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Sunday’s Best NBA, NASCAR & NHL Bets (2/18)

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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 our best bets across each major sport in action today.

Today's Best Bets

NBA Best Bets

(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)

2024 NBA All-Star Game

We're returning to the old Eastern vs. Western format. That means we'll get four quarters with no target scores, allowing for more overall scoring.

The last time the Western Conference played the Eastern Conference was in 2017. The West added 192 points against the East, who scored 182. That's 374 points.

Since 2017, the NBA has evolved even more regarding points scored. There are better scorers all around in the NBA now. For example, just last year, Team Giannis finished with 184 points despite having a target score. In 2018, in the first All-Star Game with the draft, Team LeBron won with just 148 points.

The Eastern Conference has a lot of players in their first All-Star Game, but those players can seriously shoot the basketball. They won't go toe-to-toe with the Western Conference, especially with Steph Curry coming off the bench, but I'd expect them to hang around to at least help hit the Over 363.5.

Bet: Over 363.5 (-110)

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NASCAR Best Bets

(Odds courtesy of BetRivers Sportsbook)

2024 Daytona 500

Drivers To Lead a Lap

  • Ross Chastain (+100)
  • Daniel Suarez (+125)
  • Harrison Burton (+140)

If you ever wonder where the future of NASCAR betting is going like I do, it's a breath of fresh air to see a new market offered. These odds for drivers to lead a lap were released late Thursday night following the Duels. While the top of the board is juiced to hell, there are some real values down the board.

Ross Chastain led six laps in last year's Daytona 500 and 19 in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 (the second-most). The No. 1 car, running with the top Chevys for most of the race, looked competitive in the opening Duel. He was hit with a speeding penalty on his green flag pit stop, yet he still finished 11th. Chastain has the speed to find the front and lead at least one lap.

Chastain's mistake opened the door for his Trackhouse Racing teammate, Daniel Suarez, to lead late-race laps and ultimately finish sixth. While his finishes at Daytona vary, he's led at least one lap in three straight races here. Despite starting only 13th, "Mi Amigo" is somehow at plus-money to do it again.

While Harrison Burton is a bit of a loose cannon when he gets to the lead on a superspeedway, he's gotten there more times than not in the Cup Series. He's led a combined 12 laps between his two Daytona 500 starts and has been out front in back-to-back starts at the track. He had a shot at winning his Duel on the last lap before Austin Cindric closed the door on him. Still, he'll start 12th and could cash this prop in the first stage.

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NHL Best Bets

(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)

Los Angeles Kings @ Pittsburgh Penguins

The Kings are regaining steam after what looked like a collapse, which resulted in a coaching change. They are 4-1-0 in the last five, beating Edmonton, New Jersey and Boston in that span. The defense remains strong, allowing 2.65 goals per game, just over 28 shots a game, and having the best penalty kill.

The Penguins will face some adversity as the team's assist leader, Jake Guentzel, who is also second in points, went on injured reserve. Time will tell how much it impacts an offense that's only scoring 2.90 goals per game. The defense has been their best attribute, and they also allow just 2.65 goals per game.

We have two excellent defensive teams that have hit the Under in four of their last five. This should be a low-scoring game, especially with the Pens losing one of their best forwards.

Pick: Under 6.5 Total Goals (-118)

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