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NBA Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Saturday (2/4)

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Here’s a look at our favorite NBA bets for Saturday’s slate.

And check out our other top picks for all of Saturday’s betting action:

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Today’s Best NBA Bets

For the season, my NBA ‘Best Bets’ have gone 23-14 ATS

Los Angeles Lakers @ New Orleans Pelicans

Los Angeles has been playing fairly well lately and is as talented as ever (on paper). The return of Anthony Davis from injury and the trade for Rui Hachimura brings obvious appeal to the Lakers– but not at this number. Despite the Pelicans’ tumultuous recent stretch (losers of 10 in a row), they’re still the better team top to bottom and are unrightfully home underdogs vs. LA.

In what coincides with AD’s return and Hachimura’s acquisition, the Lakers still rate only 20th in the NBA in Net Rating over their past five games. For context, the lakers rate 24th in the NBA in Net Rating on the year, and their perceived improved play has been overexaggerated.

Further, New Orleans still has the deeper roster and the length necessary to frustrate Lebron and AD, regardless of who is on the court. I understand the hesitation in backing a team on such a rough stretch, but the Pels’ return home should prove fruitful following such a difficult three-game road stretch.

Bet: Pelicans +1 (-110)

Houston Rockets @ Oklahoma City Thunder

First and foremost: It’s a good idea to bet against the worst teams in the NBA. Houston ranks 29th in Adjusted Net Rating, 28th in Net Rating, 29th in Efficiency Differential per 100 possessions, etc. The Rockets have been as bad as any team ATS on the Road (8-17-1 ATS) and have far from a clean injury report on the tail-end of a back-to-back on Saturday Night.

Conversely, the Thunder rank a staggering 10th in Adjusted Net Rating on the year and have a legitimate star in G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. OKC remains on the outside looking in for the Western Conference playoff race, but they’re peaking at the right time, as only the Nuggets outplayed them in the month of January (per Net Rating).

Houston got the better of OKC just a few nights ago, but fluke games happen in basketball. The gap between these two teams is vast, and their body of work justifies the Thunder being favored to such a degree. Back OKC to right the ship on their home floor, and the Rockets’ depth to run thin as they they play their third game in four nights.

Bet: Thunder -8 (-110)

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