There are nine games on Tuesday's NBA schedule and our experts are betting on these specific matchups:
- 7 p.m. ET: Boston Celtics at Indiana Pacers
- 8 p.m. ET: Dallas Mavericks at San Antonio Spurs
- 10: 30 p.m. ET: Brooklyn Nets at Los Angeles Lakers
Odds as of Tuesday 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.
John Ewing: Celtics at Pacers
- Spread: Celtics -3
- Over/Under: 214.5
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
The Celtics and Pacers meet on Tuesday in a potential playoff preview. The Celtics opened as 2-point road favorites and have been bet up to -3.
More than 70% of spread tickets and dollars are on the C’s. The lopsided betting is not too surprising as Indy is dealing with some injuries. Victor Oladipo is questionable, while Malcolm Brogdon and Doug McDermott have been ruled out.
We know the public is backing the Celtics, but history suggests the Pacers could be undervalued.
Since 2015, it has been profitable to bet against line movement with teams getting 30% or less of bets and dollars. Bettors following this strategy have gone 148-105-6 (59%) ATS, +36.41 units.
This system has been profitable because there is a lot variance game-to-game in the NBA. The Celtics have an advantage with the Pacers not at full strength but an overreaction to that information can create contrarian value taking the points with Indiana.
The PICK: Pacers +3
[Bet now at FanDuel. NJ, PA, IN and WV only.]
Brandon Anderson: Mavericks at Spurs
- Spread: Mavericks -3.5
- Over/Under: 228
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
I know Luka Doncic is questionable tonight with a sprained wrist, but the Spurs are missing an All-Star too in LaMarcus Aldridge (can we still call him that?) and it sure looks like the Spurs' decades-long playoff run is finally over.
The Spurs have failed to cover in five straight games, and they’re now 2-8 against the spread in their last 10 games and 9-20 ATS at home on the season. This team just isn’t very good, no matter how great Gregg Popovich has been in his career.
Kristaps Porzingis had a dud on Sunday, but has been killing it in other games lately for the Mavs. The way he’s playing now, the Mavs have a real one-two punch of superstars like they envisioned, and he looks ready to step up his game and take care of business on the road even if Luka is limited or out.
This TNT game probably isn’t what the TV execs envisioned when the season opened, but it’s what we’ve got, and I expect the Mavericks to handle the Spurs with relative ease.
The PICK: Mavericks -3.5
[Bet now at FanDuel. NJ, PA, IN and WV only.]
Wob: Nets at Lakers
- Spread: Lakers -11
- Over/Under: 224
- Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
I smell … sniff sniff … load management. The Lakers just spent the weekend fighting in the trenches against the league’s two best teams and proved they are legitimate contenders despite their flaws. Their star power is simply better than everybody else’s; when s**t hits the fan, they have LeBron James and Anthony Davis and you don’t.
They were truly special against the Bucks and Clippers, playing postseason-esque minutes with postseason-esque intensity, which means we are due for one of those world-famous Rodney Dangerfield “ow, my arm! It’s broken!” moments tonight.
Davis and LeBron probably won’t sit out the same game, but even if one plays — not a soul would blame them for a let down game after accomplishing so much so quickly. As for the Nets, they are in game two of what I like to call the “new coach honeymoon” period — when an assistant the players love takes over for a head coach they didn’t.
Even the Minnesota Timberwolves made Ryan Saunders look like John Wooden for a week last season. The Nets played like it was Game 7 for Jacque Vaughn over the weekend, and there’s no reason why that will stop. They may not win straight up, but I guarantee they’ll be in the fight at the end.
The PICK: Nets +11
[Bet now at FanDuel. NJ, PA, IN and WV only.]
