NBA best bets, spread picks & top odds | Monday, February 14

As the NBA season nears the All Star Break and ensuing stretch run, there is a relatively clear picture of who is for real. Teams have started to prove themselves and show who they really are. With nine games on tonight, it will all be on display and hopefully we have some value bets to help enhance the Valentine’s Day experience just that much more.

Sacramento Kings at Brooklyn Nets betting picks

The Kings are not good. Despite having a good core of young talent, they have not put it all together and sit towards the bottom of the Western Conference with a 22-36 record. They traded away one of their young stars in Tyrese Haliburton for no apparent reason and are well on their way to another wasted season. They do have talented players like De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis who are definitive pieces on a good team, but the Kings aren’t there yet.

As bad as the Kings are, the Nets have been worse. They will play this game with no Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving or Ben Simmons. They have lost 11 in a row and I don’t see a way they right the ship before the all star game. In a healthy world, the Nets cruise to a victory in this game. The way things stand, however, the Nets are ailing and do not have the reinforcements to win a very winnable game. Although the Kings are unimpressive, take them -2 and hopefully watch them dismantle the skeleton of the Brooklyn Nets.

Portland Trail Blazers at Milwaukee Bucks tips

Damian Lillard is the last man standing on this Trail Blazers basketball team. After a series of trades that saw the Trail Blazers look to rebuild, they are without a lot of talent. Portland had a few good runs in recent years but it is coming to a close and it is only a matter of time before Lillard forces his way out. The Trail Blazers are on a tanking path where they will play for the future. Due to that, they should get blown out by a Bucks team that likes to run up the score when it suits them.

The last time the Bucks played, they lost a big game to the Phoenix Suns. They have had a couple days to stew on that and now head back home to play an inferior team. I expect the Bucks to go up early and not look back in what should be a pretty comfortable win for the reigning NBA champs. The Bucks have traditionally bounced back well off a loss and they should take some frustration out on the lowly Blazers tonight. Take them -14 and even though it’s a lot of points, it shouldn’t be too much of a sweat.

Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers betting preview

In the late game tonight, we have a battle between two California teams on opposite sides of the Western hierarchy. The injured Clippers haven’t been able to find their footing this season and appear like they are in for quite a stressful run to the playoffs. Until Kawhi Leonard and Paul George return, they do not have the star power to keep up. They haven’t been very good on either side of the court and their 25th ranked offense just is not going to do it against a very good Warriors team.

Speaking of the Warriors, they are completely back. After taking a few years off from the top of the ladder, the Warriors have found themselves as the two seed and have Steph Curry playing at an MVP level. The return of Klay Thompson has provided them with the extra spark and the Warriors have their swagger back. They will be looking to head into the all star game on a good note and while this can be a tricky spot, the Warriors only being six point favorites is a steal. They should comfortably win this game as they continue to fight for the one seed.