With eight NBA matchups on Friday’s card, there’s plenty of action to take advantage of. Here are the top betting picks on DraftKings Sportsbook for today’s slate, with games featuring some of the league’s biggest stars.
Here’s a look at the full schedule for today’s games:
Wizards at Cavaliers, 7 p.m. EST
Pacers at 76ers, 7 p.m. EST
Lakers at Timberwolves, 8 p.m. EST
Nets at Grizzlies, 8 p.m. EST
Hornets at Bulls, 8 p.m. EST
Clippers at Nuggets, 9 p.m. EST
Suns at Jazz, 9:30 p.m. EST
Spurs at Trail Blazers, 10 p.m. EST
Clippers +6.5 (-110)
The Nuggets will aim to get back-to-back victories when they face the Clippers. The Nuggets snapped a stretch of seven losses in 11 games their last time out, with a commanding 141-111 win over the Atlanta Hawks, thanks to Nikola Jokic’s 48-point effort. Jokic is on another MVP-caliber run, but the Nuggets could be without Jamal Murray, who remains questionable due to a hamstring injury. The Clippers, meanwhile, have been playing strong defense, ranking fifth in the league in points allowed, and have received consistent offensive production from Norman Powell, who is averaging 23.6 points per game.
Although the Clippers will be without Kawhi Leonard for this game, they’ve kept games close with their defense and can exploit Denver’s reliance on Jokic. Los Angeles’ ability to slow Jokic’s offensive explosion and limit Denver’s fast breaks should help them cover the +6.5-point spread.
Lakers +9 (-112)
The Lakers look to rebound from a rough stretch when they visit the Timberwolves. The Lakers have lost seven of their last 10 games, but they’ve managed to stay competitive with strong performances from Anthony Davis, who leads the team with 27.5 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. LeBron James has already been ruled out due to foot soreness, but the Lakers have won their lone game without James in 2024-25.
The Timberwolves have been riding the strong impact of Anthony Edwards (26.4 points per game) and Rudy Gobert (team-leading 11.0 rebounds per game). However, the Lakers will need other players to step up without James. Despite their recent struggles, Los Angeles can keep this game close, and given the nine-point spread, the Lakers present strong value as underdogs.
Hornets +6.5 (-112)
The Hornets take on the Bulls, who have been up-and-down recently, losing their last two games. Charlotte snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 113-109 win over Indiana on Sunday, with Brandon Miller leading the way with 26 points. The Hornets have been playing without LaMelo Ball, who remains sidelined with a calf strain. His absence continues to hurt the Hornets’ offense, but the team has shown resilience, especially after an encouraging performance in their win over the Pacers.
The Bulls, led by Zach LaVine, have been inconsistent, and their defense continues to be a concern, allowing 113.4 points per game. Despite Ball’s absence, Charlotte can cover the 6.5-point spread if they continue to rely on their defense.
Pacers +6.5 (-110)
The Pacers have been struggling, with only one win in their last six games, including the aforementioned 113-109 loss to Charlotte. Despite their struggles, the Pacers have been boosted by the play of Tyrese Haliburton, who averages 20.4 points and 10.6 assists per game. On Friday, the Pacers will face the Philadelphia 76ers, who have won four of their last five games and have dealt with their own injury concerns. Joel Embiid (31.0 points per game) and Tyrese Maxey (21.2 points per game) have been playing well, but both players are recovering from injuries and have had issues with consistency at times this season.
The Pacers have had their struggles, but Haliburton can keep them competitive. The Sixers’ injury concerns and the Pacers’ improved play give them a good chance to cover the spread.
Suns -8 (-112)
When they visit the Jazz, the Suns will look to bounce back after a tough stretch without Kevin Durant. Durant, who has missed the last three games with a sprained left ankle, is expected to return for this game, providing a considerable boost to the Suns, who have been 1-9 without him. The Suns are 11-2 when Durant plays in at least part of the game, and his 25.8 points per game and 6.7 rebounds will be crucial against the Jazz.
Utah has struggled without key contributors and has allowed 117.9 points per game this season. With Durant and Jusuf Nurkic returning, Phoenix should have the upper hand, and I expect the Suns to cover the eight-point spread with their improved offense and defense.
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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.
