NBA Expert Betting Picks (Tuesday, Feb. 11): Our Favorite Bets for Blazers vs. Pelicans, Celtics vs. Rockets

There are just five games on Tuesday's NBA schedule, but our experts have found some value on three specific games:

• 7 p.m. ET: Philadelphia 76ers at LA Clippers 
• 8 p.m. ET: Portland Trail Blazers at New Orleans Pelicans 
• 9:30 p.m. ET: Boston Celtics at Houston Rockets 

Odds as of Tuesday afternoon and via FanDuel, where Action Network users get a risk-free bet up to $500.

Wob: Clippers at 76ers

• Spread: Clippers -1.5
• Over/Under: 226.5
• Time: 7 p.m. ET

I want to believe the 76ers have figured it out. I want to believe they don’t need Furkan Korkmaz to go for 30 looking like Turkish Ray Allen to beat OK teams. I want to believe Joel Embiid trolling his own fan base and heel turning back to the league’s “a**hole,” (his words not mine) is what’s going to jumpstart this otherwise lackluster roster of underachievers. I want to believe JoJo and Ben Simmons can co-exist, they’re simply too good not to.

Every great team goes through lows like this where the stars must face the trials and tribulations that have claimed so many would-be championship teams before them. It’s how they deal with it from here that will determine their fate.

Anyways, the 76ers are good. I promise you this. They’ve figured it out, they’re awesome at home, and most importantly: they’re back to winning. It may be against mediocre teams in their own building, but still, you can’t take anything for granted if you’re the 2020 Sixers.

Now, the question is, can they bring it against the league’s most formidable opponent. Since Kawhi load managed the Clippers’ previous contest, you have to believe he’s going to be back in there tonight. As for the rest of the Clippers, who knows.

They honestly look bored with the regular season and to be honest, it’s hard to blame them. They get up for games maybe once a month, and this might be the one — a national TV matchup against a team willing to drop the gloves.

If the Clippers decide to show up and play, it spells trouble for Philly, but not only do they have to care, they’re not healthy, and their rotations are still in flux because of the Marcus Morris trade. Just too many ifs for me to bet on a road favorite. I’m a strong believer in momentum and my religion will reward me tonight with extra money.

The PICK: 76ers +2 (has since moved to +1.5)

Brandon Anderson: Trail Blazers at Pelicans

• Spread: Pelicans -3.5
• Over/Under: 241.5
• Time: 8 p.m. ET

It would be easy to tune out on the NBA as we coast into the All-Star Break, but the Trail Blazers have a pair of monster games the next two nights that could go a long way toward shaping the playoff pictured in the Western conference.

The Blazers are two games behind the Grizzlies for the No. 8 spot, who they play on Wednesday, and three games ahead of the charging Pelicans, who they play tonight.

These are as close as we get to playoff games before the break, and I’m pretty happy riding the best player on the court in a game with so much on the line. Damian Lillard has cooled off ever so slightly after a scorching couple weeks, but he’s still the guy I want in a monster game. The Blazers have won seven of 10 and should’ve won eight if not for an egregious refereeing error.

Brandon Ingram is listed as questionable, so you may want to grab this line while you can, before it drops slightly if Ingram does sit out. I like Portland either way.

The PICK: Blazers +3.5

John Ewing: Celtics at Rockets

• Spread: Rockets -2
• Over/Under: 232
• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET

The Celtics hurt my feelings on Sunday. Boston closed as 1.5-point favorites in OKC, were up four and in line to cover until a Chris Paul 3-pointer with 0.3 second left hosed bettors.

The public might be hesitant to back the Celtics after that brutal no cover, but I'm jumping back on the horse. Boston has consistently exceeded expectations as regular season underdogs.

In the Stevens era, the Celtics are 119-89-3 (57%) against the spread as dogs. This includes 90-58-1 (61%) ATS as road underdogs.

Historically, this is a great spot to back Boston. The Celtics are also playing great basketball winning 10 of their past 11 and Jayson Tatum has averaged 28.8 points per game in the team's past five outings.

The PICK: Celtics +2