With eight NBA games scheduled for Saturday, there’s plenty of action to analyze. Here are my top betting picks on DraftKings Sportsbook for today’s action:
The full list of games can be found here:
Bulls at Pistons, 7 p.m. ET
76ers at Heat, 7:30 p.m. ET
Wizards at Knicks, 7:30 p.m. ET
Pacers at Raptors, 7:30 p.m. ET
Rockets at Bucks, 8 p.m. ET
Magic at Suns, 9 p.m. ET
Hawks at Kings, 10 p.m. ET
Warriors at Clippers, 10:30 p.m. ET
Raptors +4 (-108)
The Raptors are on a seven-game skid and will look to break it against the Pacers after a tough 126-123 overtime loss to the Celtics. Despite big performances between Jakob Poeltl’s 35 points and 12 rebounds, along with RJ Barrett’s 25 points, 15 assists, and 10 rebounds, Toronto has struggled in close games, posting a 1-7 record in contests decided by six points or fewer.
Injury issues have hit Toronto hard. Scottie Barnes, Bruce Brown, Bruno Fernando, Immanuel Quickley, Kelly Olynyk, and JaKobe Walter are already ruled out. Despite these setbacks, they showed resilience, dominating Boston 76-42 in the paint.
The Pacers also have injuries to Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard, and Ben Sheppard. Myles Turner, who posted 34 points and nine rebounds on Sunday, is questionable due to a calf injury. Both teams are banged up, but Toronto must close games better to cover the spread.
Magic -4 (-108)
The Magic are undefeated in seven home games but have struggled on the road, with just one win in seven tries this season. They’ll look to carry their strong home momentum into Phoenix on Monday after sweeping their recent home stand, capped by a 98-86 win over the 76ers.
Franz Wagner led the way with 31 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists, while Moe Wagner added 14 points in a dominant defensive performance from the team. Despite playing without Paolo Banchero (oblique), Orlando’s defense has held five straight opponents under 100 points.
Phoenix is coming off a tough 120-117 loss to the Timberwolves despite Devin Booker’s 44-point showing. The Suns will be without stars Bradley Beal (calf) and Kevin Durant (calf). Orlando’s tough defense, combined with Phoenix’s injury woes, puts the Magic in a favorable position to cover the spread.
Clippers +4.5 (-108)
James Harden and Stephen Curry will square off as the Clippers host the Warriors. Harden, who moved into second place on the all-time 3-pointers made list with a first-quarter shot in Sunday’s 116-105 win over the Jazz, finished with 20 points, 11 assists, and six rebounds. However, he shot just 2-of-8 from beyond the arc. He’ll be motivated to have a bounce-back performance.
The Clippers continue to receive strong supporting cast production from Ivica Zubac, who added 22 points and 11 rebounds against the Jazz. Norman Powell contributed 19 points as Los Angeles snapped a three-game road losing streak with a fourth straight home win.
The Warriors enter on a three-game win streak, including a 123-118 victory over the Grizzlies on Friday. Draymond Green’s ejection overshadowed a night where Curry struggled, scoring 13 points on 3-of-7 shooting from deep. However, Golden State’s bench, led by Buddy Hield’s 18 points, contributed 67 points. Regardless, the Clippers are the safer pick to cover the +4.5 spread.
76ers +5 (-108)
The 76ers will look to snap a four-game losing streak when they visit the Heat, but their hopes rest on a banged-up roster. At 2-10, Philadelphia has struggled with injuries and suspensions, including a slow start for Joel Embiid, who has averaged just 16.5 points and 5.5 rebounds, well below his typical numbers.
Adding to the struggles, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George have often dealt with injuries so far. Despite these challenges, rookie guard Jared McCain has been a bright spot, averaging 28.3 points over his last four games, shooting an impressive 40.3% from beyond the arc.
On the other hand, Miami is also struggling, particularly at home, with a 1-3 record. However, while Jimmy Butler is set to return from injury, Terry Rozier and Jaime Jaquez Jr. will not play. With the Heat dealing with injuries and the 76ers desperate for a win, Philadelphia should be able to cover the +5 spread in this matchup.
Jaden Ivey Over 4.5 Assists (+100)
Jaden Ivey has been a critical contributor for the Pistons as they’ve turned their season around, and with his growing playmaking ability, he’s primed to hit the Over on 4.5 assists when Detroit hosts the Bulls.
Ivey has posted five or more assists in five games this season, including a season-high eight assists in the Pistons’ recent 124-104 victory over Washington. In addition to his scoring (averaging 18.9 points per game), Ivey has shown strong court vision and ability to find his teammates when defenses collapse on him.
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is grant-afseth) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
