Best Sports Betting Picks Today: NHL, NBA Predictions for February 2nd

Unless you count the AFC vs. NFC flag football game, today marks the first Sunday without NFL action since Sept. 1.

The Super Bowl will more than make up for this weekend’s empty football slate, but there are still plenty of betting options today on the hardwood and on the ice.

We’ll look at two teams from Philadelphia before checking out a pair of slumping squads in Salt Lake City.

NHL: PHILADELPHIA FLYERS AT COLORADO AVALANCHE (3 P.M. ET)

The Flyers’ offense has fizzled amid a slump that has dropped Philadelphia six points out of the Eastern Conference’s final wild-card spot.

After tallying 22 goals during a 5-0-1 stretch, the Flyers have scored just six times while going 1-4-0 since. They’ve been blanked in both of their last two games, but they’ll break through against the Avalanche.

Mackenzie Blackwood was flawless in a 5-0 win over St. Louis on Friday, though the Colorado netminder only faced 19 shots. Before that, Blackwood had allowed at least four goals in each of his previous five starts. Backup Scott Wedgewood hasn’t been great, either, as he’s surrendered at least two goals in six straight appearances.

It’s hard to see Philadelphia being shut out for a third straight game, and given that neither Avalanche goalie has been stout as of late, I feel good about the Flyers ending their drought and keeping Sunday’s game close.

Flyers +1.5 spread, -142 (DraftKings) 

NBA: BOSTON CELTICS AT PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (6 P.M. ET)

Tyrese Maxey has emerged as the go-to guy for a Sixers team that has flopped in its first season since adding nine-time All-Star Paul George via free agency. George can’t stay healthy, and neither can Joel Embiid, but Maxey’s breakout campaign has Philadelphia miraculously within reach of the Eastern Conference’s final play-in spot.

The fifth-year guard is averaging a career-high 27.5 points per game and has been especially solid over the last two weeks. He’s shot at least 50 percent overall in each of the Sixers’ last seven games and has reached 30 points five times during that span.

The Celtics enter Sunday tied as the league’s fifth-best scoring defense, but Maxey has had success against Philadelphia’s longtime rival. He averaged 25.7 points in three games against Boston last season and cooked the Celtics for 33 in a road win on Christmas Day in the teams’ first meeting this year. 

With George and Embiid sidelined again on Sunday, look for Maxey to deliver another explosive performance.

Tyrese Maxey over 30.5 points, -115 (DraftKings)

NHL: ST. LOUIS BLUES AT UTAH HOCKEY CLUB (7 P.M. ET)

Both squads enter this matchup on a four-game losing streak, but Utah has been a bit more competitive amid its struggles.

In both of its last two games, Utah carried a lead into the third period before giving it up and eventually losing 3-2 in overtime. Utah was also in decent shape for most of the time in its two previous losses, playing to a tie during the third period before falling 5-2 to Winnipeg and 3-1 to Ottawa.

Each of those four defeats could have gone the other way for Utah, but it’s tough to say the same for St. Louis. The Blues have been outscored 16-4 over their last four losses, each of which has come by at least two goals.

If St. Louis turns it around, it likely won't be against Utah, which already owns a pair of 4-2 wins over the Blues this season.

Utah moneyline, -130 (DraftKings)