NBA Best Bets Today: Two Picks for Wednesday's Slate

Two-thirds of the NBA will take the floor with 10 games on Wednesday night's schedule. Some will be better than others from a viewing perspective and some from a betting perspective.

My goal in today’s NBA Best Bets list is to find the ones that qualify as both.

Denver Nuggets vs. Memphis Grizzlies

The Nuggets have yet to string together more than two wins and are coming off a 110-100 loss to the Rockets. Denver ended their three-game losing streak with a 118-102 win over Toronto.

Denver has played slightly better defense (104.3 points per game allowed); Memphis isn’t far behind at 106. With star power like Nikola Jokić and Jamaal Murray, I would have thought the Nuggets would have the better offense, but so far the Grizzlies have the top-10 unit (117.9 points per game), and Denver’s just cracked the top 15 (113.6).

My Pick: Memphis ML at +146

I am guessing the Nuggets are road favorites in this game more because of what we expect Denver to be, more so than what they’ve shown us so far this season. But they have one of the worst road offenses, scoring 103.8 points per game (No. 27 in the league).

Now, they are playing solid defense (104.3 points per game allowed), which will keep this game close. If this game were in Denver, I’d understand the Nuggets being favored. With how well the Grizzlies have played at home this season, I have to roll with Memphis to win.

Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets

Golden State has been rolling since opening the season 0-3, winning their last eight games. Houston, also 8-3 like the Warriors, has been playing great basketball at home (5-1), holding teams to an average of 104.7 points per game while scoring 115.5 ppg.

However, Houston could be in for a better-than-average night at home against a Golden State team that gives up 121.5 points per game on the road (No. 26 in the league). With Alperen Sengun creating mismatches inside and Kevin Durant taking advantage of the Warriors' smaller defenders, we could see an offensive explosion from the Rockets tonight

But to be fair, Golden State has been playing lights out during the win streak. Steph Curry has been on a tear, and the offense has averaged just under 125 points a game over the last five.

My Pick: Houston -5.5 at -105

This is a tough one, but I have to go with the Rockets to cover tonight. Yes, Steph Curry and the Warriors have been playing excellent basketball. However, with Kevin Durant’s scoring, Alperen Sengun taking advantage of Golden State’s injury-depleted front court, and Houston’s defense, the Rockets will bring an end to the Warriors' win streak tonight.