NBA Expert Picks and Parlay of the Weekend

Brooklyn Nets vs New York Knicks Best Bet:

Knicks -7.5 | -110 at FanDuel

Fans of both teams can use New York sportsbooks to bet on this rivalry game. But it’s the Knicks fans who might go home happy. The Knicks have been good at home all season and should be happy to be back at MSG following a 3-1 road trip. The caveat is that OG Anunoby and Julius Randle are still out, and New York is far better with those in the lineup. But with Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, the Knicks should have enough to take care of business against Brooklyn.

The Nets are just 10-16 against the spread as road underdogs, which doesn’t bode well for them, even if it’s a short trip. They are also riding a five-game losing streak and have lost seven of their last eight games, going 2-6 against the spread during that stretch. Brooklyn’s season is starting to get away from them, so playing a team that wants to win every game it can down the stretch probably won’t end well for the Nets.

Sacramento Kings vs Orlando Magic Best Bet:

Magic -4.5 | -110 at FanDuel

This game might look like a toss-up, but not with how good Orlando has been lately. The Magic has won five in a row and gone 5-0 against the spread during that stretch. After a convincing 15-point win over the Pelicans on Thursday, it’s hard to bet against Orlando. Going back further, the Magic has won 10 of 12, so we are fully behind them.

The Kings, to their credit, have won four of their last six games. But they are a long way from home and just lost in Washington on Thursday. Usually, it’d be easy to forgive a loss like that. But it’s harder to believe the Kings can bounce back on the road against a red-hot Orlando team. That makes us confident the Magic can cover a handful of points.

Utah Jazz vs Houston Rockets Best Bet:

Rockets -10 | -108 at FanDuel

It’s a little surprising to see a spread this big in this game, but it reflects how these teams are moving in different directions. In this case, it’s foolish not to back the team that’s red-hot at the moment. The Rockets have won seven in a row and nine of their last 10 games. More importantly, Houston is 9-1 against the spread during that stretch. Houston’s depth has been somewhat limited this season, but the five starters are playing well together right now, giving the Rockets a chance to get to .500 with a win on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Jazz are moving in the opposite direction, losing four in a row and seven of eight. Utah is just 3-5 against the spread in those eight games. The Jazz is also one of the worst teams in the NBA at being a road underdog, going 11-18-1 against the spread in those situations. The kicker is that Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson are injured while John Collins is a game-time decision. That just reinforces the likelihood that the Rockets are going to blow out the Jazz and cover the 10-point spread.