NBA Daily Best Bets for Thursday, Feb. 5
Summary
The San Antonio Spurs, with a strong defense and rebounding, face a Dallas Mavericks team in disarray after a major trade and a five-game losing streak. The Spurs are favored by 6.5 points, a margin they are expected to cover given Dallas’s likely rust and recent lopsided history between the teams.
In other games, the Phoenix Suns are favored by 6.5 points at home against a Steph Curry-less Golden State Warriors team that struggles on the road. Meanwhile, a matchup between the hot Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers is predicted to be a high-scoring affair, with the best bet being the point total going over 231.5.
San Antonio Spurs vs Dallas Mavericks 8:30 p.m. EST
| Spread | ML | Total | |
| Spurs | -6.5 (-110) | -220 | O 223.5 (-110) |
| Mavs | +6.5 (-110) | +175 | U 223.5 (-110) |
San Antonio Spurs(33-16)
The Spurs are coming off a win on Wednesday against the Thunder, their fourth victory against OKC this season. Victor Wembanyama scored 22 points and added 14 rebounds in the win. While he leads the team in scoring, he’s only reached the 20-point mark in four of the last seven games. This seems like a spot where he can excel against a shorthanded Mavs side. The Spurs are seventh in scoring defense (111.9) and No. 4 in the NBA in rebounding (46.1).
Dallas Mavericks (19-31)
The Mavericks rocked the NBA again with another blockbuster trade, dealing 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis to Washington as part of an eight-player deal. Dallas could have its new players in the lineup for this, as Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, arrived from Dallas, while Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell, and Dante Exum went the other way. Expect the Mavs to be rusty with new players in a new system. This doesn’t bode well for Dallas.
Recent Betting Trends
Prediction
With Dallas on a five-game losing streak, trading away a handful of their roster for new players, you’d have to like the Spurs’ chances not only to win, but win big. San Antonio’s last two victories over the Mavericks have been by 33 and 10 points. Expect another lopsided game as the Spurs take care of business. BEST BET: Spurs -6.5
Golden State Warriors vs Phoenix Suns 10:00 p.m. EST
| Spread | ML | Total | |
| Warriors | +6.5 (-110) | +221 | O 217.5 (-110) |
| Suns | -6.5(-110) | -255 | U 217.5 (-110) |
Golden State Warriors (27-24)
The Warriors have lost two straight and three of the last four and are likely without star Steph Curry, who deals with a knee injury. On Wednesday, they made a move, adding Kristaps Porzingis from the Atlanta Hawks for Jonathan Kuminga and guard Buddy Hield. Golden State averages 116.2 PPG, good enough for 14th best, while allowing 114.0, 10th best in the NBA. The Warriors are also 5th in assists (28.9), but that is with Curry in the lineup, and third in steals (9.9).
Phoenix Suns (31-20)
The Suns have won four of the last five, and with Devin Booker out with an injury, others have stepped up, including Collin Gillespie, who scored 30 points against Portland in the most recent game. Grayson Allen, Mark Williams, and Dillon Brooks have also picked up the scoring. Defensively, the Suns are No. 5 in points allowed (111.6) and No. 2 when it comes to steals (10.3).
Recent Betting Trends
Golden State is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games.
The total has gone OVER in 7 of the Warriors’ last 10 games.
The Warriors are 4-11 ATS in the last 15 games vs the Suns.
Phoenix is 12-6 ATS in its last 18 games.
The Suns are 9-2 in their last 11 home games.
Prediction
The teams square off for the fourth time this season, with the Warriors winning 119-116 on Dec. 21, and is 2-1 head-to-head. But the Suns are 17-7 at home while Golden State struggles on the road, just 10-15. Expect another tight game, as two meetings this season have been decided by 3 points or less. But the Suns are the pick to win and cover. BEST BET: Suns -6.5
Philadelphia 76ers vs Los Angeles Lakers, 10:00 p.m. EST
| Spread | ML | Total | |
| 76ers | +3.5 (-110) | +145 | O 231.5 (-110) |
| Lakers | -3.5 (-110) | -165 | U 231.5 (-110) |
Philadelphia 76ers (29-21)
The 76ers are one of the hottest teams, winning five in a row, and are 7-3 in the last ten games. In that stretch, they’ve averaged 117 PPG while shooting just over 48% from the field. Tyrese Maxey leads the team in scoring, averaging 28.9 PPG, 5th best in the NBA. During this 5-game win streak, the 76ers are averaging 123 PPG, which is near the top of the league.
Los Angeles Lakers (30-19)
The Lakers have won three of the last five and have alternated wins and losses in that stretch. Luka Doncic and LeBron James combine for 55 points per game this season. As a team, LA has been shooting well from the field over the last ten games, 50.2%, and scoring 115.6 PPG while allowing 113.3 points per game.
Recent Betting Trends
Philadelphia is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games and 7-2 ATS in the last 9 road games.
The Lakers are 6-3 ATS in the last 9, while the total has gone UNDER in 6 of those games.
Prediction
The teams meet for the second time this season, with the Lakers winning 112-108 in the last matchup on Dec. 8. While that game was a lower-scoring matchup, this one should be different as both sides have been scoring well in the last few games. With that in mind, the over is the play. BEST BET: OVER 231.5
