NBA betting picks & top odds – Thursday, February 24

For NBA fans, the All Star break can be a tough week without basketball. However, now the league is back and gearing up for an entertaining stretch. With contenders and pretenders firmly established, it is time to dig through Thursday’s games and find some good value bets.

Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets

It can be hard for hot teams to come out of the All Star break with the same fervor as they entered it with. The Celtics, except for a fluke loss to the Pistons, were red hot and establishing themselves as a true competitor. Behind the best defense in the league and some good shot-makers, they launched themselves into the no.6 slot in the Eastern Conference. Obviously, they will be hoping to build on that and continue their ascent into the home-court spots, but this will not be an easy game.

Even though the Nets are all out of sorts and injured, this is a good spot for them. They will be at home, and even without their three best players, they can keep this game close. Currently, 80% of the public is picking the Celtics here against the spread, and when that happens, it can be wise to fade the popular pick. The Nets have guys like Seth Curry and Patty Mills who can keep them in games if they hit their threes. If that happens, they can easily cover this number and surprise a hot team who can be caught sleeping.

Memphis Grizzlies at Minnesota Timberwolves

The Grizzlies have been a popular pick each and every time they take the court. With a record of 40-20 against the spread, Memphis is constantly being disrespected by the betting sites. Despite being a firm third seed in the Western Conference, they still do not garner the backing that other elite teams have. The Wolves are scrappy and at home, so this game will not be easy, but the Grizzlies have not given anyone a reason to pick against them and this will not be the spot.

The Wolves, after years of mediocrity, finally are building something. They have an established stud in Karl-Anthony Towns and a future star in Anthony Edwards. They definitely have the top-end talent to keep them in each and every game, but their depth has a tendency to let them down. Depth is one of the Grizzlies’ strong suits and presents a bad matchup for Minnesota. The Grizzlies should win this game and easily cover the number, as they have done all season long.

Atlanta Hawks at Chicago Bulls

This battle between an underachieving team and an overachieving team should sneakily be one of the better games on the slate. While the Hawks are drastically letting down their preseason aspirations, they have been playing better and find themselves 11-5 against the spread in their last 16. Trae Young is still an elite scoring option and they have built the team to surround him with good shooters. This team can keep up with anyone and, despite their early struggles, they are a good pick in what should be a hard-fought game.

The Bulls completely shook up their team after last season and are now reaping the rewards. They are tied for first in the East and seem legit, led by a resurgent DeMar DeRozan. They were super hot heading into the break and will be expecting to win this game; however, for the reasons listed above, this has the potential to be a let-down spot for the Bulls. The Hawks simply will have more motivation than the Bulls and their vigor should be the difference in this game. Atlanta will be looking to revive their season and make a late playoff run. This game will be the start of their renaissance.