Tonight's NBA slate is loaded, meaning our "Buckets" podcast crew has loaded up on tonight's best NBA bets.
So, let's not waste any time and get to the best NBA bets from the "Buckets" podcast below.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 2:30 p.m. | Pelicans -4.5 |
  | 3:30 p.m. | Spurs +8.5 |
| 3:30 p.m. | Over 246.5 |
  | 6:00 p.m. | Warriors -7.5 |
  | 7:00 p.m. | Bulls +ML (+215) |
  | 9:00 p.m. | Under 249 |
  | 10:30 p.m. | Thunder +1 |
| 10:30 p.m. | Thunder +1 |
| 10:30 p.m. | Under 240 |
Pelicans -4.5 at Mavericks
2:30 p.m. ET ⋅ NBA League Pass
By Jim Turvey
The Pelicans are getting a lot of guys back who didn't play on Saturday. They sat some guys and now everyone coming back will be on a full extra day of rest. Additionally, Luka Doncic is listed as doubtful, Dante Exum is out and Dereck Lively is questionable.
If both teams were fully healthy, I'd still have the Pelicans as short favorites. I have this far off from where the market is with the Mavericks injury report.
Compared to the market, I've been higher on the Pelicans and lower on the Mavericks this season, so I'll likely take advantage of the line.
I like the alternate lines here as well. The Pelicans are the kings of blowouts and it goes both ways. Half of their past 12 wins have been by 20+ points.
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Spurs +8.5 at Hawks
3:30 p.m. ET ⋅ TNT
By Joe Dellera
This is a little bit of fading the Hawks into oblivion right now as they are by far the worst team against the spread in the NBA.
It is also a little bit of buying the Spurs, who have inserted Tre Jones into the starting lineup and have found success. Over the past two weeks, the Spurs are positive in net rating, while the Hawks are -9.7.
Even though Victor Wembanyama is on a minutes limit, his minutes now are far more valuable than they were in the first three months of the season. Jones has brought a legitimate point guard into the rotation to help Wembanyama facilitate offense.
I really like this spot for the Spurs and its a great way to fade the Hawks.
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Over 246.5 vs. Spurs
3:30 p.m. ET ⋅ TNT
By Matt Moore
Here is a simple cap. The Hawks defense is hot garbage. Absolutely horrible.
The Spurs are one of the top-five teams to the over this season. As Joe Dellera mentioned, the Spurs have been playing better over the past few weeks and the Hawks simply can't stop anybody.
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Warriors -7.5 at Grizzlies
6:00 p.m. ET ⋅ TNT
By Matt Moore
Desmond Bane is out for the Grizzlies and I think he is worth at least three points.
Draymond Green is returning and the Warriors have been losing minutes when Green and Stephen Curry are on the floor together.
But you know who the Warriors get up for? The Memphis Grizzlies. Even though the Grizzlies have some guys out, I'm going to lay the points because Golden State hates Memphis.
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Bulls ML (+215) at Cavaliers
7:00 p.m. ET ⋅ NBA League Pass
By Matt Moore
The Cavaliers are back from Paris!
We have talked about this before, but after playing the Nets, teams tend to struggle. The Nets make teams work defensively and while the Cavaliers are a good team, I think this is a bounce-back spot for the Bulls.
I don't want the spread, I'm just taking the moneyline.
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Jazz +Under 249 vs. Pacers
9:00 p.m. ET ⋅ NBA League Pass
By Jim Turvey
This is simply a Tyrese Haliburton-less Pacers team bet.
They are 2-2 to the under since he went out. The Pacers' offense is worse, but the defense is better when he is out. As a result, 249 is just too high a number without Haliburton. Indiana plays tough and gritty on the defense end, but it still plays fast.
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Thunder +1 at Lakers
10:30 p.m. ET ⋅ NBA TV
By Jim Turvey
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (knee) is questionable and Vegas tends to land in the middle with the line when there's a bit of an unknown. With the line currently at +1, I think the line gets to a pick'em or maybe the Thunder favored by a point. If Gilgeous-Alexander doesn't play, it will probably be around +4-5.
If Gilgeous-Alexander plays, I have this at Thunder -6. If he doesn't, I still have the Thunder as small favorites.
The Lakers just aren't that good of a team and it amazes me that the books keep hanging these opening numbers. This is a brutal offense and Oklahoma City should be able to run the Lakers out of the gym.
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Thunder +1 at Lakers
10:30 p.m. ET ⋅ NBA TV
By Matt Moore
I have the Lakers as significant underdogs if both teams are at full strength.
While the Lakers have been awesome at home, the Thunder are still not getting enough credit in the market. If this is a halfway number, then the Lakers would go to -4 if Gilgeous-Alexander is out?
Would they really be 4-point favorites, whereas Thunder would only be -1 if Gilgeous-Alexander does play?
Gilgeous-Alexander is an MVP candidate and the offense runs through him, but it is so rare to see a player who is that heavy to a spread.
Regardless, this is a letdown spot for the Lakers. I feel good about Oklahoma City after it lost its most recent game against Los Angeles at home, but I won't bet this game if Gilgeous-Alexander is out.
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Under 240 at Lakers
10:30 p.m. ET ⋅ NBA TV
By Matt Moore
I love the under in this game.
Lakers home unders are 14-7 this season. If they win this game, it'll have to be a lockdown defensive performance. I have this projected at 228 and it's by far my biggest advantage to the under on today's slate.
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