Let’s get to some picks on tonight’s six-game NBA slate.
Pick #1: Let’s risk 1.05 units to win 1 unit on Chicago -6.5 at Washington at a -105 price (DraftKings):
Chicago (30-49 straight up, 37-41-1 against the spread) destroyed Washington 129-98 as a 5.5-point road favorite at this same venue two nights ago. The Bulls led 38-18 at the end of the first quarter, 66-37 at halftime and 100-63 going into the fourth quarter.
Washington (17-62 SU, 33-46 ATS) has lost 23 of its last 24 games dating back to Feb. 22. Seventeen of those 23 losses have been by double-digit margins and 19 have been by eight points or more.
All we’re doing here is fading this G-League squad the Wizards are throwing out on the court in tank mode.
Pick #2: Let’s risk 1.14 units to win 1 unit on Toronto -3.5 (-114 at FanDuel) at home vs. Miami:
Toronto (44-35 straight up, 41-38 against the spread) is 6-1 both SU and ATS in its last seven home games, including Tuesday’s 121-95 win over Miami as a 2.5-point home favorite. The Raptors led by 13 points at halftime, 18 going into the fourth quarter and coasted to an easy victory. They’ve dominated the Heat in all three head-to-head meetings this season, going 3-0 both SU and ATS.
Toronto won 112-91 at Miami as a 5.5-point road underdog on Dec. 23. Eight days earlier in South Florida, the Raptors spanked the Heat 106-96 as 4.5-point road underdogs.
Toronto has motivation galore tonight, so you won’t see any starters resting. The Raptors are only one-half game back of Atlanta for the #5 seed, and they’re one-half game ahead of Orlando for the #7 slot and one game in front of Philadelphia for #8 in the East.
Pick #3: Let’s risk 1.15 units to win 1 unit on Houston -5.5 (-115 at Caesars) at home vs. Philadelphia:
Houston (50-29 straight up, 34-45 against the spread) is on a seven-game winning streak with five of those wins coming by double-digit margins and six coming by at least six points, including Tuesday’s 119-105 win at Phoenix as a one-point favorite.
The Rockets are heating up at the perfect time and are motivated due to their current tie with the Lakers for the #4 slot in the West. However, the Lakers own the head-to-head tiebreaker, so Houston is thinking of itself in must-win mode tonight.
It certainly doesn’t hurt our cause that Philadelphia perennial All-Star center Joel Embiid is ‘out’ of the lineup.