We’re back in action with our NBA betting tips for Saturday’s big nine-game slate! If you’ve been following our tips this season, you’re aware of how well we’ve been going and we won’t be stopping anytime soon. Check out our best plays from some of the key matchups on Saturday and good luck if following!
NBA Betting Tips: Saturday, 6th of February
Chicago Bulls at Orlando Magic
Amway Center, 11am AEDT
Chicago Bulls made a late push against the Knicks last start but the deficit proved to be too great. The Bulls lost that game by four points to make it four losses from their past five games. One big positive for their ball club has been the recent play of Thad Young who’s turned back the clock with some huge games off the bench.
Orlando Magic have been dealt some cruel cards over the past six to twelve months. Severe injuries to key young pieces in Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac have tested their depth, especially now with Aaron Gordon also out with injury. The Magic come into this matchup having won just two of their past 14 games.
Neither club are in winning form but the Bulls have certainly been the more competitive of the two. Now with Lauri Markkanen getting his legs back the Bulls are at near full-strength and that should give them the edge against the depleted Magic in this one.
Orlando’s veteran players have had to take on an even greater load due to all their injuries. Evan Fournier fits that mould and has seen an uptick in his usage rate on offence. As a result, we have him covering his points line pretty comfortably here.
Prop: Fournier O18.5 Points ($1.92)
Minnesota Timberwolves at OKC Thunder
Chesapeake Energy Arena, 12pm AEDT
Minnesota Timberwolves have been a big disappointment so far this season and come into this game with a 5-16 record, which is equal with the Pistons for the worst record in the league. Yes, their superstar in Karl-Anthony Towns can’t get on the park, but they still have plenty of talented players that have been playing and just aren’t performing.
OKC Thunder are quite the opposite compared to the Timberwolves. On paper you could definitely argue that the Thunder’s roster is the least talented in the league, but they certainly aren’t playing that way. Last time out they were blowout winners against the Rockets, which improved their season record to 9-11.
Even with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander out injured, we still fancy the Thunder as the slight underdogs here. They’re a really well-coached outfit and unfortunately the same can’t be said about the Timberwolves. As long as they bring their usual intensity, then the Thunder should be winning this at home without too much difficulty.
Thunder’s offence is an equal-opportunity offence, but with SGA out there is enhanced opportunities for some of their other key players. Al Horford is one of those guys that should get a higher usage rate without his star point guard on the court. Horford has proven himself as a quality playmaker for a big man in this league and we like him to cover his assists line here in what should be a high-scoring affair.
Prop: Horford O3.5 Assists ($1.76)
Utah Jazz at Charlotte Hornets
Spectrum Center, 12pm AEDT
Utah Jazz are the talk of the league at the moment as they’re absolutely flying along. They started out slowly at 4-4 but have gone on to win 13 of their 14 games since to surge into the one seed in the West with the best record in the league. Their most recent outing was a 21-point win over the Hawks, which they controlled from start to finish.
Charlotte Hornets are one of the more exciting teams to watch this season and a lot of that has to do with their rookie in LaMelo Ball who earned his first career start two games back. The Hornets have had an up and down season results wise, but their 10-12 record is still good enough for sixth in the East as it stands.
The Hornets are usually a fun team to watch but we don’t think their fans will be having much fun on Saturday. The Jazz are the form team of the competition and have won eight of their last nine games by double-digits. Taking the Jazz to cover the spread looks to be one of the better bets on this big slate.
Jordan Clarkson has been superb off the bench for the Jazz this season and is the clubhouse leader for the Sixth Man award. We like him to have another big game here as he should still get plenty of minutes if this is indeed a blowout in favour of the Jazz.
Prop: Clarkson O21.5 PRA ($1.82)
