednesday’s game against the Nets. Keep an eye on his status throughout the day, as he may suit up for tonight’s matchup. The Kings were able to pull off a second half comeback and defeat the Nets 112-101 on their home court last night. Sacramento will look to ride the momentum into Thursday when they take on a Warriors team seeking their eighth straight victory.
With the trade deadline approaching, the rumors are flying around for many of the Kings starters. Sacramento is 19-34 on the season, and ownership looks open to shaking the roster up before the trade deadline. The Kings just finished a five-game road trip where they went winless, but they were able to stop the bleeding and secure a win last night at home. They will pack their bags and travel upstate for a quick pit stop in San Francisco on Thursday. Marvin Bagley III is expected to miss his third straight game due to a sprained right ankle. Terence Davis underwent wrist surgery on Tuesday and is out a minimum of three months. As a team the Kings are 22nd in offensive efficiency and 13th in scoring, with 109.3 points per game. Sacramento also ranks 28th in defensive efficiency and allows 114.7 points per game.
The Warriors put forth a valiant effort in their game on Tuesday against the Spurs, coming out victorious without their three best players. This victory gave a Warriors team that is already on a roll an added boost of confidence. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins will all return to the lineup on Thursday. Draymond Green remains without a timetable as he continues to recover from a back injury. The Warriors rank top eight in field goal percentage and 3-point percentage. In addition, they rank second in 3-pointers made and effective field goal percentage. Their defense ranks first overall in defensive rating and is holding opponents to the second-fewest points per game in the league (102.5).
These two teams can really push the pace, creating a high-tempo, high-volume style of play. The Warriors have put the clamps on teams with their defensive efforts, but the Kings can produce a high-scoring performance on any given night. Sacramento has a 13-10-1 over/under record on the road. The Warriors’ game totals have finished with 230 points or higher in three of the last four. Curry seems to be breaking out of his shooting slump, and Thompson continues to work his way back from injury. Given how poorly the Kings defense has played as of late, it is realistic for the Warriors offense to put up 120 points. This game has a chance to be a blowout for the Warriors against a Kings team on the second night of a back-to-back with very little depth to their roster at the moment.
Best Bet for Tonight’s Game: Total Over 223.5 Points
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Bulls vs. Raptors Best Bet
The Chicago Bulls travel to Toronto on Thursday to face off against the Raptors. This will be the third meeting between these two teams on the season. Chicago owns a 53-44 advantage in the series matchup and has won the last five meetings by an average of 10.6 points. Both teams have won four of their last five games. Can the Raptors continue their winning ways and put an end to the Bulls’ five game series win streak?
Although the Bulls have dealt with a handful of injuries throughout their journey this year, Chicago enters Thursday leading the Central Division by 1.5 games and holding the top spot in the Eastern Conference at 32-18. The Bulls are averaging 111.3 points on 47.7% shooting, and their defense is allowing 109.3 points on 46.5% shooting. DeMar DeRozan is averaging 26.5 points and five assists, while Zach LaVine is averaging 24.9 points and 4.8 rebounds. Ayo Dosunmu continues to play a major role in the absence of Alex Caruso (wrist) and Lonzo Ball (knee). Dosunmu has seen 30-plus minutes in 11 straight games. Keep an eye on LaVine’s status, as he is listed in probable.
The Toronto Raptors have been making a solid mid-season run, going 12-6 since the start of the New Year. Much of the Raptors’ success can be attributed to the health of their roster. Toronto comes into Thursday night with a fully healthy roster, minus Khem Birch (nose). Gary Trent Jr. continues to play lights out, scoring 30-plus points in five straight games. Pascal Siakam has been outstanding over his last 19 games, averaging 22.6 points, 9.3 rebounds and 6.4 assists. O.G. Anunoby is the best two-way player on their roster and continues to be a crucial part of the Raptors rotation. He will have to contain the top scoring duo in the league in LaVine and DeRozan. Toronto ranks 21st in scoring, averaging 107.5 points per game this season. They rank 16th in defensive rating and allow 106.5 points per game.
The total has combined for an average of 220 points over the Raptors last nine home games. The Bulls continue to play in extremely high-scoring games since losing two of their best defenders in Caruso and Ball. Chicago has cashed the over in four of their last five games, with three of the games combining for 240 or more points. While Toronto’s defense has been playing better as of late, these two teams rank 15th and 19th in defensive rating on the season. Look for both to continue to dominate on the offensive side of the floor, and take the over with confidence in Thursday’s Eastern Conference showdown.
Best Bet for Tonight’s Game: Total Over 222.5 Points
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