Friday NBA Odds & Best Bets: Feb. 20th Top Basketball Betting Picks

The NBA returned from the All-Star Break last night, and the action continues Friday with nine games on the schedule. To help you decide where worthy betting opportunities exist, we’ve done a deep dive into each game.

Here are our results (odds via DraftKings).

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Charlotte Hornets

Cavaliers -4.5 at -110

Both teams are playing the second half of a back-to-back. But since they're coming out of the break, fatigue shouldn’t be a factor. Cleveland had seven players score in double digits Thursday night in the win over Brooklyn. The Hornets lost to a good Houston team, but made the Rockets work for it.

Cleveland, however, has evolved into an offensive machine with more weapons than most teams dream of having. I don’t think Charlotte is going to fade, but a team with the Cavs' offensive capabilities will be too much for the Hornets. Charlotte will put up a good fight, but the Cavs will cover.

Brooklyn Nets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Nets +16.5 -115

I feel awkward just typing that; the Nets are a terrible team, and they’ll be playing the second half of a back-to-back on the road. However, the Thunder team they’ll face will be down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Ajay Mitchell, and Jalen Williams, three of the team’s top four scorers.

OKC has been dealing with injuries all season and still has the best record in the NBA. But with so much of their production out, I’m not confident they’ll beat the Nets by more than 17 points. The Thunder will win, but it will be more of a defensive game (consider the UNDER, too).

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Lakers -6.5 at -115

With all the activity at the trade deadline, the Clippers will likely still be figuring out their new dynamic. Since this is the Lakers' first game back, the Clippers may have some extra time at the start to get on the same page as the Lakers knock off the rust.

However, they’ll be facing a healthy and rested Lakers squad (DeAndre Ayton is a GTD but expected to play). It may take some time for the Lakers to get on the same page because of the break, but in the end, their firepower and home-court advantage will be too much for the Clippers.