NBA Pick: Trail Blazers vs. Hawks – Under 240 (–110) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Picks Summary:
- Trail Blazers vs. Hawks – Under 240 (–110)
- Suns –5 (–110)
The Atlanta Hawks spoiled our NBA picks last week, but the under is the right choice Friday when they host the Portland Trail Blazers.
Is it the playoffs yet? Finding value on the NBA odds board this late in the regular season is like finding a needle in a haystack, except the haystack is somewhere on Jupiter.
But we’ve dug deep here at the home office, and we’ve uncovered one game that’s worth firing a single unit of your bankroll at, plus a second game for a fun-sized bet.
Remember, fans from the Peach State who want to wager on this game should check out our top-rated Georgia betting sites.
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Atlanta Hawks
Friday, March 3, 2023 – 07:30 PM EST at State Farm Arena
Yes, we’re back in the Dirty South this week, and we’re still recommending the under for your NBA picks.
There’s a fat 240 point total on the board at BetOnline for Friday’s tilt between the Hawks (over 36-26) and the Trail Blazers (under 32-29-1).
It’s a moral imperative.
Didn’t They Go Over Last Time?
Did they ever! Our deft analysis of Dean Wade’s defensive chops didn’t stop Atlanta from crushing the Cleveland Cavaliers 136-119, blowing out the closing total of 228.5 in the process.
Things are much different this time. Friday’s total has gone through the roof, Portland supplies the opposition instead of Cleveland, and Quin Snyder is now Atlanta’s head coach after Joe Prunty filled in for two games on an interim basis.
Maybe we should have seen this coming. Rumor had it that Snyder was going to take over this team; Prunty appeared content to let Trae Young do his thing rather than force everyone to play solid defense. His second game also went over when Atlanta beat the Brooklyn Nets 129-127 (over 233) last Sunday.
Can the New HC Move the Needle on the D?
Granted, Snyder’s first game was yet another over result, this time with the Hawks losing 119-116 to the Washington Wizards (over 233.5) on Tuesday.
But Snyder’s defensive bona fides are well documented. In his eight years at the helm of the Utah Jazz, they gave up the fewest points in the league at 102.0 per game, usually while running a very slow and methodical offense.
The Hawks are also about to play a Portland team that ranks No. 25 in the league in pace at 99.5 possessions per game. And Young has just been listed as probable with a sore right groin. Does Trae Young have two groins?! No wonder he’s so sensitive.
NBA Pick: Under 240 (–110) at BetOnline
Phoenix Suns vs. Chicago Bulls
Friday, March 3, 2023 – 08:00 PM EST at United Center
This is almost worth the standard single-unit wager now that the Suns (34-29 SU, 34-28-1 ATS) have moved down from –6 to –5 on the NBA odds board at BetOnline.
But let’s keep it fun-sized with the Bulls (29-34 SU, 30-31-2 ATS) only projected to lose somewhere in the neighborhood of 114-108.
Will Kevin Durant Play Friday?
One would presume so. Durant made his Phoenix debut in Wednesday’s 105-91 win over the Charlotte Hornets (+10.5 away), scoring 23 points on an efficient 10-of-15 shooting in 26 minutes of work. So much for ring rust.
Not playing in that game: guard Terrence Ross (toe) and Landry Shamet (foot), although Ross has been upgraded to questionable for Friday. He’s fit in very well since getting bought out by the Orlando Magic, posting a plus-0.1 BPM at Basketball Reference for his new employers compared to minus-3.1 for Orlando.
Just like Charlotte, the Bulls are missing one Ball: Lonzo in this case instead of LaMelo. Chicago has struggled this year without their top point guard, and they’re also without swingman Javonte Green (plus-1.2 DPM, as per NBA projection system DARKO), both with knee injuries.
Bet accordingly, and may the sphere be with you.
NBA Pick: Suns –5 (–110) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
