The playoff picture is quickly taking form in the NBA bubble.
The Eastern Conference is locked into its eight teams, with some jockeying in the middle of the standings, while the West seems destined for a play-in set and has plenty left to be decided between second and seventh place.
That adds an additional layer to Tuesday’s NBA betting action. We rundown the odds and give our favorite NBA free picks and predictions for August 11.
NBA picks for today
Houston Rockets vs San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs’ used the season restart to reinvent themselves, like a cheesy late-90’s teen rom-com where the boring nerdy girl switches things up by transforming into a sexy bombshell.
San Antonio’s newfound pace of play is sexy to NBA bettors, who keep cashing in on the Over with the Spurs’ team total. San Antonio topped its team total of 116.5 points in the win over New Orleans Sunday and is posting 122.3 points per game with a pace rating of 104.92 – third-highest during the seeding schedule.
So, with Houston on tap Tuesday, that frantic pace will continue right? Wrong. Like the mean girls catching on to Rachael Leigh Cook, the oddsmakers are wise to San Antonio – at least against the Rockets, who will be without James Harden for Tuesday.
Houston has done well defensively in the bubble, limiting its last four opponents to an average of just 108.8 points, which includes slowing down up-tempo attacks like Milwaukee and Sacramento. And the Spurs could be without starting point guard Derrick White due to a knee injury.
PREDICTION: Spurs team total Under 118.5 (-110)
Phoenix Suns vs Philadelphia 76ers
The Suns' bubble success has been rooted in defense, limiting opponents to just 109 points per game in the seeding schedule.
Phoenix may not have much to worry about on defense against the 76ers Tuesday, as Philadelphia - which was already without Ben Simmons - is sitting center Joel Embiid with an ankle injury and resting guard Josh Richardson. The Sixers also have Tobias Harris and Al Hordford listed as game-time decision versus the Suns. That's pretty much the bulk of the 76ers' offensive contributors.
Phoenix is playing the second outing of back-to-back games, so expect the legs to feel a little heavier on those jump shots.
PREDICTION: Under 223 (-110)
Boston Celtics vs Memphis Grizzlies
Motivations vary in this Tuesday tilt, with Boston plugged into the No. 3 seed in the East and Memphis still clawing for its postseason life.
With a victory, the Grizzlies can clinch a spot in the best-of-two play-in series for the eighth and final ticket in the West. Memphis only has two more games remaining, following Tuesday’s matchup with the Celtics with a meeting against Milwaukee on August 13, so the pressure is mounting.
As for Boston, it may sit or limit its key players in the final seeding games after watching the rival 76ers lose star Ben Simmons to a knee injury. Celtics head coach Brad Stevens discussed the balance of rest over rust on the weekend and since his starters played major minutes in the win over Orlando, we see Stevens playing it safe in the final two games.
PREDICTION: Memphis +4.0 (-110)
Top NBA consensus for today
Want to know who today's biggest NBA betting and consensus bets are right now? Check out our top NBA consensus picks.
Monday's NBA picks: 1-2
Season NBA picks: 16-17
NBA betting card for August 11
- Spurs team total Under 118.5 (-110)
- Suns-76ers Under 223 (-110)
- Memphis +4.0 (-110)
NBA Parlays
Did you know that if you parlayed today’s NBA betting picks, you could win $59.58 on a $10 bet?
Use our NBA parlay calculator to create your own parlays and see their potential payouts.
Where can I bet on the NBA?
You can bet on NBA odds at every online and casino sportsbook, including NBA moneylines, spreads, Over/Under totals, and a ton of NBA prop odds. Head over to our best-suggested sportsbooks for the top spots to bet on NBA odds in your area.
