Free NBA Betting Picks - Today's Best Bets, Expert Predictions, Odds (2/23/23)

The NBA is back, baby! After an entire week off, we get our precious association back in action with a healthy 9-game slate on a Thursday night. I am keeping my card pretty light tonight, despite the temptation to jump back in with a bunch of players but I feel pretty confident about everything I am betting so far.

I'm only picking sides and totals in this article three days a week, so consider subscribing to my sports betting substack here as I put out some DFS stuff and props on most evenings from Monday through Friday, too.

In this article, I'll be providing my favorite picks against the spread, game totals, parlays, and teasers for NBA games that tip-off at 7:00 PM EST on Thursday, February 22nd.

Thunder Dan's NBA Best Bets

• 2022-2023 Overall Record: 110-118-1
• Against the Spread: 53-58-1
• Game/Team Totals: 12-27
• Moneyline Parlay: 15-22
• Teasers: 27-11

NBA Betting Picks: Against the Spread

New Orleans Pelicans (+6) @ Toronto Raptors (226 total)

How many times can I let the Pelicans hurt me? They ruined my teaser on the last slate before the break when they crumbled at the end of the Lakers game, but I can't help but think that this spread feels too wide for a team of their caliber going up against a very mediocre Raptors team.

Yes, Poeltl is a difference-maker in Toronto and the Pelicans are clearly missing Zion in New Orleans. But six points is a lot of points in the NBA and if both teams were healthy, I'd have the Pelicans favored in this one. Perhaps, I am too bearish on the Raptors and it's possible that they get OG Anunoby back tonight, yet. But they really haven't been able to blow anyone out this year and the Pelicans are usually a team that can scrap with anyone and stays in games.

I'll take the Pelicans and the points here, and if the Raptors smash and prove me wrong then I'll lose this one.

The Pick: Pelicans +6 (-110)

Oklahoma City Thunder (-1) @ Utah Jazz (240 total)

Ok, so the good news is that this line is moving in the right direction for my pick as OKC is now favored after opening up as a slight underdog. The bad news is you can no longer get their money line at plus odds like I did last night when I snagged them at +110.

I did a pretty lengthy breakdown of NBA betting trends and stats here a few days ago, and OKC kept showing up as one of the better teams to bet on multiple trends. They have been the best team ATS to bet on this season and have been very good on the road, too.

This almost feels like a no-brainer since the Jazz are down Collin Sexton and OKC is at full strength and playing well. Believe it or not, these teams haven't faced each other yet and this is the first game of four meetings that will take place in the final six weeks of the year. Give me the Thunder here, they have the best player on the floor in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (sorry, Lauri) and have been the better team over the last few months. Utah started out hot but they've faded quite a bit since those first few months.

The Pick: OKC ML (-115)

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NBA Betting Picks: Parlays and Teasers

Favorite Money Line Parlay: Boston + Orlando + Dallas + Sacramento = (+178 DK)

Underdog TEASER (buying 5 points)

NOP +11, GSW +10.5, MEM +8.5 = (+130 DK)

We are going a bit riskier with five teams here, feel free to leave a team out if you're not all that confident in them.

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