The NBA regular season recommences on Friday with a huge 10-game slate for us to dissect. Among the games are some quality matchups including the Rockets at Hornets, Pistons at Knicks, and Nuggets at Clippers. We bring you our best bets for the jam-packed Friday slate below!
NBA Betting Tips: Friday, February 20th 2026
Houston Rockets at Charlotte Hornets (11:00 am AEDT)
Houston enters this road game grappling with locker room drama following rumours of a burner account linked to Kevin Durant. The account allegedly criticised teammates Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr., creating a potentially fractured atmosphere for a team that already struggles to cover as away favourites.
The Hornets are rolling with 10 wins in their last 11, despite the absence of LaMelo Ball. Ball escaped injury in a car accident yesterday but remains sidelined with a calf strain. Brandon Miller has stepped up as the primary engine for Charlotte, making them a dangerous home underdog against a potentially distracted Rockets squad.
Expect Houston to lean on Durant’s individual brilliance, but the Hornets’ cohesive play and home momentum are hard to overlook. If Charlotte holds its own on the boards, they should keep this close. Given the potential internal friction in Houston, the points with the home side are the play.
Charlotte Hornets +4.5
$1.90 (1 unit)
Detroit Pistons at New York Knicks (11:30 am AEDT)
The conference-leading Pistons are shorthanded here with defensive anchor Jalen Duren serving a suspension. Detroit’s elite identity is built on interior protection, and losing Duren against a physical Knicks frontcourt is a significant blow. Cade Cunningham will be under immense pressure to carry the scoring load in a hostile environment.
New York is dominant at home, consistently covering at Madison Square Garden this season. With Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson healthy, the Knicks are perfectly suited to exploit Detroit’s lack of size in the paint. Their ability to control the rebounding battle and limit second-chance points should dictate the flow of the game.
Expect a slow, physical grind that favours the Knicks' veteran depth. While Detroit has been excellent overall, missing their defensive heartbeat makes this a difficult spot. If New York successfully slows the tempo, they should pull away and cover the narrow spread.
New York Knicks -3.5
$1.85 (1 unit)
Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Clippers (2:30 pm AEDT)
Denver arrives at the Intuit Dome with a leaky road defence that has struggled to get stops recently. While Nikola Jokic is in peak form, injuries to Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson have left the Nuggets thin on the wings. This lack of depth is a major concern against an experienced Clippers rotation.
The Clippers have stabilised behind Kawhi Leonard, who has regained his elite scoring touch. Their "switch-everything" defensive scheme is specifically designed to disrupt the timing of Denver’s offence. With home-court energy and high-level rim protection, they have the tools to force the Nuggets into a difficult, isolation-heavy contest.
Expect a high-scoring battle where the Clippers’ wing advantage plays a decisive role. Without Gordon to shadow Leonard, Denver will struggle to contain the Clippers' primary options. In a game likely to be decided late, taking the points with the home underdog is the percentage play.
LA Clippers +4.5
$1.90 (1 unit)
