There are 10 games on Friday’s NBA schedule, including some tasty national TV battles, and our experts are betting on these matchups:
- 7 p.m. ET: T'Wolves at Magic
- 8 p.m. ET: Kings at Grizzlies
- 8 p.m. ET: Thunder at Bucks
- 10:30 p.m. ET: Nuggets at Clippers
See the four bets they’re making below.
Friday NBA Betting Picks
Odds as of Friday and via FanDuel. Get up to a $500 risk-free bet at FanDuel today or see more offers and reviews for the best online sportsbooks.
Brandon Anderson: Timberwolves at Magic
- Spread: Magic -7.5
- Over/Under: 233
- Time: 7:05 p.m. ET
Have you seen the new-look Minnesota Timberwolves?
You’re forgiven if you haven’t. After all, D’Angelo Russell has only played five games with his new team, and Karl-Anthony Towns is still out with a wrist injury.
But DLo wasn’t the only player the Wolves added at the deadline. Malik Beasley and Juancho Hernangomez came too, among others, and this team finally has real shooting and spacing for the first time … ever?
The Wolves still can’t play any defense, but suddenly they can score with the best of them. Minnesota has hit their over in four straight games — by at least 18 points in every game.
And as for that Magic defense? Orlando has gone over in five straight games too, so that’s nine straight overs combined. The teams 14-5-1 hitting the over during their last 10 games.
Let’s score some points.
THE PICK: Over 233
Matt Moore: Kings at Grizzlies
- Spread: Grizzlies -3.5
- Over/Under: 229
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
Oh, man, I don’t know how Memphis is favored, here. The Grizzlies are in a free fall — they're without Jaren Jackson Jr. and Brandon Clarke, trading Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill has crushed them with these injuries, and Ja Morant is hitting a rookie wall. In February, Morant is shooting just 15% from 3-point range.
Meanwhile, the Kings are 6-2 ATS on the second-night of a back to back and +6.2 vs. the spread, via Cleaning the Glass. They’ve been good in this spot, and without Clarke and Jackson, the Grizzlies are missing key defenders. The Kings have centers to counter Jonas Valanciunas and Memphis doesn’t have many other weapons.
I love the Kings as dogs here, ATS and ML.
THE PICK: Kings +3.5
[Bet now at FanDuel. NJ, PA, IN and WV only.]
Justin Phan: Thunder at Bucks
- Spread: Bucks -10
- Over/Under: 231.5
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
The Bucks are 8-0 with a +17.4 efficiency differential and +4.9 spread differential with one-day rest facing an opponent on the second leg of back-to-back.
Danilo Gallinari played 33.6 minutes on Thursday, the most he's played in a game in over a month, so he'll sit on the second leg of a back-to-back.
There's a good chance he sits this one out and OKC will be thinner than usual to cover for his absence without Darius Bazley. Giannis has played in 8 of 9 games this season that he's been initially listed probable, so I think he goes, as well.
THE PICK: Bucks -10
Editor's note: With Khris Middleton a surprise scratch for the Bucks, Phan hedged out of his Bucks -10 bet with a wager on the Thunder.
Rob Perez: Nuggets at Clippers
- Spread:Clippers -6.5
- Over/Under: 219.5
- Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
This is the biggest game of the year for the Clippers after planting their flag on the Lakers and the city of Los Angeles on Christmas Day. The two-seed could very well be on the line tonight at Staples Center as the Nuggets and Clips are only separated by one game in the standings, with the Nuggets currently in the two slot and the Clippers in the three.
If these two teams ultimately do fall in these seeds, they are very likely headed for a second round matchup where home court will be essential.
It’s not essential because Staples Center turns into Cameron Indoor Stadium when the Clippers play — it’s actually far from it — but under no circumstances do they want to have to go a mile high to Denver for a Game 7.
Players have complained about traveling to Denver in the past; the altitude fatigues players at the end of long west coast road trips, and you can guarantee that sentiment reigns true for any team having to play them in a playoff series.
With all of this said, this will be one of the very few times that you see the War Machine Los Angeles Clippers. They don’t get up for regular season games very often. As a matter of fact they just completed their first game with everyone on the roster active, but this is absolutely one of those nights. They know what’s at stake.
They are going to jump that Murray/Jokic pick and roll like their lives depend on it and make Gary Harris, Paul Millsap or somebody else beat them.
There is no way I’m ever believing in this after last year’s playoffs. The Nuggets have no shame in showing their hand in regard to what they’re going to run, and when the Clippers have an arsenal of the league’s best defenders, it is just going to be impossible for Denver to score down the stretch when the game slows to a half court pace.
In the half court, you go to your stars to close. The Clippers’ stars are just too good, they’ve proved it all season, and they’re going to prove it tonight with a statement win in which they pull away late.
THE PICK: Clippers -6.5
