The first round of bets you place after the Super Bowl kind of feels like eating lunch at your local diner the day after returning from a Vegas vacation. The selection can seem... well... lacking.
Since there won't be any halftime odes to drug abuse or Gatorade showers among the NBA odds tonight, we'll have to resort to more traditional markets - where we still see lots of value.
Join us as we dive through tonight's hardwood slate for our Tuesday, February 9 NBA picks and predictions.
NBA Picks for Today
Brooklyn Nets vs Detroit Pistons
It's been a rough go for the Detroit Pistons, who have been hanging tough with the Lakers (for some weird reason) and getting drubbed by basically everyone else. Detroit is 2-9 SU in its last 11 games, and 2-5 ATS in its last seven. The Pistons' last five losses to non-Lakers teams have all been by double digits.
Tonight, they face a Brooklyn squad that can only be realistically beaten by being outscored - something Detroit is horribly ill-equipped to do. The Pistons rank 24th in scoring and 26th in offensive rating, lacking any remote scoring depth behind Jerami Grant. To make matters worse, they just traded away their second-leading scorer (Derrick Rose) and now have to rely on a completely-beached Blake Griffin to get buckets.
I don't like it against Brooklyn. Kevin Durant may still be on COVID time-out, but the Nets are better equipped to handle the absence of an all-World scorer than any team in history.
This is a big spread, but it's within single digits, which is enough for us to fade the current Pistons in this matchup.
Also, sprinkle a little more on Joe Harris' Over 13.5 points. He's averaging 15 on the season, 19.2 over his last five, and is sure to get increased looks with Durant sidelined.
PREDICTION: Brooklyn -8.5 (-110) AND Joe Harris Over 13.5 points (-120)
New York Knicks vs Miami Heat
The return of Jimmy Butler was a welcome addition for a Heat squad that's spent the season battling several minor identity crises, sitting 12th in the East with a humbling 9-14 SU record.
Granted, that record is a heavy byproduct of their best player having been sidelined for 10 games, and Butler has responded like he knows his team needs him.
The Big Face Coffee CEO has been averaging 21/8.4/8 since coming back from COVID protocols, stuffing box scores like Bam Adebayo stuffed Jayson Tatum.
On Sunday against the Knicks, he was an assist shy of a triple-double, and looks like he's becoming a nightly threat to flirt with one. This makes his 31.5 total pts+rebs+asts market attractive, even at fairly heavy juice.
PREDICTION: Jimmy Butler Over 31.5 pts+rebs+asts (-140)
Orlando Magic vs Portland Trail Blazers
The last time we saw Damian Lillard facing a 31.5 points total, he roasted the Bulls for 44. Tonight, we're going back to the well against the Orlando Magic, who also offer low-key appeal.
Lillard is still averaging 32 points per game since CJ McCollum broke his foot, and the Magic are a great target for Dame Dash to prey on for a big scoring night.
For starters, Orlando gives up the fifth-most points to opposing PGs on the season, per Hashtag Basketball. To boot, Michael Carter-Williams, by far the Magic's most competent defender at the one-spot, is out, leaving rookie Cole Anthony and third-string Frank Mason III to try and fend off Lillard.
The Magic are also in a complete tailspin defensively, giving up 119 ppg over their last seven, a figure which would rank them 29th overall on the season. This is another great spot for Lillard to erupt.
PREDICTION: Damian Lillard Over 31.5 points (-120)
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 (-1.28 units)
Season record to date: 65-68-1 (-8.87 units)
NBA Betting Card for February 9
- Brooklyn -8.5 (-110) AND Joe Harris Over 13.5 points (-120)
- Jimmy Butler Over 31.5 pts+rebs+asts (-140)
- Damian Lillard Over 31.5 points (-120)
NBA Parlays
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Where Can I Bet on the NBA?
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