NBA betting offers a six-game menu on Wednesday night, with a Western Conference clash between the Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks highlighting the NBA odds board.
Analyst Monique Vag gives her favorite NBA picks for Wednesday’s slate, including pointspreads, Over/Under bets and prop plays. **video
NEW YORK KNICKS AT ATLANTA HAWKS
BIG JOHN STUD
The Hawks are 4.5-point home favorites hosting the New York Knicks. Atlanta will be without Clint Capela, Skal Labissiere, De'Andre Bembry and have three other key players listed as questionable or probable for tonight's matchup.
For Atlanta, John Collins has posted big numbers over his last 10 games, scoring 20 points or more eight times throughout that stretch. When these two teams met earlier in the season, Collins shot 12 of 19 from the floor for 32 points. Expect much of the same today and bet Over his points total of 21.5.
UTAH JAZZ AT OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
HISTORY LESSON
The Jazz have won six of their last seven road games overall, but have really struggled versus the Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena, posting a 1-18 SU record playing there.
Coming into tonight's matchup, the Thunder have been one of the league's hottest teams winning 15 of their last 20 matchups overall. Look for the Thunder to take care of business and continue their home dominance versus the Jazz. Take Oklahoma City -150 on the moneyline.
DENVER NUGGETS AT DALLAS MAVERICKS
MOUNTAIN MEN
The Nuggets have rotated wins and losses over their last six contests, but have still won 13 of their last 20 games overall. They travel to Dallas to take on a Mavericks team which has lost two straight contests, including a 119-109 loss to the Spurs last night.
Give Denver the edge here as it comes in well rested and playing very well defensively, surrendering the third-fewest points per game over its last three at 103.7. While my counterpart Jared Smith likes the value with the home underdog on the second night of back-to-back games, I’m taking Denver to cover the 2.5-point spread.
POINTS AT A PREMIUM
The last time the Nuggets and Mavericks met up, it was Denver that snuck away with a 107-106 victory on January 8. Despite both teams shooting over 48 and 50 percent from the field in that contest, it was still very low scoring. When these two teams meet up, look for defense first. Expect the same tonight and bet Under the game total of 218.5.
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS AT SACRAMENTO KINGS
RELYING ON THE LONG BALL
The Pelicans are small 1.5-point road favorites in Sacramento – game which boasts the highest Over/Under on the NBA odds board Wednesday night.
In their prior meeting this season, Buddy Hield had an off night shooting a poor percentage from inside the arc but connected on 4 of 7 from 3-point range. Hield has made three or more 3-point shots in seven of his last eight games and will find success today versus a Pelicans team allowing opponents to shoot 35.5 percent from distance. Bet Over Hield's points total of 16.5.
