NBA action continues post All-Star break with another juicy eight-game slate on Monday. As always, we bring you previews and best bets for the key games of the day for free right here. Good luck to everyone following!
NBA Betting Tips: Monday, 28th of February
Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors
Chase Center, 11:30am AEDT
The Mavericks coughed up a sizeable lead last start against the Jazz to eventually go down by five points. That loss was just their second from their last eight games in what’s been a strong stretch for Luka Doncic and co. The Mavericks remain in fifth spot in the West standings and are 7.5 games clear of the Lakers who currently occupy ninth.
The Warriors returned to form with a monster 37-point win in their most recent outing against what was an in-form although inexperienced Trail Blazers outfit. Steph Curry exploded for 18 points and 14 assists and just 27 minutes of action, guiding his team to just their second win from their last six games. The Warriors are now six games back from the Suns in first and have the second-best record in the NBA.
These teams have already met twice this season, once in Dallas and once in San Francisco, and both games were blowout wins for the home side. The Warriors won all four quarters in their most recent clash and ended up saluting by 38 points in a dominant performance. At home once again on Monday, we expect them to be too good and to cover the small spread.
Golden State Warriors -3.5
$1.90
Denver Nuggets at Portland Trail Blazers
Moda Center, 1pm AEDT
The Nuggets continue to string wins together despite being without two of their best players in Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray. Nikola Jokic has been superb all season long and is one of the favourites to take home MVP honours. His chances are only increasing as his team continues to win as they’ve now saluted in seven of their last eight games. The Nuggets are now in sixth spot in the West and just 2.5 games behind fourth.
The Trail Blazers went on a surprising four-game win streak after shipping off CJ McCollum and Norman Powell, but crashed back down to reality last time out when they were obliterated by the Warriors at home by 37 points. Despite that loss, there have been some promising signs for the young Trail Blazers, particularly the play of Anfernee Simons who continues to blossom with more opportunity.
Both teams have been in good form over their last five games, although the Nuggets are clearly the more talented and stronger team of the two. Regardless, the Trail Blazers should be able to compete enough to cover the huge 8.5-point spread here. We’re happy to back them into bounce back from a poor outing last start and put forward a better version of themselves.
Portland Trail Blazers +8.5
$1.90
New Orleans Pelicans at Los Angeles Lakers
Staples Center, 2pm AEDT
The Pelicans pulled off a big upset win over the league-leading Suns last start, which seemingly came out of nowhere. Although the Suns were without the injured superstar in Chris Paul, the Pelicans ticked all the right boxes and got some fantastic production out of their two stars in CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram. However, that was just their second win from their last six games, which is why they’re on the outside of the top eight in the West looking in.
The Lakers have had a season from hell and it only got worse last start when they went down to their rivals in the Clippers by three points. That loss came after a really promising performance against the Jazz where they came away with an upset win. Alarmingly, the Lakers haven’t won back-to-back games in over seven weeks now and that’s the reason they’re currently in ninth spot in the West.
Neither of these teams have been in good form both in recent times and over the season as a whole, however, the Lakers are the more talented team of the two and have the bigger upside. You’re always going to be a chance to win a game with LeBron James on your team and we expect him to be able to guide his Lakers to a much-needed win on Monday.
Los Angeles Lakers -1.5
$1.90
Player Props
5am 76ers at Knicks – James Harden 23+ Points $1.90 Sportsbet
5am 76ers at Knicks – Julius Randle 6+ Assists $1.91 Picklebet
7:30am Jazz at Suns – Mikal Bridges 15+ Points $1.90 TAB
11am Clippers at Rockets – Marcus Morris Sr. 19+ Points $1.96 Sportsbet
11am Pistons at Hornets – Mason Plumlee 9+ Rebounds $1.80 TAB
11:30am Mavericks at Warriors – Jalen Brunson 5+ Assists $1.93 Sportsbet
