We’re coming off another solid week with our NBA betting tips and are back to attack the big slate on Tuesday. It’s the final week before the All-Star break, so let’s head into the break with some serious momentum. Good luck to everyone following our tips!
NBA Betting Tips: Tuesday, 2nd of March
Dallas Mavericks at Orlando Magic
Amway Center, 11am AEDT
Dallas Mavericks have hit their straps after a poor start to the season. They’re coming off an emphatic 17 point win over the scorching hot Nets, which made it seven wins from their past nine games. Having Kristaps Porzingis back healthy is a big reason for their turn in form as he offers a great Robin to Luka Doncic’s Batman.
Orlando Magic have been ravaged by injuries this season and it’s completely rerailed any hope of making the playoffs. They’re currently on a three-game losing streak, all of which have been by at least 12 points. The Magic are now 13-21 on the season which doesn’t sounds that bad at first, but it certainly is when you consider they started the season at 4-0.
Here we have a contest between one team in great form and one team in terrible form. If both teams were at full strength, then maybe the Magic would have a chance on their home deck, but that just isn’t the case and we expect the Mavericks to be far too strong as a result.
With the Magic being so thin due to injuries, it’s solely up to their key players to get shots up and put points on the board, which is exactly what Evan Fournier does best. He’s coming off a couple of bad nights shooting the ball, but he should get plenty of looks against a Mavs team that play at a high tempo.
Prop: Fournier O18.5 Points ($1.94)
Dallas Mavericks -6.5
$1.86
Cleveland Cavaliers at Houston Rockets
Toyota Center, 1pm AEDT
Cleveland Cavaliers have regained some control on their season after battling through a 10-game losing streak. Since breaking that streak with a one point win over the Hawks, the Cavs have gone onto win their next two games against the 76ers and the Rockets to bring their record up to 13-21.
Houston Rockets went on a six-game winning streak when they traded away James Harden and everyone was playing with a chip on their shoulder, but injuries and lack of team chemistry have since seen them lose 11 straight games, which is the worst losing streak in the NBA this season.
These clubs met just last week in Cleveland and it was the Cavaliers who were easy 16 point winners. For some reason the bookies haven’t rated that win at all and have made the Rockets 6.5-point favourites in this rematch. Although the Rockets are on their home deck this time around, it doesn’t justify them being such huge favourites here, so we’re more than happy to oppose them again on Tuesday.
Cleveland Cavaliers +5.5
$1.80
Charlotte Hornets at Portland Trail Blazers
Moda Center, 2:30pm AEDT
Charlotte Hornets have remained competitive in most of their games this season and that’s a feat in itself considering how young their core is. Not many pundits had them making the playoffs this season, but as it stands, they’re 8th in the East and only one game behind the 4th seed.
Portland Trail Blazers have had a season full of momentum swings to date and come into this on a four-game losing streak. Prior to that they had won six straight games and a lot of that had to do with the incredible play of Damian Lillard, coupled with the tremendous play off the bench from Carmelo Anthony. Now at 18-14 on the season, the Trail Blazers need to find another winning stretch to avoid slipping from the 5th seed in the West.
These clubs haven’t met since January of 2020 when both rosters looked a whole lot different. Unfortunately for the Hornets, they’ll be on the second night of a road back-to-back when they meet on Tuesday, so we expect the Trail Blazers to have the fitness advantage in the second half of this one. At home and hungry for a win, we’ll be taking the Trail Blazers to cover the spread.
Enes Kanter has been getting all the minutes he can handle due to the injury woes of the Trail Blazers big men. He’s handled it well and is cleaning the glass as good as anyone in the competition at the moment. As long as he gets his usual 30+ minutes, then we see him clearing his Points + Rebounds line here.
Prop: Kanter O26.5 PR ($1.81)
Portland Trail Blazers -6.5
$1.90
