Top 3 NBA Betting Picks for Thursday, February 3rd (2022)
It was a wild night in the NBA as some of the league’s best fell to the worst across the league. Now, we turn the page to Thursday as the Lakers and Clippers headline the slate in a showdown of Los Angeles.
Let’s take a closer look.
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1. Raptors -3 | -110 at DraftKings Sportsbook
These two last played just over a week ago with the Bulls getting the better of the Raptors in a 111-105 victory to mark their fifth straight win against Toronto dating back to last season. After dropping three of four since losing Zach Lavine, the Bulls have responded well winning two of three since defeating this Raptors team.
For the Raptors, Gary Trent Jr. will be going for history tonight, looking to become the first Raptors player in franchise history to score 30+ in six straight games. 4-1 (4-1 ATS) in those five games, the Raptors are also 8-0 ATS at home vs. teams with winning records.
While the Bulls have been impressive with Lavine and Alex Caruso out of the lineup, I think they run into a different animal in this one in a motivated Raptors team. Look for the Raptors to take advantage of rookie guard Ayo Dosunmu inside the arc, and for Fred Van Fleet, who missed last week’s game, to be the difference in this one alongside Trent Jr.
2. Clippers -3 | -110 at DraftKings Sportsbook
In what will be the primetime game on TNT, this battle of Los Angeles will be one of the more lackluster in recent memory. With LeBron James, Paul George, and Kawhil Leonard all out of the lineup, both teams come into this one shorthanded but I like the Clippers’ chances much better.
Even in their Monday night loss at Indiana, the Clippers scored 116 points marking their fifth in a row scoring 111 points or more. For the Lakers, points continue to come at a premium, sinking all the way to 25th in the league at just 106.1 points per game, to go along with a #24 ranking in offensive efficiency.
While the Clippers have been getting a boost from the likes of Amir Coffey and Reggie Jackson, the Lakers continue to find a defacto scorer as Anthony Davis works his way back from injury.
3. Kings-Warriors Under 222 | -110 at DraftKings Sportsbook
This one opened at 221 and could continue to tick up, but I would have played the opener and will play this number as well. The Kings stopped a seven-game slide last night knocking off the Nets at home, scoring more than 104 points for the first time in four tries. They now head 90 minutes south to face a Warriors team #1 in the league in points per game allowed (102.5) as well as defensive efficiency (100.7).
Don’t look now, but the Warriors are starting to heat up, having won seven straight and putting up buckets in the process with 122 points or more in four of their past five. Led by former Warrior Harrison Barnes, I like for the Kings to bring in some confidence tonight and buckle down defensively as they look to stop a three-game losing streak against their Northern California neighbor.
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