NBA Expert Picks and Best Bets | February 14

For anyone without Valentine’s Day plans, the NBA has got you covered. There are over a dozen games on the schedule with nearly every team in action. With the All-Star Game approaching, Wednesday is the last big basketball betting day for a while. To help you take advantage, we have picked out our three favorite picks from Wednesday’s NBA schedule.

Magic -2.5 | -110 at FanDuel

A couple of weeks ago, we would have been all over the Knicks in a game like this. But they’ve cooled off considerably, going 1-4 and 0-5 against the spread in their last five games. Injuries to Julius Randle and OG Anunoby have undoubtedly played a key role in New York’s recent struggles. A few other players are battling nagging injuries as well, leaving Jalen Brunson without much help around him. If Brunson’s 27 points couldn't get the Knicks over the finish line Monday in Houston, it probably won't be enough Wednesday in Orlando.

Keep in mind that Orlando is 15-3 straight up when favored this season. That’s the highest winning percentage in the NBA as the betting favorite and a good omen with such a small spread to cover. Equally important, Orlando is red-hot winning five of its last six games and going 7-1 against the spread in its last eight games. Granted, the Magic has mostly beaten up bad teams during that stretch. But they’re a healthy team that’s playing at home and has a ton of confidence. That should be enough to beat the struggling Knicks by a few points.

Mavericks -11.5 | -115 at BetMGM

The Spurs managed to put an end to their seven-game losing streak on Monday against the Raptors. But that’s not necessarily going to carry over to Wednesday’s game. If San Antonio were more consistent, the Spurs would have more than 11 wins this season. They’re also 2-6 against the spread in their last eight games. That indicates that Monday’s win is an aberration.

At the same time, there are a lot of reasons to back the Mavs these days. They’ve won five in a row and gone 4-1 against the spread during that winning streak. Granted, they failed to cover a 12-point spread against the Wizards on Monday. But Dallas covered its last three games as a double-digit favorite before that game. Plus, both Kyrie Irving and Luca Doncic appear to be clicking on all cylinders right now, which means the Mavericks should be able to blow out their in-state rivals.

Clippers +2.5 | -112 at BetRivers

The Valentine’s Day schedule concludes with a great West Coast game between the Clippers and the Warriors. Golden State has been a different team lately, going 7-1 straight-up and 7-1 against the spread in the team’s last eight games. The Warriors have some impressive wins during that stretch, so this run hasn’t been a fluke. But for a team that is just one game over .500, we have to question how much longer it can last, especially against a team that’s already beaten them twice this season.

Despite a disappointing homestand over the last week, the first-place Clippers went 6-1 on a recent road trip. They won’t mind making the trip upstate, especially since they’re 12-7 against the spread as road favorites this season. For whatever reason, the Clippers excel on the road. That’s enough to swallow a couple of points in Wednesday’s game against the Warriors.