The NBA has a fun seven-game slate for basketball fans to soak in on Tuesday, with the featured TNT doubleheader having the Milwaukee Bucks hosting the Washington Wizards and the Brooklyn Nets taking on the Phoenix Suns. Keep reading for our three favorite best bets of the night.
1. New Orleans Pelicans at Detroit Pistons - 7:00 p.m. ET
The Pelicans are 21-36 against the spread when coming off a road loss over the last three seasons, and they're also 12-23 against the spread when playing on the road after an away game since the start of last year. Meanwhile, the Pistons are 4-1 against the spread in their last five home games, so they're competing in front of their fans and now face an opponent that isn't comfortable on the road. Detroit's confidence must also be through the roof after a 115-105 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers last game. Cade Cunningham had 19 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in that game, and the rookie is really looking like a two-way stud for the Pistons. His fingerprints should end up being all over a Detroit win tonight, and he'll get some help from sharpshooter Saddiq Bey. Bey had 31 points last game and he should do well in this matchup with New Orleans. Detroit will also have Jerami Grant back in this game, while New Orleans could be without Brandon Ingram. Ingram has an ankle injury and will be playing banged up, at best.
THE PICK: Pistons -2
2. Golden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs - 8:30 p.m. ET
We've seen the Spurs play some good basketball against some of the league's best, as the team earned a win over the Chicago Bulls two games ago. The team then played the Suns extremely close at the Footprint Center and probably should have won that game. Now, they'll look to get the job done against the Warriors, who will be without Klay Thompson and Draymond Green in this game. That leaves Golden State relying heavily on Steph Curry, who will also have to defend Dejounte Murray. Curry should get the best of that matchup, but Murray will do more than enough to keep San Antonio in it. From there, the Spurs just need some other key players to step up and Devin Vassell is one to keep an eye on here. Vassell should draw the Andrew Wiggins assignment in this game, and the youngster is capable of giving him a hard time defensively. Jakob Poeltl will also be there to defend the rim, which is another reason to like the Spurs. The Warriors are 4-6 against the spread when favored by 6 or less on the road this year. Meanwhile, the Spurs are 7-6 against the spread in home games with a line of +3 to -3.
THE PICK: Spurs +2.5
3. Brooklyn Nets at Phoenix Suns - 10:00 p.m. ET
The Nets will have both James Harden and Kyrie Irving in the lineup for this meeting with the Suns, and Brooklyn needs them after having lost four games in a row. Both players should come to play against Phoenix, especially with Harden having played college basketball at Arizona State. He loves the area and should feel extremely comfortable in this one. Also, while Brooklyn is going to be hungry for a victory after having lost four in a row, Phoenix is going to eventually take its foot off the gas at some point. The Suns are a phenomenal basketball team, but it's hard to stay locked in every single night in this league. Meanwhile, Phoenix is missing some key pieces with Deandre Ayton, Jae Crowder and Cam Payne all out for this game. Ayton is going to be missed for the Suns here. His ability to defend the rim and switch on the perimeter is crucial against a team with this many stars in the backcourt. Brooklyn also happens to be 8-0 against the spread in road games against Pacific division opponents under Steve Nash. Phoenix might win this game outright because of how good the team is in crunch time, but Brooklyn will make the Suns earn it.
THE PICK: Nets +6
