NBA Sharp Report: Nuggets-Knicks, Heat-Bucks Drawing Pro Action Friday

It's easy to forget this time of year, but the NBA actually does still exist. While most bettors have completely flipped the switch to the college game, sharps will go wherever the value leads them, and in today's case, that's been two NBA matchups: Nuggets-Knicks and Heat-Bucks.

Denver Nuggets @ New York Knicks

7:30 p.m. ET

Sharp angle: Under (moved from 216.5 to 215)

Technically, this number has actually risen from its opener. Oddsmakers set the total at 214.5 last night, and early action on the over — which has drawn 59% of bets — drove the number up to 216.5. Our Bet Signals showed no signs of that action coming from sharps, though.

What they showed instead was sharp action hitting the under when the higher total was posted.

Two Sports Insights Bet Signals — triggered by market-wide line movement caused by sharp action — hit the under at 216.5, convincing sportsbooks to reverse directions on the line movement.

On top of that, the 41% of bettors on the under have generated 85% of actual money being wagered. While that certainly creates a monetary liability on the under, it perhaps more importantly shows how bigger bettors — the ones more likely to be sharps — are playing the total.

Miami Heat @ Milwaukee Bucks

8:30 p.m. ET

Sharp angle: Heat (moved from +9.5 to +8.5)

Bettors are split on this matchup, as only a small majority (53%) have taken the first-place Bucks. But while a small majority of bettors are on the Bucks, a small majority of money (56%) has landed on the Heat.

While that's nothing compared to the discrepancy on the Nuggets-Knicks total, it still serves a slight indication of how bigger bettors are playing the matchup.

What's been far more telling, though, is the line movement. In an evenly-bet game, as this one essentially is, there's no reason for sportsbooks to move a line, unless their sharper customers are gravitating toward one side.

According to Sports Insights' Bet Signals, that's exactly what's happening. Two signals, at lines of +9.5 and +9, have been triggered on the Heat, resulting in the current number.