NBA Sharp Report: Blazers-Hawks, Hornets-Lakers Drawing Smart Money Friday
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports. Pictured: LeBron James
- The NBA may not be the first thing on bettors' minds today, but sharps are still finding value on two games.
- Sports Insights' Bet Signals and betting market percentages reveal which bets the pros are making.
On the second day of both the Sweet 16 and MLB season, it shouldn’t really come as a shock to see that the NBA slate isn’t attracting a heavy load of bettors.
It is, however, attracting some professional action, on at least a couple of games. Wiseguys have caused lines to move in tonight’s Blazers-Hawks and Hornets-Lakers matchups (7:30 and 10:30 p.m. ET, respectively). Let’s take a look.
>> All odds as of 2 p.m. ET. Download The Action Network App to get real-time NBA odds and track your bets.
Portland Trail Blazers @ Atlanta Hawks
7:30 p.m. ET
Sharp angle: Hawks (moved from +4 to +2.5)
Now playing without Jusuf Nurkic, the Blazers opened as just 4-point favorites over the 27-48 Hawks. Unsurprisingly, the majority of the public has been happy to lay the points with the third-place team in the West. But despite a 61% backing, Portland has fallen all the way to -2.5.
The 39% of bettors behind Atlanta have generated 53% of actual money being wagered on the matchup, revealing how bigger — probably sharper — bettors are playing the point spread.
Sports Insights’ Bet Signals, which are triggered whenever sharp action causes market-wide line movement, also showed two sharp moves hitting the Hawks at +3.5 and +3, resulting in the current number.
Charlotte Hornets @ Los Angeles Lakers
10:30 p.m. ET
Sharp angle: Over (moved from 225.5 to 228.5)
The over is generally the more popular bet on the total of a given game, and tonight’s Hornets-Lakers matchup is no exception.
What is slightly unusual about this one, though, is that it’s not only casual players betting on the over. While 77% of overall bettors are behind it, all signs point to wiseguys being a part of that majority.
Those bets have generated just about all of the money being wagered on the total (99%). That’s not a figure I’d expect to see hold up until tipoff, but the significant discrepancy between bets and dollars is enough to make it clear that the over is attracting bigger bettors — the ones more likely to be sharps.
Sports Insights’ Bet Signals have also revealed two instances of professional action hitting the over at totals of 225.5 and 228.