NBA Betting Picks for Friday Feb. 6: Post-Deadline Predictions

Two coworkers swapped e-gift cards via Microsoft Teams chat this week and the exchange left me imagining a “tale of the tape” breakdown of the deal.

Surely, that’s the influence of the NBA Trade Deadline, which passed Thursday afternoon but will start to pay dividends – or prompt facepalms – as players continue to join new teams.

Friday’s betting rundown includes discussion of both recently traded talent and mainstays. Let’s take a look.

MIAMI HEAT AT BOSTON CELTICS, 7:30 P.M. ET

Versatile center Nikola Vucevic is off the Celtics’ injury report, so the erstwhile Chicago Bull could make his club debut.

Given Boston’s existing production at the position, though, Vucevic’s role remains to be seen. Neemias Queta and Luka Garza both started Wednesday and combined for 29 points and 25 rebounds as the Celtics rolled at Houston to stretch their winning streak to four.

Miami might do a double-take at the sight of Vucevic in green and white. The Heat played the Bulls three times in four days last week, winning twice. “Vooch” played in both Chicago losses and was held to 27 points on 11-of-30 shooting.

Boston’s supporting casts beats Chicago’s, of course – especially before the Bulls’ deadline fire sale – and the Celtics likely won’t be too reliant on Vucevic in crunch time as they acclimate him to new surroundings.

The Celtics have a better shooting percentage than the Heat and a stingier opponents’ shooting percentage and can clinch the season series with a victory. The trend continues as some contributors change.

Neemias Queta 8+ rebounds and Boston -245 as part of two-leg parlay (+166 with FanDuel)

NEW YORK KNICKS AT DETROIT PISTONS, 7:30 P.M.

Eastern Conference-leading Detroit boasts a four-game winning streak in the series and claimed the teams’ first matchup on Jan. 5, defeating the visiting Knicks 121-90 behind the heroics of Cade Cunningham.

In a duel of dynamic guards, Cunningham’s 29 points and 13 assists topped a 25-point effort from New York’s Jalen Brunson, who committed six turnovers.

In this rematch, the Pistons have one less day of rest and are wobbling after losing Thursday to a Washington team that dressed just 10 players. While Cunningham scored 30 points and finished two rebounds and two assists shy of a triple-double, All-Star center Jalen Duren played just 13 points with knee soreness.

The Knicks have won eight straight but are at less than full strength, too, with guard Miles “Deuce” McBride set for core muscle surgery on Friday. New York acquired point guard Jose Alvarado from New Orleans on Thursday in a bid to fill the void.

Knicks coach Mike Brown has called his team’s physicality into question lately. With Duren’s status also questionable, look for New York to seize an opening in a tight affair.

Knicks -1.5 (-110 with BetMGM)

LA CLIPPERS AT SACRAMENTO KINGS, 10 P.M.

Will Darius Garland make his Clippers debut? Will new King De’Andre Hunter talk to him about their favorite Cleveland haunts after the former Cavs teammates were dealt 48 hours apart?

Those questions ought to leave us in suspense, but Kawhi Leonard’s impact on the game shouldn't. The LA star has scored 20-plus points in 29 straight games, a career best and the second-longest streak in the league.

Leonard torched Sacramento for 33 points on 11-of-19 shooting on Dec. 30 and the NBA cellar-dwelling Kings have lost 10 straight.

Kawhi Leonard 20+ points and Clippers -4 as part of two-leg parlay (+101 with FanDuel)