The Friday NBA betting slate is loaded with nine games, as 15 of the 16 squads that didn’t return from the All-Star break Thursday are forced to go back to work tonight. (Somehow, the Milwaukee Bucks’ vacation doesn’t end until Saturday — guess it pays to be the champs, eh?)
Granted, there aren’t a ton of intriguing matchups dotting the Friday NBA betting landscape (although Thunder-Pacers and Rockets-Magic might qualify, depending on how you define “intriguing”). The best of the bunch? It has to be a cross-conference clash in the Twin Cities, where James Harden is expected to make his 76ers debut against the upstart Timberwolves.
A couple of hours after Philadelphia-Minnesota tips off, two teams duking it out in the middle of the Western Conference standings will square off in Salt Lake City, where the Jazz host the Mavericks.
Who’s got the edge in these two matchups? Props.com breaks it all down in our Friday NBA betting preview.
Odds via FanDuel and updated as of 10:45 a.m. ET on Feb. 25.
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Philadelphia 76ers Vs Minnesota Timberwolves
Tipoff/TV: 8 p.m. ET/NBA League Pass
76ers: 35-23 SU/28-29-1 ATS
Timberwolves: 31-28/29-28-2 ATS
Spread/Total: Philadelphia -3 (-108)/229
Last meeting: Minnesota overcame a 42-point performance by 76ers center Joel Embiid, winning 121-120 in overtime as a 6.5-point road underdog (Nov. 27)
Did you know: Prior to this season, Philadelphia had defeated the Timberwolves eight straight times, going 7-1 ATS
About Philadelphia: Harden — who was acquired from Brooklyn in a much-ballyhooed deadline-day trade for Ben Simmons — has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since Feb. 2. The 2018 NBA MVP averaged 22.5 points, eight rebounds, and 10.2 assists in 44 games with the Nets this season. Harden joins a 76ers squad that split its final eight games before the All-Star break (3-5 ATS). With MVP favorite Embiid leading the way, Philadelphia is in a three-way tie for third place in the Eastern Conference standings, three games behind Chicago. At 19-10, the 76ers have the best road record in the East (third-best in the NBA behind Phoenix and Memphis).
About Minnesota: The Timberwolves returned to action Thursday and upset the Grizzlies 119-114 as a 2-point home underdog. Point guard D’Angelo Russell exploded for a season-high 37 points and dished out nine assists as Minnesota improved to 8-1 SU/6-2-1 ATS in its last nine home games. The Timberwolves’ offense has been firing on all cylinders lately, scoring 118 points or more in 11 of the last 12 games. Even the defense has tightened up a bit, giving up 103 and 114 points in the last two games after surrendering 120 or more in the previous four. Karl-Anthony Towns and crew are sitting in seventh place in the West, 2.5 games clear of the Clippers.
Notable Trends
- Philadelphia is 7-2 ATS in its last nine road games
- Philadelphia is 2-5 ATS in its last seven as a favorite
- Minnesota is 1-5 ATS in its last six as an underdog
- Minnesota is 0-4 ATS in its last four when playing on back-to-back days
- Over is 17-5 in Minnesota’s last 22 overall
- Philadelphia is 6-1 ATS in its last seven trips to Minnesota
- Under is 9-1 in the last 10 series meetings in Minnesota
Philadelphia 76ers Vs Minnesota Timberwolves Odds and Action
UPDATE 2:25 PM ET: PointsBet USA opened the 76ers at -2.5, but line now sits at -3 (-105). Bettors are backing Philadelphia in a big way, with 83% of the tickets and a 81% of the money on the visitors. The total has held steady at the opening number of 229.5 at PointsBet, with 62% of bets and 76% of cash on the Over.
Dallas Mavericks Vs Utah Jazz
Tipoff/TV: 8 p.m. ET/NBA League Pass
Mavericks: 35-24 SU/32-27 ATS
Jazz: 36-22 SU/26-20-2 ATS
Spread/Total: Utah -5.5 (-114)/217
Last meeting: The Jazz held off Dallas 120-116 on Christmas Day, but came up way short as a 13.5-point home favorite (Dec. 25)
Did you know: The home team has won four consecutive meetings and eight of the last 10 (6-3-1 ATS)
About Dallas: The Mavericks have been playing stellar basketball since New Year’s Eve, going 19-6 SU/16-9 ATS (including 6-1 SU/ATS in the last seven heading into the All-Star break). Not surprisingly, guard Luka Doncic has been the catalyst during this extended stretch. Since returning from a 10-game injury absence on New Year’s Day, he’s scored at least 20 points in 20 of 23 games. The 22-year-old from Slovenia has poured in at least 30 in eight of his last 10 contests, including games of 45, 49, and 51 points. Dallas also has been delivering on the road in recent weeks, going 7-3 SU/6-4 ATS in its last 10.
About Utah: The Jazz entered the All-Star break with a 106-101 upset loss to the Lakers as a four-point road underdog, ending a six-game SU and five-game ATS winning streak. Utah has been getting it done on defense, limiting seven straight opponents to 106 points or less (average of 100.1 ppg). Also, prior to the defeat in Los Angeles, the Jazz had put up at least 106 points in eight consecutive contests (115.1 ppg). However, Utah may be without the services of shooting guard/leading scorer Donovan Mitchell (25.7 ppg), as he’s questionable with an illness. The Jazz currently occupy the fourth spot in the Western Conference playoff pecking order, 1.5 games ahead of Dallas.
Notable Trends
- Dallas is 6-1 ATS in its last seven overall
- Dallas is 7-2 ATS in its last nine as an underdog
- Utah is 5-1 ATS in its last six overall and 5-0 ATS in its last five at home
- Utah is 5-15-1 ATS in its last 21 Friday contests
- Under is 5-2 in Dallas’ last seven overall
- Over is 4-1 in Dallas’ last five on the road
- Under is 6-1 in Utah’s last seven overall
- Under is 9-1 in Utah’s last 10 at home
Dallas Mavericks Vs Utah Jazz Odds and Action
UPDATE 2:25 PM ET: Utah opened as a 6.5-point home favorite at PointsBet, but the line has since dropped a full point to -5.5. The Mavericks are taking 57% of the tickets and 58% of the cash. The total has jumped from 216.5 to 218, with lopsided action on the Over at 89% tickets and 86% money.
