NBA Expert Tips and Best Bets | 14 Feb

A handful of games will round out the NBA’s last day of regular-season contests before All-Star Weekend. It will be highlighted by the showdown in Minnesota between the T-Wolves and Thunder, both popular preseason picks for the West Finals.

We’re providing some NBA expert tips and predictions for that featured game and the Houston Rockets taking on the Golden State Warriors. A few doses of insight before you make your play.

Thunder -4.5 |$1.88 @ Playup

After some early season struggles, the Timberwolves might be turning a corner having gone on some recent runs and edging close to the top six in the West.

The Thunder come into this game on an eight-game winning streak, however, and show no signs of letting down. Only six teams in the league can boast winning records against winning teams, but none more than the Thunder’s 20. The T-wolves are 15-17 in such matches.

The key to wagering on this game is to pay close attention to who’s off the injury report. You can find those upon the hour on the NBA’s website. Based on the latest trends, it looks like Minnesota may rest more starters so our NBA expert tip is to take OKC to cover.

Thunder-Timberwolves Under 219.5 |$1.91 @ Betfocus

Every game on Friday’s slate involves teams playing back-to-backs. Through Wednesday’s games, teams are 126-147-2 (46%) this year on hitting the Over on no days rest, usually the result of endurance and teams resting players to avoid injury.

Avoiding injury then, becomes very key at this point of the season with teams maneuvering for playoff positioning. The last thing any franchise wants is to lose an important player to serious injury in the last game before the All-Star break.

With that all being said, expect both teams to avoid pressing full speed and giving a lot of their starters extended rest time. We think the smart money will be on the Under for this game.

Warriors-Rockets Over 220.5 |$1.90 @ Betright

The Rockets have been on a bit of a freefall as of late. Through Wednesday’s games, they had lost six of their last seven. Golden State has found their fortunes renewed, winning two in a row with newly acquired Jimmy Butler as of Wednesday’s action.

Watch for both teams to try and close out the mid-season break on a high note. The Rockets were the number two seed in the West for much of this season while Golden State aspires to give their fans hope heading into the All-Star break.

The Warriors have been scoring in bunches lately and expect that to continue against a Rockets team that won’t let up. Our NBA expert tip is to take the Over in this contest.