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Friday’s Best Bets: NBA, College Basketball & NHL

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No matter your sport of choice, there’s always sports betting action to be had. We’ll have you covered each and every day with our daily best bets. Here are all of our best bets across each major sport in action today.

Today’s Best Bets

Here are today’s best NBA bets.

NBA Best Bets

NBA Same Game Parlay Picks

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Miami Heat

Giannis Antetokounmpo is doubtful with a wrist injury tonight against the Miami Heat. That means there will be an opportunity for another player on the Bucks to lead the team in scoring. The most likely player to do that is Jrue Holiday. Holiday averages 19.4 points per game, but when Giannis has sat, that number increases to 23.9 points.

Milwaukee has the sixth-ranked defense in the NBA. That defense will limit opposing teams scoring. Jimmy Butler averages 21.7 points per game but has failed to reach 20 points in two of the three games they played the Bucks this season.

One player that has thrived in this series is Bam Abedayo. He averages 10.1 rebounds per game. That number increases to twelve rebounds per game against the Bucks. The Bucks are missing their best rebounder, Giannis Antetokounmpo. That will only increase the betting value.

Parlay Odds: +541 @ DraftKings

  • Ryan Coleman

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NBA Game Picks

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Atlanta Hawks

Winning eight of 10 heading into the All-Star break, the Cavaliers will look to continue that momentum that saw them get as high as the 4th seed as of today. For the Hawks, currently in the 8th seed, the start of the year has been less than desirable, sitting two games below .500 as the final few months of the season looms.

Now largely healthy for the first time since the start of the season, the Hawks should have back a motivated Trae Young and John Collins for this run down the stretch. Look for them to get out to a strong start on that campaign starting Friday night in Atlanta.

Bet: Hawks -2 (-110)

  • Johnny Perun

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First Basket Scorer

Houston Rockets vs. Golden State Warriors

The Warriors are going to need a strong finish to the season if they want to defend their title this year. They'll start with a back-to-back on Thursday against the Lakers and the Rockets on Friday. With it being a back-to-back, it might be tough to predict who will be in the lineup, but after a week off and the playoff push looming, it's safe to say the starters will get minutes in both games.

Against a team like Houston who struggles so mightily on defense, I love taking Warrior players for First Basket. The one player I'm most excited to play is Klay Thompson. Thompson leads the Warriors with 13 first team field goals, tied with Andrew Wiggins. This is a particularly good play because Houston gives up 25% of first field goals to opponents' shooting guards. With the numbers backing up this play, I love Klay to get the First Basket with a start on Friday night.

Pick: 0.25u Klay Thompson (+440)

  • Ryan Rodeman

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NBA Prop Bets

Tyler Herro Over 5.5 rebounds (+120 DraftKings)

For the value play of the day, I'm taking the Kentucky product to pull down at least six boards tonight in Milwaukee.

I am trusting the projections here, with the BettingPros Prop Bet Cheat Sheet giving a +39 percent expected value to Herro going over his rebounding totals. And I have to agree. Milwaukee is a scary team to bet against for handicappers, which means the books adjust accordingly.

Herro has averaged over 5.6 boards a game on the season and with the break, he should be fully healthy from his left knee contusion. This is simply too conservative of a line for him, and I'm jumping on it.

  • Ryan Coleman

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College Basketball Best Bets

Xavier vs. Seton Hall

Coming off a tough home loss to Villanova, Xavier has not lost three of their last four games and is falling further down the bracket seeding. They need to get right. Seton Hall won't roll over and die that easily, however, as the Musketeers are only a 1.5-point favorite. This should be an awesome game.

Xavier's offense will be a lot in this game. Ranked 11th in efficiency, Xavier can score anywhere on the court. They rank in the top 10 at shooting from long, mid, and short range and are solid on the offensive glass as well. 

The Pirates’ defense is stout, limiting perimeter threats at a solid rate. Offensively, Seton Hall excels at getting to the free throw line, ranking 12th best in free throws attempted per shot attempted.

On the road, I expect Xavier to struggle. Given that they rank 338th in bench minutes, foul trouble could be their death. I'm riding momentum and home-court advantage here. 

Play: Seton Hall +1.5 (DraftKings)

  • Ryan Coleman

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NHL Best Bets

Buffalo Sabres (+163) vs. Florida Panthers (-195) | O/U 7 (-108/-111)

To kick off Friday night’s slate, there is an Atlantic Division tilt with the fourth-place Florida Panthers hosting the sixth-place Buffalo Sabres. The total is set high in this contest at seven, but that will not chase me away from taking it.

These are two offensive-minded clubs that like to play north as quickly as possible. That is why there have now been at least seven total goals scored in five of Buffalo’s last six games and in five of Florida’s last six.

At 5-on-5, both offenses rank in the top half of the league in expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60) and in the bottom half in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60). There have now been seven or more total goals scored in six of the last eight meetings between these two teams, and Friday should not go any differently.

Best Bet: Over 7 (-108 via BetRivers)

  • Tony Sartori

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Whether you're new to sports betting or a betting pro, our Sports Betting Strategy and Advice page is for you. You can get started with our 101 section - including 10 Sports Betting Tips for Beginners - or head to more advanced strategies - like Key Numbers When Betting Against the Spread - to learn more.


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