NBA Expert Picks and Best Bets | February 12

With football season officially over, it’s time for basketball to truly be in the spotlight. Not surprisingly, the NBA has a big schedule on Monday with 10 games. With no shortage of basketball betting opportunities on the day after the Super Bowl, here are three picks we love on Monday’s schedule.

Hawks -3.5 | -110 at FanDuel

The Hawks are starting to look good, winners of six of their last eight games. Their only two losses during that stretch came against the Clippers and the Celtics. They are also 6-1 agains the spread in their last seven games. With that kind of momentum, this seems like a spread the Hawks can cover at home, especially against another team with a losing record. While Atlanta has the worst record against the spread in the NBA, this is a small spread. Plus, Trae Young has three triple-doubles in his last four games, so expect him to carry the Hawks in this game.

The Bulls, meanwhile, have lost five of their last nine games and don’t appear to be finding much of a rhythm. Chicago’s roster has been hurt by injuries and may not have an answer for Young if he's at the top of his game. The Bulls are also just 7-11 against the spread as road underdogs this season, which makes it easier to bet against them on Monday night.

Raptors -7.5 | -110 at BetMGM

Toronto’s record is nothing to be proud of, although they should be able to handle themselves at home against one of the NBA’s worst teams. After a rash of trades, the Raptors can finally start to settle into their roster and rotation for the rest of the season. With Scottie Barnes and R.J. Barrett, Toronto has two players averaging 20-plus points per game. Those guys should feast against San Antonio’s defense and give the Raptors a comfortable win.

Keep in mind the Spurs are riding a seven-game losing streak, going 1-6 against the spread in those losses. They’ve already lost the first three games on their current road trip, all by double digits. Making the trip to Toronto won’t be a pleasant one for them, leaving the Spurs vulnerable to another lopsided loss. While this spread might look big at first glance, it’s not when you take a close look at how bad San Antonio has been lately.

Jazz -1 | -110 at BetRivers

How about Golden State’s run lately? The Warriors have won six of their last seven games while also going 6-1 against the spread. But after needing a late Steph Curry heave to beat the Suns on Saturday night, their luck could be running out. They now have to hit the road against a Utah team that’s 17-7 straight up and 18-6 against the spread at home this season. This is the toughest game the Warriors have faced in February and could be the end of their losing streak.

Outside of Utah’s great home record, it’s worth noting that the Jazz has had three full days of rest whereas the Warriors have had just one day. That extra rest should prove helpful for a team that’s been on a losing skid. Utah’s recent struggles combined with Golden State’s highly-publicized wins should inspire the Jazz to play their best game and win a virtual toss-up.