Even without Kevin Durant, the Brooklyn Nets continue to cash Over bets at a remarkable rate, but will one of the best NBA betting trends going continue against a defensive-minded Phoenix Suns team?
And where is the value in LeBron James' player props with Anthony Davis sidelined for the Los Angeles Lakers for the next couple of weeks?
We break down the betting markets for those games and more with our best free NBA picks and predictions for Tuesday, February 16.
NBA picks for today
Toronto Raptors vs Milwaukee Bucks
The Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks both fall under the category of disappointments so far this season, and the two 2019 Eastern Conference finalists will look to change that narrative when they face off on Tuesday night.
The Raptors have bounced back from a 2-8 start, but are coming off an ugly loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, while 16-11 is not the record the Bucks would have expected at this point in the season. Milwaukee has dropped three games in a row and is returning home after a long road trip.
One of the reasons for the Bucks' struggles is that they've taken a step back on defense. After leading the NBA in defensive rating a year ago, they sit in 13th in that category this season. Those struggles show themselves the most when it comes to defending the perimeter. Milwaukee ranks 27th in the NBA in opponent 3-point percentage, and only the Jazz and Blazers jack up more threes than the Raps.
One of those shot-happy Raptors is veteran point guard Kyle Lowry, and after a slow start to the season, the Toronto point guard is starting to heat up.
Lowry is shooting 43.1 percent from downtown over his last 10 games, and the fiery point guard tends to get up for big games. The last time he faced the Bucks at the end of January, he went 6-9 from beyond the arc. We're betting he goes Over his made threes total in this one.
PREDICTION: Kyle Lowry Over 2.5 Made Threes (-140)
Los Angeles Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves
It's sounding like the Los Angeles Lakers will be without star forward Anthony Davis for a few weeks due to a calf injury, so LeBron James will have to shoulder the load (even more so) in his absence. Next up for the defending champs are the Minnesota Timberwolves who are coming off their first win since the return of Karl-Anthony Towns.
Towns went for 20 points and 11 boards in the T-wolves' upset win over the Toronto Raptors, but the Lakers, even without Davis, pose a much tougher challenge, and LeBron is cooking in the month of February.
James is averaging 26.3 points to go along with 9.4 assists and 8.7 rebounds in nine games this month. Now, he faces a Minnesota defense that ranks 23rd in defensive rating, gives up the second-most opponent rebounds per game, and is dead last in rebounding percentage. The King may take it upon himself to do a little more work on the glass with AD sidelined, so take the Over on his rebounding prop.
PREDICTION: LeBron James Over 8.5 Rebounds (-130)
Brooklyn Nets vs Phoenix Suns
(Editor's Note: This pick was written and published before Tuesday afternoon's news that Kyrie Irving will miss tonight's game.)
So, if you haven't heard about this Brooklyn Nets Over trend thing, how's that rock you've been living under? The Nets are a ridiculous 20-3 O/U in their last 23 games, but will that trend continue against a better defensive team like the Phoenix Suns? We'll find out when the two do battle Tuesday.
Despite being without Kevin Durant, the Nets are coming off a 136-125 shootout win against the Sacramento Kings, where James Harden and Kyrie Irving went a combined 15-21 from 3-point range.
The Nets have been shooting the lights out ever since Harden has arrived, ranking second in offensive rating, and second in shooting from beyond the arc, but what makes them an Over bettors' dream, is their ineptitude at the other end of the floor. No one gives up more points on a per-game basis than the Nets, who rank 27th in defensive rating, and they'll be pushed by the Suns tonight.
Phoenix comes into this game on a six-game winning streak and the offense has really started to heat up over the last four games. The Suns are averaging 118.3 points per game over that span and the Nets, as noted, should put up little resistance.
While the Suns are a very strong defensive team (fourth in defensive rating), the Nets have proved time and again they light up the scoreboard and they should do so again tonight, even without Durant.
PREDICTION: Over 231.5 (-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.
Yesterday's picks: 1-2 (-1.09 units)
Season record to date: 78-77-1 (-6.38 units)
NBA betting card for February 16
- Kyle Lowry Over 2.5 Made Threes (-140)
- LeBron James Over 8.5 Rebounds (-130)
- Over 231.5 (-110)
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