With a five-game NBA slate on Saturday, February 22, a few opportunities exist to get in on the action. Below are the top picks for today’s NBA betting action on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Here is the full NBA schedule for today’s games (all times Eastern):
- Suns at Bulls, 5 p.m.
- Nets at 76ers, 6:30 p.m.
- Lakers at Nuggets, 7:30 p.m.
- Rockets at Jazz, 8:30 p.m.
- Hornets at Trail Blazers, 9 p.m.
Suns -5 (-112)
The Suns continue to struggle after the All-Star break, but they’re still favored to cover the spread against the Bulls on the road. Phoenix’s losing streak reached four games with a 120-109 defeat to the Spurs on Thursday. Despite Kevin Durant’s 22-point performance and Royce O’Neale’s career-high 27 points, the Suns have continued to falter, especially on defense.
Chicago has lost five straight and will be without Patrick Williams for at least two weeks, leaving the Bulls even more short-handed than usual. After trading Zach LaVine, they have less firepower to work with, making it challenging to stack up against teams with an array of scorers. With the Suns desperate to turn things around, look for them to cover the spread against a Bulls team struggling offensively and defensively.
Nets +11.5 (-115)
The Nets and 76ers are tied in the standings heading into their matchup on Saturday, but Philadelphia is on a six-game losing streak. Injuries and poor form have plagued Philadelphia, most recently when it lost 124-104 to the Celtics. Meanwhile, the Nets, though also struggling, have some bright spots and will look to take advantage of Philadelphia’s current slump.
Even without Cam Thomas, Brooklyn has the potential to keep this game closer than expected. With the Sixers struggling to find a consistent rhythm, expect the Nets to cover the large spread and make it a competitive game.
Nuggets -6.5 (-115)
The Nuggets are riding high with a nine-game winning streak and have dominated the Los Angeles Lakers in recent matchups, winning 13 of the last 14. Despite Luka Doncic now being on the Lakers’ roster, Nikola Jokic remains a problem for LA in this matchup.
Jokic leads the NBA in multiple statistical categories and will look to continue his dominance against the Lakers. LeBron James and Doncic will be tasked with leading the Lakers, but their size disadvantage and ongoing struggles against Denver make it challenging to pull out a win on the road.
Rockets -8.5 (-108)
Houston is looking to return to its early-season form after a decisive 121-115 win over the Timberwolves. The Rockets are facing the Jazz, who have dropped five of their last six games. Houston is rejuvenated with the return of Jabari Smith Jr. and the strong performances of Jalen Green, Amen Thompson, and Alperen Sengun.
The Jazz, meanwhile, are rebuilding and still adjusting to their younger players stepping up. The Rockets’ renewed confidence should help them cover the spread, especially after their dominant performance the night before.
Nikola Jokic Over 50.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-115)
Nikola Jokic is amid another historic season for the Nuggets, averaging 29.7 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists over 50 games. His ability to impact the game in all facets makes him a unique talent, and he’s shown no signs of slowing down. With Anthony Davis no longer a Laker, Jokic will be even more challenging for Los Angeles to handle, making it a favorable matchup for Jokic to hit the over on 50.5 combined points, rebounds, and assists.
This game could remind the Lakers front office to acquire a center this offseason after nearly doing so at the NBA trade deadline. Against an undersized Lakers defense, Jokic will likely exceed the combined 50.5 points, rebounds, and assists total, making this a solid bet.
