The NBA regular season resumes with a relatively light slate this Saturday, with a total of only 5 matchups on the docket scheduled for today. However, our staff of basketball betting experts still dug into the latest odds and identified all the best value on the board.
Our betting experts have looked over the odds and made NBA picks for all 5 of today's contests. Continue below for our NBA best bets and predictions for Saturday, February 22.
NBA Best Bets, Predictions, Picks, Odds: Saturday, February 22
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 5 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
  | 8:30 p.m. | |
  | 9:30 p.m. | |
  | 10 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NBA Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Suns vs. Bulls
By Joe Dellera
The Bulls face off against the Suns on Saturday, and I’m targeting Nikola Vucevic to dominate on the glass.
The Suns have allowed the second-most rebounds per game to their opponents over their last 10 games, despite playing at a league average Pace during that stretch.
Chicago should be able to speed them up with their third-fastest Pace in the league.
While Phoenix has Nick Richards and Mason Plumlee, they both have deficiencies that can be exploited by Vucevic.
On the season, Vucevic is averaging 10.3 rebounds per game, and has exceeded this mark in 55% of games.
This matchup shapes up to be one of the best he could have though.
I’ll back him to exceed 10.5 rebounds and follow some of the other big rebounding games they’ve given up to centers recently (Sengun 13, Kessler 22, Ayton 20, Zubac 16).
Pick: Nikola Vucevic Over 10.5 Rebounds (-113)
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Nets vs. 76ers
Jordi Fernandez seems to have found something that semi-works for his Nets, who have climbed back to within sight of a play-in spot in the East with wins in six of eight, thanks in good part to playing at a much slower pace.
Note that the high-powered Cavs, who scored 142 last night against the Knicks, could only get to 110 on Thursday vs. Brooklyn, or simply ask the Sixers, who only got to 96 in a loss to Brooklyn just before the All-Star break.
It's now Unders in four straight for the Nets, and 11 of their last 12, and they have held six of those last eight foes below 100 points.
Chemistry has been all wrong for the Sixers all season, and even with the Big 3 of Embiid, Maxey, and George on the floor together, Philly is only 7-7 this season. Play Nets-Sixers Under
Pick: Under 212.5 (-110)
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Lakers vs. Nuggets
Nikola Jokic draws a matchup against a team without a center, against a defense that doesn't project to be great against the league's No. 3 offense, who is on a nine-game winning streak and averaging 128 points during that stretch.
And over that stretch, they've scored fewer than 112 just twice, once against the Hornets — surprisingly 13th in defense — and another against the Magic, who are second in defense.
Jokic has gone over 48.5 PRA in three straight and in seven of those nine games.
Additionally, he's gotten this over in 10 of 13 going back to the 2023 playoffs — which is to point out that these were largely opposite of Anthony Davis, and now the Lakers have anything but.
Pick: Nikola Jokic Over 49.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-110)
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Rockets vs. Jazz
By Joe Dellera
The Rockets play their second game in as many days, and I expect Amen Thompson to dominate this matchup against the Jazz.
Even when Jabari Smith returned, Amen did not see any decline in his playing time with another game at nearly 40 minutes of playing time. He has continued to see monster minutes for the Rockets.
When he has played 30+ minutes he averages 30.8 PRA and hits this mark in 58% of games. When he plays 35+ (which has become closer to the norm), he is averaging 33.1 PRA with a 70% hit rate on 30.5 PRA.
This is a back-to-back for both teams. So, we will have to see if Jabari plays both legs, and considering Walker Kessler has yet to play a back-to-back for the Jazz, this will impact their interior defense which should help Amen.
I’ll grab Thompson to exceed 30.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists.
Pick: Amen Thompson Over 30.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-120)
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Hornets vs. Trail Blazers
By Kyle Murray
Donovan Clingan was played off the floor in the Trail Blazers' last game, as the Lakers went small, but the Hornets will have a 7-foot traditional center on the floor for the majority of the game with Mark Williams and Jusuf Nurkic.
This line is down 2 full rebounds, and some books even had this number at 11.5 last game, so this is simply too much of an overreaction.
This number will almost certainly close at 9.5 or even 10.5 if Clingan remains in the starting lineup.
Clingan has averaged 0.42 rebounds per minute, and with his line of 24 minutes, I project Clingan for right around 11 rebounds against the Hornets, a team that allows the 3rd-most rebounds per game to opposing centers.
Pick: Donovan Clingan Over 8.5 Rebounds (-130)
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